Open AccessEvaluation of ultraviolet (UV‐C) light treatment for microbial inactivation in agricultural waters with different levels of turbidity
Author(s) -
Adhikari Achyut,
Parraga Estrada Katheryn J.,
Chhetri Vijay S.,
Janes Marlene,
Fontenot Kathryn,
Beaulieu John C.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
food science and nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.614
H-Index - 27
ISSN - 2048-7177
DOI - 10.1002/fsn3.1412
Subject(s) - turbidity , water quality , contamination , environmental science , population , water treatment , ultraviolet , ultraviolet light , surface water , environmental engineering , irrigation , chemistry , environmental chemistry , turbidite , pulp and paper industry , agronomy , biology , materials science , ecology , medicine , sediment , paleontology , environmental health , optoelectronics , photochemistry , engineering
Produce growers using surface or well water to irrigate their crops may require an appropriate water treatment system in place to meet the water quality standard imposed by FSMA Produce Safety Rule. This study evaluated the potential of using ultraviolet (UV‐C) treatment in reducing the microbial population in agricultural water. Waters with turbidity levels ranging from 10.93 to 23.32 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) were prepared by mixing pond water and well water. The waters were inoculated with a cocktail of generic Escherichia coli (ATCC 23716, 25922, and 11775) and then treated with UV‐C light (20–60 mJ/cm 2 ). All tested doses of the UV‐C treatment reduced the E. coli levels significantly ( p < .05) in the water samples with the turbidity levels up to 23.32 NTU. The decrease in the turbidity from 23.32 to 10.93 NTU increased the level of reduction by more than 2.15 log most probable number (MPN)/100 ml). UV‐C treatment effectively reduces microbial load in agriculture water; however, turbidity of water may significantly affect the disinfection efficacy. The study also demonstrated that sprinkler system resulted in a higher level of contamination of cantaloupes compared with drip irrigation. The results indicated that UV‐C treatment could be a promising strategy in reducing the produce safety risks associated with irrigation water.