An Assessment of Fecal Indicator Bacteria-Based Water Quality Standards

2008 ◽  
Vol 42 (13) ◽  
pp. 4676-4682 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew D. Gronewold ◽  
Mark E. Borsuk ◽  
Robert L. Wolpert ◽  
Kenneth H. Reckhow
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Fecal Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Quality Standards ◽  
Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Water Quality Standards ◽  
Fecal Indicator

scholarly journals The reality of water quality monitoring for SDG 6: a report from a small town in India

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 589-595
Author(s):  
Swati D. G. Rayasam ◽  
Bakul Rao ◽  
Isha Ray
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Small Town ◽  
Quality Standards ◽  
Water Quality Monitoring ◽  
Institutional Capacity ◽  
Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
Water Quality Standards ◽  
Fecal Indicator ◽  
Microbial Water Quality

Abstract Based on a study of microbial water quality in a small town (Alibag) in India, we show the practical limitations of monitoring for fecal indicator bacteria to meet SDG 6. We find that even when water quality monitoring and testing infrastructure is in place, low institutional capacity and the pressure to not ‘fail’ the expected water quality standards can result in the failure to accurately report bacterial water quality.

Monitoring coastal marine waters for spore-forming bacteria of faecal and soil origin to determine point from non-point source pollution

2001 ◽  
Vol 44 (7) ◽  
pp. 181-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. S. Fujioka
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Point Source ◽  
Quality Standards ◽  
Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Recreational Water ◽  
Water Quality Standards ◽  
Point Source Pollution ◽  
Faecal Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Recreational Water Quality ◽  
Non Point Source Pollution

The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have established recreational water quality standards limiting the concentrations of faecal indicator bacteria (faecal coliform, E. coli, enterococci) to ensure that these waters are safe for swimming. In the application of these hygienic water quality standards, it is assumed that there are no significant environmental sources of these faecal indicator bacteria which are unrelated to direct faecal contamination. However, we previously reported that these faecal indicator bacteria are able to grow in the soil environment of humid tropical island environments such as Hawaii and Guam and are transported at high concentrations into streams and storm drains by rain. Thus, streams and storm drains in Hawaii contain consistently high concentrations of faecal indicator bacteria which routinely exceed the EPA and WHO recreational water quality standards. Since, streams and storm drains eventually flow out to coastal marine waters, we hypothesize that all the coastal beaches which receive run-off from streams and storm drains will contain elevated concentrations of faecal indicator bacteria. To test this hypothesis, we monitored the coastal waters at four beaches known to receive water from stream or storm drains for salinity, turbidity, and used the two faecal indicator bacteria (E. coli, enterococci) to establish recreational water quality standards. To determine if these coastal waters are contaminated with non-point source pollution (streams) or with point source pollution (sewage effluent), these same water samples were also assayed for spore-forming bacteria of faecal origin (Cl. perfringens) and of soil origin (Bacillus species). Using this monitoring strategy it was possible to determine when coastal marine waters were contaminated with non-point source pollution and when coastal waters were contaminated with point source pollution. The results of this study are most likely applicable to all countries in the warm and humid region of the world.

scholarly journals Comparison of the Multiple-Sample Means with Composite Sample Results for Fecal Indicator Bacteria by Quantitative PCR and Culture

2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (19) ◽  
pp. 7166-7169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reagan R. Converse ◽  
Larry J. Wymer ◽  
Alfred P. Dufour ◽  
Timothy J. Wade
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Quantitative Pcr ◽  
Fecal Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Water Quality Monitoring ◽  
Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
Composite Sample ◽  
Fecal Indicator ◽  
Composite Sampling ◽  
Multiple Sample

ABSTRACTFew studies have addressed the efficacy of composite sampling for measuring indicator bacteria by quantitative PCR (qPCR). We compared results from composited samples with multiple-sample means for culture- and qPCR-based water quality monitoring. Results from composited samples for both methods were similarly correlated to multiple-sample means and predicted criteria exceedances equally.

scholarly journals Detection of Helicobacter pylori and fecal indicator bacteria in five North American rivers

2005 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 405-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary A. Voytek ◽  
Jon B. Ashen ◽  
Julie D. Kirshtein ◽  
Edward R. Landa ◽  
Lisa R. Fogarty
Keyword(s):  
North American ◽  
Fecal Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Water Quality Standards ◽  
Fecal Indicator ◽  
Public Health Agencies ◽  
Health Agencies ◽  
Standard Culture ◽  
H Pylori

This study examines the use of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) as a predictor of the presence of Helicobacter spp. A combination of standard culture and molecular techniques were used to detect and quantify FIB, Helicobacter spp. and H. pylori from five North American rivers of different size and with different land use characteristics. Primers designed to amplify genes specific to Helicobacter spp. and H. pylori were evaluated for their efficacy in detection and quantification in environmental samples. Helicobacter spp. were detected in 18/33 (55%) of river samples. H. pylori was detected in 11/33 (33%) of river samples. FIB were found in 32/33 (96%) of river samples. When FIB abundance exceeded USEPA water quality standards for single samples, Helicobacter or H. pylori were detected in 7/15 (47%) cases. No numerical correlation was found between the presence of FIB and either Helicobacter spp. or H. pylori. This suggests that the presence of FIB will be of limited use for detection of Helicobacter spp. or H. pylori by public health agencies.

scholarly journals Comparing Source of Agricultural Contact Water and the Presence of Fecal Indicator Organisms on the Surface of ‘Juliet’ Grape Tomatoes

2013 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 967-974 ◽  
Author(s):  
DONNA M. PAHL ◽  
ADRIANA TELIAS ◽  
MICHAEL NEWELL ◽  
ANDREA R. OTTESEN ◽  
CHRISTOPHER S. WALSH
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Tomato Fruit ◽  
Quality Standards ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Fecal Coliforms ◽  
Indicator Organisms ◽  
Water Quality Standards ◽  
Fecal Indicator ◽  
Microbial Water Quality ◽  
Fruit Surface

Consumption of fresh tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) has been implicated as the cause of several foodborne illness outbreaks in the United States, most notably in cases of salmonellosis. How the levels of fecal indicator organisms (FIOs) in water relate to the counts of these microorganisms on the tomato fruit surface is unknown, although microbial water quality standards exist for agricultural use. This study utilized four types of FIOs currently and historically used in microbial water quality standards (Enterobacteriaceae, total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and Escherichia coli) to monitor the water quality of two surface ponds and a groundwater source. The groundwater tested contained significantly lower counts of all FIOs than the two surface water sources (P < 0.05). Considerable variability in bacterial counts was found in the surface water sources over the course of the season, perhaps explained by environmental variables, such as water temperature, pH, precipitation, and air temperature (R2 of 0.13 to 0.27). We also monitored the fruit surface of grape tomatoes treated with overhead applications of the different water sources over the 2009 and 2010 growing seasons. The type of water source and time of year significantly affected the populations of FIOs in irrigation water (P < 0.05). Despite up to 5-log differences in fecal coliforms and 3-log differences in E. coli between the water sources, there was little difference in the populations measured in washes taken from tomato fruits. This lack of association between the aforementioned FIOs present in the water samples and on the tomato fruit surface demonstrates the difficulty in developing reliable metrics needed for testing of agricultural water to ensure the effectiveness of food safety programs.

scholarly journals Systematic review of predictive models of microbial water quality at freshwater recreational beaches

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0256785
Author(s):  
Cole Heasley ◽  
J. Johanna Sanchez ◽  
Jordan Tustin ◽  
Ian Young
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Predictive Models ◽  
Fecal Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Predictive Modelling ◽  
The United States ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Fecal Indicator

Monitoring of fecal indicator bacteria at recreational waters is an important public health measure to minimize water-borne disease, however traditional culture methods for quantifying bacteria can take 18–24 hours to obtain a result. To support real-time notifications of water quality, models using environmental variables have been created to predict indicator bacteria levels on the day of sampling. We conducted a systematic review of predictive models of fecal indicator bacteria at freshwater recreational sites in temperate climates to identify and describe the existing approaches, trends, and their performance to inform beach water management policies. We conducted a comprehensive search strategy, including five databases and grey literature, screened abstracts for relevance, and extracted data using structured forms. Data were descriptively summarized. A total of 53 relevant studies were identified. Most studies (n = 44, 83%) were conducted in the United States and evaluated water quality using E. coli as fecal indicator bacteria (n = 46, 87%). Studies were primarily conducted in lakes (n = 40, 75%) compared to rivers (n = 13, 25%). The most commonly reported predictive model-building method was multiple linear regression (n = 37, 70%). Frequently used predictors in best-fitting models included rainfall (n = 39, 74%), turbidity (n = 31, 58%), wave height (n = 24, 45%), and wind speed and direction (n = 25, 47%, and n = 23, 43%, respectively). Of the 19 (36%) studies that measured accuracy, predictive models averaged an 81.0% accuracy, and all but one were more accurate than traditional methods. Limitations identifed by risk-of-bias assessment included not validating models (n = 21, 40%), limited reporting of whether modelling assumptions were met (n = 40, 75%), and lack of reporting on handling of missing data (n = 37, 70%). Additional research is warranted on the utility and accuracy of more advanced predictive modelling methods, such as Bayesian networks and artificial neural networks, which were investigated in comparatively fewer studies and creating risk of bias tools for non-medical predictive modelling.

scholarly journals Springing for Safe Water: Drinking Water Quality and Source Selection in Central Appalachian Communities

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 888 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Patton ◽  
Leigh-Anne Krometis ◽  
Emily Sarver
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Fecal Indicator Bacteria ◽  
The United States ◽  
Spring Water ◽  
Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Drinking Water Source ◽  
Fecal Indicator ◽  
Source Selection

Issues surrounding water infrastructure, access, and quality are well documented in the Central Appalachian region of the United States. Even in cases where residents have in-home piped point-of-use (POU) water, some rely on alternative drinking water sources for daily needs—including water collection from roadside springs. This effort aims to better understand and document spring usage in this region by identifying the factors that influence drinking water source selection and comparing household and spring water quality to Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) health-based and aesthetic contaminant recommendations. Households were recruited from communities surrounding known springs in three states (Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia). First- and second-draw, in-home POU tap water samples were collected from participating households and compared to samples collected from local springs on the same day. Samples were analyzed for fecal indicator bacteria and inorganic ions. Study participants completed surveys to document perceptions of household drinking water and typical usage. The majority of survey participants (82.6%) did not trust their home tap water due to aesthetic issues. Water quality results suggested that fecal indicator bacteria were more common in spring water, while several metallic ions were recovered in higher concentrations from household samples. These observations highlight that health risks and perceptions may be different between sources.

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