ISO 16075-1:2020

Overview

ISO 16075-1:2020 - Guidelines for treated wastewater use for irrigation projects - Part 1: The basis of a reuse project for irrigation - provides internationally harmonized guidance for planning, designing, operating and monitoring projects that use treated wastewater (TWW) for irrigation. The standard focuses on practical, agronomic, environmental and public‑health considerations for both agricultural and landscape (parks, sport fields, golf courses, cemeteries, etc.) irrigation, taking into account climate and soil parameters. It is a non‑certification guidance document intended for professionals and organizations engaged in water reuse.

Key technical topics and requirements

• Water quality parameters - Guidance on agronomic factors (nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium), salinity factors (total dissolved salts, chloride, sodium, boron) and concentrations of heavy metals; discussion of pathogen presence and sanitary quality requirements.
• Risk drivers and impacts - How TWW quality can affect crops, soil health, groundwater and public health; examples of salinization, ion toxicity, nutrient accumulation and pathogen transmission.
• Project design principles - Emphasis on the fit‑for‑purpose approach: design TWW treatment and distribution to meet intended irrigation uses and crop sensitivity. Compatibility between TWW quality, irrigation method and soil/crop characteristics is required.
• Operation, monitoring and maintenance - Need for ongoing monitoring of TWW quality, irrigation system performance and soil/crop response to ensure safe, long‑term use.
• Source control and treatment options - Discussion of preventing contaminant inputs at source and of treatment measures to reduce problematic constituents (Annex A provides examples).
• Contextual factors - Consideration of climate and soil criteria, hydrological sensitivity, and groundwater/surface‑water protection measures (Annexes B–D contain illustrative examples and sensitivity groupings).
• Scope limits - The standard addresses common ranges of water quality; contaminants of emerging concern (pharmaceuticals, personal care products) are outside its scope. It is not intended for certification.

Practical applications and intended users

This guideline is practical for:

• Irrigation designers and operators (irrigation companies, contractors)
• Water and wastewater utilities (design and operations teams)
• Agricultural extension officers and advisors
• Local authorities and urban planners implementing landscape irrigation with reclaimed water
• Project managers planning TWW reuse schemes who need to balance agronomy, public health and environmental protection

Practical uses include risk assessment, defining monitoring programs, selecting appropriate treatment and distribution methods, and setting operational limits aligned with crop and soil tolerance.

Related standards and notes

• ISO 16075-1:2020 is part of the ISO 16075 series on treated wastewater reuse and was prepared by ISO/TC 282 Water reuse. Users should consult other parts of the series and local health and regulatory requirements for detailed threshold values and compliance obligations.