The effect of wind speed and direction on the distribution of sewage-associated bacteria

Abstract

A study of the relationship between wind and the distribution of sewage-associated bacteria was undertaken at a location where the sewage was discharged into the sea adjacent to the mouth of a river. The numbers of presumptive Escherichia coli were determined in 149 sea-water samples taken from three locations at distances of 1·9, 2·4 and 4·3 km from the outfall. On each sampling occasion, data on the wind speed and direction in the 3 h prior to collection of the samples were also collected. Analysis of these data demonstrated a significant role for wind speed and direction. With respect to wind direction, the numbers of presumptive E. coli present in a sample were significantly higher when the sample site lay downwind of the outfall. Wind speed was shown to have an influence on the numbers of presumptive E. coli only when the sample site was downwind of the outfall. In an analysis of 61 samples, an inverse correlation (r 2 0·73) between salinity and log presumptive E. coli numbers was demonstrated. These data demonstrate that wind speed and direction at the time of sampling significantly influence the numbers of presumptive E. coli detected in any sea-water sample. It is argued that failure to pay sufficient attention to these parameters in the design of monitoring programmes may result in the generation of data that could provide a seriously distorted picture of the microbiological status of a water body.

Bacterial community dissimilarity between the surface and subsurface soils equals horizontal differences over several kilometers in the western Tibetan Plateau

“…Interestingly, Smith et al . () found that wind speed and direction could influence the distribution of sewage‐associated bacteria. It is also known that microbes can associate with dust, one study found that the distribution dust‐associated bacteria and fungi could best be explained by climatic and soil variables (Barberán et al ., ).…”

Relationship Between Fecal Indicators in Sediment and Recreational Waters in a Danish Estuary

“…Resuspension of fecal pathogens from surface sediment may contribute to increased concentrations in the overlying bathing water and may subsequently pose a risk for swimmers or other recreational uses. Resuspension of bacteria from near-shore sediments can occur due to recreational activity and/or wind induced turbulence at the shore line (Smith et al 1999;Le Fevre and Lewis 2003). This is interesting from a public health perspective because contact recreation is most common at shallow near shore waters, and greater numbers of potentially susceptible individuals including children are exposed at these areas (Le Fevre and Lewis 2003).…”

Assessment of airborne bacteria in open sewage associated environment

“…(Prazmo et al, 2003;Oppligar et al,2005,), Enterobacter spp. (gergoviae) (Laitinen et al, 1994;Stampi et al, 2000;Prazmo et al, 2003;Oppligar et al,2005), Escherichia coli (Smith et al, 1999), and Serratia spp. ( Clark 1987;Stampi et al, 2000) from air.…”