Growers' irrigation practices, knowledge, trust, and attitudes toward wastewater reuse in Lebanon, Jordan, and Tunisia through a food safety lens

Abstract

Abstract Maximizing water reuse requires addressing legal and regulatory frameworks, but growers’ understanding of water as a vehicle for pollutants and safe practices is vital in this process. A cross-sectional survey of 85 growers in Lebanon, Jordan, and Tunisia explored these factors. Results showed that 70.6% of growers had limited knowledge about the transmission of pathogens, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals to food crops via treated wastewater (TWW). Additionally, 55% of farmers used TWW for irrigation, while 65.9% believed that it poses health risks to consumers when applied to crops eaten raw. A positive attitude toward TWW was a determining factor for maximizing water reuse applications. However, the limited access and unavailability of treatment plants were the primary reasons for not using TWW (32.9%). More concerning, less than half controlled the quality of irrigation water using microbiological tests (32.9%), chemical tests (37.6%), and turbidity tests (29.4%). Meanwhile, only 40% trusted local authorities’ control of TWW quality and 69.4% had no access to regulatory information. The present study showed the importance of prioritizing growers’ awareness of potential risks and establishing the practice of monitoring of water quality indicators and contaminants. These should be at the forefront of water reuse expansion strategies to mitigate associated risks.