Search

There has been a rising interest in the levels, diversity and potential impacts of yeasts in aquatic environments. Some of the species isolated from such niches are known pathogens or have pathogenic and antifungal resistance features. This deems it necessary to understand the characteristics and potential health implications of such environmental yeasts species. Studies on these subjects are limited. Most studies on aquatic yeasts have linked them to water pollution. However, the current gold standards to determine microbial pollution of water use bacteria as the main indicator organisms. Including yeasts in water quality standards may provide a different dimension on the quality of water when determining its fit-for-use properties. Pathogenic yeasts cause superficial infections or life-threatening infections, especially in immunocompromised people. Some of the yeast species isolated in recent studies were resistant to commonly used antifungal agents of clinical and veterinary relevance. With the high prevalence rate of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in South Africa, antifungal resistance is a public concern as it poses serious medical and economic challenges. Most available studies are concerned with clinical environments only. There is, thus, a need to review the literature that also focuses on aquatic environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we assess the quality of greywater for reuse in home gardens through irrigation in water-limited environments of the rural Limpopo province, South Africa. To address this objective, pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Potassium (K+), Calcium (Ca2+), Magnesium (Mg2+) and Sodium (Na+) were tested from the household sampled greywater e.g. kitchens, bath and laundry sampled. Hazards in greywater were determined using water quality indices and the derived results were assessed for any differences using ANOVA and Tukey method. The average pH values of study area 1 (STA1), study area 2 (STA2) and study area 3 (STA3) were found to be slightly alkaline (pH 8–9). Generally, most of the Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) values where within the low category (1–10) indicating its acceptability for reuse. Most water quality parameters had high Soluble Sodium Percentage (SSP), with an average of 68.09%, 79.42% and 92.30% in STA1, STA2 and STA3, respectively. Further, the Kelley's Ratio (KR) indicate elevated levels of salt concentrations in greywater, with exceptions from laundry water in STA1. In contrary, residual chloride levels in all samples were found to be within the acceptable range (0–30meq/L) with <4meq/L having no restrictions. The study, therefore, concludes that untreated water can be used for home gardening irrigation with caution, unless it is diluted with freshwater. • Crop production is interrupted during the dry season. • Greywater can be used to supplement freshwater irrigation during dry seasons. • Greywater contains elevated contents of Sodium. • Greywater should be used on soil tolerant crops. • Continuous greywater irrigation should be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]