Using treated wastewater to irrigate agricultural lands against law: MoAF

Muscat – 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MoAF) has announced that it is illegal to irrigate agricultural lands with treated wastewater. It also confirmed that laboratory tests on samples collected from a farm beneath scrutiny for making use of treated wastewater revealed that they are free of charge from organic pollutants and heavy metals.

MoAF has confirmed that treated wastewater was employed to irrigate fodder crops, trees and ornamental plants only. The farm came beneath scrutiny right after a video went viral which showed farmers mixing treated wastewater with groundwater to irrigate crops.

As component of investigations by MoAF held in cooperation with the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources (MRMWR), the crops grown in the farms have been seized and samples have been sent to the laboratory for evaluation. Based on tests, the ministry confirmed that the farmers had mixed treated wastewater with groundwater to irrigate the crops.

Legal procedures will be initiated for violating the Agriculture Law No 2006/48, which prohibits farmers from making use of treated wastewater to irrigate agricultural land with out getting approval from the Directorate General of Agricultural Development. The ministry urges citizens to report any such violations on  80060600. It has also urged Omani farmers not to leave their farms to expatriates workers with out supervision.

Information Source: Muscat Daily