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Wastewater Bacteria Sampling, Testing, and Analysis
Published in Frank R. Spellman, Fundamentals of Wastewater-Based Epidemiology, 2021
Fecal coliforms are used as indicators of possible sewage contamination because they are commonly found in human and animal feces. Although they are not generally harmful themselves, they indicate the possible presence of pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria, and protozoans that also live in human and animal digestive systems. Their presence in streams suggests that pathogenic microorganisms might also be present, and that swimming in and/or eating shellfish from the waters might present a health risk. Since testing directly for the presence of a large variety of pathogens is difficult, time-consuming, and expensive, water is usually tested for coliforms and fecal streptococci instead. Sources of fecal contamination to surface waters include wastewater treatment plants, on-site septic systems, domestic and wild animal manure, and storm runoff. In addition to the possible health risks associated with the presence of elevated levels of fecal bacteria, they can also cause cloudy water, unpleasant odors, and an increased oxygen demand.
Biomonitoring, Monitoring, Sampling, and Testing
Published in Frank R. Spellman, Handbook of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations, 2020
Fecal coliforms are used as indicators of possible sewage contamination, because they arecommonly found in human and animal feces. Although they are not generally harmfulthemselves, they indicate the possible presence of pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria, andprotozoans that also live in human and animal digestive systems. Their presence in streamssuggests that pathogenic microorganisms might also be present, and that swimming in and/oreating shellfish from the waters might present a health risk. Since testing directly for the presence of a large variety of pathogens is difficult, time-consuming, and expensive, water isusually tested for coliforms and fecal streptococci instead. Sources of fecal contamination tosurface waters include wastewater treatment plants, on-site septic systems, domestic and wildanimal manure, and storm runoff. In addition to the possible health risks associated with thepresence of elevated levels of fecal bacteria, they can also cause cloudy water, unpleasant odors,and an increased oxygen demand.
Regulations and Processes
Published in Richard J. Perkins, Onsite Wastewater Disposal, 1989
BOD stands for Biochemical Oxygen Demand. This is a measure of how much oxygen is needed by the bacteria to digest the organic material in the sewage, which is their food. The higher the BOD, the more organic material is present, and the nastier the sewage. Fecal coliforms are bacteria which live in the guts of warm-blooded creatures such as people. While most fecal coliform bacteria are not dangerous, their presence indicates the possible presence of disease-causing bacteria. Suspended solids is a measure of the solid material which will reach (and may eventually clog) the drain field. And total nitrogen is a measure of the potential nitrate pollution as wastewater enters the ground water under the drain field. High nitrate concentrations have been correlated with methemoglobinemia (blue baby syndrome), a condition that affects infants, and with stomach cancer.
An overview on water quality, pollution sources, and associated ecological and human health concerns of the lake water of megacity: a case study on Dhaka city lakes in Bangladesh
Published in Urban Water Journal, 2023
Minhaz Uddin, Tapos Kormoker, Md. Abu Bakar Siddique, Md Masum Billah, Md Rokonuzzaman, Abdullah Al Ragib, Ram Proshad, Md. Yeamin Hossain, Md. Kamrul Haque, Khalid A. Ibrahim, Abubakr M. Idris
Dhaka’s lakes have been severely polluted due to the careless dumping of solid and liquid garbage for decades. Some major lakes have become dumping grounds, and every day, tons of fecal matter and domestic garbage are dumped into the lakes (Ullah 2018). When fecal materials contaminate a watercourse, pathogenic bacteria can be released. The microbiological quality of water is typically characterized in terms of the concentration and occurrence of certain bacterial strains (Miah, Majumder, and Latifa 2016). Pathogenic bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and helminth eggs can all be found in contaminated water. Polluted water bodies can act as a reservoir for pathogens as well as a medium for disease transmission (Uddin et al. 2019). Typically, microbial analysis of water is performed to detect mainly fecal coliforms (Azizullah et al. 2011). Fecal coliform bacteria are present in the faces of various warm-blooded species such as pet animals and humans (Geldreich 1996). Total coliforms (TC) and fecal coliforms (FC) are the most commonly recognized and widely utilized microbiological markers as water pollution indicators (Sikdar et al. 2019). WHO recommended 0 cfu/100 mL for total and fecal coliforms in terms of drinking water and <100 cfu/100 mL FC for primary contact with humans (WHO 2004).
Geochemical evolution and quality assessment of groundwater resources at the downstream section of the Kano-Challawa River system, Northwest Nigeria
Published in International Journal of River Basin Management, 2021
Adamu Mustapha, Balarabe Sarki Sagagi, Mohammed Mala Daura, Adamu Idris Tanko, Philip Ogbonnia Phil-Eze, Hamza Ahmad Isiyaka
The sources of total and faecal coliform in groundwater may include agricultural runoff, effluent from septic systems or sewage discharge, and infiltration of domestic or wild animal faecal matter; poor well maintenance and construction (particularly shallow dug wells) can also increase the risk of bacteria and other harmful organisms getting into a groundwater supply (Isiyaka et al.2018). Coliforms are generally harmless, but some coliforms may cause illness in humans and the presence of coliforms at any concentration is an indication that other harmful micro-organisms may be present. Faecal coliforms, such as E. coli, and other types of harmful bacteria are found in animal and human waste, and when detected they are indicators of water supply contamination. Ingestion of water containing coliform bacteria increases the risk of contracting a water-borne illness.
Spatio-seasonal variations in water quality status of Migori River in Kenya and associated household health risk implications: an application of a multidimensional water quality index approach
Published in International Journal of River Basin Management, 2022
Stephen Balaka Opiyo, Godwin Opinde, Sammy Letema
A fecal coliform is a group of bacteria originating from fecal matter as they specifically reside in the intestines of warm-blooded animals, and although not normally pathogenic on their own, they can indicate the presence of other pathogens (disease-producing bacteria or viruses) in river water (Sanchez et al., 2020). The overall mean count of FC was 512.23 cfu/100 ml, which far exceeded the maximum permissible limit of zero/100 ml recommended by NEMA (2017) and WHO (2017); which indicates that the waters of Migori River are contaminated with fecal matter and thus may contain disease-causing pathogens. The high concentration of FC in the river is attributable to the presence of several households along the stretch of the river which dispose of animal and human feces, animal carcasses, and decomposing food wastes in the river. The mean FC in the downstream (632.55 cfu 100ml−1) was higher than that of the upstream (307.51 cfu 100ml−1), and the mean values exhibited a general increasing trend from the upstream stations to the downstream stations, an indication that population, housing, and livestock densities increase from the upstream section to the downstream section. Bensig et al. (2014) observe that FC counts are linked to the population density, housing density, livestock density, and imperviousness of the area. Seasonally, the mean FC observed during the sampling period ranged from 399.32-621.97 cfu 100ml−1 in the dry season and 471.64- 611.63 cfu 100ml−1 in the wet season; hence the FC count for the wet season was significantly higher due to the increased inflow of fecal materials by rainfall runoff from point and non-point sources in the watershed. This observation is similar to the findings of Seo et al. (2019) in the Nakdong River in South Korea.