Identifying Sources of Faecal Contamination in a Small Urban Stream Catchment: A Multiparametric Approach.

ABSTRACT: Small urban streams discharging in the proximity of bathing waters may significantly contribute to the deterioration of water quality, yet their impact may be overlooked. This study focuses on the Elm Park stream in the city of Dublin that is subject to faecal contamination by unidentified sources. The aim of the study was to identify a minimum number of "sentinel" sampling stations in an urban catchment that would provide the maximum amount of information regarding faecal pollution in the catchment. Thus, high-resolution sampling within the catchment was carried out over the course of 1 year at 11 stations. Faecal indicator bacteria were enumerated and microbial source tracking (MST) was employed to evaluate human pollution. In addition, ammonium, total oxidised nitrogen, and phosphorus l

SUBMITTER: Reynolds LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8276237 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature