Journal article
Developing an easy-to-apply model for identifying relevant pathogen pathways into surface waters used for recreational purposes
International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, Vol.219(7), pp.662-670
2016
Abstract
Swimming in inner-city surface waters is popular in the warm season, but can have negative consequences such as gastro-intestinal, ear and skin infections. The pathogens causing these infections commonly enter surface waters via several point source discharges such as the effluents from wastewater treatment plants and sewer overflows, as well as through diffuse non-point sources such as surface runoff. Nonetheless, the recreational use of surface waters is attractive for residents. In order to save financial and organizational resources, local authorities need to estimate the most relevant pathways of pathogens into surface waters. In particular, when detailed data on a local scale are missing, this is quite difficult to achieve. For this reason, we have developed an easy-to-apply model using the example of Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci as a first approach to the local situation, where missing data can be replaced by data from literature. The model was developed based on a case study of a river arm monitored in western Germany and will be generalized for future applications. Although the limits of the EU Bathing Water Directive are already fulfilled during dry weather days, we showed that the effluent of wastewater treatment plants and overland flow had the most relevant impact on the microbial surface water quality. On rainy weather days, combined sewer overflows are responsible for the highest microbial pollution loads. The results obtained in this study can help decision makers to focus on reducing the relevant pathogen sources within a catchment area. © 2015 Elsevier GmbH
Details
- Title
- Developing an easy-to-apply model for identifying relevant pathogen pathways into surface waters used for recreational purposes
- Authors
- Katharina Tondera (Author) - Institute of Environmental Engineering of RWTH Aachen University (ISA), GermanyK Klaer (Author) - Institute of Environmental Engineering of RWTH Aachen University (ISA), GermanyS Roder (Author) - Institute of Environmental Engineering of RWTH Aachen University (ISA), GermanyI Brueckner (Author) - Institute of Environmental Engineering of RWTH Aachen University (ISA), GermanyM Strathmann (Author) - Institute of Environmental Engineering of RWTH Aachen University (ISA), GermanyT Kistemann (Author) - University of Bonn, GermanyC Schreiber (Author) - University of Bonn, GermanyJ Pinnekamp (Author) - Institute of Environmental Engineering of RWTH Aachen University (ISA), Germany
- Publication details
- International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, Vol.219(7), pp.662-670
- Publisher
- Elsevier GmbH - Urban und Fischer
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.ijheh.2015.11.005
- ISSN
- 1438-4639
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99451280102621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Domestic collaboration
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- Infectious Diseases
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