Collection system investigation microbial source tracking (CSI-MST): Applying molecular markers to identify sewer...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Molecular Biology
• Wastewater Engineering

Background:

• Sewer infrastructure deficiencies pose significant environmental and public health risks.
• Identifying the precise location and cause of these deficiencies is often challenging.
• Existing methods may lack the sensitivity or specificity for targeted repairs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and explain the Collection System Investigation Microbial Source Tracking (CSI-MST) approach.
• To demonstrate the adaptability of CSI-MST across different watershed scales.
• To validate CSI-MST as a tool for identifying and remediating sewer infrastructure issues.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing molecular markers to identify sources of contamination within sewer systems.
• Integrating detailed collection system infrastructure data with rapid molecular analysis.
• Employing an adaptive, targeted in-pipe investigation strategy based on molecular data.

Main Results:

• Successfully identified and confirmed numerous infrastructure repairs in southeastern Virginia.
• Demonstrated the efficacy of CSI-MST in locating specific sewer deficiencies.
• Case studies provide proof of concept for the methodology's broad applicability.

Conclusions:

• CSI-MST is a sensitive and effective method for detecting sewer infrastructure problems.
• The methodology can be adopted by various utilities and municipalities nationwide.
• This approach facilitates targeted and efficient wastewater infrastructure repair.