Application of Sanitation Safety Planning in the Usage of Wastewater for Agriculture in Bangalore Urban District, India.

Abstract

Due to water scarcity, wastewater is used in agriculture in peri-urban areas. We aimed to assess the hazards associated with wastewater farming and develop an incremental improvement plan for the sanitation system of wastewater use for agriculture using Sanitation Safety Planning (SSP) in Bangalore urban district, India. Interviews and observations were conducted among 100 farmers in the Mugalur Gram Panchayat area. Direct ingestion and ingestion after contact with wastewater due to inadequate hand hygiene are the routes of contact with wastewater. The control measures followed in the community are the cultivation of crops, which do not have direct contact with wastewater, furrow and drip irrigation, and restricted irrigation. Methods to mitigate the hazards are the provision of interval between final irrigation and consumption,washing of produce with freshwater before transportation to market, and hygienic cooking. Occupational hazards and risks associated with wastewater farming can be mitigated through the adoption of locally acceptable preventive measures.