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Assessing the Karst Groundwater Quality and Hydrogeochemical Characteristics of a Prominent Dolomite Aquifer in Guizhou, China. WATER 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/w12092584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Karst groundwater is one of the primary water resources in most provinces of Southwestern China where karst topography is strongly featured. In Guizhou Province, a prominent geologic sedimentary formation is the dolomite stratum which exists as the restricted platform facies and potentially provides a large reservoir for drinking water. A proper understanding and evaluation of its hydrogeochemical characteristics and water quality is the key to ensuring the drinking water safety. In the present study, groundwater samples were collected from 25 locations of the dolomite aquifer across Guizhou to determine their major chemical compounds, including the cations (K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+) and the anions (HCO3−, F−, Cl−, NO3−, SO42−), as well as the pH, total hardness, and total dissolved solids. HCO3− and Ca2+ were found to be the dominant anion and cation, respectively, which is characteristic of typical karst groundwater and supports the overall observation of a slightly weak acid to weak alkaline environment in the studied groundwater, as the pH measurements ranged from 6.80 to 8.37. Fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method is used to evaluate the groundwater quality based on typical drinking water safety standard. The results show that the groundwater in most of the studied aquifers is of reasonably good quality. However, in some aquifers, concentrations of NO3− and/or SO42− were found to be excessively high. Overall, the studied dolomite aquifer in its natural environment as investigated in the present study can be considered as a potential geological stratum for water resources exploitation in Guizhou.
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Murphy HM, McGinnis S, Blunt R, Stokdyk J, Wu J, Cagle A, Denno DM, Spencer S, Firnstahl A, Borchardt MA. Septic Systems and Rainfall Influence Human Fecal Marker and Indicator Organism Occurrence in Private Wells in Southeastern Pennsylvania. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:3159-3168. [PMID: 32073835 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b05405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
In the United States, approximately 48 million people are served by private wells. Unlike public water systems, private well water quality is not monitored, and there are few studies on the extent and sources of contamination of private wells. We extensively investigated five private wells to understand the variability in microbial contamination, the role of septic systems as sources of contamination, and the effect of rainfall on well water quality. From 2016 to 2017, weekly or biweekly samples (n = 105) were collected from five private wells in rural Pennsylvania. Samples were tested for general water quality parameters, conventional and sewage-associated microbial indicators, and human pathogens. Total coliforms, human Bacteroides (HF183), and pepper mild mottle virus were detected at least once in all wells. Regression revealed significant relationships between HF183 and rainfall 8-14 days prior to sampling and between total coliforms and rainfall 8-14 or 0-14 days prior to sampling. Dye tracer studies at three wells confirmed the impact of household septic systems on well contamination. Microbiological measurements, chemical water quality data, and dye tracer tests provide evidence of human fecal contamination in the private wells studied, suggesting that household septic systems are the source of this contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather M Murphy
- Water, Health and Applied Microbiology Laboratory (WHAM Laboratory), Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
- College of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
| | - Shannon McGinnis
- Water, Health and Applied Microbiology Laboratory (WHAM Laboratory), Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
- College of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
| | - Ryan Blunt
- Water, Health and Applied Microbiology Laboratory (WHAM Laboratory), Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
| | - Joel Stokdyk
- United States Geological Survey (USGS), Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Marshfield, Wisconsin 54449, United States
| | - Jingwei Wu
- College of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
| | - Alexander Cagle
- Water, Health and Applied Microbiology Laboratory (WHAM Laboratory), Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
| | - Donna M Denno
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98115, United States
| | - Susan Spencer
- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service, Marshfield, Wisconsin 54449, United States
| | - Aaron Firnstahl
- United States Geological Survey (USGS), Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Marshfield, Wisconsin 54449, United States
| | - Mark A Borchardt
- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service, Marshfield, Wisconsin 54449, United States
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Rosiles-González G, Ávila-Torres G, Moreno-Valenzuela OA, Cháidez-Quiroz C, Hernández-Flores CI, Acosta-González G, Brown JK, Betancourt WQ, Gerba CP, Hernández-Zepeda C. Norovirus and human adenovirus occurrence and diversity in recreational water in a karst aquifer in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. J Appl Microbiol 2019; 127:1255-1269. [PMID: 31309647 DOI: 10.1111/jam.14385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Revised: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To determine the seasonal occurrence and diversity of norovirus (NoV) and human adenovirus (HAdV) in groundwater from sinkholes, and brackish water used for recreational activities in the karst aquifer of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. METHODS AND RESULTS Hollow fibre ultrafiltration was used to concentrate viruses and standard plaque assay methods were used to enumerate somatic and F+ specific coliphages as viral indicators. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays were used to estimate the number of genome copies for NoV strains GI, and GII, and HAdVs. The predominant NoV genotypes and HAdV serotypes were identified by comparative sequence analysis. Somatic and male F+ specific coliphages were detected at concentrations up to 94 and 60 plaque-forming units per 100 ml respectively. The NoV genogroup I (GI) was associated with 50% of the sampled sites during the rainy season only, at concentrations ranging from 120 to 1600 genome copies per litre (GC l-1 ). The NoV genogroup II (GII) was detected in 30 and 40% of the sampled sites during the rainy and dry seasons, respectively, at concentrations ranging from 10 to 290 GC l-1 . During the rainy and dry seasons, HAdVs were detected in 20% of the sites, at concentrations ranging from 24 to 690 GC l-1 . Identification of viral types revealed the presence of NoV GI.2, GII.Pe, GII.P16 and GII.P17, and HAdV F serotypes 40 and 41. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate that NoVs and HAdVs are prevalent as virus contaminants in the karst aquifer, representing potential health risks particularly during the rainy season, in one of the most important areas used for tourism in Mexico. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY This is one of the few studies conducted in karst aquifers that provide a foundational baseline of the distribution, concentrations and diversity of NoVs and HadVs in these particular environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Rosiles-González
- Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, A.C., Unidad de Ciencias del Agua, Cancún, Quintana Roo, México
| | - G Ávila-Torres
- Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, A.C., Unidad de Ciencias del Agua, Cancún, Quintana Roo, México
| | - O A Moreno-Valenzuela
- Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, A.C., Unidad de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular de Plantas, Mérida, Yucatán, México
| | - C Cháidez-Quiroz
- Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo A.C., Laboratorio Nacional para la Investigación en Inocuidad Alimentaria, Culiacán, Sinaloa, México
| | - C I Hernández-Flores
- Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, A.C., Unidad de Ciencias del Agua, Cancún, Quintana Roo, México
| | - G Acosta-González
- Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, A.C., Unidad de Ciencias del Agua, Cancún, Quintana Roo, México
| | - J K Brown
- School of Plant Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - W Q Betancourt
- Water and Energy Sustainable Technology (WEST) Center, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - C P Gerba
- Water and Energy Sustainable Technology (WEST) Center, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - C Hernández-Zepeda
- Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, A.C., Unidad de Ciencias del Agua, Cancún, Quintana Roo, México
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Yu S, He R, Song A, Huang Y, Jin Z, Liang Y, Li Q, Wang X, Müller WEG, Cao J. Spatial and temporal dynamics of bacterioplankton community composition in a subtropical dammed karst river of southwestern China. Microbiologyopen 2019; 8:e00849. [PMID: 31058472 PMCID: PMC6741127 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Revised: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
River damming influences the hydro‐physicochemical variations in karst water; however, such disruption in bacterioplankton communities has seldom been studied. Here, three sampling sites (city‐river section, reservoir area, and outflow area) of the Ca2+–Mg2+–HCO3−–SO42− water type in the dammed Liu River were selected to investigate the bacterioplankton community composition as identified by high‐throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing. In the dammed Liu River, thermal regimes have been altered, which has resulted in considerable spatial‐temporal differences in total dissolved solids (TDSs), oxidation‐reduction potential (Eh), dissolved oxygen (DO), and pH and in a different microenvironment for bacterioplankton. Among the dominant bacterioplankton phyla, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Cyanobacteria account for 38.99%–87.24%, 3.75%–36.55%, 4.77%–38.90%, and 0%–14.44% of the total reads (mean relative frequency), respectively. Bacterioplankton communities are dominated by Brevundimonas, Novosphingobium, Zymomonas, the Actinobacteria hgcIclade, the CL500‐29 marine group, Sediminibacterium, Flavobacterium, Pseudarcicella, Cloacibacterium, and Prochlorococcus. Their abundances covary with spatial‐temporal variations in hydro‐physicochemical factors, as also demonstrated by beta diversity analyses. In addition, temperature plays a pivotal role in maintaining bacterioplankton biodiversity and hydro‐physicochemical variations. This result also highlights the concept that ecological niches for aquatic bacteria in dammed karst rivers do not accidentally occur but are the result of a suite of environmental forces. In addition, bacterioplankton can alter the aquatic carbon/nitrogen cycle and contribute to karst river metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi Yu
- Key Laboratory of Karst Dynamics, MLR & GZAR, Institute of Karst Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Guilin, China.,International Research Center on Karst under the Auspices of UNESCO, Guilin, China
| | - Ruoxue He
- Key Laboratory of Karst Dynamics, MLR & GZAR, Institute of Karst Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Guilin, China.,International Research Center on Karst under the Auspices of UNESCO, Guilin, China.,Chengdu Technological University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ang Song
- Key Laboratory of Karst Dynamics, MLR & GZAR, Institute of Karst Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Guilin, China.,International Research Center on Karst under the Auspices of UNESCO, Guilin, China
| | - Yadan Huang
- Graduate School of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Zhenjiang Jin
- Environmental Science and Engineering College, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin, China
| | - Yueming Liang
- Key Laboratory of Karst Dynamics, MLR & GZAR, Institute of Karst Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Guilin, China.,International Research Center on Karst under the Auspices of UNESCO, Guilin, China
| | - Qiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Karst Dynamics, MLR & GZAR, Institute of Karst Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Guilin, China.,International Research Center on Karst under the Auspices of UNESCO, Guilin, China
| | - Xiaohong Wang
- ERC Advanced Investigator Grant Research Group at Institute for Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Werner E G Müller
- ERC Advanced Investigator Grant Research Group at Institute for Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Jianhua Cao
- Key Laboratory of Karst Dynamics, MLR & GZAR, Institute of Karst Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Guilin, China.,International Research Center on Karst under the Auspices of UNESCO, Guilin, China
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Rosiles-González G, Ávila-Torres G, Moreno-Valenzuela OA, Acosta-González G, Leal-Bautista RM, Grimaldo-Hernández CD, Brown JK, Chaidez-Quiroz C, Betancourt WQ, Gerba CP, Hernández-Zepeda C. Occurrence of Pepper Mild Mottle Virus (PMMoV) in Groundwater from a Karst Aquifer System in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL VIROLOGY 2017; 9:487-497. [PMID: 28646449 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-017-9309-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico hosts a karst aquifer system that is the only source of freshwater for the area; however, it is vulnerable to human-mediated contamination. Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) is one of the most abundant RNA viruses associated with human feces, making it a viable indicator for tracking fecal pollution in aquatic environments, including groundwater. In this study, groundwater samples collected from a karst aquifer from fresh and brackish water locations were analyzed for fecal indicator bacteria, somatic and male F+ specific coliphages, and PMMoV during the rainy and dry seasons. Total coliform bacteria were detected at all sites, whereas Escherichia coli were found at relatively low levels <40 MPN/100 ml. The highest average concentrations of somatic and male F+ specific coliphages were 920 and 330 plaque forming units per 100 ml, respectively, detected in freshwater during the rainy season. PMMoV RNA was detected in 85% of the samples with gene sequences sharing 99-100% of nucleotide identity with PMMoV sequences available in GenBank. Quantification of PMMoV genome copies (GC) by quantitative real-time PCR indicated concentrations ranging from 1.7 × 101 to 1.0 × 104 GC/L, with the highest number of GC detected during the rainy season. No significant correlation was observed between PMMoV occurrence by season or water type (p > 0.05). Physicochemical and indicator bacteria were not correlated with PMMoV concentrations. The abundance and prevalence of PMMoV in the karst aquifer may reflect its environmental persistence and its potential as a fecal indicator in this karst aquifer system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Rosiles-González
- Unidad de Ciencias del Agua, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán A.C., Calle 8, No 39, Mz 29, SM 64, CP 77524, Cancún, Quintana Roo, México
| | - Gerardo Ávila-Torres
- Unidad de Ciencias del Agua, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán A.C., Calle 8, No 39, Mz 29, SM 64, CP 77524, Cancún, Quintana Roo, México
| | - Oscar A Moreno-Valenzuela
- Unidad de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular de Plantas, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán A.C., Calle 43, No 130, Col. Chuburná de Hidalgo, CP 97205, Mérida, Yucatán, México
| | - Gilberto Acosta-González
- Unidad de Ciencias del Agua, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán A.C., Calle 8, No 39, Mz 29, SM 64, CP 77524, Cancún, Quintana Roo, México
| | - Rosa María Leal-Bautista
- Unidad de Ciencias del Agua, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán A.C., Calle 8, No 39, Mz 29, SM 64, CP 77524, Cancún, Quintana Roo, México
| | - Cinthya D Grimaldo-Hernández
- Unidad de Ciencias del Agua, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán A.C., Calle 8, No 39, Mz 29, SM 64, CP 77524, Cancún, Quintana Roo, México
| | - Judith K Brown
- School of Plant Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Cristóbal Chaidez-Quiroz
- Laboratorio Nacional para la Investigación en Inocuidad Alimentaria, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo A.C., Carretera a El Dorado Km5.5, Col. Campo El Diez, CP 80129, Culiacán, Sinaloa, México
| | - Walter Q Betancourt
- Water and Energy Sustainable Technology (WEST) Center, The University of Arizona, 2959 West Calle Agua Nueva, Tucson, AZ, 85745, USA
| | - Charles P Gerba
- Water and Energy Sustainable Technology (WEST) Center, The University of Arizona, 2959 West Calle Agua Nueva, Tucson, AZ, 85745, USA
| | - Cecilia Hernández-Zepeda
- Unidad de Ciencias del Agua, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán A.C., Calle 8, No 39, Mz 29, SM 64, CP 77524, Cancún, Quintana Roo, México.
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Junter GA, Lebrun L. Cellulose-based virus-retentive filters: a review. RE/VIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND BIO/TECHNOLOGY 2017; 16:455-489. [PMID: 32214924 PMCID: PMC7088658 DOI: 10.1007/s11157-017-9434-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
Viral filtration is a critical step in the purification of biologics and in the monitoring of microbiological water quality. Viral filters are also essential protection elements against airborne viral particles. The present review first focuses on cellulose-based filter media currently used for size-exclusion and/or adsorptive filtration of viruses from biopharmaceutical and environmental water samples. Data from spiking studies quantifying the viral filtration performance of cellulosic filters are detailed, i.e., first, the virus reduction capacity of regenerated cellulose hollow fiber filters in the manufacturing process of blood products and, second, the efficiency of virus recovery/concentration from water samples by the viradel (virus adsorption-elution) method using charge modified, electropositive cellulosic filters or conventional electronegative cellulose ester microfilters. Viral analysis of field water samples by the viradel technique is also surveyed. This review then describes cellulose-based filter media used in individual protection equipment against airborne viral pathogens, presenting innovative filtration media with virucidal properties. Some pros and cons of cellulosic viral filters and perspectives for cellulose-based materials in viral filtration are underlined in the review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy-Alain Junter
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN Normandie, INSA Rouen, CNRS, PBS, 76000 Rouen, France
| | - Laurent Lebrun
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN Normandie, INSA Rouen, CNRS, PBS, 76000 Rouen, France
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Fout GS, Borchardt MA, Kieke BA, Karim MR. Human virus and microbial indicator occurrence in public-supply groundwater systems: meta-analysis of 12 international studies. HYDROGEOLOGY JOURNAL 2017; 25:903-919. [PMID: 30245581 PMCID: PMC6145489 DOI: 10.1007/s10040-017-1581-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Groundwater quality is often evaluated using microbial indicators. This study examines data from 12 international groundwater studies (conducted 1992-2013) of 718 public drinking-water systems located in a range of hydrogeological settings. Focus was on testing the value of indicator organisms for identifying virus-contaminated wells. One or more indicators and viruses were present in 37 and 15% of 2,273 samples and 44 and 27% of 746 wells, respectively. Escherichia coli (E. coli) and somatic coliphage are 7-9 times more likely to be associated with culturable virus-positive samples when the indicator is present versus when it is absent, while F-specific and somatic coliphages are 8-9 times more likely to be associated with culturable virus-positive wells. However, single indicators are only marginally associated with viruses detected by molecular methods, and all microbial indicators have low sensitivity and positive predictive values for virus occurrence, whether by culturable or molecular assays, i.e., indicators are often absent when viruses are present and the indicators have a high false-positive rate. Wells were divided into three susceptibility subsets based on presence of (1) total coliform bacteria or (2) multiple indicators, or (3) location of wells in karst, fractured bedrock, or gravel/cobble settings. Better associations of some indicators with viruses were observed for (1) and (3). Findings indicate the best indicators are E. coli or somatic coliphage, although both indicators may underestimate virus occurrence. Repeat sampling for indicators improves evaluation of the potential for viral contamination in a well.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Shay Fout
- US Environmental Protection Agency, 26 Martin Luther King Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - Mark A Borchardt
- US Department of Agriculture, 2611 Yellowstone Dr, Marshfield, WI 54449, USA
| | - Burney A Kieke
- Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, 1000 Oak Ave, Marshfield, WI 54449, USA
| | - Mohammad R Karim
- City of Santa Cruz, Public Works Department, 110 California St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
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DeFelice NB, Johnston JE, Gibson JM. Reducing Emergency Department Visits for Acute Gastrointestinal Illnesses in North Carolina (USA) by Extending Community Water Service. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2016; 124:1583-1591. [PMID: 27203131 PMCID: PMC5047767 DOI: 10.1289/ehp160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2015] [Revised: 01/27/2016] [Accepted: 05/04/2016] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous analyses have suggested that unregulated private drinking water wells carry a higher risk of exposure to microbial contamination than regulated community water systems. In North Carolina, ~35% of the state's population relies on private wells, but the health impact associated with widespread reliance on such unregulated drinking water sources is unknown. OBJECTIVES We estimated the total number of emergency department visits for acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI) attributable to microbial contamination in private wells in North Carolina per year, the costs of those visits, and the potential health benefits of extending regulated water service to households currently relying on private wells for their drinking water. METHODS We developed a population intervention model using 2007-2013 data from all 122 North Carolina emergency departments along with microbial contamination data for all 2,120 community water systems and for 16,138 private well water samples collected since 2008. RESULTS An estimated 29,400 (95% CI: 26,600, 32,200) emergency department visits per year for acute gastrointestinal illness were attributable to microbial contamination in drinking water, constituting approximately 7.3% (95% CI: 6.6, 7.9%) of all AGI-related visits. Of these attributable cases, 99% (29,200; 95% CI: 26,500, 31,900) were associated with private well contamination. The estimated statewide annual cost of emergency department visits attributable to microbiological contamination of drinking water is 40.2 million USD (95% CI: 2.58 million USD, 193 million USD), of which 39.9 million USD (95% CI: 2.56 million USD, 192 million USD) is estimated to arise from private well contamination. An estimated 2,920 (95% CI: 2,650, 3,190) annual emergency department visits could be prevented by extending community water service to 10% of the population currently relying on private wells. CONCLUSIONS This research provides new evidence that extending regulated community water service to populations currently relying on private wells may decrease the population burden of acute gastrointestinal illness. CITATION DeFelice NB, Johnston JE, Gibson JM. 2016. Reducing emergency department visits for acute gastrointestinal illnesses in North Carolina (USA) by extending community water service. Environ Health Perspect 124:1583-1591; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP160.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas B. DeFelice
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jill E. Johnston
- Division of Environmental Health, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jacqueline MacDonald Gibson
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Address correspondence to J.M. Gibson, CB 7431, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7431 USA. Telephone: (919) 966-7892. E-mail:
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Murphy S, Jordan P, Mellander PE, O' Flaherty V. Quantifying faecal indicator organism hydrological transfer pathways and phases in agricultural catchments. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 520:286-299. [PMID: 25840482 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2014] [Revised: 01/19/2015] [Accepted: 02/05/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Faecal indicator organisms (FIOs) can impact on water quality and pose a health and environmental risk. The transfer of FIOs, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), from land to water is driven by hydrological connectivity and may follow the same flowpaths as nutrients, from agricultural and human sources. This study investigated E. coli transfer in two catchment areas with high source and transport pressures. These pressures were: organic phosphorus (P) loading; human settlement; conduits and fissures in a grassland karst area; and clay rich and impermeable soils in a mixed arable area. The occurrence of E. coli and its transport pathways, along with the pathways of nutrients, were studied using a combination of targeted FIO sampling, during different hydrological phases and events, and high resolution nutrient analysis. The quick flow component in both catchments was found to be a more potent vector for E. coli, and was coincident with the total P flowpaths using a P Loadograph Recession Analysis (LRA). The karst grassland catchment was found to be a transport limited system and the mixed arable catchment a source limited system. Hence, despite the grassland catchment being a potentially higher FIO source, the E. coli loads leaving the catchment were low compared to the mixed arable catchment. E. coli load whole-event comparisons also indicated that the grassland karst transfers tended to be much lower on falling phases of runoff, while the arable catchment, over greywacke and mudstone geology, showed little change between the phases. Furthermore, the arable catchment showed asymptotic decline of sustained E. coli loads towards low flows, which may be indicative of chronic point sources. These results indicate the dominance of transport mechanisms over source mechanisms for mass E. coli loads and also chronic loads during low flow. These will be important considerations for risk assessment and mitigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Murphy
- Agricultural Catchments Programme, Teagasc, Johnstown Castle, Wexford, Ireland; Environmental Change Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
| | - P Jordan
- School of Environmental Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, N. Ireland, UK.
| | - P-E Mellander
- Agricultural Catchments Programme, Teagasc, Johnstown Castle, Wexford, Ireland
| | - V O' Flaherty
- Environmental Change Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
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Fout GS, Cashdollar JL, Varughese EA, Parshionikar SU, Grimm AC. EPA Method 1615. Measurement of enterovirus and norovirus occurrence in water by culture and RT-qPCR. I. Collection of virus samples. J Vis Exp 2015:52067. [PMID: 25867928 PMCID: PMC4401389 DOI: 10.3791/52067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
EPA Method 1615 was developed with a goal of providing a standard method for measuring enteroviruses and noroviruses in environmental and drinking waters. The standardized sampling component of the method concentrates viruses that may be present in water by passage of a minimum specified volume of water through an electropositive cartridge filter. The minimum specified volumes for surface and finished/ground water are 300 L and 1,500 L, respectively. A major method limitation is the tendency for the filters to clog before meeting the sample volume requirement. Studies using two different, but equivalent, cartridge filter options showed that filter clogging was a problem with 10% of the samples with one of the filter types compared to 6% with the other filter type. Clogging tends to increase with turbidity, but cannot be predicted based on turbidity measurements only. From a cost standpoint one of the filter options is preferable over the other, but the water quality and experience with the water system to be sampled should be taken into consideration in making filter selections.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Shay Fout
- National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S Environmental Protection Agency;
| | | | - Eunice A Varughese
- National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S Environmental Protection Agency
| | - Sandhya U Parshionikar
- Technical Support Center, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, U.S Environmental Protection Agency
| | - Ann C Grimm
- National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S Environmental Protection Agency
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Zhang Y, Kelly WR, Panno SV, Liu WT. Tracing fecal pollution sources in karst groundwater by Bacteroidales genetic biomarkers, bacterial indicators, and environmental variables. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2014; 490:1082-90. [PMID: 24922611 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.05.086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2014] [Revised: 05/19/2014] [Accepted: 05/19/2014] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Fecal contamination in Midwestern karst regions was evaluated by simultaneously measuring traditional bacterial indicators (coliforms and Escherichia coli), Bacteroidales-based biomarkers, and environmental variables. Water samples from springs and wells were collected from karst regions in Illinois (IL), Wisconsin (WI), Kentucky (KY), and Missouri (MO). Quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) with seven primer sets targeting different members of Bacteroidales was used to determine the origin of fecal contamination (i.e., from human waste, livestock waste, or both). Most samples were contaminated by both human and animal waste, with a few samples showing pollution solely by one or the other. Spring water tended to have higher levels of contamination than well water, and higher concentrations of fecal biomarkers were detected in urban springs compared to rural spring systems. However, there were discrepancies on contamination profile determined by Bacteroidales-based biomarkers and by traditional bacterial indicators. Among all the environmental parameters examined, E. coli, sulfate, total dissolved solids (TDS), and silicon were significantly correlated (p<0.05) with the level of Bacteroidales-based fecal indicators. A rapid screening method using total nitrogen (TN) and chloride (Cl(-)) concentrations to determine fecal contamination was shown to be effective and correlated well with Bacteroidales-based MST. The results suggest that human and livestock feces co-contaminated a large portion of karst groundwater systems in Midwestern regions, and the inclusion of traditional bacterial indicators, environmental variables, and Bacteroidales-based MST is an effective approach for identifying fecal contamination in karst regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Zhang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, United States
| | - Walton R Kelly
- Illinois State Water Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, United States
| | - Samuel V Panno
- Illinois State Geological Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, United States
| | - Wen-Tso Liu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, United States.
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Roudnew B, Lavery TJ, Seymour JR, Jeffries TC, Mitchell JG. Variability in bacteria and virus-like particle abundances during purging of unconfined aquifers. GROUND WATER 2014; 52:118-124. [PMID: 23550819 DOI: 10.1111/gwat.12044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Standard methodologies for sampling the physicochemical conditions of groundwater recommend purging a bore for three bore volumes to avoid sampling the stagnant water within a bore and instead gain samples representative of the aquifer. However, there are currently no methodological standards addressing the amount of purging required to gain representative biological samples to assess groundwater bacterial and viral abundances. The objective of this study was to examine how bacterial and viral abundances change during the purging of bore volumes. Six bores infiltrating into unconfined aquifers were pumped for five or six bore volumes each and bacteria and virus-like particles (VLPs) were enumerated from each bore volume using flow cytometry. In examination of the individual bores trends in bacterial abundances were observed to increase, decrease, or remain constant with each purged bore volume. Furthermore, triplicates taken at each bore volume indicated substantial variations in VLP and bacterial abundances that are often larger than the differences between bore volumes. This indicates a high level of small scale heterogeneity in microbial community abundance in groundwater samples, and we suggest that this may be an intrinsic feature of bore biology. The heterogeneity observed may be driven by bottom up processes (variability in the distribution of organic and inorganic nutrients), top-down processes (grazing and viral lysis), physical heterogeneities in the bore, or technical artifacts associated with the purging process. We suggest that a more detailed understanding of the ecology underpinning this variability is required to adequately describe the microbiological characteristics of groundwater ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Roudnew
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
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Drozd M, Merrick NN, Sanad YM, Dick LK, Dick WA, Rajashekara G. Evaluating the occurrence of host-specific , general fecal indicators, and bacterial pathogens in a mixed-use watershed. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 2013; 42:713-725. [PMID: 23673938 DOI: 10.2134/jeq2012.0359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Fecal contamination of water is very common, and, in the United States, prevention is complicated by the colossal span of waterways (>3.5 million miles), heterogeneous sources of pollution, and competing interests in water monitoring. The focus of this study was the Upper Sugar Creek Watershed, a mixed-use watershed with many headwater streams and one of the most contaminated waterways in Ohio. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and host-specific PCR for were evaluated for the potential to discern sources of fecal contamination. Pathogen-specific qPCR and culturable by most probable number (MPN) were compared at 21 established water quality monitoring sites in the watershed headwaters. Lower numbers of ruminant-specific markers were detected in the base flow water samples compared with the human-specific marker, suggesting the presence of hotspots of human fecal contamination. qPCR and MPN showed significant correlation ( = 0.57; < 0.001). Correlation between general fecal indicator and pathogen concentrations was weak or nonexistent. Coexistence of and human-specific was common ( = 0.015). qPCR may have a greater potential for predicting fecal contamination due to its sensitivity, rapid analysis, and availability of host-specific assays. However, the lack of a strong correlation between pathogens and general fecal indicators suggests that assessment of health risk associated with fecal contamination will require a complement of approaches.
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Cashdollar JL, Brinkman NE, Griffin SM, McMinn BR, Rhodes ER, Varughese EA, Grimm AC, Parshionikar SU, Wymer L, Fout GS. Development and evaluation of EPA method 1615 for detection of enterovirus and norovirus in water. Appl Environ Microbiol 2013; 79:215-23. [PMID: 23087037 PMCID: PMC3536115 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02270-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2012] [Accepted: 10/15/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The U.S. EPA developed a sample concentration and preparation assay in conjunction with the total culturable virus assay for concentrating and measuring culturable viruses in source and drinking waters as part of the Information Collection Rule (ICR) promulgated in 1996. In an effort to improve upon this method, the U.S. EPA recently developed Method 1615: Measurement of Enterovirus and Norovirus Occurrence in Water by Culture and RT-qPCR. Method 1615 uses a culturable virus assay with reduced equipment and labor costs compared to the costs associated with the ICR virus method and introduces a new molecular assay for the detection of enteroviruses and noroviruses by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. In this study, we describe the optimization of several new components of the molecular assay and examine virus recovery from ground, reagent-grade, and surface water samples seeded with poliovirus type 3 and murine norovirus. For the culturable virus and molecular assays, mean poliovirus recovery using the complete method was 58% and 20% in groundwater samples, 122% and 39% using low-titer spikes in reagent-grade water, 42% and 48% using high-titer spikes in reagent-grade water, and 11% and 10% in surface water with high turbidity, respectively. Murine norovirus recovery by the molecular assay was 30% in groundwater samples, less than 8% in both low- and high-titer spikes in reagent-grade water, and 6% in surface water with high turbidity. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of Method 1615 for use with groundwater samples and highlights the need for further research into its effectiveness with surface water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Cashdollar
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
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