Grantee Research Project Results
2021 Progress Report: Cryptosporidium Capture in Sewage Impacted Waters
EPA Grant Number: SU840143Title: Cryptosporidium Capture in Sewage Impacted Waters
Investigators: Elliott, Mark , Jellison, Kristen L. , Olson, Julie , Maxcy-Brown, Jillian , Gunaydin, Serhat , Abungu, Vivian , Stahl, Leigha , Davidson, Rose , Mayerberger, Elisa , Early, Tana
Institution: The University of Alabama , Lehigh University
EPA Project Officer: Spatz, Kyle
Phase: I
Project Period: December 1, 2020 through November 30, 2021 (Extended to November 30, 2022)
Project Period Covered by this Report: December 1, 2020 through November 30,2021
Project Amount: $24,999
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2020) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources
Objective:
This project takes advantage of knowledge of the location of straight pipes (raw sewage surface discharge from rural homes) gathered through site inspections and GIS flow-routing methods used in Dr. Elliott’s group to determine the flow paths into Big Prairie Creek to identify locations for sampling that are impacted by Cryptosporidium. Laboratory-based studies in co-PI Kristen Jellison’s lab at Lehigh University have demonstrated both the Cryptosporidium oocysts can be efficiently collected by natural biofilms grown on microscope slides and that the presence of dissolved calcium ions improves attachment. We hope to demonstrate that time-integrated sampling of Cryptosporidium oocysts is both effective and inexpensive in rural creeks impacted by straight pipes, and that the provision of calcium through a simple calcium dissolution device can improve oocyst capture.
Progress Summary:
Outputs: Phase I has focused primarily on sampling and analysis of samples, and development and testing of the calcium tablet dissolution device. We have focused on sites upstream and downstream of known contamination on Big Prairie Creek in Perry and Hale counties, Alabama. All units are analyzed before and after rain events for Cryptosporidium. The design of the calcium dissolution device has been modified three times and the final design is one of the major outputs of Phase I. The findings for the Cryptosporidium oocysts and their attachment to the units in addition to the design of the calcium dissolution device will be communicated with local and state-level stakeholders through at least two forums. We presented at the P3 Virtual Expo in June 2021. Written outputs will include the Phase I report to EPA and we hope to submit a journal manuscript shortly after the end of the project.
Outcomes: While our long-term goals for this research include substantial water quality and health outcomes, the scope is limited by the research focus and length of Phase I. We hope that sampling for fecal contamination can progress from grab sampling for indicator bacteria toward time-integrated sampling for pathogens and that we can assist in that transition. Initial design and testing of the calcium dissolution device was part of the independent group projects of two groups (eight students total) in the PI’s Spring 2021 course, CE 420: Environmental Measurements. We hope to present our project findings and future plans to at least 75 stakeholders through summer and fall 2022 conferences.
Future Activities:
Sampling has resumed and will continue weekly during spring and summer 2022. We will be adding another biofilm device at each site without the calcium addition to determine the impact of calcium on oocysts attachment to the biofilms. We are also adding more water quality measurements for our surface water samples. These measurements will include water depth, temperature, pH, conductivity, and turbidity, in addition to the time-integrated sediment collection described above and fecal bacteria (duplicate MPN of E. coli by IDEXX Quanti-Tray 2000, plus single MPN values for total coliforms and thermotolerant coliforms from grab samples).
Supplemental Keywords:
Environmental monitoring, Pathogen detection, Environmental justice, Drinking water, Sustainable water management, Remote monitoringRelevant Websites:
University of Alabama Elliot Water Research Group Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.