Microbiological Impact of the Use of Reclaimed Wastewater in Recreational Parks

Oskar A. Palacios, Francisco J. Zavala-Díaz de la Serna, María De Lourdes Ballinas-Casarrubias, María S. Espino-Valdés and Guadalupe V. Nevárez-Moorillón
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Oskar A. Palacios: Circuito Universitario S/N Campus Universitario II, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Chih 31125, Mexico
Francisco J. Zavala-Díaz de la Serna: Circuito Universitario S/N Campus Universitario II, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Chih 31125, Mexico
María De Lourdes Ballinas-Casarrubias: Circuito Universitario S/N Campus Universitario II, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Chih 31125, Mexico
María S. Espino-Valdés: Circuito Universitario S/N Campus Universitario II, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Chih 31125, Mexico
Guadalupe V. Nevárez-Moorillón: Circuito Universitario S/N Campus Universitario II, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Chih 31125, Mexico

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-12

Abstract: Reclaimed wastewater for irrigation is an opportunity for recovery of this natural resource. In this study, microbial risk from the use of treated wastewater for irrigation of recreational parks in the city of Chihuahua, evaluating the effect of distribution distance, season, and presence of storage tanks, was analyzed. Escherichia coli , Salmonella , and multidrug-resistant bacteria were recovered from samples of reclaimed water and soils at recreational parks in Chihuahua by the membrane filtration method, using selected agars for microbial growth. Samples were taken at three different seasons. No correlation in the presence of microbial indicators and multidrug-resistant bacteria ( p > 0.05) was found between the distance from the wastewater treatment plant to the point of use. Presence of storage tanks in parks showed a significant effect ( p < 0.05) with a higher level of E. coli . The highest count in wastewater occurred in summer. We isolated 392 multidrug-resistant bacteria from water and soil; cluster analysis showed that the microorganisms at each location were of different origins. Irrigation with reclaimed wastewater did not have a negative effect on the presence of microbial indicators of the quality of soils in the parks. However, the prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria still represents a potential risk factor for human health.

Keywords: wastewater; recreational parks; E. coli; Salmonella; multidrug-resistant bacteria (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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