Hydrologic Transport of Escherichia coli Through a Piedmont Watershed
Author(s)
Cox, Demetrius
Rasmussen, Todd C.
Advisor(s)
Editor(s)
Hatcher, Kathryn J.
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Abstract
The United States Environmental Protection
Agency has published a Final Rule establishing Escherichia coli (E. co/r)-based water quality standards for the
protection of public health. To date, thirteen states have
transitioned at least partially to the new voluntary E. coli
standard. The State of Georgia, with 4263 kilometers of
impaired waterways, currently uses fecal coliform indices
to gauge impairment of water resources; however, this
method has been widely criticized as inadequate for providing the maximum amount of public protection against water-borne pathogens. As water resource management
evolves to operate at the watershed scale, increasing
stakeholder concerns over eutrophication and potential
increases in pathogenic bacteria densities complicate
alternative management futures. Efforts to describe the
transport of bacteria from areas of non-point source pollution to receiving bodies of water are common; however,
no explanation of E. coil transport and fate in Southeast-
ern watersheds exists. Specific research goals focused on
the hydrologic transport of E. coil from stormwater discharge, an animal confinement operation, and through a small subwatershed and pond. Initial results to quantify
and characterize the source, transport mechanism, and
fate of E. coil at the watershed scale are discussed. A
modern toolbox approach to bacteria source tracking is
proposed and a theoretical model constructed to aid in the
development of accurate and comprehensive Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for the State of Georgia.
Sponsor
Sponsored and Organized by: U.S. Geological Survey, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Conservation Service, The University of Georgia, Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology
Date
2001-03
Extent
Resource Type
Text
Resource Subtype
Proceedings