Water in agriculture

Authors: MARKLAND, SARAH - University Of Delaware; INGRAM, DAVID - Food And Drug Administration(FDA); KNIEL, KALMIA - University Of Delaware; Sharma, Manan

Submitted to: Microbiology Spectrum
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/29/2017
Publication Date: 5/19/2017
Citation: Markland, S.M., Ingram, D.T., Kniel, K.E., Sharma, M. 2017. Water in agriculture. Microbiology Spectrum. (5)3.

Interpretive Summary: Water is an increasingly critical resource as many regions of the U.S. and other countries experience continuing climate with can affect water availability and quality. Relatively new rules in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) for the levels of E. coli in water increase attention to the water sources used for irrigation of fruits and vegetables to be consumed raw. The use of surface water has received increased scrutiny, and several recent studies have shown the presence of enteric foodborne pathogens in these water sources. There have been several outbreaks of human infections associated with the irrigation or washing of fruits and vegetables with contaminated water. Several mitigation technologies are being examined for their utility in increasing the microbial quality of the water. Similarly, many communities in the U.S. are beginning to closely examine and/or expand the use of reclaimed water for agriculture. In the U.S. the use of reclaimed water in agriculture is mainly regulated on a state level and not a national one. The increasingly limited availability of water, increased water quality standards have made use the non-traditional water sources and cost-effective mitigation technologies to improve water quality have all heightened attention paid to agricultural water recently.

Technical Abstract: Agricultural water is a precious and limited resource. Increasingly more water types and sources are being explored for use in irrigation within the United States and across the globe. As outlined in this chapter relatively new regulations in the Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA) provide irrigation water standards for application of water to fruits and vegetables consumed raw. These rules for production and use of water will continue to develop and be required as the world experiences aspects of a changing climate including fierce storms resulting in flooding as well as drought conditions. Research continues to assess the use of agricultural water types. The increased use of reclaimed water in the United States as well for selected irrigation water needs for specific crops may provide increased water availability. The use of surface water can be used in irrigation as well, but several studies have shown the presence of some enteric bacterial pathogens (enterohemorrhagic E. coli, Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes) in these waters that may contaminate fruits and vegetables. There have been outbreaks of foodborne illness in the U.S., South America, Europe and Australia related to the use of contaminated water in fruit and vegetable irrigation or washing. Unreliable water supplies, more stringent microbial water standards, mitigation technologies and expanded uses of reclaimed waters have all increased interest in agricultural water.