Farmers around the world are spreading raw sewage all over their farms, researchers say.
A new study published in Environmental Research Letters put a spotlight on farmers who use urban wastewater to irrigate their fields. The findings highlight the need for policymakers to balance the benefits of water reuse with “the need to invest in wastewater treatment to protect public health,” according to the journal article.
The study revealed that “crops covering almost 36 million hectares — an area roughly the size of Germany — are irrigated with water from rivers and lakes used by cities within 40 km (25 miles) upstream to discharge sewage,” Reuters reported.