Deployment of Microbial Source Tracking to Identify Sources of Fecal Pollution in Water

1. Deployment of Microbial Source Tracking to Identify Sources of Fecal Pollution in Water C. Hagedorn, A. Hassall, M. Saluta, J. Dickerson, and T. Wade 1Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, VPI & SU, Blacksburg, VA ABSTRACT Microbial source tracking (MST) is a new technology that is being developed, tested, and deployed to identify sources of fecal pollution in water. The latest National Water Quality Inventory from 2000 reported that approximately 40% of streams, 45% of lakes, and 51% of estuaries in the U.S. were not clean enough (impaired) to support recreational uses such as fishing and swimming. The leading cause of impairments is fecal microorganisms, and recreational exposure to fecal material in polluted water carries substantial health risks. Establishing the sources of fecal contamination is crucial for the evaluation of health risks, sustainable management of water, achieving acceptable water quality and sanitation, and directing clean-up efforts. Enforcement of the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) process in the U.S. has provided the incentive for the development and deployment of MST. Costs associated with TMDLs over the next 15 years are estimated to be approximately $1.0 billion for development of TMDL plans, $255 million for additional monitoring to support TMDLs, and $13.5 to $64.5 billion for TMDL implementation (a total of $15 to $66 billion). Many states are developing TMDL plans in compliance with court-ordered implementation, including Virginia. It is now clear that MST data will be heavily used in the TMDL process nationwide, and there is great expectation that MST will provide definitive answers, regardless of the present status of MST methodology. Is current MST technology adequate for such a task? This poster describes the MST multi-investigator method comparison studies conducted to date, along with a tiered system for evaluating each method, and some examples of successful uses of MST in urban and rural watersheds. SOURCE TRACKING AT VIRGINIA TECH The Virginia Tech Source Tracking Laboratory has performed over 35 Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) projects in Virginia plus projects in AR, CA, FL, MD, NC, NY, SC, TN, TX, Wash. D.C., and WVA. Our program employs a variety of phenotypic and genotypic source tracking methods, and has recently developed fluorometry (detection of optical brighteners in detergents) to locate sources of human-derived pollution. Projects sponsored by EPA, NOAA, USDA, and USGS have resulted in method development and evaluation, and sampling procedures for source tracking. Sampling procedures include determination of the number of samples required, the frequency samples are collected, the sampling period duration, the impact of seasonality, and the numbers of isolates per sample required to obtain statistical confidence (and legal defensibility) in source tracking and source load allocation results. Our lab has participated in the design and performance of all multi-state method comparison studies conducted to date, and pioneered the concept of using blinded challenge tests in all field-oriented projects. Our program has cooperated on projects, trained lab personnel, and introduced method improvements for MapTech, Inc., a private-sector environmental engineering company.