207903 Is it safe to drink?: Enteric Microorganism Monitoring in a State-of-the-Art Water Reclamation Facility and Lake Lanier, GA

Tuesday, November 10, 2009: 5:15 PM

Marina Laura Fernandez, MPH , Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA
Pengbo Liu, PhD, MPH , Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA
Stuart Hooper , Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA
Owen Herzegh, MPH , Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA
Kelly Hay, BS , Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA
John Rice, BS , Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA
Esther Wong, MPH , Food for the Hungry, Washington, DC
Richard Porter , F Wayne Hill WRF, Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources, Buford, GA
Neal Spivey , F Wayne Hill WRF, Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources, Buford, GA
Christine L. Moe, PhD , Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA
Study Objective: Water scarcity has increased use of reclaimed water. The microbial quality of water from water reclamation facilities is often a concern for communities considering reuse options. This study monitored five enteric viral pathogens and two indicator organisms at a state-of-the-art water reclamation facility in Georgia, and at the intake for a drinking water treatment facility in Lake Lanier. This study examined the reduction and persistence of enteric viruses at selected treatment stages.

Methods: 20 and 100-liter samples were collected every two weeks from six locations in the water reclamation facility and Lake Lanier for one year. Samples were first concentrated by ultrafiltration, then by polyethylene glycol (PEG). Sample concentrates were tested for E. coli and male-specific coliphage by standard culture methods and for adenovirus, enterovirus, hepatitis A virus, norovirus, rotavirus A by real-time PCR.

Results: The ultrafiltration and PEG methods were able to simultaneously concentrate multiple target microorganisms. Microbial levels were reduced in the final effluent compared to the primary influent and secondary effluent samples. Adenovirus and noroviruses were the most frequently detected viruses (70% and 64%). Enterovirus and rotavirus were detected in 5% of the samples. Hepatitis A virus was identified in one sample of primary influent.

Conclusion: Although the target microorganisms were effectively reduced by the multiple treatment processes, enteric viruses were still frequently detected in the final effluent. These findings provide critical guidance for improving the efficacy of advanced treatment for water reclamation and its use to supplement a surface water supply.

Learning Objectives:
1.Evaluate the presence of enteric microorganism in each step of the sewage treatment plant and in Lake Lanier, GA. 2.Assess the possible use of final effluent as an alternative water resource.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Marina Fernandez is a Lead Research Specialist in the environmental microbiology and infectious disease laboratory at Rollins School of Public Health operated under the direction of Dr. Christine L Moe. She manages the lab and works on various government, private foundation, and corporate-funded projects. Current research projects include: norovirus clinical trials, water microbiology testing, hand washing studies, virus persistence and disinfection studies, norovirus microarray studies, development and application of diagnostic assays for enteric viruses and outbreak investigations. Marina is finishing her Master in Public Health at Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. She received her B.S/M.S in Clinical Biochemistry from National University of Cordoba, Argentina in 2001. PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS  Fernandez, ML, Liu, P , Hooper, S , Hay, K, Rice, J, Herzegh, O, Wong, E, Porter R, Spivey, N, Moe, CL (2009). Enteric Microorganism Monitoring in a State-of-the-Art Water Reclamation Facility. GWRC. Athens, GA.  Mead JR, Fernandez M, Romagnoli PA, Secor WE. (2006). Use of Trichomonas vaginalis clinical isolates to evaluate correlation of gene expression and metronidazole resistance. J. Parasitol, 92 (1): 196-199.  Ehigiator HN, Romagnoli P, Borgelt K, Fernandez M, Secor WE, Mead JR (2005). Mucosal cytokine and antigenspecific responses to Cryptosporidium parvum in IL-12p40 KO mice. J. Parasite Immunol.Feb;27(1-2):17-28.  Ibegbu, C.C., Xu Y-X, Fernandez, ML.(2005) Detection of protective Antigen-specific T cells in AVA-Vaccinated Non-human Primates.Poster presentation in Bacillus ACT conference. P24.September 25-29.Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Ibegbu, C.C.;Wramert,J, Levesque D, Maggio D, Fernandez ML, Sen S, Glidewell J, Fillos D, Xu Y-X, Ahmed R, Mittler R.S.(2005) Immune correlates of Anthrax Protection in AVA Vaccinated Non-Human Primates. Oral presentation. Bacillus ACT conference. 052. September 25-29 2005, Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Ehigiator HN, Romagnoli PA, Fernandez ML, McNair N, Secor WE and Mead JR (2004) Cellular Imune Responses to Infection with Cryptosporidium parvum in IL-12 Knock-out Mice. Oral Presentation at the 8th Annual Woods Hole ImmunoParasitology Conference, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, April 25-28.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.