Is the microbiological quality of the Msunduzi River (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) suitable for domestic, recreational, and agricultural purposes?

Gemmell, Megan E.; Schmidt, Štefan

doi:10.1007/s11356-013-1710-1

Cited by 31 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…The elevated temperatures of the Nungwane Dam and the spring water when compared to river and tap water might be due to the fact that these water sources are stagnant. The chemical oxygen demand (COD), an indicator of organic pollutants in water, showed values of between 14 mg/L and 39 mg/L (Table 3), indicating that the chemical burden of the water was at the lower end of the range reported recently for two local rivers in KwaZulu-Natal [15,16]. …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 91%

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Appraisal of Hygiene Indicators and Farming Practices in the Production of Leafy Vegetables by Organic Small-Scale Farmers in uMbumbulu (Rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa)

Mdluli

Thamaga-Chitja

Schmidt

2013

IJERPH

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During October, November and December 2011 (when highest sales of Agri-Hub fresh produce are observed), irrigation water, compost, lettuce and spinach sampled from four different farmer cooperatives supplying the local Agri-Hub in uMbumbulu (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) were analyzed monthly for the presence of total and fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli using the most probable number (MPN) technique. The pH values for all irrigation water samples analyzed were within the acceptable range of 6.5–8.5 for agricultural use. Fecal coliform levels were <1,000 MPN per 100 mL irrigation water and <1,000 MPN per g of compost. The vegetables produced by Agri-Hub small-scale farmers met the requirements for total coliforms of <200/g set by the South African Department of Health at the time of sampling. E. coli MPN values for irrigation water and vegetables were below the limit of detection. In addition, the farming practices of 73 farmers were assessed via a survey. The results revealed that more than 40% of farmers used microbiologically safe tap water for irrigation and that trained farmers have a significantly better understanding of the importance of production hygiene than untrained farmers. These results reiterate the importance of interventions that build capacity in the area of food safety and hygiene of small-scale farmers for market access of formal value chains.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Microbial contamination of river water sources has only recently been reported for South Africa [14,15,16]. In fact, river water in KwaZulu-Natal has been suspected to aid in the transfer of pathogens when overhead irrigation is used [15,17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Appraisal of Hygiene Indicators and Farming Practices in the Production of Leafy Vegetables by Organic Small-Scale Farmers in uMbumbulu (Rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa)

Mdluli

Thamaga-Chitja

Schmidt

2013

IJERPH

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“…To date, MALDI-TOF MS has predominantly been used to identify clinical isolates (16,30); however, a limited number of studies have reported the application of MALDI-TOF MS in a microbial ecological context (19,20). In a study to evaluate the microbiological quality of the Msunduzi River in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, the identities of E. coli isolates were confirmed using PCR and MALDI-TOF MS (19). The diversity and distribution of cultivable bacteria throughout the whole spinach process line, including the fresh produce and the wash water, were determined (20).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determining the Potential Link between Irrigation Water Quality and the Microbiological Quality of Onions by Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Escherichia coli Isolates

Plessis

Duvenage

Korsten

2015

Journal of Food Protection

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The potential transfer of human pathogenic bacteria present in irrigation water onto fresh produce was investigated, because surface water sources used for irrigation purposes in South Africa have increasingly been reported to be contaminated with enteric bacterial pathogens. A microbiological analysis was performed of a selected river in Limpopo Province, South Africa, that is often contaminated with raw sewage from municipal sewage works and overhead irrigated onions produced on a commercial farm. Counts of Escherichia coli, coliforms, aerobic bacteria, fungi, and yeasts and the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes were determined. Identities of bacterial isolates from irrigation water and onions were confirmed using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry, PCR, and biochemical tests. To establish a potential link between the microbiological quality of the irrigation source and the onions, the E. coli isolates from both were subjected to antibiotic resistance, virulence gene, and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR analyses. River water E. coli counts exceeded South African Department of Water Affairs and World Health Organization irrigation water guidelines. Counts of aerobic bacteria, coliforms, fungi, and yeasts of onions from the market were acceptable according to Department of Health Directorate, Food Control, South Africa, microbiological guidelines for ready-to-eat fresh fruits and vegetables. E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and L. monocytogenes were not detected in onions, whereas only Salmonella was detected in 22% of water samples. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry and PCR identification of E. coli isolates from water and onions correlated. Of the 45 E. coli isolates from water and onions, 42.2% were resistant to multiple antibiotics. Virulence genes eae, stx1, and stx2 were detected in 2.2, 6.6, and 2.2% of the E. coli isolates, respectively. Phenotypic (antimicrobial) and genotypic (virulence gene prevalence, DNA fingerprinting) analyses showed a link between river, dam, irrigation pivot point, and onion E. coli isolates.

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“…pathogenic viruses, bacteria or parasites) or chemical contaminants (pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, antibiotics). Many of these contaminants have been found in South African rivers, such as the Msunduzi and uMngeni Rivers in KwaZulu-Natal, that serve as potential water sources for peri-urban communities and are subject to effluent inflow (Gemmell and Schmidt, 2013;Matongo et al, 2015). Information on the contaminant burden for potential water re-use sources is presently limited for South Africa but the potential re-use risks appear to be linked to technical solutions such as the ability to treat such water at a larger scale to safeguard sufficient water quality.…”

Section: Possible Solutions and Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water security in South Africa: perceptions on public expectations and municipal obligations, governance and water re-use

Sershen

Rodda

Stenström

et al. 2016

WSA

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South Africa is a water-scarce country with increasing pressure on its water resources. Urgent interventions are needed to protect water security within this rapidly developing country. This paper reports on an interdisciplinary Water Security Colloquium, convened by the South African Young Academy of Science in 2014. A selected group of water professionals from academia, civil society and local government was brought together to discuss water security under three focus themes: 'public expectations and municipal obligations' , 'water security and governance: challenges and advances' , and 'water re-use: health and infrastructural considerations' . Participant perceptions were generated using a focus group methodology, combined with participatory data collection methods. Under each theme, inputs were categorised as 'challenges' , 'gaps in knowledge' , and 'solutions/recommendations' and these inputs were thereafter ranked in order of importance via a 'voting' process. Major challenges perceived included a lack of both skills and political will in government, a need to restore citizen trust in government intention and capability to deliver water-related services, and a failure to up-scale existing water re-use technology. Participants identified understanding of the process and implications of the Green and Blue Drop Programmes, knowledge transfer to the public, and the role of educators as major knowledge gaps. The top suggestions proposed included creating public awareness around and buy-in to initiatives to improve water security, accessible and user-friendly conversion of research results to implementation, and ensuring an active role for educators in creating awareness around water security. In view of the concerns identified, participants suggested as potential solutions: improving government and public understanding around water issues, incentivising water re-use and conservation, introducing rising block tariffs and improving human capacity development in the water sector. Developing the ecological infrastructure that protects both quantity and quality of water and building strong partnerships among all stakeholders were also recognised as key.

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Is the microbiological quality of the Msunduzi River (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) suitable for domestic, recreational, and agricultural purposes?

Cited by 31 publications

References 41 publications

Appraisal of Hygiene Indicators and Farming Practices in the Production of Leafy Vegetables by Organic Small-Scale Farmers in uMbumbulu (Rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa)

Appraisal of Hygiene Indicators and Farming Practices in the Production of Leafy Vegetables by Organic Small-Scale Farmers in uMbumbulu (Rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa)

Determining the Potential Link between Irrigation Water Quality and the Microbiological Quality of Onions by Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Escherichia coli Isolates

Water security in South Africa: perceptions on public expectations and municipal obligations, governance and water re-use

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