AGROBIOLOGIA
Volume 3, Numéro 1, Pages 25-34
2013-01-01

Health Risk Of Urban Wastewater Reuse In Letidce Irrigation In Fez, Morocco

Authors : Mohammed Merzoukt . Hakima Talouizte . El Hassant Fatima Zahra . Bennant Laila . Lalamt Abdelhakim El Ouali . Bekhb Khadija . Benlemlih Mohamed .

Abstract

In this study the health risk of urban wastewater reuse in lettuce (Lactuca sativa) irrigation was investigated. Samples were collected from wastewater and lettuce crops and analyzed for selected quality parameters of health significance. Results were compared to national and international guidelines for water use in irrigation. Wastewater COD averaged 1190 mg r1, while electric conductivity ranged from 1480 to 2012 μS cm-1 and was less than the Moroccan limit value of8700 μS cm-1 Faecal coliforms abundance ofurban wastewater was high (2.1 101 CFU 100 mr1 ) compared to the WHO and Moroccan limits for water use in irrigation of 1000 CFU 1 OO mr1 and 1 OO CFU 5000 mr'. Lettuce microbial load was 6.4 104 CFU g-1 for total coliforms and 3 .2 104 CFU g-1 for faecal coliforms. In addition, Salmonella typhi was identified in lettuce and wastewater. Parasitological analysis of wastewater and lettuce showed the presence of protozoa cysts (Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba coli and Giardia lamblia) and helminthes eggs (Ascaris sp, Trichuris sp, Strongiloides sp and Taeniasp).

Keywords

Wastewater reuse, Urban wastewater, Health risk, Irrigation, Lettuce