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Water quality modelling and quantitative microbial risk assessment for uMsunduzi River in South Africa

Zesizwe Ngubane (Author), Viktor Bergion (Author), Bloodless Dzwairo (Author), Karin Troell (Author), Isaac Dennis Amoah (Author)

URI http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-480688, URN urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-480688, DOI 10.2166/wh.2022.266, Identifier http://uu.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1683571/FULLTEXT01 · url

Uppsala universitet Medicinska och farmaceutiska vetenskapsområdet (Publisher), Uppsala universitet Teknisk-naturvetenskapliga vetenskapsområdet (Publisher)

publication

IWA Publishing, 2022

Is part of

Journal of Water and Health · ISSN 1477-8920

20:4, 641-656

Component part, Online resource

Available online:

http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-480688

Subject

Engineering and Technology, Civil Engineering, Water Engineering, Teknik och teknologier, Samhällsbyggnadsteknik, Vattenteknik, Cryptosporidium, Escherichia coli (E. coli), QMRA, SWAT, uMsunduzi River, water quality modelling

More details Cite

Summary

South African rivers generally receive waste from inadequate wastewater infrastructure, mines, and farming activities, among others. The uMsunduzi River in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, is among these recipients with recorded poor to very poor water quality. To identify parts of the uMsunduzi River that are polluted by Cryptosporidium and Escherichia coli (E. coli), this study mapped out pollutants emanating from point and non-point sources using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). Streamflow calibration in the upper and lower reaches of the catchment showed good performance with R2 of 0.64 and 0.58, respectively. SWAT water quality output data were combined with a Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) to understand the microbial health implications for people using river water for drinking, recreational swimming, and non-competitive canoeing. QMRA results for Cryptosporidium and pathogenic E. coli showed that the probability of infection for most users exceeds the acceptable level for drinking and recreation as outlined in the South African water quality guidelines, and by the World Health Organization (WHO). The results of this study can be used as a baseline to assess the economic and health implications of different management plans, resulting in better-informed, cost-effective, and impactful decision-making.

Details

Contributor and role

Zesizwe Ngubane (Author), Viktor Bergion (Author), Bloodless Dzwairo (Author), Karin Troell (Author), Isaac Dennis Amoah (Author)

Contributor and role

Uppsala universitet Medicinska och farmaceutiska vetenskapsområdet (Publisher), Uppsala universitet Teknisk-naturvetenskapliga vetenskapsområdet (Publisher)

Identifier

URI http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-480688, URN urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-480688, DOI 10.2166/wh.2022.266, Identifier http://uu.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1683571/FULLTEXT01 · url