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.

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 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.

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 Microbial Water Quality Conditions Associated with Livestock Grazing, Recreation, and Rural Residences in Mixed-Use Landscapes

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 5207
Author(s):  
Kelsey L. Derose ◽  
Leslie M. Roche ◽  
David F. Lile ◽  
Danny J. Eastburn ◽  
Kenneth W. Tate
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Quality Standards ◽  
Livestock Grazing ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Water Quality Standards ◽  
Fecal Indicator ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Microbial Water Quality ◽  
Mountainous Watersheds ◽  
Rural Residences

Contamination of surface waters with microbial pollutants from fecal sources is a significant human health issue. Identification of relative fecal inputs from the mosaic of potential sources common in rural watersheds is essential to effectively develop and deploy mitigation strategies. We conducted a cross-sectional longitudinal survey of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) concentrations associated with extensive livestock grazing, recreation, and rural residences in three rural, mountainous watersheds in California, USA during critical summer flow conditions. Overall, we found that 86% to 87% of 77 stream sample sites across the study area were below contemporary Escherichia coli-based microbial water quality standards. FIB concentrations were lowest at recreation sites, followed closely by extensive livestock grazing sites. Elevated concentrations and exceedance of water quality standards were highest at sites associated with rural residences, and at intermittently flowing stream sites. Compared to national and state recommended E. coli-based water quality standards, antiquated rural regional policies based on fecal coliform concentrations overestimated potential fecal contamination by as much as four orders of magnitude in this landscape, hindering the identification of the most likely fecal sources and thus the efficient targeting of mitigation practices to address them.

An assessment of the impact of the proposed EU bathing water directive on Irish coastal bathing area compliance

2005 ◽  
Vol 51 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 225-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Chawla ◽  
K. Real ◽  
B. Masterson
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Quality Standards ◽  
Water Quality Standards ◽  
Microsoft Excel ◽  
Microbial Water Quality ◽  
Bathing Water Directive ◽  
Bathing Water ◽  
Good Classification ◽  
The Impact

An assessment of the impact of the new microbial water quality standards of the proposed EU Bathing Water Directive on the classification of designated Irish coastal bathing areas is presented. The new standards are applied retrospectively to the microbial water quality results for the bathing seasons of 1999, 2000 and 2001, and the outcome is compared with that recorded under the present Bathing Water Directive. A Microsoft EXCEL application was developed to generate the retrospective bathing area classifications according to the proposed Directive (Excellent, Good, Poor). It was found that the number of Irish coastal bathing areas not attaining ‘Excellent’ classification (as would be required at present for the Blue Flag award) was trebled; the number attaining ‘Good’ classification was increased by about 50%, and the number attracting ‘Poor’ classification (equivalent to ‘Fail’ under the present Directive) was increased nine-fold. Some of the shortcomings of the proposed Directive and suggestions for its revision are discussed.

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.

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