Greater incidence of storm events, which can lead to greater contamination of surface waters by human and animal faeces, are a predicted feature of climate change in parts of Europe and elsewhere. The aim of theis study was to combine the use of a novel quantitative microbial source tracking (QMST) method with established water quality monitoring procedures during an intense summer storm event in a rural UK catchment, to establish dominant sources of faecal pollution. One-litre grab samples of river water were collected every 12 h for a period of seven days from three sampling sites on the Bevern Stream (a tributary of the Sussex Ouse). All samples were tested for a range of chemophysical and bacteriological parameters, and also for phage-lysis of a human specific strain of Bacteroides spp. GB-124. Presumptive levels of Escherichia coil and intestinal enterococci were statistically significant (p-value <0.05) higher during the storm event, compared with dry weather conditions. Low recorded levels of phages of Bacteroides GB-124 during the storm event, compared with dry weather conditions, support the hypothesis that the predominant sources of faecal material in the river during the storm event were non-human. Using traditional faecal indicator bacteria and a QMST marker during storm events may improve human health protection protocol
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.