A Review of Riverbank Filtration with a Focus on Tropical Agriculture for Irrigation Water Supply

Abstract

Tropical agriculture requires sustainable irrigation solutions that balance water availability with quality and environmental protection. This review synthesizes current knowledge on riverbank filtration (RBF)—a nature-based technology for improving agricultural water quality—with objectives to elucidate design principles, water quality performance, and operational challenges specific to tropical contexts. Through systematic analysis of 128 peer-reviewed articles across topics including RBF hydrogeology, contaminant removal mechanisms, sediment transport, pathogen reduction, site selection criteria, and monitoring strategies, this work consolidates interdisciplinary evidence on RBF effectiveness for irrigation water supply. The Roldanillo–Unión–Toro (RUT) district in Valle del Cauca, Colombia, serves as a case study illustrating RBF application to sediment-rich, pathogen-prone rivers typical of tropical agricultural regions. While RBF is established for drinking water supply in temperate zones, its adaptation to tropical irrigation remains underexplored. This review identifies critical hydrogeological, environmental, and operational considerations for implementing RBF systems in tropical agricultural settings characterized by high water demand, seasonal variability, and challenging water quality conditions. Key findings are synthesized into a practitioner-oriented framework—covering site selection, design optimization, and adaptive management—intended to guide deployment of RBF for irrigation in tropical agricultural settings.