You are here:
QPCR Analysis of Total and Viable Enterococci in Waste Water Treatment: Comparison with Culture in Predicting Pathogen Reductions
Citation:
VARMA, M., R. A. HAUGLAND, R. Field, M. K. STINSON, B. Rukovets, AND L. J. WYMER. QPCR Analysis of Total and Viable Enterococci in Waste Water Treatment: Comparison with Culture in Predicting Pathogen Reductions. Presented at Water Quality Technology Conference, Cincinnati, OH, November 16 - 20, 2008.
Impact/Purpose:
1) Determine relative abundance of genetic markers for different fecal indicator bacterial groups including enterococci, Bacteriodetes, E. coli and other bacterial groups identified in MCEARD task # 18820 in diverse municipal wastewaters as determined by QPCR analysis. 2) Determine degradation rates of genetic markers from different fecal indicator bacterial groups, as determined by QPCR analysis, during and after standard wastewater disinfection processes. 3) Determine relationships between degradation rates of genetic markers from objective 2 and rates of culturable cell reductions (as determined by standard cultivation methods) among accepted indicator organisms and possibly selected bacterial pathogens after standard wastewater disinfection processes. 4) Evaluate alternative sample preparation procedures and genetic-based analytical methods for their abilities to discriminate between live and dead indicator organisms in wastewater for purpose of selecting most applicable technology for measurement of viable organisms. 5) Determine relationships between degradation rates of genetic markers from viable indicator organisms by most applicable technology from objective 4 and rates of culturable cell reductions (as determined by standard cultivation methods) among of currently accepted indicator organisms during and after standard wastewater disinfection processes.
Description:
BEACH Act amendment to Clean Water Act requires EPA to establish more expeditious methods for the timely detection of pathogens and pathogen indicators in coastal waters New methods should demonstrate utility for and be compatible with all CWA 304(a) criteria needs including: Water quality assessment for public notification at beaches Assessment of impaired waters listings Development of total daily maximum loads (TMDL) Development of National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits Considerable progress has been made in the development of a qPCR method for monitoring DNA target sequence concentrations of enterococci fecal indicator bacteria that meets the BEACH act and CWA 304(a) requirements for water quality assessment at beaches