Water reuse: A resource for Mediterranean agriculture

Climate change, irrigation development, and a growing population across the Mediterranean region are increasing the pressure on water resources in terms of both quantity and quality. High-quality water should be primarily reserved to drinking water while water reuse is, and should be, a growing part of the water mix for other uses. This chapter provides an overview of the current water reuse situation in agriculture across the region, including planned projects and unplanned practices. It highlights the diversity of policy contexts (legal frameworks, national strategies, and governance arrangements) by reviewing the specific experiences of Jordan, France, Morocco, and Algeria. It also highlights the diversity of irrigation practices on the ground, and discusses health-related issues and agronomical performances. It concludes by stressing the potential for planned water reuse, both direct and indirect, while reminding that water reuse should not be primarily perceived as a new resource by policy-makers, but rather as a means to raise water productivity. Finally, an integrated approach is recommended, capable of including environmental, economic, and equity considerations