Rebecca Stott

Microbial Transport, Retention, and Inactivation in Streams: A Combined Experimental and Stochastic Modeling Approach

Long-term survival of pathogenic microorganisms in streams enables long-distance disease transmission. In order to manage water-borne diseases more effectively we need to better predict how microbes behave in freshwater systems, particularly how they are transported downstream in rivers. Microbes continuously immobilize and resuspend during downstream transport owing to a variety of processes including gravitational settling, attachment to in-stream structures such as submerged macrophytes, and hyporheic exchange and filtration within underlying sediments. We developed a stochastic model to describe these microbial transport and retention processes in rivers that also accounts for microbial inactivation. We used the model to assess the transport, retention, and inactivation of Escherichia coli in a small stream and the underlying streambed sediments as measured from multitracer injection experiments. The results demonstrate that the combination of laboratory experiments on sediment cores, stream reach-scale tracer experiments, and multiscale stochastic modeling improves assessment of microbial transport in streams. This study (1) demonstrates new observations of microbial dynamics in streams with improved data quality than prior studies, (2) advances a stochastic modeling framework to include microbial inactivation processes that we observed to be important in these streams, and (3) synthesizes new and existing data to evaluate seasonal dynamics.

Differential behaviour of Escherichia coli and Campylobacter spp. in a stream draining dairy pasture

The faecal indicator bacterium Escherichia coli and thermotolerant Campylobacter spp., which are potentially pathogenic, were investigated in the Toenepi Stream draining a pastoral catchment dominated by dairying. Bacteria concentrations were monitored routinely at fortnightly intervals over 12 months and intensively during storm events to compare the transport dynamics of bacterial indicator and pathogen under varying hydro-meteorological conditions. Routine monitoring indicated median concentrations of 345 E. coli MPN 100 ml(-1) and relatively low concentrations of 2.3 Campylobacter MPN 100 ml(-1). The bacterial flux was three orders of magnitude greater under elevated stream flow compared with base-flow. E. coli peak concentrations occurred very close to the turbidity peak and consistently ahead of the Campylobacter spp. peak (which was close to the hydrograph peak). We postulate that, under flood conditions, the E. coli peak reflects the entrainment and mobilisation of in-stream stores on the flood wave front. In contrast, Campylobacter spp. are derived from wash-in from land stores upstream and have travelled at the mean water velocity which is slower than the speed of the flood wave. Our findings of different dynamics for E. coli and Campylobacter spp. suggest that mitigation to reduce faecal microbial impacts from farms will need to take account of these differences.

Quantification of Pathogens and Sources of Microbial Indicators for QMRA in Recreational Waters

This study has increased knowledge about relationships between pathogen indicators, source identifiers and pathogens to support Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) efforts and the implementation of revised recreational water quality criteria. Data gaps pertaining to waterborne pathogens and indicators in fecally-impacted discharges to recreational waters were identified and filled by targeted monitoring campaigns in three geographic regions. Study design involved simultaneous detection of pathogens in water samples using a combination of genetic, culture- and microscopy-based methodologies for Salmonella, Campylobacter jejuni, Vibrio cholerae, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Toxoplasma gondii, adenoviruses, enteroviruses, noroviruses, rotaviruses, Bacteroidales, Enterococcus, and Escherichia coli. The project team worked closely with experts and stakeholder groups in order to advance the understanding and applicability of QMRA for risk management purposes. QMRA analyses revealed Norovirus as the most dominant health risk followed by rotavirus. Norovirus and Enterococcus both had significant correlations with a number of pathogens in discharges. Using qPCR data on the fecal source identifier Bacteroidales a new model can predict the true amount of human fecal contamination in a water sample by relating a human-associated genetic marker to a universal assay for fecal sources. The model output can then be used to implement and evaluate management options intended to restore microbial water quality. This title belongs to WERF Research Report Series . ISBN: 9781843395430 (eBook)

Fecal Bacteria, Bacteriophage, and Nutrient Reductions in a Full-Scale Denitrifying Woodchip Bioreactor.

Denitrifying bioreactors using woodchips or other slow-release carbon sources can be an effective method for removing nitrate (NO) from wastewater and tile drainage. However, the ability of these systems to remove fecal microbes from wastewater has been largely uninvestigated. In this study, reductions in fecal indicator bacteria () and viruses (F-specific RNA bacteriophage [FRNA phage]) were analyzed by monthly sampling along a longitudinal transect within a full-scale denitrifying woodchip bioreactor receiving secondary-treated septic tank effluent. Nitrogen, phosphorus, 5-d carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD), and total suspended solids (TSS) reduction were also assessed. The bioreactor demonstrated consistent and substantial reduction of (2.9 log reduction) and FRNA phage (3.9 log reduction) despite receiving highly fluctuating inflow concentrations [up to 3.5 × 10 MPN (100 mL) and 1.1 × 10 plaque-forming units (100 mL) , respectively]. Most of the removal of fecal microbial contaminants occurred within the first meter of the system (1.4 log reduction for ; 1.8 log reduction for FRNA phage). The system was also efficient at removing NO (>99.9% reduction) and TSS (89% reduction). There was no evidence of consistent removal of ammonium, organic nitrogen, or phosphorus. Leaching of CBOD occurred during initial operation but decreased and stabilized at lower values (14 g O m) after 9 mo. We present strong evidence for reliable microbial contaminant removal in denitrifying bioreactors, demonstrating their broader versatility for wastewater treatment. Research on the removal mechanisms of microbial contaminants in these systems, together with the assessment of longevity of removal, is warranted.

Volunteer stream monitoring: Do the data quality and monitoring experience support increased community involvement in freshwater decision making?

Recent freshwater policy reforms in New Zealand promote increased community involvement in freshwater decision making and management. Involving community members in scientific monitoring increases both their knowledge and their ability to discuss this knowledge with professionals, potentially increasing their influence in decision-making processes. However, these interactions rarely occur because, in particular, of perceptions that volunteer-collected data are unreliable. We assessed the agreement between volunteer (community group) and local government (regional council) data at nine stream sites across New Zealand. Over 18 months, community groups and regional council staff monitored, in parallel, a common set of water quality variables, physical habitat, periphyton and benthic macroinvertebrates that are routinely used by regional councils for statutory state of environment reporting. Community groups achieved close agreement (correlations ≥ 0.89, bias < 1%) with regional councils for temperature, electrical conductivity, visual water clarity, and Escherichia coli. For dissolved oxygen, nitrate, and pH, correlations were weaker (0.2, 0.53, and 0.4, respectively). Volunteer assessments of physical habitat were as consistent over time as those of councils. For visual assessments of thick periphyton growths (% streambed cover), volunteers achieved a correlation of 0.93 and bias of 0.1% relative to councils. And for a macroinvertebrate biotic index that indicates water and habitat quality, correlation was 0.88, bias was < 5%, and the average difference was 12% of the index score. Volunteers showed increased awareness of local freshwaters, understanding of stream ecosystems, and attentiveness to local and national freshwater issues. Most volunteers had shared their knowledge and interest with others in their community. Most groups had developed relationships with their regional council, and some volunteers became more interested in engaging in freshwater decision making. Given adequate professional support, community-based water monitoring can provide data reliable enough to augment professionally collected data, and increase the opportunities, confidence, and skills of community members to engage in freshwater decision making.

Microbial Loads and Removal Efficiency Under Varying Flows

A variety of ecotechnologies have shown promising yet variable results in reducing faecal microbial contaminants under challenging operational conditions. But relatively limited work has been conducted to investigate and understand faecal microbe removal in these systems under highly fluctuating hydraulic and contaminant loading. In most instances, ecotechnology-based systems such as sedimentation ponds, constructed wetlands and bioretention filters have proved effective for treating episodic discharges and demonstrated performance resilience removing faecal microbial contaminants with modest to good efficiency particularly where inflow concentrations are high. However, microbial removal may depend greatly on the type of microorganism, treatment system design and operational factors. Design characteristics such as type of filter material and depth, presence of a submerged zone, type of vegetation and operational conditions such as inflow concentration, and antecedent dry periods in combination with temperature changes can all affect the removal of faecal microbes. Factors influencing survival, fate and behaviour of retained faecal microbes are still poorly understood. These knowledge gaps need addressing in order to fully evaluate microbial removal from fluctuating contaminated flows and more accurately interpret faecal indicator bacteria-based water quality and potential health risks associated with discharge from these ecotechnology-based systems.