Wastewater-irrigated vegetables: Market handling versus irrigation water quality

Objective and methods: Vegetables irrigated with untreated domestic wastewater were, at the time of harvest, analysed for the presence of the faecal indicator, Escherichia coli, and helminth eggs in Faisalabad, Pakistan. Vegetables from the same harvested batch were collected approximately 12 h later from the local market. Results: The survey found relatively low concentrations of E. coli (1.9 E. coli per gram), but relatively high concentrations of helminths (0.7 eggs per gram) on vegetables collected from agricultural fields. Higher concentration of both E. coli (14.3 E. coli per gram) and helminths (2.1 eggs per gram) were recovered from the vegetables collected from the market. Conclusions: The results of the survey suggest that unhygienic post harvest handling was the major source of produce contamination. Interventions at the market, such as the provision of clean water to wash produce in, are better ways to protect public health and more cost effective than wastewater treatment

Giardia duodenalis infection and wastewater irrigation in Pakistan

The risk of Giardia duodenalis (Giardia) infection in farmers using untreated wastewater in agriculture was investigated in the city of Faisalabad, Pakistan, through a cross-sectional study. The study found a significantly increased risk of (asymptomatic) Giardia infection in wastewater farming households when compared with farming households using regular (non-wastewater) irrigation water (OR 3.3, 95% CI 2.5-4.4). Textile labourers who were employed in the city of Faisalabad but who lived in the same village as the wastewater farmers showed a risk of Giardia infection in between that of wastewater and non-wastewater farming households (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.9-3.1). This study suggests that exposure to wastewater with high Giardia concentrations carries an increased risk for (asymptomatic) Giardia infection

Wastewater use in India: the impact of irrigation weirs on water quality and farmer health

In Water, Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC). Sustainable development of water resources, water supply and environmental sanitation: 32nd WEDC International Conference, Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 13th - 17th November 2006. Preprints. Leicestershire, UK: Water, Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC

Livelihoods from wastewater: water reuse in Faisalabad, Pakistan

In Jimenez, B.; Asano, T. (Eds.). Water reuse: an international survey of current practice, issues and needs. London, UK: IWA PublishingIWA Scientific and Technical Report 2

Comparison of Kato-Katz, ethyl-acetate sedimentation, and Midi Parasep® in the diagnosis of hookworm, Ascaris and Trichuris infections in the context of an evaluation of rural sanitation in India.

The Kato-Katz, conventional ethyl-acetate sedimentation, and Midi Parasep(®) methods for diagnosing infection with soil-transmitted helminths were compared. The Kato-Katz technique gave the best overall diagnostic performance with the highest results in all measures (prevalence, faecal egg count, sensitivity) followed by the conventional ethyl-acetate and then the Midi Parasep(®) technique. The Kato-Katz technique showed a significantly higher faecal egg count and sensitivity for both hookworm and Trichuris as compared to the Midi Parasep(®) technique. The conventional ethyl-acetate technique produced smaller pellets and showed lower pellet mobility as compared to the Midi Parasep(®)

Use of untreated wastewater in peri-urban agriculture in Pakistan: risks and opportunities

The practice of using untreated wastewater for irrigation is widespread but has been largely ignored because the norm has always been that wastewater should be treated before use. Increasing water scarcity, lack of money for treatment and a clear willingness by farmers to use untreated wastewater have led to an uncontrolled expansion of wastewater use. It is therefore important to better document the practice of irrigation with untreated wastewater in order to find out how it can be improved within the financial possibilities of very low-income countries

Irrigation as a source of drinking water: Is safe use possible?

In IWMI, Annual report 2001-2002: Partnerships for change. Colombo, Sri Lanka, IWMIPublished in ?Tropical Medicine and International Health, Vol.6, No.1, pp.46-54, January 2001.? The complete article is available on the CD-ROM version of this Annual Report

Irrigation water as a source of drinking water: Is safe use possible?

In Jensen, P. K. Domestic users of irrigation water: Water quality and health impacts. Copenhagen, Denmark: Royal Veterinary and Agricultural Universit