To what extent can portable fluorescence spectroscopy be used in the real-time assessment of microbial water quality?

Baker, Andy; Cumberland, Susan A.; Bradley, Chris; Buckley, C.A.; Bridgeman, John

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.05.114

Cited by 101 publications

(95 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Tryptophan-like fluorescence (TLF) was similarly successful at identifying bacterially contaminated sites to TTC, which is unsurprising given its significant relationships with TTCs in groundwater beneath the city (Sorensen et al 2015a) and E. coli in surface waters elsewhere (Baker et al 2015;Cumberland et al 2012). TLF was actually elevated at K40 in the dry season, the only TTC false-negative.…”

Section: Indicators Of Faecally-derived Bacteriamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…TLF is a proteinaceous component of the fluorescent dissolved organic carbon spectrum and a well-established indicator of wastewater and biological oxygen demand (Baker 2001;Cohen et al 2014;Henderson et al 2009;Lapworth et al 2008;Stedmon et al 2011). Recently, it has been demonstrated as a precautionary real-time, reagentless indicator of TTCs in freshwater in Africa (Baker et al 2015;Sorensen et al 2015a). However, its effectiveness at inferring waterborne pathogen presence is unknown.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tracing enteric pathogen contamination in sub-Saharan African groundwater

Sorensen

Lapworth

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et al. 2015

Science of The Total Environment

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Quantitative PCR (qPCR) can rapidly screen for an array of faecally-derived bacteria, which can be employed as tracers to understand groundwater vulnerability to faecal contamination. A microbial DNA qPCR array was used to examine 45 bacterial targets, potentially relating to enteric pathogens, in 22 groundwater supplies beneath the city of Kabwe, Zambia in both the dry and subsequent wet season. Thermotolerant (faecal) coliforms, sanitary risks, and tryptophan-like fluorescence, an emerging real-time reagentless faecal indicator, were also concurrently investigated. There was evidence for the presence of enteric bacterial contamination, through the detection of species and group specific 16S rRNA gene fragments, in 72% of supplies where sufficient DNA was available for qPCR analysis. DNA from the opportunistic pathogen Citrobacter freundii was most prevalent (69% analysed samples), with Vibrio cholerae also perennially persistent in groundwater (41% analysed samples). DNA from other species such as Bifidobacterium longum and Arcobacter butzleri was more seasonally transient. Bacterial DNA markers were most common in shallow hand-dug wells in laterite/saprolite implicating rapid subsurface pathways and vulnerability to pollution at the surface. Boreholes into the underlying dolomites were also contaminated beneath the city highlighting that a laterite/saprolite overburden, as occurs across much of sub-Saharan aquifer, does not adequately protect underlying bedrock groundwater resources. Nevertheless, peri-urban boreholes all tested negative establishing there is limited subsurface lateral transport of enteric bacteria outside the city limits. Thermotolerant coliforms were present in 97% of sites contaminated with enteric bacterial DNA markers. Furthermore, tryptophan-like fluorescence was also demonstrated as an effective indicator and was in excess of 1.4μg/L in all contaminated sites.

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Section: Indicators Of Faecally-derived Bacteriamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tracing enteric pathogen contamination in sub-Saharan African groundwater

Sorensen

Lapworth

Read

et al. 2015

Science of The Total Environment

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“…Recent surface freshwater research has also attempted to use Peak T fluorescence to determine enumeration of specific species. For example, Baker et al (2015) observed a log correlation R ¼ 0.74 across a 7-log range in Escherichia coli enumeration for sewage impacted rivers. Using Peak T fluorescence to infer microbial enumeration, and activity, has been further suggested for groundwater systems, where there is little background fluorescence interference (Sorensen et al, 2016(Sorensen et al, , 2015.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The in situ bacterial production of fluorescent organic matter; an investigation at a species level

et al. 2017

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a b s t r a c tAquatic dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays an essential role in biogeochemical cycling and transport of organic matter throughout the hydrological continuum. To characterise microbially-derived organic matter (OM) from common environmental microorganisms (Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy was employed. This work shows that bacterial organisms can produce fluorescent organic matter (FOM) in situ and, furthermore, that the production of FOM differs at a bacterial species level. This production can be attributed to structural biological compounds, specific functional proteins (e.g. pyoverdine production by P. aeruginosa), and/or metabolic by-products. Bacterial growth curve data demonstrates that the production of FOM is fundamentally related to microbial metabolism. For example, the majority of Peak T fluorescence (> 75%) is shown to be intracellular in origin, as a result of the building of proteins for growth and metabolism. This underpins the use of Peak T as a measure of microbial activity, as opposed to bacterial enumeration as has been previously suggested. This study shows that different bacterial species produce a range of FOM that has historically been attributed to high molecular weight allochthonous material or the degradation of terrestrial FOM. We provide definitive evidence that, in fact, it can be produced by microbes within a model system (autochthonous), providing new insights into the possible origin of allochthonous and autochthonous organic material present in aquatic systems.

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“…3 However, TOC gives no information about OM character. [10][11][12][13] This indicates that fluorescence spectroscopy can be used to assess drinking water contamination in the areas of poor sanitation that are subject to faecal contamination, where infrastructure failure has occurred in the supply of clean drinking water. [3][4][5][6] S::CAN UV monitoring systems can be used on-line, however UV spectra require comprehensive data analysis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On-line monitoring of organic matter concentrations and character in drinking water treatment systems using fluorescence spectroscopy

Shutova

Baker

Bridgeman

et al. 2016

Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol.

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There is a need for a rapid and robust method of organic matter (OM) monitoring during drinking water treatment. Although it has been shown that fluorescence spectroscopy has the potential for on-line application in drinking water treatment plants, there has been no in situ OM fluorescence monitoring study conducted during drinking water treatment. Three currently available fluorescence probes were chosen for the on-line study of terrestrially-delivered unprocessed (Peak C) and microbially-delivered (Peak T) OM.Probes were installed at two drinking water treatment plants (WTPs) measuring raw water and treated water fluorescence over one month. Probe and sampling point specific temperature correction and inner filter effect correction factors were applied to all fluorescence data. The Peak C fluorescence intensity had a significant correlation with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration (R s = 0.85-0.93) and it was therefore concluded that it could be used to monitor DOC concentrations in raw and treated water. Peak C and Peak T fluorescence signal changes corresponded to water quality fluctuations and operational conditions enabling OM to be characterised. It was demonstrated that fluorescence probes can be used for monitoring OM concentrations and character in situ and in real-time.Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol. This journal is This paper presents the first in situ organic matter fluorescence monitoring study conducted in a drinking water treatment context. It was determined that fluorescence probes could be used to estimate organic matter concentration, removal efficiency and treatability across unit operations. The probes were sufficiently sensitive to identify small changes in operating conditions, providing early warning to operators.

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To what extent can portable fluorescence spectroscopy be used in the real-time assessment of microbial water quality?

Cited by 101 publications

References 26 publications

Tracing enteric pathogen contamination in sub-Saharan African groundwater

Tracing enteric pathogen contamination in sub-Saharan African groundwater

The in situ bacterial production of fluorescent organic matter; an investigation at a species level

On-line monitoring of organic matter concentrations and character in drinking water treatment systems using fluorescence spectroscopy

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