Quantifying the risk that failing onsite waste treatment systems (OWTS), such as septic systems, present to human health and the environment is a key component in natural resource management. We integrated environmental and sociodemographic data to assess the potential environmental risk and environmental justice concerns related to septic infrastructure. We used this process to develop a framework that can be applied in other jurisdictions. We found only 8% of the registered OWTS presented potential environmental risk due to the topographic, hydrologic, or edaphic characteristics of their placement. In contrast, almost 70% of the OWTS presented potential environmental risk due to their age (25 years or older). Approximately 60% of the OWTS we estimated to be at risk from age or placement were found in census blocks with more than 30% of the population living below the poverty line, had a population that was more than 50% nonwhite, or was predominantly nonwhite and impoverished. Our work suggests that jurisdictions with limited information about septic infrastructure may be able to use geospatial data that they do have to predict the parcel-level locations of OWTS. These locations can then be used to inform environmental monitoring to proactively address environmental justice concerns.
Aim
It is well‐known that enterococci are abundant in the environment; however, the role of surface water as a reservoir of antimicrobial‐resistant enterococci remains largely undefined. In this study, surface water samples were collected over a 2‐year period from the Upper Oconee watershed, Athens, GA to examine enterococci and their antimicrobial resistance.
Methods and Results
Approximately 97% (445/458) of the samples were positive for enterococci and a total of 637 enterococci were isolated. The predominant species were Enterococcus casseliflavus (33·6%) followed by Enterococcus faecalis (26·5%) and Enterococcus hirae (13·2%). Regardless of species, the highest levels of resistance were to lincomycin (88·5%) and tetracycline (13%); isolates also exhibited resistance to newer antimicrobials, daptomycin (8·9%) and tigecycline (6·4%). Multidrug resistance (resistance ≥3 antimicrobial classes) was observed to as many as five classes of antimicrobials. Resistant enterococci appeared to be randomly dispersed over the seasons rather than clustered by species or antimicrobial resistance.
Conclusions
This study demonstrated that surface waters contain a large population of diverse species of antimicrobial‐resistant enterococci, including resistance to new antimicrobials.
Significance and Impact of the Study
These results may indicate the potential of human intestinal illness and/or colonization of the human gut with resistant enterococci as enterococci correlate with increased disease risk to humans during recreational exposure to water.
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