Microbiological assessment of river water used for the irrigation of fresh produce in a sub-urban community in Sobantu, South Africa

The use of wastewater for irrigation is widely practiced in developing countries such as South Africa due to local fresh water scarcity, but little is understood in these developing nations about the potential risks associated with its use. This study was conducted to establish potential links between river water quality and the microbiological quality of fresh produce irrigated with this water. Selected physico-chemical (pH, temperature and chemical oxygen demand) and microbiological parameters (aerobic plate count, total coliforms, fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli) of irrigation water and fresh produce were analyzed. The samples were collected from the Baynespruit River in Sobantu, a sub-urban area in Pietermaritzburg consisting of low cost housing. Fecal coliform counts frequently exceeded the recommended maximum values suggested by the World Health Organization and the South African Department of Water Affairs for safe irrigation, as well as the recommended maximum values set by the Department of Health (South Africa) for consumption of raw produce. Fecal coliform counts of up to 1.6 x 10(6) (log = 6.20) per 100 ml of irrigation water and 1.6 x 10(5) (log = 5.20) per gram of produce were observed. This indicates that fecal matter might have entered the Baynespruit River and that microbes present therein can be transferred via irrigation to fresh produce. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.