Wastewater Irrigation Mexico
Wastewater irrigation is widespread in many parts of the world. The use of untreated wastewater leads to the accumulation of pharmaceutical and disinfectant residues in the soil. The transition from untreated to treated wastewater is taking place globally, including in the Mezquital Valley in Mexico. However, little research has been conducted on the dynamics of microbial and chemical contaminants and antibiotic resistance genes following this change. It is assumed that the benefits of this transition are limited during the transitional phase in areas that have been irrigated for many years. The change releases pollutants whose concentrations in untreated and treated wastewater are high enough to promote antibiotic resistance. Using different soil types and molecular methods, this study contributes to understanding how wastewater quality influences the interactions between pollutants and antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
This is a subproject of the DFG Research Unit “Pollutant–Antibiotic Resistance–Pathogen Interactions in a Changing Wastewater Irrigation System (PARES, DFG FOR 5095).”
Project Duration
07/2021–06/2025
Project Lead at the BHT: Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Grohmann
Department V – Life Sciences and Technology/IMPACT
Project Partners
Justus Liebig University Giessen
Julius Kühn Institute, Braunschweig
University Hospital Bonn
University of Bonn
University of Tübingen
In cooperation with the National Autonomous University of Mexico
Funding Organisation
German Research Foundation
Project Coordination
Justus Liebig University Giessen
Contact:
