Characterization of Stormwater Runoff Based on Microbial Source Tracking Methods
Rainfall and associated urban runoff have been linked to an increased deterioration of environmental waters, carrying several pollutants including pathogenic microorganisms. Such happens because fecal matter is washed into storm drainage pipes that are afterward released into environmental waters. S...
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doaj-cccab399b3cd45e6911c99a64a383da62021-06-10T08:27:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2021-06-011210.3389/fmicb.2021.674047674047Characterization of Stormwater Runoff Based on Microbial Source Tracking MethodsSilvia Monteiro0Gaspar Queiroz1Filipa Ferreira2Ricardo Santos3Laboratório Análises, Tecnico Lisboa, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalDepartment of Civil Engineering, Tecnico Lisboa, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalDepartment of Civil Engineering, Tecnico Lisboa, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalLaboratório Análises, Tecnico Lisboa, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalRainfall and associated urban runoff have been linked to an increased deterioration of environmental waters, carrying several pollutants including pathogenic microorganisms. Such happens because fecal matter is washed into storm drainage pipes that are afterward released into environmental waters. Stormwater has not been extensively characterized as it is, because most studies are performed either on drainage pipes that are often impacted by sewage leakage or directly in environmental waters following a rain event. In this study, stormwater collected directly from the streets, was monitored for the presence of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and three potential important sources of fecal contamination in urban environments (human, cats, and dogs) in three distinct basins in Lisbon, Portugal. Stormwater was collected in sterilized plastic boxes inserted in the storm drains, therefore collecting only runoff. High concentration of fecal contamination was detected with a high percentage of the samples displayed at least one source of contamination. A strong relationship was found between the number of detected sources and the precipitation levels. Although no statistical correlation was found between the locations and the presence of FIB or source markers, the results show a trend in geographical information on the type of urban use in each basin. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study analyzing the runoff collected directly from the streets. This study suggests that, in urban areas, stormwater runoff is highly impacted by fecal matter, not only from domestic animals but also from human origin, before any cross-contamination in the drainage system and may, by itself, pose a high risk to human health and the environment, particularly if water reuse of this water without further disinfection treatment is the final goal.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.674047/fullstormwaterfecal contaminationmitochondrial DNAmicrobial source trackingurban environment |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Silvia Monteiro Gaspar Queiroz Filipa Ferreira Ricardo Santos |
spellingShingle |
Silvia Monteiro Gaspar Queiroz Filipa Ferreira Ricardo Santos Characterization of Stormwater Runoff Based on Microbial Source Tracking Methods Frontiers in Microbiology stormwater fecal contamination mitochondrial DNA microbial source tracking urban environment |
author_facet |
Silvia Monteiro Gaspar Queiroz Filipa Ferreira Ricardo Santos |
author_sort |
Silvia Monteiro |
title |
Characterization of Stormwater Runoff Based on Microbial Source Tracking Methods |
title_short |
Characterization of Stormwater Runoff Based on Microbial Source Tracking Methods |
title_full |
Characterization of Stormwater Runoff Based on Microbial Source Tracking Methods |
title_fullStr |
Characterization of Stormwater Runoff Based on Microbial Source Tracking Methods |
title_full_unstemmed |
Characterization of Stormwater Runoff Based on Microbial Source Tracking Methods |
title_sort |
characterization of stormwater runoff based on microbial source tracking methods |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
series |
Frontiers in Microbiology |
issn |
1664-302X |
publishDate |
2021-06-01 |
description |
Rainfall and associated urban runoff have been linked to an increased deterioration of environmental waters, carrying several pollutants including pathogenic microorganisms. Such happens because fecal matter is washed into storm drainage pipes that are afterward released into environmental waters. Stormwater has not been extensively characterized as it is, because most studies are performed either on drainage pipes that are often impacted by sewage leakage or directly in environmental waters following a rain event. In this study, stormwater collected directly from the streets, was monitored for the presence of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and three potential important sources of fecal contamination in urban environments (human, cats, and dogs) in three distinct basins in Lisbon, Portugal. Stormwater was collected in sterilized plastic boxes inserted in the storm drains, therefore collecting only runoff. High concentration of fecal contamination was detected with a high percentage of the samples displayed at least one source of contamination. A strong relationship was found between the number of detected sources and the precipitation levels. Although no statistical correlation was found between the locations and the presence of FIB or source markers, the results show a trend in geographical information on the type of urban use in each basin. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study analyzing the runoff collected directly from the streets. This study suggests that, in urban areas, stormwater runoff is highly impacted by fecal matter, not only from domestic animals but also from human origin, before any cross-contamination in the drainage system and may, by itself, pose a high risk to human health and the environment, particularly if water reuse of this water without further disinfection treatment is the final goal. |
topic |
stormwater fecal contamination mitochondrial DNA microbial source tracking urban environment |
url |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.674047/full |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT silviamonteiro characterizationofstormwaterrunoffbasedonmicrobialsourcetrackingmethods AT gasparqueiroz characterizationofstormwaterrunoffbasedonmicrobialsourcetrackingmethods AT filipaferreira characterizationofstormwaterrunoffbasedonmicrobialsourcetrackingmethods AT ricardosantos characterizationofstormwaterrunoffbasedonmicrobialsourcetrackingmethods |
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