Classification of Wastewater Reuse for Agriculture: A Case Study in South Korea

There are several types of wastewater reuse for agriculture, and an explicit classification is necessary before providing the proper management plan for the specific type. The objective of this study was to classify types of agricultural wastewater reuse for safe and sustainable wastewater irrigation. Three criteria were applied based on the reuse circumstances in Korea: (i) whether wastewater diluted with fresh water (direct/indirect); (ii) whether planned by government agencies (planned/unplanned); (iii) treatment level of wastewater (untreated wastewater/treated wastewater/reclaimed wastewater). The wastewater reuse for agriculture was classified into seven types. This study describes characteristics and a possible management practice for each reuse type, and also provides some representative cases. The proposed classification would contribute to a better understanding of agricultural wastewater reuse and help decision makers in both Korea and developing countries having agricultural similarity with Korea to provide optimal management plans.