PAPER: THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ECOLOGICAL SANITATION Title PLANT GROWTH AND MICROBIOLOGICAL SAFETY OF PLANTS IRRIGATED WITH GREYWATER Keywords Greywater, plant growth, microbiological quality, fertiliser Author(s) L. Salukazana 1 , S. Jackson 2 , N. Rodda 1 , M. Smith 1 , T Gounden 2 , N. Macleod 2 and C. Buckley 1 Address 1 Pollution Research Group, Howard College Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041. 2 eThekwini Municipality, 6 Prior Road, Durban 4001 Telephone +27 (0)31 2603015 (corresponding author N. Rodda) Fax +27 (0)31 2602029 Mobile 072 1265691 E-mail roddan@ukzn.ac.za Short CV for Introduction Purposes ( 100 words max) This project is being conducted jointly by Lumka Salukazana and Siobhan Jackson, both MSc students with the School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, UKZN. Ms Salukazana holds a BSc(Hons) from the University of Fort Hare, while Mrs Jackson holds a BSc(Hons) from the University of the Witwatersrand. Mrs Jackson is head of the microbiology laboratory of eThekwini Municipality. Photograph attached ( jpg) INTRODUCTION The South African government has committed itself to the provision of basic, safe, sustainable water supply and sanitation to all its people. However, it has also recognised that it is neither technologically nor financially feasible, nor necessarily environmentally wise, to provide in-house full-pressure water supply and flushing toilets linked to waterborne sewerage and wastewater treatment plants to all. Where water is not reticulated to individual households or where the water pressure is not sufficient, sanitation by flushing toilets is not feasible. Such situations require on-site sanitation systems. The Ventilated Improved Pit Latrine (VIP) has been suggested as suitable for this purpose (DWAF, 2003). A system being implemented by eThekwini Municipality (Durban), amongst others, are urine diversion toilets. Such sanitation solutions deal more or less efficiently with toilet waste (blackwater), but do not address wastewater generated from activities such as bathing, washing laundry and washing dishes, termed greywater. Greywater is most usually disposed of to the ground in the vicinity of the dwelling, leading to pooling of wastewater, which in turn leads to unpleasant odours, pollution of groundwater and surface runoff, soil erosion, health hazards and mosquito breeding. Greywater has been identified as a widespread problem in all categories of dense informal settlements in South Africa (Wood et al., 2001). On-site sanitation is also most usually associated with poor communities with poor food security. A potential solution to these co-occurring problems is reuse of greywater for irrigation of crops in small-scale urban agriculture (subsistence agriculture). Although greywater may contain grease, food particles, hair and other impurities, it does not normally contain human waste unless laundry tubs or basins are used to rinse soiled clothing or baby’s nappies/diapers (Ludwing, 2000; Eriksson et al., 2003; Jefferson et al., 2004). Greywater use in urban agriculture is potentially beneficial for a number of reasons, including: (a) Water shortages can be resolved thereby lowering potable water use for irrigation; (b) Environmental degradation, eutrophication and health hazards through pooling