Evaluation of the host-specificity and prevalence of enterococci surface protein (esp) marker in sewage and its application for sourcing human fecal pollution

The suitability of the enterococci surface protein (esp) marker to detect human fecal pollution was evaluated by testing 197 fecal samples from 13 host groups in Southeast Queensland, Australia. Overall, this marker was detected in 90.5% of sewage and septic system samples and could not be detected in any fecal samples from 12 animal host groups. The sensitivity of the esp primer to detect the human-specific esp marker in sewage and septic samples was 100 and 67%, respectively. The overall specificity of this marker to distinguish between human and animal fecal pollution was 100%. Its prevalence in sewage was also determined by testing samples from the raw sewage, secondary effluent, and treated effluent of a sewage treatment plant (STP) over five consecutive days. Of the 15 samples tested, 12 (80%) were found to be positive for this marker. In contrast, it was not found in three samples from the treated effluent and these samples did not contain any culturable enterococci. The PCR limit of detection of this marker in freshwater samples was up to dilution 1 x 10(-4) and the number of culturable enterococci at this dilution was 4.8 x 10(1) +/- 7.0 x 10 degrees colony forming unit (CFU). The utility of this marker was evaluated by testing water samples from three non-sewered catchments in Pine Rivers in Southeast Queensland. Of the 13 samples tested, eight were positive for this marker with the number of enterococci ranging between 1.8 x 10(3) to 8.5 x 10(3) CFU per 100 mL of water. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the esp marker appears to be sewage specific and could be used as a reliable marker to detect human fecal pollution in surface waters in Southeast Queensland, Australia.     

A GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM TO PREDICT NON-POINT SOURCE POLLUTION POTENTIAL1

ABSTRACT: Bacterial densities (total coliform, fecal coliform, and fecal streptococci) and suspended solids in runoff from a feedlot, pasture, and corn field were measured. Densities of fecal coliform were highest from the feedlot but were 1000 to 10,000 times greater than the water quality standard for swimmable waters from all three land uses. Densities of fecal streptococci were highest from the corn field, which suggests that wildlife are the source of bacteria. Fecal coliform/fecal streptococci ratios distinguished cattle from wildlife as the source of bacterial pollution both among land uses and among seasons of the year. Suspended solids concentrations in runoff ranged from 423 to 925 mg/l and were highest from the corn field. A Geographic Information System (GIS), which utilizes a raster or grid-cell format, was developed to include algorithms associated with non-point source pollution. The system accepts digitally mapped information on soil type, topography, and land use. It calculates characteristics such as slope and slope length, and relates these characteristics to soils and land use parameters in order to produce three dimensional maps of runoff potential, sediment pollution potential, and bacterial pollution potential. It offers the advantages of retaining the geographic character of pollution potential information and of conveying in three-dimensional graphical terms the effects of topography, soil type, land use, and land management practices.     

Transport of fecal bacteria by boots and vehicle tires in a rural Alaskan community

People living without piped water and sewer can be at increased risk for diseases transmitted via the fecal-oral route. One rural Alaskan community that relies on hauling water into homes and sewage from homes was studied to determine the pathways of fecal contamination of drinking water and the human environment so that barriers can be established to protect health. Samples were tested for the fecal indicator, Escherichia coli, and the less specific indicator group, total coliforms. Shoes transported fecal contamination from outside to floor material inside buildings. Contamination in puddles on the road, in conjunction with contamination found on all-terrain vehicle (ATV) tires, supports vehicle traffic as a mechanism for transporting contamination from the dumpsite or other source areas to the rest of the community. The abundance of fecal bacteria transported around the community on shoes and ATV tires suggests that centralized measures for waste disposal as well as shoe removal in buildings could improve sanitation and health in the community.     

AN ANALYSIS OF COLIFORM BACTERIA IN THE UPPER ILLINOIS WATERWAY1

ABSTRACT: During the summer of 1971 about 150 water samples were examined for total and fecal coliform bacteria in the Upper Illinois Waterway at 19 river stations. The data per station were found to be normal geometric distributed. Bacteria densities changed with sampling dates and generally decreased with water movement downstream. Several sewage treatment effluents made marked pulses along the bacterial die-off curves. The observed fecal coliform results were evaluated in terms of the Illinois Pollution Control Board's standards. The FC:TC ratio on the waterway for each station were presented. Using Chick's Law, coliforms death rates were estimated. Efforts to correlate observed total and fecal densities with temperature, flow, algal densities, dissolved oxygen, and 5-day biochemical oxygen demand were not successful. (KEY TERMS: algae; biochemical oxygen demand; coliform bacteria; dissolved oxygen; flow; stream survey; temperature; water pollution; water quality standards)     

多管发酵法与其改进法检测水中粪大肠菌群的比较

粪大肠菌群是水体中粪便污染的重要指示菌，对于评价水质污染程度具有重要的卫生学意义。多管发酵法是传统的粪大肠菌群检测方法，但其步骤繁杂、周期长。目前，已有部分监测及科研人员对其进行了改进，笔者采用改进法与国标多管发酵法进行比较验证，认为Ec培养法可完全替代国标多管发酵法，纸片法亦可用于除酸性水样及菌量大的原污水外的其他环境水样中粪大肠菌群的检测。     

Use of Escherichia coli BOX-PCR fingerprints to identify sources of fecal contamination of water bodies in the State of São Paulo, Brazil

Repetitive element sequence-based polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) is one of the commonest methods used to identify sources of fecal contamination of water systems. In this work, BOX-A1R-based repetitive extragenic palindromic-PCR (BOX-PCR) was used to discriminate Escherichia coli strains originating from different animals and water sources, and the suitability of the technique for bacterial source tracking (BST) was evaluated. A total of 214 strains from humans, 150 strains from animals, 55 strains from sewage and 77 strains from water bodies were analyzed by the BOX-PCR technique. When maximum similarity between the fingerprints was used, a correct classification rate of 84% was achieved for strains from human and animal sources. Furthermore, 95% of the strains found in sewage were classified as being from human sources by at least one of the four classification tools used. Classification of the strains found in water bodies in the State of S?o Paulo was based on the fingerprints obtained for human and animal sources. Most of the sampling sites appeared to be affected by mixed sources of fecal contamination. The use of BOX-PCR for BST could be especially valuable in developing countries, where simplicity and cost are important considerations.     

基于物元可拓集法的蛟龙污水处理厂出水水环境质量评价

可以从定性、定量两个角度解决问题的物元可拓法已被广泛应用于各个领域。选取具有代表性的BOD5、NH3-N、石油类、CODcr、粪大肠菌群五项指标为待评物元,取Ⅰ至Ⅴ类水质标准对应的取值范围构造经典域物元矩阵,按照污染贡献率法确定各特征的权重,应用建立的水质评价物元模型计算出关联度0.10,得出该污水处理厂出水环境质量属于Ⅲ级。研究表明,运用物元可拓集模型评价水环境质量具有可信性和实用性。     

BACTERIAL RELATIONSHIPS IN STORMWATERS1

ABSTRACT: Data were developed within a three-year period for indicator bacteria and three species of bacterial pathogens following rural storm event hydrographs. The first flush concept was confirmed in all hydrographs. Bacterial density peaking occurred at or before the hydrograph peaks. FC and FS values were higher in more developed areas than the primary rural test site and their numerical ratios followed similar trends. Chlorine demand of storm waters varied between 8 and 16 mg/l and, the ozone requirement was greater than 32 mg/l in the same waters. Aftergrowth of total coliform bacteria occurred following chlorine and ozone doses of 16 mg/l and 32 mg/l respectively. Fecal coliform, fecal streptococci, Salmonella sp., and Pseudomonas sp. all were reduced to near detectable limits by the disinfectants up to 8 days. Staphylococcus sp. demonstrated a propensity to restablish their populations. Multiple regression analysis of the bacterial groups and species in storm waters suggested the fecal streptococci to have been the most useful group in evaluating bacterial storm water quality, with staphylocci have been closely related insofar as their statistical significance was concerned.     

基于IWRM视角的污水治理绩效综合评价研究——以浙江省为例

绩效评价是地方政府污水治理工作的重要但仍很薄弱的环节。本研究基于综合水资源管理(IWRM)目标原则开发了污水治理绩效综合评价指标体系,确定了指标权重,并对浙江省污水治理绩效进行了实证研究。结果表明,污水治理关键是改善自然水体功能。当前浙江省污水治理绩效总体良好,但存在污水处理投资项目运转效率差、农田污灌比重高、东部沿海市污水治理效果不理想等问题。建议今后浙江省污水治理工作应在继续提高自然水体功能的基础上,提高污水处理设施运转效率,加强农田水污染防治,并强化对东部沿海市区污水治理支持力度。     

臭氧处理生活污水的应用研究

随着水质污染日益严重和可利用水资源减少，人们越来越重视污水回用技术的应用。传统的氯气处理工艺难以满足污水处理回用的要求，臭氧技术被认为是更适合用于未来水处理领域的新兴技术。本文主要研究臭氧对生活污水的处理。实验表明，臭氧对降低COD、去除亚铁离子等有显著的效果。     

基于射流技术的生物转盘处理生活污水的试验研究

试验研究基于射流技术的生物转盘处理生活污水的特性，讨论污水流量、气水比对处理效果的影响，总结系统的最佳运行参数。试验系统通过射流曝气器可同时实现自吸污水、混合曝气及驱动转盘。结果显示，该系统对生活污水CODcr的去除率达80％以上。     

城市污水全量循环方法学研究

城市的快速发展对水资源、水环境的压力不断增大,城市生活污水排放量逐年增长。为节约水资源,改善水环境,将城市污水深度处理后回用于工业、市政等方面,设置不同情景对城市污水全量循环方法学开展研究,以实现城市污水不外排。     

雅安市青衣江流域乡镇污水处理情况的研究

通过对青衣江流域周公河、陇西河支流现有的25个乡镇一体化小型污水站运行情况进行水环境质量监测,用实验室方法分析其中水温、pH、CODCr、 BOD5、悬浮物、氨氮(以N计)、总磷(以P计)等项目,进一步了解乡镇污水站的运行状况和污水处理效果.调查研究表明:25个乡镇污水站处理排放达标率均值不足40％,处理效果从高到低依...     

长庆气田甲醇污水水质特点分析

长庆气田天然气开采加工过程中产生的甲醇污水水质复杂,区域差异大,只有正确认识甲醇污水水质特点,才能有针对性地进行甲醇污水处理工艺设计及运行管理,确保系统平稳、安全运行。文章分析了靖边气田、榆林气田、苏里格气田甲醇污水水质特点,对以上气田水质进行综合比较。应根据含醇污水水质特点,随着水质的变化进行相应的工艺调整。     

FECAL COLIFORM RELEASE FROM CATTLE FECAL DEPOSITS1

ABSTRACT: Cowpies molded to a standard configuration and size were subjected to simulated rainfall, and the fecal coliform counts were determined using the most probable number (MPN) method of enumeration. The standard cowpie deposits were exposed to simulated rainfall once at ages 2 through 100 days. The effects of rainfall intensity and recurrent rainfall were also tested. Naturally-occurring fecal deposits were also tested to compare their results with those from the standard cowpies. A log-log regression was found to describe the decline in peak fecal coliform release with fecal deposit age. The 100-day-old fecal deposits produced peak counts of 4,200 fecal coliform per 100 milliliters of water. This quantity of release is minimal compared to the release from fresher fecal material. Rainfall intensity had little effect on peak fecal coliform release from fecal deposits that were 2 or 10 days old. At age 20 days the effect of rainfall intensity was significant; the highest intensity gave the lowest peak counts, and the lowest intensity gave the highest peak counts. The effect of rainfall intensity appears to be related to the dryness of the fecal deposits. Peak fecal coliform counts were significantly lowered when the fecal deposits were rained on more than once. This decline was thought to be produced by the loss of bacteria from the fecal deposits during the previous wettings. Standard cowpies produced a peak release regression that was not significantly different from the regression for the natural fecal deposits. Apparently, grossly manipulating the fecal deposits did not significantly change the release patterns.     

医疗废水治理设施监测中的问题及解决办法

医院污水来源及成分复杂,含有病原性微生物、有毒、有害的物理化学污染物和放射性污染等,需建设配套的废水治理设施.为检验治理效果,加强监管,需对治理设施进行验收监测和监督性监测.在排除废水治理过程一系列问题后即可做到,监测科学合理顺利开展,废水治理设施处理的废水稳定达标排放.     

Bacterial source tracking guides management of boat head waste in a coastal resort area

Fecal contamination of water bodies causes a public health problem and economic loss. To control such contamination management actions need to be guided by sound science. From 2007–2009 a study was undertaken to determine the sources of fecal bacteria contamination to the marine waters adjoining the Town of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, USA. The research effort included sampling for fecal coliform and Enterococcus bacteria, sampling for optical brighteners, dye studies, and use of molecular bacterial source tracking techniques including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and terminal restriction fragment polymorphism (T-RFLP) fingerprinting of the Bacteroides–Prevotella group. Of the 96 samples collected from nine locations during the study, the water contact standard for Enterococcus was exceeded on 13 occasions. The T-RFLP fingerprint analyses demonstrated that the most widespread source of fecal contamination was human, occurring in 38% of the samples, with secondary ruminant and avian sources also detected. Optical brightener concentrations were low, reflecting a lack of sewage line leakage or spills. A lack of sewer leaks and lack of septic systems in the town pointed toward discharge from boat heads into the marine waters as the major cause of fecal contamination; this was supported by dye studies. Based on these data, the Town initiated action to have the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency declare the coastal waters (out to 3 nautical miles), the nearby Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and its tributaries a no-discharge zone (NDZ) to alleviate the human fecal pollution. The Town garnered supporting resolutions from other local communities who jointly petitioned the North Carolina Department of Environmental and Natural Resources. This State regulatory agency supported the local government resolutions and sent an application for an NDZ to the EPA in April 2009. The EPA concurred, and in February 2010 the coastal waters of New Hanover County, NC, became the first marine area on the U.S. eastern seaboard between Delaware and the Florida Keys to be declared a no-discharge zone.     

机加工含油废水处理研究

为解决东风汽车公司污水处理站排污不达标的问题,对废水处理过程的混凝、气浮两环节进行了考察分析;针对存在的问题进行了实验室内混凝实验,反应箱投药实验及气浮设备的清洗。根据实验结果处理站调整了投药量,加之设备的清洗,明显提高了处理效果,使水质能满足排放要求     

Cholesterol,beta-sitosterol,ergosterol, and coprostanol in agricultural soils

In this work we analyzed the sterol content of agricultural soils. Three eukaryotic sterols, cholesterol, beta-sitosterol, and ergosterol were chosen as representative of the animal, plant, and fungal kingdoms, while coprostanol was validated as a marker of human fecal matter contamination. Three soils subjected to different treatments (sewage sludge application, irrigation by saline waters, and contamination by industrial and municipal wastes) were sampled and their sterol content was measured and compared with adjacent untreated soils. The effects of time, location, and treatment were evaluated by means of a number of statistical techniques. Beta-sitosterol concentration varied from 0.9 to 30 mg kg(-1). Lesser values were measured in Cremona (2.1 mg kg(-1)) than in Bari (4.0 mg kg(-1)) and Naples (10.9 mg kg(-1)) soils. No significant effects were detected for cholesterol and ergosterol. Coprostanol was present after sewage sludge disposal and contamination by industrial and municipal wastes, while it was absent in the soil treated with saline water and in the adjacent untreated soil. Coprostanol concentration did not vary much within site and time of sampling, with a mean value of 0.2 mg kg(-1). We confirmed coprostanol as a useful persistent marker of human fecal matter contamination. Multivariate analysis highlighted a clear distinction between the eukaryotic sterols and coprostanol. In addition, a different behavior between ergosterol and cholesterol on one side and beta-sitosterol on the other was detected. This preliminary work suggests that sterols deserve a deeper study of their use as indicators in agricultural soils.     

提高炼油污水处理场排水合格率的途径

为解决炼油厂外排污水存在的问题，该厂采取了一系列措施。如：改进污水处理工艺，应用新技术、新设备，加强上游管理，以减少冲击事故。通过这些努力污水场排水合格率连续几年一直达90％以上，污水回用率达30％以上。从1994年至今，污水处理场各套设备运行基本正常，达到了很好的处理效果。