ISSN 2756-3804
International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management ISSN 5423-5294 Vol. 7 (4), pp. 001-007, April, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Microbial and physicochemical quality of an urban reclaimed wastewater used for irrigation and aquaculture in South Africa
Odjadjare E. E. O.1,2*, Igbinosa E. O.2 and Okoh A. I.2
1Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Western Delta University, P. M. B. 10, Oghara, Delta State, Nigeria.
2Applied and Environmental Microbiology Research Group (AEMREG), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa.
Accepted 10 November, 2019
Abstract
We evaluated the microbial (listerial) and physicochemical quality of a reclaimed municipal wastewater (RW) used for irrigation and aquaculture in South Africa between August 2007 and July 2008. Listerial density in RW ranged between 9.6 × 103 and 2.8 × 105 cfu/100 ml. pH varied from 6.7 to 7.75 while temperature ranged between 18 and 27°C. Turbidity varied between 1.6 and 19 NTU whereas chemical oxygen demand (COD) ranged from 10 to 965 mg/l. Total dissolved solids (TDS) for RW varied between 288 and 715 mg/l while dissolved oxygen (DO) ranged between 0.14 and 6.1 mg/l. Other parameters recorded the following values after wastewater reclamation: Nitrate (0.27 – 6.8 mg NO3-N/l); Nitrite (0.12 - 6.3 mg NO 2- N/l); and Orthophosphate (PO43-) (0.08 – 2.17 mg PO43- P/l). Although the physicochemical quality of the RW was generally compliant with recommended standards, its microbial quality disqualifies it for use in agriculture and aquaculture in lieu of the public health implication for farm workers and consumers of the farm produce.
Key words: Reclaimed wastewater, Listeria, physicochemical, irrigation, aquaculture, public health, environment.