Reduction of fecal coliform levels in two created wetlands at the Olentangy River Wetland Research Park
Year: 2004
Type: report
Abstract: The presence of fecal coliform bacteria in aquatic environments is often used as an indicator of contamination with fecal material and other possible pollutants (Tyrrell et al., 1995; Hernandez et al., 1997; Gearheart, 1999; McMath et al., 1999; Perkins and Hunter, 2000). Fecal coliform pollution may occur in ambient water as a result of the overflow of domestic sewage or non-point sources of human or animal waste (McMath et al., 1999). River water may be contaminated with fecal material of man or other animals. At the time of contamination, pathogens may be introduced into the water (Ricca and Cooney, 1999; Tyrrell et al., 1995). Over 140 different virus types and many different bacteria are excreted in animal and human feces and urine, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritis, hepatitis A and viral gastroenteritis that are pathogenic to humans (Hernandez et al., 1997; Newman et al., 2000; Ricca and Cooney, 1999; Tyrrell et al., 1995). Thus, the presence of fecal contamination is an indicator that a potential health risk exists for individuals exposed to this water (Newman et al., 2000; Ricca and Cooney, 1999; Tyrrell et al., 1995). Increasingly, constructed wetlands are being used for lowering pollutant levels in contaminated water and wastewater, including treatment for urban and agricultural storm water runoff that may contain chemical and other pollutants (Carleton et al., 2001; Gerba et al., 1999; Khatiwada and Polprasert, 1999; Newman et al., 2000; Ostroumov, 1998; Perkins and Hunter, 2000; Shutes, 2001). Studies have shown that wetlands improve water quality by reducing nutrients, chemical contaminants, and pathogenic microbes (Gerba et al., 1999; Ostroumov, 1998; Lau and Chu, 2000). Previous studies at the Olentangy River Wetland Research Park (ORWRP) have shown decreasing levels in nitrate+nitrite, soluble-reactive phosphorus, and total phosphorus as the water passes through the wetlands (Mitsch et al., 2000). The purpose of this study was to examine fecal coliform levels in two constructed wetlands at ORWRP and to determine the ability of these basins to reduce coliforms. Samples were collected from locations throughout both wetlands, the Olentangy River, and the swale from October 2000 to June 2001 during months when the wetlands were not frozen. Samples were subjected to the multiple tube fermentation technique using most probable number analysis (Hernandez et al., 1997; Khatiwada and Polprasert, 1999) to determine the concentration of fecal coliforms in each sample. The data from five months of sampling show that the two constructed wetlands are reducing fecal coliform levels as water flows through them.
Authors: Terry D. Hinds, Rachel Brown, Eugene H. Burns
Institution: Shawnee State University
Language: English
Subfield: Water Science and Technology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Ohio Board of Regents
OpenAlex ID: W54973183