Treated wastewater and biosolids declared safe for agriculture use, scientists conclude

A new report from a committee of the National Research Council concludes that, when properly treated, municipal wastewater and biosolids can be both safe and effective for irrigating and fertilizing food crops. "Society produces large volumes of treated municipal wastewater and sewage sludge that must be either disposed of or reused," explain the leading scientists who comprise the panel. "While no disposal or reuse option can guarantee complete safety, the use of these materials in the production of crops for human consumption, when practiced in accordance with existing federal guidelines and regulations, presents negligible risk to the consumer, to crop production, and to the …