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CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Decay rates of faecal indicator bacteria from sewage and ovine faeces in brackish and freshwater microcosms with contrasting suspended particulate matter concentrations
The Science of the total environment, Vol.572, pp.1645-1652
2016
PMID: 27039273
Abstract
To safeguard human health, legislative measures require the monitoring of faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) concentrations in recreational and shellfish waters. Consequently, numerous studies have focussed on FIB survival in the water column and more recently in estuarine sediments. However, there is a paucity of information regarding the influence of contrasting suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentrations on the survival of FIB in the water column of estuaries. Here, microcosms containing freshwater or brackish water with low, high and extreme SPM concentrations were inoculated with sewage and ovine faeces and the decay rate of Escherichia coli, coliforms and enterococci were determined by enumeration over five consecutive days. E. coli derived from ovine faeces proliferated and persisted at high levels in both freshwater and brackish microcosms (no decay), whereas ovine enterococci demonstrated a net decay over the duration of the experiment. Furthermore, SPM concentration had a significant effect on the decay rates of both E. coli and enterococci from ovine faeces in brackish microcosms, but decay rate was greater at low SPM concentrations for E. coli, whereas the opposite was observed for enterococci, whose decay rates increased as SPM concentration increased. E. coli, enterococci and coliforms derived from wastewater demonstrated a net decay in both freshwater and brackish microcosms, with contrasting effects of SPM concentration on decay rate. In addition, some FIB groups demonstrated contrasting responses (decay or proliferation) in the first 24h following inoculation into freshwater versus brackish microcosms. Overall, SPM concentrations influenced the proliferation and decay rates of FIB in brackish waters, but had minimal influence in freshwater. These results demonstrate that the survival rates of FIB in aquatic environments are system specific, species and source dependent, and influenced by SPM concentration. This study has important implications for catchment-based risk assessments and source apportionment of FIB pollution in aquatic environments.
Details
- Title
- Decay rates of faecal indicator bacteria from sewage and ovine faeces in brackish and freshwater microcosms with contrasting suspended particulate matter concentrations
- Authors/Creators
- Tracy L Perkins - Bangor UniversityKaren Perrow - Bangor UniversityPaulina Rajko-Nenow - Bangor UniversityColin F Jago - Bangor UniversityDavey L Jones - Bangor UniversityShelagh K Malham - Bangor UniversityJames E McDonald - Bangor University
- Publication Details
- The Science of the total environment, Vol.572, pp.1645-1652
- Publisher
- Elsevier B.V.
- Identifiers
- 991005560432907891
- Copyright
- © 2016 The Authors.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.246 Diarrheal Diseases
- 1.246.1380 Water Sanitation
- Web Of Science research areas
- Environmental Sciences
- ESI research areas
- Environment/Ecology