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Microbial source tracking in highly vulnerable karst drinking water resources
D Diston1, R Robbi2, A Baumgartner1
1Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO, Sector Laboratories, Schwarzenburgstrasse 165, 3003 Bern, Switzerland
Journal of Water and Health
|February 10, 2018
Summary
Microbial source tracking (MST) methods effectively identified human and animal fecal pollution in Swiss karst waters. 16S rRNA assays were more sensitive than phage assays for assessing water quality risks.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Microbiology
- Water Quality Assessment
- Karst Hydrology
Background:
- Karst geology makes water resources highly susceptible to fecal contamination.
- Microbial source tracking (MST) is crucial for identifying pollution origins and assessing water use risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To apply a suite of MST methods to investigate fecal pollution sources in Swiss karst waters.
- To compare the performance of culture-dependent bacteriophage and molecular-dependent 16S rRNA assays.
- To differentiate microbial water quality between spring and well sites.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a MST toolbox including culture-dependent bacteriophage and molecular-dependent 16S rRNA assays.
- Sampled water from spring and well sites in the karstic St Imier Valley, Switzerland.
- Evaluated marker performance and pollution regimes.
Main Results:
- 16S rRNA assays demonstrated higher sensitivity compared to phage assays.
- HF183 and Rum2Bac were identified as the best performing markers for human wastewater and ruminant pollution, respectively.
- Spring water exhibited more degraded microbial quality than well water.
Conclusions:
- The study informs marker selection for MST in karst environments.
- Significant differences in microbial water quality exist between karst spring and well sites.
- Effective MST is vital for managing fecal pollution in vulnerable karst water resources.
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