Project 2.2.1 Management of Pathogens in Surface and Subsurface Source Waters

All source waters are susceptible to pathogen hazards
Pristine and protected catchments contain animals, which excrete pathogens.
The quality of rivers and aquifers passing through agricultural land and urban areas may be heavily impacted, particularly after rainfall.
Pathogen ecology is neither understood nor defined so it is difficult to target management protocols
This project is the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Quality and Treatment's Response to the Needs of the Public and the Water Industry
The Problem
Recent advances in microbiological monitoring, management and risk assessment have thrown up a range of problems relating to drinking water including:
  • the hazards and risk posed by emerging pathogens;
  • the need for more rigorous catchment management procedures and protocols;
  • the development of legal and quasi legal drivers of higher water quality;
  • the need for monitoring and management of water supplies to be cost effective.

Typical rural Australian raw water reservoir (Myaponga, SA)
 Project Objectives
The long-term goals of Project 2.2.1 are to determine for four raw water catchment/aquifer types:
  • the range and types of pathogens and index microorganisms by landuse;
  • which microbial indicators/surrogates may be used in pathogen management;
  • options for pathogen management arising out of the research and review findings.
The current project is a pilot one aimed at:
  • addressing these strategic objectives for 4 water source types;
  • testing the feasibility of proposed technical approaches to pathogen monitoring, management and risk assessment and providing a first cut model for their application in Australia;
  • developing strategies networks for rigorous monitoring, technology transfer and catchment management consistent with current organisational structures.
Project Participants
CRCWQ&T, Melbourne Water, South East Water, SA Water, WA Water Corp, ACTEW Corp, UNSW, UWA, CSIRO, AWT, TWMCB, SA EPA, Ecowise, AWQC, WA Path Centre.
Key Activities
  • Measurement of 'background' pathogen, indicator and surrogate levels in source waters
  • Measurement/identification of parameters in selected sources (rainfall events, scats, ponds)
  • Estimation of input loadings and link concentrations/loads to risks
  • Identification of management options likely to lead to risk reduction/better management
  • Networking /Quality Assurance /Training
Expected Completion Date: Mid 2002
Where is the Project being undertaken
The project proposed involves monitoring of :
  • two pristine surface water catchments in the Upper Yarra region of Victoria (O'Shannassy and McMahon)
  • two borefields near Perth (Gwelup and Jandakot)
  • three periurban surface water catchments in the Adelaide Hills (Sixth Ck, Myponga Ck and Algate Ck).
  • one surface water catchment in NSW supplying water to Canberra (Burra Ck)
Project Structure
The project is divided into 5 subprojects:
  • four covering each of the state based programs
  • one involved in the coordination and support of the project based at UNSW
McMahons Ck VIC and Jandakot Borefield WA
 What is being monitored
  • pathogens: Cryptosporidium + Giardia, Campylobacter/ Salmonella spp.
  • indicators: E. coli, Enterococci, Clostridium perfringens, Suite of 8 sterols including Coprostanol & 24-ethyl coprostanol, E. coli F-RNA bacteriophages
  • surrogates: turbidity, colour, suspended solids, UV absorbance at 254nm, particle size profile, total P, TOC, conductivity, chlorophylls, SO42-, NOx/NH4+, temperature, pH
  • hydrology: flow/ hydrograph, rainfall (averages/hyetographs)

Burra Creek NSW 		Catchment and Institutional Management Activities Supported
  • Assessing whether catchments are being improved by management activities
  • More efficient use of monitoring resources/ Better allocation (monitoring v. in situ, event v. grab)
  • Response to triggers (monitoring results, events and incidents) defined by management guidelines
  • Sourcing and sizing of pollution / Proscription of some catchment practices and support for others
  • Assessing the confidence an agency can have in analysis results
  • Protection of groundwater
  • Conducting surveys of water /environmental quality
  • Decision support systems for interpreting analysis results
  • Check lists and other guides for dealing with water quality analytical laboratories, consultants etc.
  • Methods for catchment investigation
  • Networking with other water authorities
  • Improved local expertise
  • Model for future pathogen monitoring strategies
  • Estimates of total pathogen input loads, the risk posed and the need for remedial action
  • Evidence of Worlds Best Practice (WBP)
Contact Details
  • Project Leader:
A/Professor Nicholas Ashbolt, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW, Sydney NSW 2052, Bus: 02 9385 5946, Mobile: 0407 774 913, Bus Fax: 02 9385 6139, E-mail n.ashbolt@unsw.edu.au
  • Program Coordinator:
Dr Dennis Steffensen, Australian Water Quality Centre, Private Mail Bag 3, Salisbury, SA 5108 Australia, Bus: 61 8 8259 0326, Bus Fax: 61 8 8259 0228, E-mail:
dennis.steffensen@sawater.com.au
  • Project Coordinator:
Dr David Roser, Senior Research Officer, CWWT, UNSW, Sydney NSW 2052, Bus: 02 9385 5137, Bus Fax: 02 9313 8624, E-mail:
djroser@civeng.unsw.edu.au
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