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As reported on CTV News last night, The Elbow River has been contaminated with E.coli. The E.coli count is 100
times higher than normal (whats normal), and according to news officials, city health officials along with Alderman
Erskine, irresponsible dog owners and their dogs are to blame. The feces left behind from dog owners unwilling to
pick up after their pets has washed into the river contaminating it to the point where the city is putting up signs to
stop people from entering the water.
The news report stated that dog owners who do not pick up after their pets are the main reason for the
contamination. Upon an investigation of my own I have found this statement to be very over exaggerated. Calgary
has not had enough precipitation in the last months for feces to be washed into the river, in fact we have had overly
warm days which may have helped the E.coli bacteria grow but not enter the river.
E.coli contamination is not only from dogs, but from humans, farm animals, and wild life as well.
Animals up-stream have an effect on this contamination as well, live stock being allowed to water in streams, animal
wastes being allowed to wash into streams, spreading manure and fertilizer on fields during rainy periods can all
contribute to fecal coliform contamination, not to mention the wild life up stream that water in streams and discharge
feces in streams and runoffs, individual home septic tanks in rural areas that become overloaded and drain into
drainage ditches and near by waters.........
Here is the article ;
Wilkes University
Center for Environmental Quality
GeoEnvironmental Science and
Engineering Department
Why Fecal Coliform Testing Is Important - e. coli ?
Total coliform bacteria are a collection of relatively harmless microorganisms that live in large numbers in the
intestines of man and warm- and cold-blooded animals. They aid in the digestion of food. A specific subgroup of this
collection is the fecal coliform bacteria, the most common member being Escherichia coli (e. coli). These organisms
may be separated from the total coliform group by their ability to grow at elevated temperatures and are associated
only with the fecal material of warm-blooded animals.
The fecal coliform group includes all of the rod-shaped bacteria that are non-sporeforming, Gram-Negative ,
lactose-fermenting in 24 hours at 44.5 ° C, and which can grow with or without oxygen.
Fecal coliform by themselves are usually not pathogenic; they are indicator organisms, which means they may
indicate the presence of other pathogenic bacteria. Pathogens are typically present in such small amounts it is
impractical monitor them directly.
Note: Some strains of Escherichia coli , which are a type of fecal coliform, can cause intestinal illness. One such
strain is E. coli O157:H7, which is found in the digestive tract of cattle.
Environmental Impact:
The presence of fecal coliform bacteria in aquatic environments indicates that the water has been contaminated with
the fecal material of man or other animals. At the time this occurred, the source water may have been contaminated
by pathogens or disease producing bacteria or viruses which can also exist in fecal material. Some waterborne
pathogenic diseases include typhoid fever, viral and bacterial gastroenteritis and hepatitis A. The presence of fecal
contamination is an indicator that a potential health risk exists for individuals exposed to this water. Fecal coliform
bacteria may occur in ambient water as a result of the overflow of domestic sewage or nonpoint sources of human
and animal waste.
Significance: Fecal Coliform bacteria indicate the presence of sewage contamination of a waterway and the
possible presence of other pathogenic organisms.
Bacteria are single-celled organisms that can only be seen with the aid of a very powerful microscope. Bacteria can
be found everywhere- in air, water, and soil, even in and on your own body. They can benefit us by recycling
wastes, helping nitrogen-fixing plants to grow, and by making certain types of food. They may harm us by causing
diseases and food spoilage. Of environmental concern are the many types of coliform bacteria.
Fecal coliform bacteria are a group of bacteria that are passed through the fecal excrement of humans, livestock
and wildlife. They aid in the digestion of food. A specific subgroup of this collection is the fecal coliform bacteria,
the most common member being Eschericia coli. These organisms may be separated from the total coliform group
by their ability to grow at elevated temperatures and are associated only with the fecal material of warm-blooded
animals. Bacteria reproduce rapidly if conditions are right for growth. Most bacteria grow best in dark, warm,
moist environments with food. Some bacteria form colonies as they multiply which may grow large enough to be
seen. By growing and counting colonies of fecal coliform bacteria from a sample of stream water, we can
determine approximately how many bacteria were originally present.
The presence of fecal coliform bacteria in aquatic environments indicates that the water has been contaminated with
the fecal material of man or other animals. Fecal coliform bacteria can enter rivers through direct discharge of
waste from mammals and birds, from agricultural and storm runoff, and from untreated human sewage. Individual
home septic tanks can become overloaded during the rainy season and allow untreated human wastes to flow into
drainage ditches and nearby waters. Agricultural practices such as allowing animal wastes to wash into nearby
streams during the rainy season, spreading manure and fertilizer on fields during rainy periods, and allowing
livestock watering in streams can all contribute fecal coliform contamination.
At the time this occurs, the source water may be contaminated by pathogens or disease producing bacteria or
viruses, which can also exist in fecal material. Some waterborne pathogenic diseases include ear infections,
dysentery, typhoid fever, viral and bacterial gastroenteritis, and hepatitis A. The presence of fecal coliform tends to
affect humans more than it does aquatic creatures, though not exclusively. While these bacteria do not directly
cause disease, high quantities of fecal coliform bacteria suggest the presence of disease causing agents. The
presence of fecal contamination is an indicator that a potential health risk exists for individuals exposed to this
water. During high rainfall periods, the sewer can become overloaded and over flow, bypassing treatment. As it
discharges to a nearby stream or river, untreated sewage enters the river system. Runoff from roads, parking lots,
and yards can carry animal wastes to streams through storm sewers.
Fecal coliform like other bacteria can usually be killed by boiling water or by treating with chlorine. Washing
thoroughly with soap after contact with contaminated water can also help prevent infections. Gloves should always
be worn when testing for fecal coliform.
Fecal-coliform testing is one of the nine tests of water quality that form the overall water-quality rating in a process
used by the EPA. This test requires a very careful set of sterile procedures, as well as expensive equipment and a
five-day test. Less expensive screening techniques are available for use by the trained student.
Field kits for fecal coliform are available but expensive. A trained microbiologist is also helpful in conducting proper
test procedures. It is often less expensive to contract with a professional lab to conduct your tests for you. But,
should you decide to set up a lab with the ability to run bacteria screening tests, guidance documents can be
provided upon request.
Untreated fecal material, such as contains fecal coliform, adds excess organic material to the water. The decay of
this material depletes the water of oxygen. This lowered oxygen may kill fish and other aquatic life. Reduction of
fecal coliform in wastewater may require use of chlorine and other disinfectant chemicals. Such materials may kill
the fecal coliform and disease bacteria. They also kill bacteria essential to the proper balance of the aquatic
environment, endangering the survival of species dependent on those bacteria. So, higher levels of fecal coliform
require higher levels of chlorine, threatening those aquatic organisms.
Membrane filtration is the method of choice for the analysis of fecal coliforms in water. Samples to be tested are
passed through a membrane filter of particular pore size (generally 0.45 micron). The microorganisms present in
the water remain on the filter surface. When the filter is placed in a sterile petri dish and saturated with an
appropriate medium, growth of the desired organisms is encouraged, while that of other organisms is suppressed.
Each cell develops into a separate colony, which can be counted directly, and the results calculated as microbial
density. Sample volumes of 1 ml and 10 ml will be used for the water testing, with the goal of achieving a final
desirable colony density range of 20-60 colonies/filter. Contaminated sources may require dilution to achieve a
"countable" membrane.
A 100 ml volume of a water sample is drawn through a membrane filter (45 m pore size) through the use of a
vacuum pump. The filter is placed on a petri dish containing M-FC agar and incubated for 24 hours at 44.50o C.
This elevated temperature heat shocks non-fecal bacteria and suppresses their growth. As the fecal coliform
colonies grow they produce an acid (through fermenting lactose) that reacts with the aniline dye in the agar thus
giving the colonies their blue color.
The new USEPA coliform rule requires major monitoring changes by the drinking water industry. The testing
requirements for drinking water are markedly increased. Not only is the number of routine coliform tests increased,
especially for the smaller utilities, but also a new regulation requires automatic repeat testing from all sites that
show a total coliform positive.
The current USEPA recommendations for body-contact recreation is fewer than 200 colonies/100 mL; for fishing
and boating, fewer than 1000 colonies/100 mL; and for domestic water supply, for treatment, fewer than 2000
colonies/100 mL. The drinking water standard is less than 1 colony/ 100ml.
Fecal Coliform Bacteria in Streams
Why Is It Important?
Fecal coliform bacteria are microscopic organisms that live in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. They also live
in the waste material, or feces, excreted from the intestinal tract. When fecal coliform bacteria are present in high
numbers in a water sample, it means that the water has received fecal matter from one source or another. Although
not necessarily agents of disease, fecal coliform bacteria may indicate the presence of disease-carrying organisms,
which live in the same environment as the fecal coliform bacteria.
Swimming in waters with high levels of fecal coliform bacteria increases the chance of developing illness (fever,
nausea or stomach cramps) from pathogens entering the body through the mouth, nose, ears, or cuts in the skin.
Diseases and illnesses that can be contracted in water with high fecal coliform counts include typhoid fever,
hepatitis, gastroenteritis, dysentery and ear infections. Fecal coliform, like other bacteria, can usually be killed by
boiling water or by treating it with chlorine. Washing thoroughly with soap after contact with contaminated water can
also help prevent infections.
Fecal coliform, like other bacteria, can usually be killed by boiling water or by treating it with chlorine. Washing
thoroughly with soap after contact with contaminated water can also help prevent infections.
Reasons for Natural Variation
Unlike the other conventional water quality parameters, fecal coliform bacteria are living organisms. They do not
simply mix with the water and float straight downstream. Instead they multiply quickly when conditions are favorable
for growth, or die in large numbers when conditions are not. Because bacterial concentrations are dependent on
specific conditions for growth, and these conditions change quickly, fecal coliform bacteria counts are not easy to
predict. For example, although winter rains may wash more fecal matter from urban areas into a stream, cool water
temperatures may cause a major die-off. Exposure to sunlight (with its ultraviolet disinfection properties) may have
the same effect, even in the warmer water of summertime.
Expected Impact of Pollution
The primary sources of fecal coliform bacteria to fresh water are wastewater treatment plant discharges, failing
septic systems, and animal waste. Bacteria levels do not necessarily decrease as a watershed develops from rural
to urban. Instead, urbanization usually generates new sources of bacteria. Farm animal manure and septic systems
are replaced by domestic pets and leaking sanitary sewers. In fact, storm water runoff in urbanized areas has been
found to be surprisingly high in fecal coliform bacteria concentrations. The presence of old, disintegrating storm and
sanitary sewers, misplaced sewer pipes, and good breeding conditions are common explanations for the high levels
measured.
Fecal coliform concentrations are reported in units of the number of bacterial colonies per 100 ml of sample water
(#/100 ml). The Washington State standards for fecal coliform bacteria vary according to stream classification. For
Class AA streams, the geometric mean can not exceed a value of 50 organisms per 100 ml, and fewer than 10
percent of the samples can be greater than 100/100 ml, and fewer than 10 percent can be greater than 200/100 ml,
and fewer than 10 percent of the samples can be greater than 400/100 ml.
Factors Affecting Fecal Coliform
Water Quality Index Code for Ranking- Fecal Coliform
(click to enlarge)
Wastewater and Septic System Effluent
Fecal coliform is present in human waste, so the bacteria goes down the drains in our houses and businesses, and
can enter streams from illegal or leaky sanitary sewer connections, poorly functioning septic systems, and poorly
functioning wastewater treatment plant (WWTPs) effluent.
Animal Waste
A significant amount of fecal coliform is released in the wastes produced by animals. This can be a serious problem
in waters near cattle feedlots, hog farms, dairies, and barnyards that have poor animal keeping practices and waste
is not properly contained. In urban areas, fecal coliform can be contributed to surface water by dog, cat, raccoon,
and human waste when it is carried into storm drains, creeks, and lakes during storms.
Sediment Load
High amounts of sediment are often related to high concentrations of pathogenic bacteria. The bacteria can attach
to sediment particles. Fast-running water can carry more sediment, so higher levels of bacteria can occur during
high runoff events. Bacteria are much more abundant on soils than in water.
Temperature
Bacteria grow faster at higher temperatures. The growth rate slows drastically at very low temperatures.
Nutrients
High levels of nutrients can increase the growth rate of bacteria.
For testing support for this or other chemical or biological parameters, please contact eqc@wilkes.edu .
Back to Main Watershed Page
For More information about the Environmental Quality Center, please contact:
Attn: Mr. Brian Oram, Professional Geologist (PG)
Laboratory Director
Wilkes University
Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences
PO Box 111
84 West South Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766
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