Becerra-Castro, CristinaLopes, Ana RitaVaz-Moreira, IvoneSilva, ElisabeteManaia, CéliaNunes, Olga2015-05-112015-05-112015-01Becerra-Castro et al. 2015http://hdl.handle.net/10400.19/2802The reuse of treated wastewater, in particular for irrigation, is an increasingly common practice, encouraged by governments and of fi cial entities worldwide. Irrigation with wastewater may have implications at two different levels:alterthephysicochemicalandmicrobiologicalpropertiesofthesoiland/orintroduceandcontributetothe accumulation of chemical and biological contaminants in soil. The fi rst may affect soil productivity and fertility; the second may pose serious risks to the human and environmental health. The sustainable wastewater reuse in agriculture should prevent both typesofeffects,requiring a holisticand integratedrisk assessment. Inthis article wecriticallyreviewpossible effects of irrigation with treatedwastewater, with special emphasison soil microbi- ota. The maintenance of a rich and diversi fi ed autochthonous soil microbiota and the use of treated wastewater with minimal levels of potential soil contaminants are proposed as sine qua non conditions to achieve a sustain- able wastewater reuse for irrigation.engWastewater reuseWastewater microbiotaSoil microbiotaAutochthonous microbiotaChemical contaminationBiological contaminationIrrigationjournal article10.1016/j.envint.2014.11.001