From 1971 to 2008 there were approximately 846 outbreaks associated with an infectious agent in drinking water and about 50% of the outbreaks were attributable to groundwater. During the same period, 8% of the outbreaks were caused by viruses and another 43% had a likely virus cause.  Numerous studies have found human enteric viruses in about 25% of wells studied. Two(2) studies focused on small community systems that use untreated groundwater. A study of communities in southeast Michigan found virus present in 24% of the wells. A study of communities in Wisconsin found virus in 95% of the wells. The Wisconsin study demonstrated that 22% of the acute gastrointestinal disease (AGI) in the disease communities was from virus-contaminated tap water. For children under five (5) years old, the fraction of AGI from drinking water was 63%.  The EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) generates occurrence data for the EPA Administrator to make regulatory determinations for contaminants which are not currently covered by the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. Undisinfected ground water systems located in sensitive hydrogeology serve as UCMR3 sample sources. Eight hundred (800) small public water systems are being monitored and each site will be monitored twice between 2013-2016. UCMR3 Pre-Screen Testing uses difficult or expensive analyses for contaminate detection and targets vulnerable public water systems. Beginning in early 2013, UCMR3 Pre-Screen Microbiological Testing included evaluation of targeted ground water samples for Enteroviruses, Noroviruses and other microbial indicators i.e. fecal coliforms, enterococci, bacterial endospores, and male and somatic coliphage. In southeast Texas we investigated the presence of UCMR3-designated viruses and microbial indicators in waste water treatment plant effluent. Our results provide direct evidence for the (presence/absence - TBD) of these microbes, which emphasize the possible implications for the treatment and use of reclaimed wastewater.

Microbiological testing of wastewater treatment plant effluent using EPA UCMR3 testing methods

247th National Meeting (2014)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.