Jones, Stephen H.

Langan, Richard

McDowell, William H.

English

UNH Scholars' Repository

University of New HampshireUniversity of New Hampshire Scholars' RepositoryNH Water Resources Research Center Scholarship NH Water Resources Research Center6-1-1996INFLUENCE OF NONPOINT-SOURCEPOLLUTION ON MICROBIAL ASPECTS OFWATER QUALITY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE'SCOASTAL WATERSHEDSStephen H. JonesUniversity of New HampshireWilliam H. McDowellUniversity of New Hampshire, bill.mcdowell@unh.eduRichard LanganUniversity of New HampshireFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/nh_wrrc_scholarshipThis Report is brought to you for free and open access by the NH Water Resources Research Center at University of New Hampshire Scholars'Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in NH Water Resources Research Center Scholarship by an authorized administrator of University ofNew Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more information, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.Recommended CitationJones, Stephen H.; McDowell, William H.; and Langan, Richard, "INFLUENCE OF NONPOINT-SOURCE POLLUTION ONMICROBIAL ASPECTS OF WATER QUALITY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE'S COASTAL WATERSHEDS" (1996). NH WaterResources Research Center Scholarship. 100.https://scholars.unh.edu/nh_wrrc_scholarship/100INFLUENCE OF NONPOINT-SOURCE POLLUTION ON MICROBIAL ASPECTS OF WATER QUALITY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE'S COASTAL WATERSHEDS  Principal Investigators: Dr. Stephen H. Jones, Dr. William H. McDowell ,Dr. Richard Langan, University of New Hampshire  Descriptors: Water quality management, bacteria, organic compounds, nutrients, contaminant transport, estuaries, pollutants, public health Research Objectives:  The specific objectives of this research was as follows:  Determine the seasonal occurrence and persistence of indicator and pathogenic bacteria in relation to nutrients, phytoplankton blooms, and DOC/dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) along a transect from the Oyster River to Great Bay at Furber Strait;  Characterize differences in growth and survival responses of target bacteria in estuarine water from different sources (algal production, terrestrial NPS runoff, POTW, seasonal and spatial differences) that reflect ambient variability in DOC/DON, planktonic micro-flora and -fauna and nutrients;  Relate laboratory results to observe environmental trends to explain mechanisms of microbial dynamics in the Great Bay Estuary. Principal Findings and Significance:  The temporal intensity of sampling was increased during August 1994, and in May and June 1995, to better understand the dynamics of water quality parameters at some of the sites relative to target bacterial numbers. The V. parahaemolyticus data showed differences from V. vulnificus data in a similar fashion to last year. V. vulnificus incidence was similar to that observed in 1993, which was much more frequent than in any of the three previous years. However, V. vulnificus concentrations were much higher throughout the study area in 1994. Numbers were especially high at a site just downstream from the Durham POTW, where DOC concentrations were also elevated. The most consistently positive (54%) site for V. vulnificus incidence in 1994 was the site farthest up the Oyster River, with incidence decreasing at the next downstream site (25%), to the mouth of the river (18%) and at Adams Point (16%). Microcosm studies have yielded results that help to interpret field observations. The incubation temperature had major effects on the growth and survival responses of the different bacteria. The vibrios became non-culturable at 5oC, as expected, while fecal-borne bacteria maintained relatively high levels in estuarine water, even in the presence of other bacteria. At 20oC, the vibrios showed some growth responses in the estuarine water in pure cultures, less of a response in water with eukaryotes inhibited, and no growth and decreased survival in the presence of all microorganisms. E. coli exhibited no growth but better survival in all treatments in the more polluted, upstream estuarine water compared to the cleaner Adams Point water. Enterococci showed less differences between sites, but maintained higher numbers compared to E. coli.  

INFLUENCE OF NONPOINT-SOURCE POLLUTION ON MICROBIAL ASPECTS OF WATER 
QUALITY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE\u27S COASTAL WATERSHEDS

https://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1099&context=nh_wrrc_scholarship

INFLUENCE OF NONPOINT-SOURCE POLLUTION ON MICROBIAL ASPECTS OF WATER QUALITY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE\u27S COASTAL WATERSHEDS

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