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METHODS AND MICROBES FOR MEASURING THE QUALITY OF RECREATIONAL WATERS: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
Citation:
DUFOUR, A. P. METHODS AND MICROBES FOR MEASURING THE QUALITY OF RECREATIONAL WATERS: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE. Presented at Florida Branch of the American Society for Microbiology, Cocoa Beach, FL, March 31 - April 01, 2006.
Impact/Purpose:
The objectives of this research are: (1) to evaluate rapid state-of-the-art measuement methods of pathogens that may indicate the presence of fecal pollution in recreational waters (beaches); (2) to obtain, jointly with a sister laboratory (NHEERL), a new set of water quality data and related health effects data at a variety of beaches across the U.S., in both marine and non-marine waters; (3) to analyze the research data set to evaluate the utility of the tested measurement methods, the new EMPACT monitoring protocol, and the health effects data/questionnaire, in order to establish a relationship between measured pathogens and observed health effects; and (4) to communicate the results to the Office of Water in support of their efforts to develop new state and/or federal guidelines and limits for water quality indicators of fecal contamination, so that beach managers and public health officials can alert the public about the potential health hazards before exposure to unsafe water can occur.
Description:
The methods and microbes used to measure the quality of recreational waters have changed very little over the last sixty years. The use of microbial indicators used to measure the quality of water under various conditions across the United States, and the serious shortcomings that frequently preclude their use will be discussed, as well as possible solutions to problem issues.