Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment for Contaminated Private Wells in the Fractured Dolomite Aquifer of Kewaunee County, Wisconsin.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Private wells are an important source of drinking water in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin. Due to the region's fractured dolomite aquifer, these wells are vulnerable to contamination by human and zoonotic gastrointestinal pathogens originating from land-applied cattle manure and private septic systems.

Objective

We determined the magnitude of the health burden associated with contamination of private wells in Kewaunee County by feces-borne gastrointestinal pathogens.

Methods

This study used data from a year-long countywide pathogen occurrence study as inputs into a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) to predict the total cases of acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI) caused by private well contamination in the county. Microbial source tracking was used

SUBMITTER: Burch TR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8221031 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature