| Title | VEGETABLE CROPS IRRIGATION WITH TERTIARY FILTERED MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER |
| Abstract | The use of tertiary membrane-filtered municipal wastewater for irrigation as an alternative to natural freshwater sources was evaluated. Membrane filtration was considered as a viable technology to reclaim wastewater for irrigation, and the microbial and heavy metal impact on crops and soil was studied. The results of 2 years of research (2003-2004), carried out in Cerignola in the South of Italy, are reported. Tertiary treatment was carried out using a membrane filtration pilot plant with a hollow fibre submerged system. The water produced was used for drip irrigation of three vegetable crops in succession - processing tomato, fennel and lettuce - and compared with conventional water. Microbiological analyses were performed on the water used for irrigation, on soil samples and on marketable crops. Results show that the microbial content of soil and crops did not show relevant differences in relation to the two types of water. The measured values of heavy metals concentration in crops never exceeded toxic values. The filtered wastewater never caused an increase of bacterial concentration in the soil nor on the edible part of crops. Therefore, tertiary filtered municipal wastewater can be considered a valid alternative source of water for vegetable crop irrigation. |
| Source | Plant Biosystems (Firenze, Testo stamp.) 141 (2), pp. 275–281 |
| Keywords | Faecal pollution indicators; Heavy metals; Vegetable crop irrigation; Wastewater treatment |
| Journal | Plant Biosystems (Firenze, Testo stamp.) |
| Editor | Società Botanica Italiana., Firenze, Italia |
| Year | 2007 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.1080/11263500701402016 |
| Authors | LONIGRO A., RUBINO P., BRANDONISIO O., SPINELLI R., POLLICE A., LAERA G. |
| Text | 42201 2007 10.1080/11263500701402016 ISI Web of Science WOS 000248367800014 Faecal pollution indicators; Heavy metals; Vegetable crop irrigation; Wastewater treatment VEGETABLE CROPS IRRIGATION WITH TERTIARY FILTERED MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER LONIGRO A., RUBINO P., BRANDONISIO O., SPINELLI R., POLLICE A., LAERA G. Istituto di Ricerca Sulle Acque, Viale F. De Blasio 5, 70132 Bari, Italy Dipartimento di Scienze Delle Produzioni Vegetali, Universita degli Studi di Bari, Bari, Italy Dipartimento di Clinica Medica, Immunologia e Malattie Infettive, Universita degli Studi di Bari, Bari, Italy The use of tertiary membrane filtered municipal wastewater for irrigation as an alternative to natural freshwater sources was evaluated. Membrane filtration was considered as a viable technology to reclaim wastewater for irrigation, and the microbial and heavy metal impact on crops and soil was studied. The results of 2 years of research 2003 2004 , carried out in Cerignola in the South of Italy, are reported. Tertiary treatment was carried out using a membrane filtration pilot plant with a hollow fibre submerged system. The water produced was used for drip irrigation of three vegetable crops in succession processing tomato, fennel and lettuce and compared with conventional water. Microbiological analyses were performed on the water used for irrigation, on soil samples and on marketable crops. Results show that the microbial content of soil and crops did not show relevant differences in relation to the two types of water. The measured values of heavy metals concentration in crops never exceeded toxic values. The filtered wastewater never caused an increase of bacterial concentration in the soil nor on the edible part of crops. Therefore, tertiary filtered municipal wastewater can be considered a valid alternative source of water for vegetable crop irrigation. 141 http //www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/11263500701402016 Articolo pubblicato 2007_Plant_Biosystems_141_275_281.pdf Articolo in rivista Societa Botanica Italiana. 1126 3504 Plant Biosystems Firenze, Testo stamp. Plant Biosystems Firenze, Testo stamp. Plant Biosyst. Firenze, Testo stamp. Plant Biosystems. Firenze, Testo stamp. alfieri.pollice POLLICE ALFIERI giuseppe.laera LAERA GIUSEPPE TA.P07.002.002 Sviluppo di nuovi processi di controllo dell inquinamento idrico. TA.P07.002.004 Processi biotecnologici e processi a membrana |
