Aussie Crops Grown With Processed Wastewater Show Stunting, Discoloration

[hatrack]

Imagine that!

VEGETABLES grown using recycled effluent from the Werribee treatment plant have suffered discolouration and stunted growth. Te mystery has sparked an investigation by one of the state's major water authorities, Southern Rural Water. It comes less than two years after many growers in Werribee switched to using treated sewage on their farms at the suggestion of Water Minister John Thwaites.

The situation has been reported to Victoria's Chief Health Officer, Dr Robert Hall, who said yesterday he was confident there was no immediate danger to people eating produce from the area. In documents seen by The Age, Southern Rural Water told growers it would investigate unusually slow crop development and signs of leaf yellowing in young lettuce. Werribee provides up to 70 per cent of Australia's lettuces. Southern Rural Water confirmed that similar symptoms "to a lesser degree" had been reported in cauliflower and broccoli crops at Werribee.

Its general manager of water supply, Clinton Rodda, said at least 15 farms had been affected by the symptoms "to a significant degree". But despite extensive testing, the cause of the problem was unknown.

Mr Rodda said farm practices such as fertilising had been ruled out as the cause and tests found no evidence that herbicides or pesticides were responsible. Asked if the most likely cause of the abnormalities was the recycled water, Mr Rodda said "that's certainly a possibility".

EDIT

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/effluent-tested-as-crops-hit/2006/12/18/1166290476850.html



EDIT

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/effluent-tested-as-crops-hit/2006/12/18/1166290476850.html