Oron, G., Institute for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University, Kiryat Sde Boker 84990, Israel
Armon, R., Institute for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University, Kiryat Sde Boker 84990, Israel
Mandelbaum, R., Institute for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University, Kiryat Sde Boker 84990, Israel
Manor, Y., Institute for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University, Kiryat Sde Boker 84990, Israel
Campos, C., Institute for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University, Kiryat Sde Boker 84990, Israel
Gillerman, L., Institute for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University, Kiryat Sde Boker 84990, Israel
Salgot, M., Institute for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University, Kiryat Sde Boker 84990, Israel
Gerba, C., Institute for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University, Kiryat Sde Boker 84990, Israel
Klein, I., Institute for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University, Kiryat Sde Boker 84990, Israel
Enriquez, C., Institute for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University, Kiryat Sde Boker 84990, Israel

A critical objective for any wastewater reuse program is to close the gap between supply of and demand for water and to minimize health and environmental hazards. Thus, the effects of treated effluent on crops, soils and community health must be considered carefully. When applying wastewater to soil-plant systems, it is to be noted that the passage of water through the soil reduces considerably the number of microorganisms carried out by the reclaimed wastewater. Nevertheless, there is a need to study the real rate of organism decay subject to water quality, soil and vegetable characteristics, and irrigation method. The aim of this work is to determine the fate of the fecal coliforms, coliphages F+ and CN13, and helminth eggs survival during the application of reclaimed wastewater in a vineyard orchard near the City of Arad (Israel) via onsurface and subsurface drip irrigation systems. Wastewater obtained from a stabilization pond, and soil samples were tested and an important decrease of microorganisms was reached in both cases, with the better values obtained with the sub-surface drip irrigation system.