Decay of Bacteroidales Genetic Markers in Relation to Traditional Fecal Indicators for Water Quality Modeling of Drinking Water Sources
Journal article, 2012

The implementation of microbial fecal source tracking (MST) methods in drinking water management is limited by the lack of knowledge on the transport and decay of host-specific genetic markers in water sources. To address these limitations, the decay and transport of human (BacH) and ruminant (BacR) fecal Bacteroidales 16S rRNA genetic markers in a drinking water source (Lake Radasjon in Sweden) were simulated using a microbiological model coupled to a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model. The microbiological model was calibrated using data from outdoor microcosm trials performed in March, August, and November 2010 to determine the decay of BacH and BacR markers in relation to traditional fecal indicators. The microcosm trials indicated that the persistence of BacH and BacR in the microcosms was not significantly different from the persistence of traditional fecal indicators. The modeling of BacH and BacR transport within the lake illustrated that the highest levels of genetic markers at the raw water intakes were associated with human fecal sources (onsite sewers and emergency sewer overflow). This novel modeling approach improves the interpretation of MST data, especially when fecal pollution from the same host group is released into the water source from different sites in the catchment.

hydrodynamic modelling

microcosm trials

drinking water quality

Bacteroidales markers

Author

Ekaterina Sokolova

Chalmers, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Water Environment Technology

Johan Åström

Chalmers, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Water Environment Technology

Thomas Pettersson

Chalmers, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Water Environment Technology

Olof Bergstedt

Chalmers, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Water Environment Technology

Malte Hermansson

University of Gothenburg

Environmental Science & Technology

0013-936X (ISSN) 1520-5851 (eISSN)

Vol. 46 2 892-900

Subject Categories

Water Engineering

DOI

10.1021/es2024498

More information

Created

10/7/2017