Abstract
A high-spatial resolution study design was used to investigate the relationship between land use practices, stream physicochemistry, hydroclimate, and stream Escherichia (E) coli concentrations in a mixed-land-use watershed in the Appalachian region. Stream samples were collected daily from six monitoring sites and analyzed for total E. coli counts using an enzyme metabolism indicator method. Statistical comparison of E. coli concentration time series showed significant (p < 0.05) differences between study sites. Although highest average E. coli concentrations were observed at two agricultural sites (534 and 582 colony-forming counts (CFU) per 100 mL, respectively), highest total loadings were observed within the receiving stream, with values increasing downstream (2 × 1012 and 4.2 × 1012 study total CFU for bracketed upstream and downstream sites, respectively). No single physical variable displayed a significant correlation (p < 0.05) with observed E. coli concentration at every site. However, sites displayed different patterns of significant correlations (p < 0.05) between E. coli concentration and both physicochemical (e.g. pH, dissolved oxygen saturation) and hydroclimate variables (e.g. streamflow and precipitation). Percent agricultural land cover was the only land use category that showed significant (p < 0.04) correlation with study average E. coli concentrations, thereby emphasizing the importance of land use practices to stream pathogen regimes. Results validate the analytical method and provide high-resolution, detailed, quantitative characterizations of stream E. coli regimes, thereby supplying land and water resource managers with science-based information to advance management decisions and improve public health.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the National Science Foundation under Award Number OIA-1458952, the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Hatch project accession number 1011536, and the West Virginia Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. Results presented may not reflect the views of the sponsors and no official endorsement should be inferred. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Special thanks are due to many scientists of the Interdisciplinary Hydrology Laboratory (http://www.forh2o.net). The authors also appreciate the feedback of anonymous reviewers whose constructive comments improved the article.
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Petersen, F., Hubbart, J.A., Kellner, E. et al. Land-use-mediated Escherichia coli concentrations in a contemporary Appalachian watershed. Environ Earth Sci 77, 754 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7948-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7948-7