Sludge Watch ==> Ecoli in Bagged Spinach - could it be from using sewage effluent irrigation?

[maureen.reilly at sympatico.ca]

Sludgewatch Admin:

Speculation is fierce about what could be causing the Ecoli 0157 outbreak in 
packaged fresh spinach around the USA...it has been traced to farms in the 
Salinas Valley. You don't suppose it could be coming from this 'reycled 
wastewater' from the local sewage treatment plant?

Well, I guess we'll be hearing from that fancy PR firm this story refers 
to...
......................................

from Biocycle 2001 - Two Thirds of Salinas Agricultural Water comes from 
Sewage Plant

After studies show no viable microorganisms in tertiary treated wastewater, 
growers in Salinas Valley now get two-thirds of their agricultural water 
needs from recycled sources.

RECYCLED water is saving the farm for approximately 75 growers in the 
Salinas Valley along California’s Central Coast. Because their wells were 
becoming contaminated with seawater, these growers began irrigating their 
high-value food crops with recycled water from a nearby wastewater treatment 
plant. The Monterey (California) Regional Water Pollution Control Agency 
(MRWPCA) began exploring the feasibility of a recycled water project in the 
1980s because of seawater intrusion into well water in the Salinas Valley. 
Seawater intrusion may occur when groundwater is overpumped from wells in 
coastal communities. The seawater from the ocean then moves inland through 
the aquifer and causes salinity problems for farmers and others pumping 
groundwater near the shore. In the Salinas Valley, seawater had intruded 
almost six miles inland, making the groundwater too salty for either 
municipal or agricultural use. Through a water recycling project, the MRWPCA 
hoped to reduce the extent of seawater intrusion, while providing local 
growers with a source of higher quality irrigation water. In addition, the 
agency would be able to reduce its discharge of treated wastewater into the 
nearby Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

RECYCLED WATER FOR FOOD CROPS

The Salinas Valley is one of the nation’s top producers of cold season 
vegetable crops, such as lettuce and broccoli. While state regulations allow 
for application of tertiary treated water on agricultural crops, it is 
usually used on crops for animal fodder or for food crops that will not be 
eaten raw. Because many of their crops are intended for raw consumption, 
local growers and health officials were concerned that recycled water might 
contaminate the produce with pathogens. Consequently, health officials 
directed the MRWPCA to conduct pathogen studies before they would authorize 
the project.

MRWPCA conducted an extensive study that would ultimately demonstrate that 
recycled water is as safe as well water when used to irrigate food crops. 
Released in 1987, the $8 million dollar study showed no contamination from 
the pathogens tested, which included viruses and fecal coliform, when 
recycled water was used on a variety of food crops common to the region, 
including artichokes, lettuce, broccoli, and cauliflower. State and local 
regulators soon gave approval for use of MRWPCA’s recycled water on food 
crops. The agency then had the green light to upgrade its plant from a 
secondary to a tertiary treatment system. While secondary treatment is a 
biological process resulting in biosolids and clear water, tertiary 
treatment involves further processing to remove microorganisms and disinfect 
the water.

CONCERNS OVER “EMERGING PATHOGENS

” As the plant was nearing completion in 1997, farmers who were planning to 
use the recycled water became concerned that it might be contaminated with 
what they called “emerging pathogens”. These pathogens, which were not 
included in the 1987 study, included the resistant E. coli 157:H7 strain, 
Crytosporidium, Giardia, and Salmonella. The growers’ fears were fueled by 
increasing media coverage of food poisoning incidents related to pathogen 
contaminated produce, such as the 1996 Odwalla incident involving E. coli 
contaminated apple juice.

In response to these fears, MRWPCA conducted additional studies to test for 
the presence of the emerging pathogens. The tests found no evidence of 
viable microorganisms in the tertiary treated water. These results were 
released in a report in 1998. The MRWPCA also enhanced its treatment and 
pathogen monitoring program to further assure the growers. In addition, the 
agency hired a public relations firm to prepare a media response plan to 
address any potential crop contamination issues that might be linked to 
their recycled water.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

In 1997, the MRWPCA completed the $78 million reclamation project in 
partnership with the Monterey County Water Resources Agency. Capable of 
producing 19,500 acre-feet of water per year, the plant now distributes 
water to 12,000 acres of coastal farmland.

Delivering the recycled water to coastal farms required construction of an 
extensive distribution system. The system consists of 45 miles of pipeline, 
112 connection turnouts, and serves approximately 75 growers. Pumps 
connected to the pipeline are identified by bright purple paint and dot 
fields throughout the region. Growers connected to this system receive 
approximately two-thirds of their agricultural water needs from recycled 
water, while well water meets their remaining needs.

To date, the farmers using recycled water seem pleased with the quality of 
the water. The MRWPCA continues to work with the growers to ensure that the 
recycled water is suitable for agriculture. Because the recycled water 
contains salts, the MRWPCA periodically tests soil salinity at farms that 
are using its recycled water. Chlorine levels of 4-6 ppm have not presented 
a problem for the farmers.

USE IN ORGANIC FARMING

Since distribution of treated water began in 1997, many growers throughout 
California, especially those who embrace sustainable and organic farming 
practices, have expressed an interest in using recycled water. Brian McElroy 
of California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), an independent certifying 
organization of organic farms, addressed the acceptability of recycled water 
for use on organic farms at the recent Ecological Farming Conference which 
is held annually near Monterey. Although CCOF has yet to take a formal 
stance on recycled water, McElroy stated, “The organic and sustainable 
farming community has an obligation to assess recycled water because organic 
is about sustainability."

CCOF has been certifying organic growers since 1973 and will now begin 
certifying under the new federal standards on organic agriculture that came 
out in December 2000. McElroy has concluded that the new federal standards 
allow for the use of recycled water by default because they fail to address 
its use. However, CCOF may require stricter growing conditions than the new 
federal standards. The CCOF Handbook published in 2000 states that recycled 
water is acceptable only on nonedible food parts.

For example, drip irrigation of strawberries and lettuce is acceptable. 
However, sprinkler irrigation of these crops is not allowed. CCOF will 
likely be revising its handbook in the near future in response to the new 
federal regulations. McElroy had no definitive answers for growers 
questioning whether recycled water would be allowed. However, he suggested 
that oversight of the use of recycled water would be “an enforcement 
nightmare.”

Farmer Lawrence Jaffe expressed frustration at CCOF’s current policy. “There 
should be one standard for water, no matter the source,” suggested Jaffe, 
who farms with recycled water in the grape growing region of Sonoma County 
in California. He feels that recycled water has proven itself safe and that 
the stigma lies mainly with farmers since consumers do not generally 
question the source of irrigation water.

While California has a long history of water supply problems, water 
recycling programs throughout the state are helping to create a solution. 
MRWPCA’s General Manager, Keith Israel, believes that water recycling will 
soon become mandated in the not-so-distant future in California. “Water is 
more scarce than landfill space, and there are laws for mandatory recycling 
to keep waste out of landfills. I predict there will be mandatory recycling 
of water in the future.”

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:Bretz5vwgAkJ:www.environmental-expert.com/articles/article1000/article1000.htm+salinas+valley+biosolids&hl=en&gl=ca&ct=clnk&cd=1


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FDA Warns against eating bag spinach
New York Times

By GARDINER HARRIS
Published: September 15, 2006
WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 — Consumers should avoid eating fresh bagged spinach 
after an outbreak of E. coli in eight states killed one person and sickened 
at least 49, federal health officials announced Thursday night.

Skip to next paragraph
Related
F.D.A. Warning on Bagged Fresh Spinach (fda.gov)The outbreak involves a 
virulent strain of E. coli known as 0157:H7, which produces a toxin that can 
lead to bloody diarrhea, kidney failure and, in rare cases, death.

State and federal health officials have used genetic screening tools to 
confirm that all 50 people sickened by the disease suffered from the same 
bacteria, said Dr. David Acheson of the Center for Food Safety and Applied 
Nutrition at the F.D.A.

But health officials still have no idea which food manufacturer may be to 
blame. The first case was reported on Aug. 23 and the most recent on Sept. 
3, Dr. Acheson said.

“It’s increasing by the day,” Dr. Acheson said. “We may be at the peak, we 
may not. We’re giving preliminary data here.”

Dr. Acheson said the F.D.A. became aware of a possible outbreak on 
Wednesday. But delays are common as information is gathered and compared, he 
said.

“It takes quite some time for someone to be exposed, get sick, get sick 
enough to see the doctor, have it examined, have a sample sent to a lab, 
have it confirmed positive and have it be put in the public health system,” 
Dr. Acheson said.

Dr. Acheson described the outbreak as “significant.” It is broadly 
distributed across the country. Twenty cases — including the only confirmed 
death — occurred in Wisconsin. There were 11 cases in Utah, 5 in Oregon, 4 
in Indiana, 3 each in Idaho and Michigan, 2 in New Mexico and 1 in 
Connecticut, he said.

Most of those affected have been women. Although this strain of E. coli 
commonly affects children, many patients have been older than 20, Dr. 
Acheson said.

Health officials are by no means certain that bagged spinach is the culprit. 
When patients have a confirmed case of the disease, health officials ask the 
victims many questions about what they ate over the previous weeks. Bagged 
fresh spinach is the only food that patients so far have had in common, Dr. 
Acheson said.

Asked if consumers should also avoid bagged salads, Dr. Acheson answered 
somewhat tentatively, saying, “At this point, there is nothing to implicate 
bagged salad.”

E. coli 0157:H7 is a dangerous strain of a type of bacteria that live in the 
intestines of humans and other animals. There are hundreds of E. coli 
strains, most of them harmless, but 0157:H7 makes a toxin that can cause 
severe illness — bloody diarrhea, anemia and, in 2 percent to 7 percent of 
cases, kidney failure. Children under 5 and the elderly are the most likely 
to become gravely ill.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the 0157:H7 
strain causes 73,000 infections and 61 deaths a year in the United States.

The bacteria can live in cows’ intestines without making the animals sick, 
and most infections in people come from eating undercooked hamburgers 
(cooking to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit destroys the bacteria and the 
toxin they produce). In 2002, 19 million pounds of raw beef were recalled 
because of 0157:H7 contamination.

In a notorious outbreak in 1993, four children died from the infection after 
eating contaminated Jack in the Box hamburgers. Raw milk and unpasteurized 
cheese can also spread the bacteria. Outbreaks have been linked to petting 
zoos where children touched farm animals that carried the bacteria.

Produce can also become contaminated by animal wastes or unsanitary water, 
and outbreaks have been caused by sprouts, lettuce and unpasteurized fruit 
juice or cider. In 1996, one child died and 66 others became ill after 
drinking unpasteurized Odwalla apple juice.

Thorough washing should make it safe to eat most produce raw, except for 
alfalfa sprouts.

But Dr. Acheson advised consumers to avoid bagged spinach altogether, 
although he noted that thorough cooking killed the bacteria.

Denise Grady contributed reporting from New York.