Appendix 2: Standards for Microbiological Quality of Recycled Water for Irrigating Commercial Food Crops This Appendix details the standards for the microbiological quality of recycled water supplied for irrigating commercial food crops. These standards provide clarification to the end uses’ detailed in Tables 5 & 6 of these Guidelines and are only permitted to ‘potential be used for wastewater systems with a Wastewater Works Design Approval. These standards are based on Queensland Regulations/Standards for recycled water and also the Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling: Managing Health and Environmental Health Risks (Phase 1), in particular Table 3.8. Type of Commercial Method of Irrigation & Class Type E. coli Food Crop On-site preventative measures Crops consumed raw Spray, drip, flood, furrow A+ <1 cfu/100 mL or unprocessed or subsurface e.g. carrots, broccoli, No preventative measures onions, cabbage required although pathogen reduction will Includes rockmelons happen between harvesting and sale Crops for produce Hydroponic A+ <1 cfu/100 mL grown in hydroponic conditions e.g. lettuce Crops with limited or Drip irrigation B <100 cfu/100 mL no ground contact and No harvest of wet or eaten raw dropped produce e.g. tomatoes, capsicums Crops with ground Spray, drip, flood, furrow B <100 cfu/100 mL contact with skins or subsurface removed (other than If spray irrigation, minimum rock melons) before 2 days between final consumption irrigation and harvest e.g. watermelons Pathogen reduction between harvesting and sale Method of Irrigation & Type E. coli Type of Commercial On-site preventative Food Crop measures
Appendix 2: Standards for Microbiological Quality of Recycled Water for Irrigating Commercial Food Crops This Appendix details the standards for the microbiological quality of recycled water supplied for irrigating commercial food crops. These standards provide clarification to the ‘potential end uses’ detailed in Tables 5 & 6 of these Guidelines and are only permitted to be used for wastewater systems with a Wastewater Works Design Approval. These standards are based on Queensland Regulations/Standards for recycled water and also the Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling: Managing Health and Environmental Health Risks (Phase 1), in particular Table 3.8. Type of Commercial Food Crop Method of Irrigation & On-site preventative measures Class Type E. coli Crops consumed raw or unprocessed e.g. carrots, broccoli, onions, cabbage Includes rockmelons Spray, drip, flood, furrow or subsurface No preventative measures required although pathogen reduction will happen between harvesting and sale A+ <1 cfu/100 mL Crops for produce grown in hydroponic conditions e.g. lettuce Hydroponic A+ <1 cfu/100 mL Crops with limited or no ground contact and eaten raw e.g. tomatoes, capsicums Drip irrigation No harvest of wet or dropped produce B <100 cfu/100 mL Crops with ground contact with skins removed (other than rock melons) before consumption e.g. watermelons Spray, drip, flood, furrow or subsurface If spray irrigation, minimum 2 days between final irrigation and harvest Pathogen reduction between harvesting and sale B <100 cfu/100 mL Type of Commercial Food Crop Method of Irrigation & On-site preventative measures Type E. coli
draft-guidelines-wastewater-works-design-approval-for-recycled-water-systems.docx