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ACCOMMODATING CHANGE OF BACTERIAL INDICATORS IN LONG TERM WATER QUALITY DATASETS 1
Author(s) -
Cude Curtis G.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
jawra journal of the american water resources association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.957
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1752-1688
pISSN - 1093-474X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2005.tb03716.x
Subject(s) - water quality , fecal coliform , indicator organism , indicator bacteria , environmental science , coliform bacteria , quality (philosophy) , hydrology (agriculture) , environmental engineering , biology , ecology , bacteria , engineering , philosophy , genetics , geotechnical engineering , epistemology
In 1996, the State of Oregon adopted a water quality standard based on Escherichia coli ( E. coli ), recognizing E. coli as an indicator of pathogenic potential. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) began analysis for E. coli that same year. The Oregon DEQ continued collection and analysis of fecal coliform (a prior indicator organism) for data input to bacterial loading models and the Oregon Water Quality Index (OWQI). The OWQI is a primary indicator of general water quality for the Oregon DEQ and the Oregon Progress Board. The objective of this study was to develop a regression relationship between fecal coliform and E. coli. This relationship would fill data gaps and extend water quality models and indicators. Water quality policy is better informed by the ability of these extended water quality models to determine whether water quality meets present or would have met past bacterial standards. Monitoring resources spent on dual bacterial analyses could be conserved. This study also showed that changes to OWQI values (as a result of changing bacterial indicators) were minimal, and corresponded to improved characterization of water quality with respect to pathogenic potential.