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Reclaimed Water in Your Florida-Friendly Edible Landscape

Terra Freeman, Tiare Saracino, Yilin Zhuang, and


Release Date: 6/28/2026

DOI: 10.32473/EDIS-ep628-2023

Water Resources

Abstract

Reclaimed water plays a significant role in water conservation, a goal of every Florida-Friendly Landscape. However, using reclaimed water on plants harvested and consumed from the home landscape must be approached with caution for vegetables, fruit trees, herbs, and other edible crops due to the risk of contamination from pathogens and salts. Before using reclaimed water in your Florida-Friendly edible garden, it is important to have a clear understanding of what it is and how it can be safely used. The target audience for this publication is Florida residents who irrigate landscapes, including edibles, with reclaimed water.

About this Publication

This document is ENH1364, one of a series of the Department of Environmental Horticulture. Original publication date January 2023. Revised June 2026. Visit the Ask IFAS website at https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/ for the currently supported version of this publication.

How to Cite

Freeman, T., Saracino, T., Zhuang, Y., & Momol, E. (2023). Reclaimed Water in Your Florida-Friendly Edible Landscape. EDIS, 2023(1). https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-ep628-2023

Authors

Terra Freeman
Terra Freeman
County agent
University of Florida

Extension agent III, M.A., Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program and commercial horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension St. Johns County

Tiare Saracino
Tiare Saracino
County agent
University of Florida

Extension agent III, residential horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County

Yilin Zhuang
Yilin Zhuang
Specialized Agent
University of Florida

regional specialized agent III, Ph.D., water resources, UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center, Apopka, FL

Esen Momol
Esen Momol

former director, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program; UF/IFAS Center for Land Use Efficiency (CLUE)

Publication #ENH1364

Peer Reviewed
Homeowner