AGRICULTURE USES 70% OF GLOBAL FRESHWATER, BUT GROWING POPULATIONS AND WATER SCARCITY ARE FORCING FARMERS TO USE TREATED WASTEWATER FOR CROP IRRIGATION. THE USE OF RECYCLED WATER CAN OFFSET FERTILIZER NEEDS AS IT IS ALREADY NUTRIENT RICH, HOWEVER NO FEDERAL GUIDELINES EXIST FOR RECYCLED WATER TREATMENT. FURTHER, MOST GUIDELINES FOR RECYCLED WATER COME FROM DRINKING WATER TREATMENT, HOWEVER THEY HAVE FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT WATER CHEMISTRIES AND MICROBIOLOGIES. USING DRINKING WATER DISINFECTANTS ON TREATED WASTEWATER OFTEN IS INSUFFICIENT AND THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT BACTERIA CAN REGROW AND THRIVE IN THE PIPES BETWEEN A WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY AND THE POINT OF USE. THIS USDA-FUNDED RESEARCH WILL BUILD A LABORATORY SYSTEM TO TEST THREE DIFFERENT DISINFECTION METHODS TO DETERMINE WHICH BEST ELIMINATES THESE HARMFUL BACTERIA FROM AGRICULTURAL IRRIGATION WATER. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO DEVELOP COMPUTER MODELS TO PREDICT WHEN DANGEROUS BACTERIA LEVELS OCCUR, ENABLING REAL-TIME MONITORING FOR FARM WATER SYSTEMS. BY IDENTIFYING SAFER DISINFECTION PRACTICES AND CREATING EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS, THIS WORK WILL DIRECTLY SUPPORT USDA'S MISSION TO ENSURE A SAFE, SUSTAINABLE FOOD SUPPLY. THE FINDINGS WILL BENEFIT AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS, WATER TREATMENT FACILITIES, AND CONSUMERS BY REDUCING ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT BACTERIA IN THE FOOD CHAIN WHILE PROMOTING WATER CONSERVATION IN FARMING OPERATIONS.