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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 11, 2026

Continuous Hydrologic and Water Quality Monitoring of Vernal Ponds

Continuous Hydrologic and Water Quality Monitoring of Vernal Ponds

Published on: November 13, 2017

Assessment of source tracking methods for application in spring water.

Melanie Wicki¹, Adrian Auckenthaler², Richard Felleisen³

¹University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland

Journal of Water and Health

|June 5, 2015

Summary

This study assessed 10 microbial source tracking (MST) indicators for water contamination. Bacteriophages and sorbitol-fermenting bifidobacteria indicate human waste, while Rhodococcus coprophilus signals animal waste.

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Last Updated: Apr 11, 2026

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Published on: July 24, 2016

Area of Science:

Environmental microbiology
Water quality assessment
Microbial source tracking (MST)

Background:

Distinguishing human from animal fecal contamination in water is crucial for public health.
Microbial Source Tracking (MST) utilizes various indicators to identify pollution sources.
Previous studies have explored numerous MST indicators with varying success.

Purpose of the Study:

To comparatively assess 10 established microbial source tracking (MST) indicators.
To evaluate the efficacy of these indicators in discriminating between human and animal fecal contamination.
To determine the geographic stability and applicability of MST indicators in Swiss water bodies, including spring water.

Main Methods:

Comparative analysis of 10 microbial source tracking (MST) indicators from scientific literature.
Testing indicators against samples of human wastewater and animal waste from various Swiss regions.
Assessing indicator presence and abundance in surface water and spring water samples.

Main Results:

Bacteriophages (GA-17, GB-124, ARABA 84) and sorbitol-fermenting bifidobacteria effectively indicated human fecal contamination.
Rhodococcus coprophilus was identified as an indicator for animal-derived fecal contamination.
All tested MST indicators demonstrated geographic stability across different Swiss regions and were detected in surface and spring waters.

Conclusions:

Specific bacteriophages and sorbitol-fermenting bifidobacteria are reliable human fecal indicators.
Rhodococcus coprophilus serves as a reliable animal fecal indicator.
This study successfully applied and validated MST methods in spring water, demonstrating their sensitivity and broad applicability in diverse water sources.