Can You Make Sewage Water Safe for Irrigation Organically?

Introduction

Water is one of the most valuable resources on the planet, and yet in many parts of the world, it is becoming scarce. Farmers, gardeners, and even municipalities are looking for ways to use water more efficiently, and that has led to a very simple but critical question: can we use sewage water — or wastewater — safely for irrigation?

The answer is yes, but with some important caveats. Untreated sewage water is unsafe and can spread disease, harm crops, and damage the environment. But with the right treatment, particularly using organic and biological methods, it can be transformed into water that not only irrigates crops but also adds valuable nutrients to the soil.

This article explores the issue from start to finish. We will look at the problem, the risks of doing nothing or using untreated water, and then show how organic solutions — including the enzyme-based systems developed by Bioglobe — can provide an answer.

The Problem: Sewage Water and the Growing Need for Reuse

What is Sewage Water?

Sewage water, or wastewater, is water that has been used by households, businesses, and sometimes industry. It contains everything we flush down drains: human waste, food scraps, detergents, oils, soaps, and sometimes chemicals from cleaning products. In many countries, this wastewater is collected and treated at municipal treatment plants before being discharged into rivers, lakes, or the sea.

In other areas, especially where water scarcity is common, there is growing interest in reclaiming this water for secondary uses — including irrigation. After all, why waste something that could be useful?

The Reality of Wastewater

Unfortunately, raw sewage water contains a long list of contaminants. These can include:

• Organic matter: everything from food particles to faecal solids.
• Pathogens: bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and helminths that can cause disease.
• Nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium — useful in the right amounts, harmful if excessive.
• Chemical residues: detergents, pharmaceuticals, household cleaners, even trace amounts of pesticides.
• Heavy metals: in some cases, from industry or household plumbing.
• Microplastics: now widely found in wastewater due to synthetic fibres and plastics in daily life.

Why Use It?

The pressure to reuse wastewater is strong. Climate change, population growth, and urbanisation mean that freshwater is under stress. Farmers face restrictions on irrigation water, and in many parts of the world, drought is a seasonal or even constant problem. Reusing water could:

• Reduce demand on rivers and reservoirs.
• Lower water bills and improve resilience.
• Recycle nutrients that would otherwise be wasted.

But there are serious concerns about safety, which brings us to the next section.

The Consequences of Using Untreated or Poorly Treated Sewage Water

Soil Degradation

If untreated sewage water is applied to fields, it can cause long-term harm to the soil. High levels of salts or sodium can change the soil structure, making it harder for water to penetrate. Heavy metals can build up over time and eventually reach toxic levels for crops. The soil may also become overloaded with organic matter, creating an anaerobic environment that encourages the growth of harmful microbes.

Crop Contamination

One of the biggest worries is that pathogens from wastewater can contaminate food crops. Leafy vegetables and salad crops are particularly at risk because they are eaten raw and can come into direct contact with irrigation water. If that water carries E. coli, Salmonella, or viruses such as hepatitis A, they can easily be transmitted to humans.

Public Health Risks

The spread of waterborne diseases is a very real danger. Cholera, dysentery, typhoid fever, and other gastrointestinal illnesses can be linked to unsafe water. Farmers and workers who handle contaminated water are at risk, as are consumers who eat food grown with it. In many developing regions, this is a major cause of illness.

Environmental Damage

When poorly treated sewage is discharged into rivers or used for irrigation, it can upset the natural balance of ecosystems. Excess nutrients can lead to algal blooms, which deplete oxygen and kill fish. Pollutants can leach into groundwater, affecting drinking water sources.

Regulatory and Social Barriers

There are also legal and commercial issues. Many countries have strict regulations governing what quality of water can be used for irrigation, especially for crops that will be eaten raw. Even where regulations are more relaxed, supermarkets and consumers may refuse produce irrigated with unsafe water, causing economic harm to farmers.

The Solution: Organic, Enzyme-Based Treatment

What Does Organic Treatment Mean?

Organic treatment refers to methods that rely on natural processes — such as enzymes and beneficial microbes — rather than harsh synthetic chemicals. Instead of adding chlorine or strong oxidising agents that can harm soil life, organic treatment uses biology to clean biology.

Why Enzymes Matter

Enzymes are specialised proteins that speed up natural chemical reactions. They are like tiny tools that break down complex molecules into smaller, safer ones. For example:

• Proteases break down proteins into amino acids.
• Lipases break down fats and oils.
• Amylases break down starches into sugars.
• Cellulases break down cellulose from plant material.

By applying the right mix of enzymes, the organic load in sewage water can be dramatically reduced. This means less sludge, fewer odours, and a lower biochemical oxygen demand — making it much easier for the water to be further polished by microbes or natural processes.

Microbial Assistance

After enzymes have done their work, beneficial bacteria can flourish and complete the process. They consume the smaller, broken-down molecules, converting them into harmless substances like carbon dioxide, water, and biomass. This is very similar to what happens in composting — a natural, circular process.

The Bioglobe Approach

Bioglobe has developed advanced organic enzyme formulations that can be tailored to the specific pollutants in a given situation. This is a key advantage because every sewage source is different. A domestic sewage stream may be high in organic kitchen waste, while another may have more oils, fats, or even traces of industrial chemicals.

By analysing the water in their laboratory, Bioglobe can design a bespoke enzyme blend that tackles exactly what is present — nothing more, nothing less. This makes the treatment highly efficient and avoids wasting resources.

Bioglobe also works with enzyme-based systems that can reduce sludge volumes, remove odours, and restore biological balance to polluted water. Their approach is eco-friendly, leaving no toxic residues and protecting the surrounding ecosystem.

How the Process Works

Step 1: Screening and Primary Treatment

The first step is usually to remove large solids and debris through screening or settling. This is not very different from standard sewage treatment — it simply makes the next stages easier and prevents blockages.

Step 2: Enzyme Treatment

Once the water is relatively free of large solids, the enzyme blend is added. Over a period of hours or days, depending on conditions, the enzymes begin to break down organic compounds. Oils are turned into fatty acids and glycerol, proteins into amino acids, and starches into sugars.

This step not only reduces the overall pollutant load but also makes the wastewater easier for microbes to digest.

Step 3: Biological Treatment

Beneficial microbes, sometimes added as part of a treatment package, then feed on the simple molecules created by the enzymes. This is where the bulk of the cleaning takes place, as microbes convert pollutants into harmless by-products.

Step 4: Polishing and Pathogen Reduction

After most of the organic matter is removed, additional steps can be taken to reduce pathogens. This might involve natural sedimentation, filtration through sand or biofilters, or even enzyme-based systems that target microbial cell walls.

Step 5: Testing and Verification

For irrigation use, testing is critical. The treated water must meet microbiological and chemical safety standards. Bioglobe can analyse samples in their laboratory to ensure that pathogens, heavy metals, and chemical residues are at safe levels.

Why Organic Treatment is Better for the Environment

Protecting Soil Health

Unlike chemical disinfectants, which can damage beneficial soil organisms, organic treatments preserve soil life. In fact, because they reduce harmful pollutants and restore balance, they can actually improve soil health over time.

Avoiding Chemical Residues

Chlorine and other chemicals can leave harmful by-products in water, such as trihalomethanes, which can accumulate in the environment. Enzyme treatments are biodegradable and simply break down into harmless amino acids after doing their work.

Supporting Circular Economy

By turning waste into a resource, organic treatment supports a circular approach to water and nutrient use. Nutrients are recycled rather than discarded, which reduces the need for artificial fertilisers.

Practical Benefits for Farmers and Communities

• Cost-effective: Once set up, organic treatment systems can be very economical, as they rely on natural processes rather than constant chemical inputs.
• Nutrient recycling: Nitrogen and phosphorus in treated wastewater act as fertilisers, reducing the need for synthetic alternatives.
• Water security: Provides a reliable water source even in drought.
• Community acceptance: Environmentally friendly processes are more acceptable to the public than chemical treatments.

Addressing Concerns

Safety First

While organic treatment is highly effective, it is not a free pass to ignore safety. Pathogens must be properly reduced, and testing must be frequent. For high-risk uses (like irrigation of salad crops), additional safeguards may be necessary, such as drip irrigation to keep water off the edible parts of plants.

Bespoke Solutions are Key

Because every wastewater source is unique, a one-size-fits-all approach will not work. This is why Bioglobe’s ability to create tailored solutions is so important. A customised enzyme formulation can address exactly the pollutants present, achieving the required water quality more quickly and efficiently.

Conclusion

Yes — sewage water can be made safe for irrigation organically. The process involves breaking down organic matter with specialised enzymes, supporting beneficial microbes, reducing pathogens, and carefully monitoring the results. Done correctly, this approach protects human health, safeguards soil quality, and recycles valuable nutrients back into the land.

Bioglobe’s advanced organic enzyme solutions, supported by in-house analysis and bespoke formulations, offer a sustainable, eco-friendly way to achieve this goal — without leaving harmful chemical residues in the environment. For communities and farmers seeking a safe, green solution, organic enzyme treatment is a pathway worth pursuing.

FAQs

Is treated sewage safe for crops?

Treated sewage can be safe for crops if it is properly treated and tested. The key is to remove pathogens, reduce organic matter, and make sure that chemical residues and heavy metals are below safe limits. When these conditions are met, the water can be safely reused for many types of crops. Some crops, particularly those eaten raw, may require stricter standards, but for many uses, treated wastewater is both safe and beneficial.

How does organic treatment protect soil?

Organic treatment protects soil by avoiding the use of harsh chemicals that can harm beneficial microbes. Enzymes and natural biological processes work with the soil’s ecosystem rather than against it. This helps maintain soil fertility, improve its structure, and encourage a healthy microbial balance, all of which are essential for sustainable agriculture.

What about harmful bacteria?

Harmful bacteria are a valid concern, which is why pathogen reduction is a critical step in the treatment process. Enzyme-based and biological treatments can significantly reduce the number of pathogens, and additional natural disinfection steps can bring levels down to safe standards. Regular testing ensures that the treated water is fit for its intended use and poses no risk to human health.

Bioglobe offer Organic Enzyme pollution remediation for major oil-spills, oceans and coastal waters, marinas and inland water, sewage and nitrate remediation and agriculture and brown-field sites, throughout the UK and Europe.

We have created our own Enzyme based bioremediation in our own laboratory in Cyprus and we are able to create bespoke variants for maximum efficacy.

Our team are able to identify the pollution, we then assess the problem, conduct site tests and send samples to our lab where we can create a bespoke variant, we then conduct a pilot test and proceed from there.

Our Enzyme solutions are available around the world, remediation pollution organically without any harm to the ecosystem.

For further information:
BioGlobe LTD (UK),
Phone: +44(0) 116 4736303| Email: info@bioglobe.co.uk