The quality of our water is always a key environmental issue, but measuring pathogens in water sources can be tricky. Instead, bacteria such as E. coli – which in themselves do not cause illness but are present alongside pathogens in contaminated water – have historically been used as indicators of water quality. This method has been criticised, and new technologies now enable quicker and easier detection of actual pathogens such as Salmonella.
In this hot paper, Alexandria Boehm‘s group at Stanford University have conducted the first study on the fate of non-seeded Salmonella and faecal bacterial indicators E. coli and enterococci in urban surface waters, specifically a creek in California with levels of E. coli that often exceed EPA limits. Surprisingly, the EPA has not yet set any Salmonella standards for drinking and recreational waters so these studies will be valuable in beginning to determine acceptable levels, as methodologies they have developed for monitoring the source and fate of the bacteria can be transferred to other water bodies.
To read more about their findings download the paper – it’s free to access for 4 weeks:
Sources and fate of Salmonella and fecal indicator bacteria in an urban creek
Lauren M. Sassoubre, Sarah P. Walters, Todd L. Russell and Alexandria B. Boehm
J. Environ. Monit., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C1EM10213C
