Wastewater irrigation-economic concerns regarding beneficiary and hazardous effects of nutrients

The optimal wastewater treatment level is affected by costs, hazards and benefits. Lowering the wastewater treatment level decreases fertilization costs because of the increased levels of available nutrients left in the water, and irrigation costs decrease if water prices reflect the lower treatment costs. Agricultural yields and/or prices may decrease according to differences between levels of nutrients needed by crops and those available in wastewater. The present article focuses on determination of monthly optimal treatment levels and of the mix of crops calculated to maximize agricultural incomes, according to farmers' point of view. It does not reflect the national point-view focusing on maximization of net national benefits considering also environmental hazards. The methodology appears in Haruvy (1994) and application will be presented in another article (Haruvy et al., 1999).