AWWA WQTC57060

Methods of detecting pathogens in drinking water relying on the presence of bacterial indicators such as Escherichia coli may be used to infer the presence of fecal contamination and assist in the development of source water protection strategies. However, although biochemical-based methods of identification can speciate organisms, they cannot provide the level of discrimination required for tracking potential sources of contamination. Elevated coliform and E. coli levels at a drinking water reservoir indicated deterioration of source water quality. The reservoir may be impacted during this period by non-point sources of pollution, including creek run-off from undeveloped forest and agricultural areas, as well as by various domestic animals and wildlife; large populations of gulls frequently gathered on the reservoir and cattle grazed in some of the surrounding areas. The objective of this study was to use molecular-based methods of bacterial fingerprinting to identify the strains of E. coli present in a drinking water reservoir, and determine the likely sources of contamination. Molecular methods of source tracking offer a degree of discrimination that can identify organisms to the isolate level, and can provide a powerful tool to be used in the development of source water protection strategies. Includes 11 references, tables, figures.

Product Details

Edition:

Vol. - No.

Published:

11/01/2002

Number of Pages:

11

File Size:

1 file , 490 KB