Disinfection Vs Non-Disinfection Microbial Risk Assessment For Recreational Use Of Chicago Area Waterways

Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment for Recreational Exposure to Water Bodies in Philadelphia

“…Incidental ingestion refers to swallowing of inhaled and entrapped mists from nose and mouth. Typically, very few studies have estimated the amount of water that users in lowcontact water use (such as canoeing, boating and playing with water) may ingest (Dorevitch et al, 2011;Dufour, 1984;Petropoulou et al, 2008). Hence in a few cases, when the literature information was not sufficient to develop ingestion rate estimates, additional assumptions were made following the EPA exposure factor guidelines (U.S. EPA, 2000).…”

Challenges in Attaining Recreational Stream Standards for Bacteria: Setting Realistic Expectations for Management Policies and BMPs

“…This is critically important research to ensure that time and effort expended by regulators and MS4 permit holders is meaningful in terms of protection of human health. As an example, recent microbial risk assessment conducted for the Chicago Waterways Project (Petropolou et al 2008) showed relatively low risk to human health due to secondary contact recreation in waters, despite elevated bacteria concentrations. Ideally, EPA would also support bacteria-related monitoring for BMPs so that a national baseline expectation regarding the ability of structural BMPs to effectively treat bacteria could be developed.…”

Disinfection and Antimicrobial Processes

“…Higher rates of illness were predicted during wet weather events. Disinfection of WRP effluent alone has marginal effects on overall recreational illness (Petropoulou et al, 2008). Irrespective of modes of operation or physical locations of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), significant amounts of tetracycline resistant bacteria (10 to10 3 CFU/mL) and tetracycline resistance genes (10 5 to 10 7 copies/mL) were discharged into receiving waters even after disinfection .…”