Predictive models for Escherichia coli concentrations at inland lake beaches and relationship of model variables to pathogen detection.

ABSTRACT: Predictive models, based on environmental and water quality variables, have been used to improve the timeliness and accuracy of recreational water quality assessments, but their effectiveness has not been studied in inland waters. Sampling at eight inland recreational lakes in Ohio was done in order to investigate using predictive models for Escherichia coli and to understand the links between E. coli concentrations, predictive variables, and pathogens. Based upon results from 21 beach sites, models were developed for 13 sites, and the most predictive variables were rainfall, wind direction and speed, turbidity, and water temperature. Models were not developed at sites where the E. coli standard was seldom exceeded. Models were validated at nine sites during an independent year. At three s

SUBMITTER: Francy DS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3591947 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature