Canine Scent Detection and Microbial Source Tracking of Human Waste Contamination in Storm Drains

Werfhorst, Laurie C. Van De; Murray, Jill L. S.; Reynolds, Scott; Reynolds, Karen; Holden, Patricia A.

doi:10.2175/106143013x13807328848496

Cited by 23 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 34 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Sercu and colleagues [78] reported the concentrations of the HF183 markers were as high as 1.9 × 10 8 per L of stormwater, suggesting a dominant wastewater component in the urban stormwater. High occurrence and concentrations of HF183 markers in storm drains, creeks, lakes, and coastal water samples have been reported by several studies, indicating a high proportion of human fecal pollution and potential public health risk [41,79,80]. Eichmiller and colleagues [81] quantified HF183 markers in water, sand, and sediment samples from a Lake Superior harbor site that received continuous contributions from wastewater effluent.…”

Section: Water Environmentmentioning

confidence: 96%

Current Status of Marker Genes of Bacteroides and Related Taxa for Identifying Sewage Pollution in Environmental Waters

Ahmed

Hughes

Harwood

2016

Water

112

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:Microbial source tracking (MST) endeavors to determine sources of fecal pollution in environmental waters by capitalizing on the association of certain microorganisms with the gastrointestinal tract and feces of specific animal groups. Several decades of research have shown that bacteria belonging to the gut-associated order Bacteroidales, and particularly the genus Bacteroides, tend to co-evolve with the host, and are, therefore, particularly suitable candidates for MST applications. This review summarizes the current research on MST methods that employ genes belonging to Bacteroidales/Bacteroides as tracers or "markers" of sewage pollution, including known advantages and deficiencies of the many polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods that have been published since 2000. Host specificity is a paramount criterion for confidence that detection of a marker is a true indicator of the target host. Host sensitivity, or the prevalence of the marker in feces/waste from the target host, is necessary for confidence that absence of the marker is indicative of the absence of the pollution source. Each of these parameters can vary widely depending on the type of waste assessed and the geographic location. Differential decay characteristics of bacterial targets and their associated DNA contribute to challenges in interpreting MST results in the context of human health risks. The HF183 marker, derived from the 16S rRNA gene of Bacteroides dorei and closely related taxa, has been used for almost two decades in MST studies, and is well characterized regarding host sensitivity and specificity, and in prevalence and concentration in sewage in many countries. Other markers such as HumM2 and HumM3 show promise, but require further performance testing to demonstrate their widespread utility. An important limitation of the one-marker-one-assay approach commonly used for MST is that given the complexities of microbial persistence in environmental waters, and the methodological challenges of quantitative PCR (qPCR) in such samples, the absence of a given marker does not ensure the absence of fecal pollution in the source water. Approaches under development, such as microarray and community analysis, have the potential to improve MST practices, thereby increasing our ability to protect human and ecosystem health.

show abstract

Section: Water Environmentmentioning

confidence: 96%

Current Status of Marker Genes of Bacteroides and Related Taxa for Identifying Sewage Pollution in Environmental Waters

Ahmed

Hughes

Harwood

2016

Water

112

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…MST field studies have identified aging infrastructure as a contributor to sewage intrusion into stormwater system (Marsalek and Rochfort, 2004;Sauer et al, 2011;Guérineau et al, 2014). Several studies have reported the greater concentrations of the HF183 marker gene in stormwater samples (Sercu et al, 2011;Van De Werfhorst et al, 2014;Paar 3rd et al, 2015) (Table 1). Olds et al (2018) observed high levels of human Bacteroides (HB) and Lachno2 in the Milwaukee estuary and at the lower reaches of the three major rivers forming the estuary in Milwaukee, WI, USA after storm events.…”

Section: Mst Marker Genes In Stormwatermentioning

confidence: 99%

A review on microbial contaminants in stormwater runoff and outfalls: Potential health risks and mitigation strategies

Ahmed

Hamilton

Toze

et al. 2019

Science of The Total Environment

110

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Editor: Patricia HoldenDemands on global water supplies are increasing in response to the need to provide more food, water, and energy for a rapidly growing population. These water stressors are exacerbated by climate change, as well as the growth and urbanisation of industry and commerce. Consequently, urban water authorities around the globe are exploring alternative water sources to meet ever-increasing demands. These alternative sources are primarily treated sewage, stormwater, and groundwater. Stormwater including roof-harvested rainwater has been considered as an alternative water source for both potable and non-potable uses. One of the most significant issues concerning alternative water reuse is the public health risk associated with chemical and microbial contaminants. Several studies to date have quantified fecal indicators and pathogens in stormwater. Microbial source tracking (MST) approaches have also been used to determine the sources of fecal contamination in stormwater and receiving waters. This review paper summarizes occurrence and concentrations of fecal indicators, pathogens, and MST marker genes in urban stormwater. A section of the review highlights the removal of fecal indicators and pathogens through water sensitive urban design (WSUD) or Best Management Practices (BMPs). We also discuss approaches for assessing and mitigating health risks associated with stormwater, including a summary of existing quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) models for potable and non-potable reuse of stormwater. Finally, the most critical research gaps are identified for formulating risk management strategies.Crown

show abstract

“…Dry weather discharges may be hard to detect since they can occur sporadically in urban catchments. Conventional sensory detection methods adopted by Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) programs include visual inspection for the presence of flow and deposits (Irvine et al 2011), dye testing to locate the sources of cross-connections (Schmidt & Spencer 1986), conditioning monitoring via video inspection to reveal misconnections or pipe defects (Ellis & Butler 2015), and dogs trained to identify sources of wastewater (Van De Werfhorst et al 2014). However, these methods have inherent limitations: visual inspection being subjective (Dirksen & Clemens 2008) and hard to trace to the actual source of discharge; video inspection being time consuming and ineffective outside peak hours; dye testing requiring access to private properties (Panasiuk et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Illicit discharge detection in stormwater drains using an Arduino-based low-cost sensor network

Shi

Catsamas

Deletic

et al. 2022

Water Science and Technology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Illicit discharges in urban stormwater drains are a major environmental concern that deteriorate downstream waterway health. Conventional detection methods such as stormwater drain visual inspection and dye testing all have their fundamental drawbacks and limitations which might not easily locate and eliminate illegal discharges in a catchment. We deployed 22 novel low-cost level, temperature and conductivity sensors across an urban catchment in Melbourne for a year to monitor the distributed drainage network, thereby detecting likely illicit discharges ranging from a transitory flow with less than 10 minutes to persistent flows lasting longer than 20 hours. We discuss rapid deployment methods, real-time data collection and online processing. The ensemble analysis of all dry weather flow data across all sites indicates that: (i) large uncertainties are associated with discharge frequency, duration, and variation in water quality within industrial and residential land uses; (ii) most dry weather discharges are intermittent and transient flows which are hard to be detected and not simply due to cross-connections with the sewerage network; (iii) detectable diurnal discharge patterns can support mitigation efforts, including policies and regulatory measures (e.g., enforcement or education) to protect receiving waterways; and, (iv) that it is possible to cost effectively isolate sources of dry weather pollution using a distributed sensor network.

show abstract

Canine Scent Detection and Microbial Source Tracking of Human Waste Contamination in Storm Drains

Cited by 23 publications

References 34 publications

Current Status of Marker Genes of Bacteroides and Related Taxa for Identifying Sewage Pollution in Environmental Waters

Current Status of Marker Genes of Bacteroides and Related Taxa for Identifying Sewage Pollution in Environmental Waters

A review on microbial contaminants in stormwater runoff and outfalls: Potential health risks and mitigation strategies

Illicit discharge detection in stormwater drains using an Arduino-based low-cost sensor network

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About