Isolating the impact of septic systems on fecal pollution in streams of suburban watersheds in Georgia, United States.

Autor: Sowah RA; Crop and Soil Sciences, The University of Georgia Griffin Campus, 1109 Experiment St, Griffin, GA, 30223, USA. Electronic address: robsowah@uga.edu., Habteselassie MY; Crop and Soil Sciences, The University of Georgia Griffin Campus, 1109 Experiment St, Griffin, GA, 30223, USA., Radcliffe DE; Crop and Soil Sciences, The University of Georgia, 3111 Carlton St, Athens, GA, 30602, USA., Bauske E; Center for Urban Agriculture, The University of Georgia Griffin Campus, 1109 Experiment St, Griffin, GA, 30223, USA., Risse M; The University of Georgia, Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, 1030 Chicopee Building, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Water research [Water Res] 2017 Jan 01; Vol. 108, pp. 330-338. Date of Electronic Publication: 2016 Nov 03.
DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2016.11.007
Abstrakt: The presence of multiple sources of fecal pollution at the watershed level presents challenges to efforts aimed at identifying the influence of septic systems. In this study multiple approaches including targeted sampling and monitoring of host-specific Bacteroidales markers were used to identify the impact of septic systems on microbial water quality. Twenty four watersheds with septic density ranging from 8 to 373 septic units/km 2 were monitored for water quality under baseflow conditions over a 3-year period. The levels of the human-associated HF183 marker, as well as total and ruminant Bacteroidales, were quantified using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Human-associated Bacteroidales yield was significantly higher in high density watersheds compared to low density areas and was negatively correlated (r = -0.64) with the average distance of septic systems to streams in the spring season. The human marker was also positively correlated with the total Bacteroidales marker, suggesting that the human source input was a significant contributor to total fecal pollution in the study area. Multivariable regression analysis indicates that septic systems, along with forest cover, impervious area and specific conductance could explain up to 74% of the variation in human fecal pollution in the spring season. The results suggest septic system impact through contributions to groundwater recharge during baseflow or failing septic system input, especially in areas with >87 septic units/km 2 . This study supports the use of microbial source tracking approaches along with traditional fecal indicator bacteria monitoring and land use characterization in a tiered approach to isolate the influence of septic systems on water quality in mixed-use watersheds.
(Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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