Position of the Australian horticultural industry with respect to the use of reclaimed water

Australia is the driest inhabited continent on earth, and pressure on its water resources is already high and increasing. Environmental, social, and economic drivers are forcing horticultural industries in Australia to reassess their use of freshwater resources. Reclaimed water is potentially a major resource for the horticultural industry. In general, however, there has been some apprehension towards using reclaimed water for irrigation, owing primarily to uncertainties related to agricultural sustainability and human health. Here, we consider the current standing of the Australian horticultural industry in terms of its preparedness to use reclaimed water for irrigation. We address issues related to policy, economics, market access, pragmatic directives (such as state and federal guidelines), environmental impact, agronomic sustainability, and public health. From these appraisals, we have attempted to summarise the major impediments to the use of reclaimed water by the Australian horticultural industry. These are: insufficient knowledge of impacts on market access; commitment to provide continuity of quality and supply to markets; implications of substitution of alternative water sources on security of supply; insufficient knowledge of food safety issues; inadequate understanding of consumer perceptions; and uncertainty about pricing of reclaimed water.