might seem a dumb question but is irrigation water really only fit for watering crops/ plants ? can it be used for bathing/toilets..can it be filtered or purified ? a few properties I'm looking at have got irrigation water and I'm a tad confused, regards calum

Any water can be cleaned to make it fit for consumption - it comes down to cost at the end of the day.
There are a number of water treatment systems - from passive filter(s) which remove particles of varying sizes to active filter systems with chemical treatment. There are also decalcification filters to remove the calcium from the water.

You'll probably find the source for the irregation water is a river, stream or well of some sort. Whether you can use it for bathing/toilets may come down to the colour of the water.  If it is carrying a lot of sediment then either build a cisterna to let it settle out and/or put in filter(s) then you should find it's ok for most things.

As a general rule most people here use bottled water for drinking and, subject to the source, for cooking as well.

Nigel