Recycled Wastewater Use for Irrigation:
Separating the Knowns from the Unknowns
The state of Arizona lies in the driest region of the Southwestern United States. Yet, it is also experiencing extreme population growth, with a current population of 7 million expected to top 10 million in the next 25 years. To maintain sustainable water supplies for irrigation of food crops, Arizona has been at the forefront of water reuse. Though technologies are in place to produce extremely clean potable water through wastewater reclamation, there are still questions to be addressed: does recycled wastewater, which can contain trace levels of contaminants, spread antibiotic resistance into soils and food crops, endangering public health? Are the residents of Arizona supportive of using recycled water for crop irrigation? Where do we need to focus our research on water reclamation technology to ensure a healthy and sustainable food supply? This talk will include current understanding, as well as the unknowns, regarding antibiotic resistance and its connection to wastewater.
Bio:
Jean McLain is a Research Specialist in the University of Arizona Department of Environmental Science, and Assistant Dean of the College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences. Jean’s research expertise is in establishing the applicability of recycled municipal wastewater for crop irrigation, replenishment of surface water, groundwater recharge, and human consumption.
 
Jean holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry from the University of Vermont, and a Master’s Degree in Forest Science from Yale University. She received her Ph.D. from Duke University in Microbial Ecology in 2002.
 
 
Join us at 3:30 in the Marley lobby for refreshments.  
The presentation will begin at 4:00 p.m. in Marley 230
A live broadcast is available via zoom: https://arizona.zoom.us/j/88614287572  Password: spls2023