IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGEIrrig. and Drain. 54: S103–S111 (2005)Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI: 10.1002/ird.190WHO GUIDELINES FOR SAFE WASTEWATER USE—MORETHAN JUST NUMBERSyRICHARD CARR*,zWorld Health Organization, Geneva, SwitzerlandABSTRACTThe use of wastewater in agriculture is occurring more frequently because of water scarcity and population growth.Often the poorest households rely on this resource for their livelihood and food security needs. However, there arenegative health implica tions of this practice that need to be addressed. WHO developed Health Guidelines for theUse of Wastewater in Agriculture and Aquaculture in 1989. The Guidelin es are currently being revised based onnew data from epidemiological studies, quantitative microbial risk assessments and other relevant information.WHO Guidelines contain both micro bial guideline values and good practices to reduce health risks. They must bepractical and offer feasible risk management solutions that will minimize health threats and allow for the beneficialuse of scarce resources. It is important that the Guidelines are based on actual health risks and an evaluation ofwhat is a tolerable risk. This will vary from country to country. WHO Guidelines, therefore, need to be adapted tothe unique social, economic and environmental factors in each situation.To achieve the greatest impact on health, guidelines should be implemented with other health measures such as:health education, hygiene promotion, provision of adequate drinking water and sanitation, and other measures suchas vaccination. Copyright # 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.key words: agriculture; guidelines; health protection; sanitation; wastewater use/reuse; WHORE´SUME´L’utilisation d’eaux use´es dans l’agriculture se produit plus fre´quemment a`l’heure actuelle en raison du manqued’eau et de la croissance de´mographique. Ce sont souvent les foyers les plus de´munis qui de´pendent de cetteressource pour leurs moyens d’existence et leurs besoins en se´curite´alimentaire. Toutefois, cette pratique pre´sentepour la sante´des implications ne´gatives qu’il faut aborder. L’OMS a re´dige´des Directives de sante´relatives a`l’utilisation des eaux use´es dans l’agriculture et l’aquaculture en 1989. Ces directives sont en ce moment mises a`jour a`partir de nouvelles donne´es originaires d’e´tudes e´pide´miologiques, d’e´valuations quantitatives des risquesmicrobiens et d’autres informations pertinentes. Les directives de l’OMS comportent a`la fois des valeursmicrobiennes indicatives et des me´thodes ade´quates pour re´duire les risques de sante´. Ces directives doivent eˆtrepratiques et offrir des solutions faisables de gestion des risques susceptibles de minimiser les menaces pour lasante´, tout en tenant compte de la ne´cessite´d’utiliser les ressources rares a`bon escient. Il est important que cesdirectives se basent sur les risques de sante´re´els et sur une e´valuation de ce qu’est un risque tole´rable, e´valuationqui variera d’un pays a`l’autre. C’est pourquoi les directives de l’OMS doivent eˆtre adapte´es aux facteurs sociaux,e´conomiques et environnementaux uniques a`chaque situation.Received 29 March 2005Copyright # 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Accepted 8 April 2005* Correspondence to: Richard Carr, World Health Organization, WSH/PHE/SDE, 20 Avenue Appia, CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland.E-mail: [email protected] de l’OMS pour une utilisation sans risque des eaux use´es—plus que de simples chiffres.zThe opinions expressed in this paper are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of WHO.Pour obtenir un impact maximum sur la sante´, les directives doivent eˆtre mises en œuvre avec d’autres mesuresde sante´telles que: l’e´ducation a`la sante´, la promotion de l’hygie`ne, la fourniture d’eau potable et d’installationssanitaires ade´quates, ainsi que d’autres mesures telles que la vaccination. Copyright # 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.mots cle´s: agriculture; directives; protection de la sante´; installations sanitaires; utilisation/re´utilisation des eaux use´es; OMSINTRODUCTIONThe importance of increasing access to sanitation for unserved populations has been given renewed emphasis withthe adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of the Millennium Development Goals in 2000 and similarInternational Development Targets developed at the Worl d Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburgin 2002. Because much of the future population growth is expected to occur in or around urban centres, increasedsanitation coverage will often take the form of sewerage with a subsequent increase in the generation ofwastewater. The use of wastewater in agriculture may actually help to prevent some of the downstream heal th andenvironmental impacts especially when the alternative is to discharge wastewater (frequently without adequatetreatment) directly into surface waters.The use of wastewater in agriculture is growing due to water scarcity, population growth and the recognition ofits resource value. Wastewater can be used to substitute for other better quality water sources, especially inagriculture. However, the uncontrolled use of wastewater in agriculture has important health implications forproduct consumers, farmers and their families, produce vendors, and communities in wastewater irrigated areas.Negative health impacts from the use of untreated or inadequately treated wastewater have been documented inmany studies. Less attention has been paid to the positive health impacts of the use of wastewater in agriculture thatmay arise because of improved household food security, better nutrition and increased household income.WHO Guidelines contain both microbial guideline values and good practices to reduce health risks. They offerfeasible risk management solutions that will minimize health threats and allow for the beneficial use of scarceresources. The Guidelines are based on actual health risks and an evaluation of what is a tolerable risk. This willvary from country to country. WHO Guidelines are meant to be adapted to the unique social, economic andenvironmental factors in each situation.This paper will look at some of the issues surrounding the use of wastewater in agriculture, the history andphilosophy of the WHO Guidelines, health issues, risk management strategies, and guideline
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