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Changes in Microbial Water Quality Associated with an Extreme Recreational Water Event in Ohio, United States

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Abstract

Extreme bather densities can have significant impacts on water quality in treated and untreated waters. In this case study, water quality was monitored throughout an annual event known as the “Mirror Lake Jump,” in which thousands of ‘jumpers’ briefly entered a small lake fed by a municipal water supply, which provided an exceptional opportunity to track the water quality change due to extreme bather levels in a short period of time. Microbial water quality was monitored in conjunction with enumerating bathers, mostly collegians, fully exposing their body to the water, which occurred in an urban pond (2600 m3) on a university campus in Ohio, U.S.A. Microbial densities were determined from water samples collected before, during, and after the event. Quantification of fecal indicator bacteria (Escherichia coli, enterococci) and genetic markers reflecting fecal contamination (gyrB, HuBac, tetQ, ent23) was performed using culture-based methods and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), respectively. Significant correlations (p < 0.05) were observed between the total number of jumpers and levels of turbidity, enterococci, E. coli, a human-associated marker (HuBac), and an antibiotic resistance marker (tetQ). Among bacteriological parameters, the tetQ marker presented the most significant time-associated trend (p = 0.01). Overall, the fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) densities observed during this extreme event ultimately exceeded water quality action values by an order of magnitude. Bather fecal shedding and resuspension of FIB and antibiotic-resistant bacteria likely occurred during the Mirror Lake Jump and future studies related to bather density impacts on microbial water quality are recommended for improving understanding related to potential public health impacts.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported with funds from the College of Public Health and the Public Health Preparedness for Infectious Diseases Program (PHPID) at The Ohio State University as part of a Pilot Research Grant. Additional financial support was provided by the Dean’s Undergraduate Research Fund from the College of Biological Sciences at The Ohio State University (now part of the College of Arts and Sciences). We are also grateful for the assistance provided by Rebecca Fehn in aiding in the collection of water samples during the event.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Author notes

  1. Jason W. Marion

    Present address: Department of Environmental Health Science, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY, USA

  2. Vanessa Burrowes

    Present address: North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health, 4312 District Drive, Raleigh, NC, USA

  3. Chang Soo Lee

    Present address: Environmental Biotechnology Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Korea

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, 1841 Neil Avenue, 250 Cunz Hall, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Jason W. Marion, Vanessa Burrowes, Chang Soo Lee & Jiyoung Lee

  2. Department of Food Science & Technology, The Ohio State University, 1841 Neil Avenue, 250 Cunz Hall, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Jiyoung Lee

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  1. Jason W. Marion
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Correspondence to Jiyoung Lee.

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Marion, J.W., Burrowes, V., Lee, C.S. et al. Changes in Microbial Water Quality Associated with an Extreme Recreational Water Event in Ohio, United States. Water Qual Expo Health 7, 491–501 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-015-0164-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-015-0164-8

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