Contamination of stormwater by wastewater: A review of detection methods

Panasiuk, Oleksandr; Hedström, Annelie; Marsalek, Jiri; Ashley, Richard; Viklander, Maria

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.01.050

Cited by 88 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…The presence of sewage in stormwater can be problematic due to the likely co-presence of pathogens. Identifying the presence of sewage in stormwater using is not straightforward due to dilution, infiltration, and lack of sensitive detection methods (Panasiuk et al, 2015). However, microbial source tracking (MST) marker genes are used to identify human feces and other sources of animal fecal contamination such as cattle, dogs, pigs, and birds in water (Harwood et al, 2014;Ahmed et al, 2016).…”

Section: Mst Marker Genes In Stormwatermentioning

confidence: 99%

A review on microbial contaminants in stormwater runoff and outfalls: Potential health risks and mitigation strategies

Ahmed

Hamilton

Toze

et al. 2019

Science of The Total Environment

119

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Editor: Patricia HoldenDemands on global water supplies are increasing in response to the need to provide more food, water, and energy for a rapidly growing population. These water stressors are exacerbated by climate change, as well as the growth and urbanisation of industry and commerce. Consequently, urban water authorities around the globe are exploring alternative water sources to meet ever-increasing demands. These alternative sources are primarily treated sewage, stormwater, and groundwater. Stormwater including roof-harvested rainwater has been considered as an alternative water source for both potable and non-potable uses. One of the most significant issues concerning alternative water reuse is the public health risk associated with chemical and microbial contaminants. Several studies to date have quantified fecal indicators and pathogens in stormwater. Microbial source tracking (MST) approaches have also been used to determine the sources of fecal contamination in stormwater and receiving waters. This review paper summarizes occurrence and concentrations of fecal indicators, pathogens, and MST marker genes in urban stormwater. A section of the review highlights the removal of fecal indicators and pathogens through water sensitive urban design (WSUD) or Best Management Practices (BMPs). We also discuss approaches for assessing and mitigating health risks associated with stormwater, including a summary of existing quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) models for potable and non-potable reuse of stormwater. Finally, the most critical research gaps are identified for formulating risk management strategies.Crown

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Section: Mst Marker Genes In Stormwatermentioning

confidence: 99%

A review on microbial contaminants in stormwater runoff and outfalls: Potential health risks and mitigation strategies

Ahmed

Hamilton

Toze

et al. 2019

Science of The Total Environment

119

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“…The major sources of human fecal contamination in storm water runoff are failing sewage infrastructures and cross-connections between sewage and storm water networks (7,8). However, in addition to sewage contamination, storm water runoff can also carry other forms of animal waste, as well as a variety of pesticides and other chemical contaminants (2,9,10). Understanding the composition of the resultant runoff is therefore essential to tracking storm water pollution and assessing overall risk to public health.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of Microbial and Chemical Source Tracking Markers To Identify Fecal Contamination Sources in the Humber River (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) and Associated Storm Water Outfalls

Staley

Grabuski

Sverko

et al. 2016

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Storm water runoff is a major source of pollution, and understanding the components of storm water discharge is essential to remediation efforts and proper assessment of risks to human and ecosystem health. In this study, culturable Escherichia coli and ampicillin-resistant E. coli levels were quantified and microbial source tracking (MST) markers (including markers for general Bacteroidales spp., human, ruminant/cow, gull, and dog) were detected in storm water outfalls and sites along the Humber River in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and enumerated via endpoint PCR and quantitative PCR (qPCR). Additionally, chemical source tracking (CST) markers specific for human wastewater (caffeine, carbamazepine, codeine, cotinine, acetaminophen, and acesulfame) were quantified. Human and gull fecal sources were detected at all sites, although concentrations of the human fecal marker were higher, particularly in outfalls (mean outfall concentrations of 4.22 log 10 copies, expressed as copy numbers [CN]/ 100 milliliters for human and 0.46 log 10 CN/100 milliliters for gull). Higher concentrations of caffeine, acetaminophen, acesulfame, E. coli, and the human fecal marker were indicative of greater raw sewage contamination at several sites (maximum concentrations of 34,800 ng/liter, 5,120 ng/liter, 9,720 ng/liter, 5.26 log 10 CFU/100 ml, and 7.65 log 10 CN/100 ml, respectively). These results indicate pervasive sewage contamination at storm water outfalls and throughout the Humber River, with multiple lines of evidence identifying Black Creek and two storm water outfalls with prominent sewage cross-connection problems requiring remediation. Limited data are available on specific sources of pollution in storm water, though our results indicate the value of using both MST and CST methodologies to more reliably assess sewage contamination in impacted watersheds. IMPORTANCEStorm water runoff is one of the most prominent non-point sources of biological and chemical contaminants which can potentially degrade water quality and pose risks to human and ecosystem health. Therefore, identifying fecal contamination in storm water runoff and outfalls is essential for remediation efforts to reduce risks to public health. This study employed multiple methods of identifying levels and sources of fecal contamination in both river and storm water outfall sites, evaluating the efficacy of using culture-based enumeration of E. coli, molecular methods of determining the source(s) of contamination, and CST markers as indicators of fecal contamination. The results identified pervasive human sewage contamination in storm water outfalls and throughout an urban watershed and highlight the utility of using both MST and CST to identify raw sewage contamination. S torm water runoff has been identified as one of the most prominent non-point sources of both biological and chemical contaminants, degrading water quality and posing risks to public health in impacted recreational waters (1-3). The high level of fecal contamination present in storm water ru...

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“…The highest number, with regard to GAL activity, E. coli and intestinal enterococci, was observed in the feces from a 6-month-old child, mainly fed by breast milk; 2 The concentration of E. coli also showed high variation on an individual scale: In feces from one person, tested 4 times over a 1-year period, the E. coli concentration varied from 1ˆ10 3 -7ˆ10 7 E. coli per gram; 3 In all of the samples of human feces, the E. coli and the coliform numbers were equal. The GAL activity per gram of bird and animal feces was significantly lower than in human feces, i.e., in average 3 LOG 10 lower in bird feces and 2 LOG 10 lower in sheep feces ( Figure 5).…”

Section: Gal Activity In Human and Animal Fecesmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Such rapid methods are also useful for detection of wastewater contamination and location of its points of ingress into storm sewer systems, e.g., due to cross-connection in separate sewer systems, illicit connections or overflows and leakages through broken sewers [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring of β-d-Galactosidase Activity as a Surrogate Parameter for Rapid Detection of Sewage Contamination in Urban Recreational Water

Tryland

Braathen

Wennberg

et al. 2016

Water

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Simple, automated methods are required for rapid detection of wastewater contamination in urban recreational water. The activity of the enzyme β-D-galactosidase (GAL) can rapidly (<2 h) be measured by field instruments, or a fully automated instrument, and was evaluated as a potential surrogate parameter for estimating the level of fecal contamination in urban waters. The GAL-activity in rivers, affected by combined sewer overflows, increased significantly during heavy rainfall, and the increase in GAL-activity correlated well with the increase in fecal indicator bacteria. The GAL activity in human feces (n = 14) was high (mean activity 7ˆ10 7 ppb MU/hour) and stable (1 LOG 10 variation), while the numbers of Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci varied by >5 LOG 10 . Furthermore, the GAL-activity per gram feces from birds, sheep and cattle was 2-3 LOG 10 lower than the activity from human feces, indicating that high GAL-activity in water may reflect human fecal pollution more than the total fecal pollution. The rapid method can only be used to quantify high levels of human fecal pollution, corresponding to about 0.1 mg human feces/liter (or 10 3 E. coli/100 mL), since below this limit GAL-activity from non-fecal environmental sources may interfere.

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Contamination of stormwater by wastewater: A review of detection methods

Cited by 88 publications

References 45 publications

A review on microbial contaminants in stormwater runoff and outfalls: Potential health risks and mitigation strategies

A review on microbial contaminants in stormwater runoff and outfalls: Potential health risks and mitigation strategies

Comparison of Microbial and Chemical Source Tracking Markers To Identify Fecal Contamination Sources in the Humber River (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) and Associated Storm Water Outfalls

Monitoring of β-d-Galactosidase Activity as a Surrogate Parameter for Rapid Detection of Sewage Contamination in Urban Recreational Water

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