by Rachel McNinch, Irene Xagoraraki, Phanikumar Mantha and Joan Rose
Water is one of the world’s most precious natural resources, used for drinking and food supply, cleaning, industrial and recreational purposes. Michigan is water-rich, yet the water quality of Michigan’s Great Lakes shoreline, the many inland lakes, rivers and streams, and groundwater is constantly threatened.
Michigan has 3,288 miles of Great Lakes shoreline and 11,000 inland lakes and ponds, which attract millions of visitors each year. Michigan supports diverse urban and rural populations in agricultural and industrial developments, all of which rely on clean water. Protecting water resources has always been extremely important to Michigan residents, but sewage discharges from combined sewer systems, accidental sewer overflows, septic tank leaks, animal wastes and other sources of contamination periodically render Michigan waters unfit for use. Currently, many segments of streams, rivers and lakes are not meeting water quality goals for designated uses. These water pollution problems threaten the health of Michigan’s population. To provide safe water, standards and monitoring are needed for both protection and remediation of any water quality problems.
The Environmental Microbiology Laboratory and the Center for Water Sciences (CWS) at Michigan State University are working on new tools and techniques to assess the numerous threats to water quality in the state and assist communities in identifying the future investments needed for maintaining safe water.
Michigan’s E. coli database
CWS collaborated with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for the past year to study Michigan’s E. coli database. Michigan monitors E. coli as a part of numerous regulatory and research programs and, over time, has amassed a large amount of information about E. coli in surface waters across the entire state. The goal of the project was to examine the database for trends, examine alternative statistical tests and research microbial source tracking tools that would be useful for the state. ArcGIS software was used for mapping the locations for which E. coli data exist. The project, which was only recently completed, is awaiting approval from the DEQ.
Pathogens and source tracking methods
Key pathogens of concern associated with polluted water include parasites such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia, bacteria such as E.coli 0157:H7 and Campylobacter, and viruses, including adenoviruses. Studies on the occurrence of pathogens along with new fecal indicators are helping to address pollution levels and the associated risks to public health. In particular, the pathogen Cryptosporidium has been found in surface waters located near several confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) across Michigan, suggesting inappropriate application of untreated animal manure, and Giardia has been detected in untreated sewage sources.
Under Michigan’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, indicator bacteria E. coli, total coliforms and fecal coliforms are used to judge the safety of recreational waters, drinking water and wastewater treatment, respectively. These indicators, however, do not identify the full extent of pathogen contamination or all of its sources. Therefore, alternative indicators, actual pathogen testing and microbial source tracking are now being used to assist in addressing the source and preventing further contamination of groundwater or surface waters. Currently, one bovine and two human markers are being used to examine various waters in Michigan.
ArcGIS software has been used by CWS to map water quality sampling sites for several of these projects across Michigan, including those in the Saginaw Bay and Grand River watersheds.
Adenovirus and enterovirus testing
Viruses offer a unique opportunity to study water quality and health because they are very host-specific, survive well in the water environment, do not regrow, and represent actual pathogens and disease risks. Virus testing of sewage and animal wastes has led to rapid methods for evaluating viruses in Michigan waters. When beaches along Lake Michigan were tested for virus contamination, 40 percent of the samples were positive. Advances in water treatment methods to remove viruses are being examined by teams within CWS, addressing both animal and human wastewater.
Continued involvement
The faculty members involved in water science at MSU are engaging in community-based research and are beginning to make a difference in Michigan. Future projects will begin to evaluate in more detail the quality of groundwater in the state as well as investigate rural water quality.