Research Area: Microbial Source Tracking

Microbiological source tracking methods are potentially powerful tools that are increasingly being used to identify sources of fecal contamination. Fecal contamination of surface waters can come from numerous sources of fecal pollution, including human sewage, manure from livestock operations, indigenous wildlife and urban runoff. Effective management requires identification and targeted mitigation of the dominant source or sources of fecal contamination in the watershed.

SCCWRP Research

SCCWRP has taken a leadership role in the field of microbial source tracking by organizing and conducting the first evaluative testing of source tracking methods. This brought together top researchers from around the nation, and resulted in major reconsideration of the application of these technologies. SCCWRP has also been involved in implementing source tracking methods in real world situations, such as participation in a multi-tiered assessment of fecal inputs to Ballona Creek. This effort utilized bacterial and viral source tracking tools, coupled with a mass balance approach, to identify origins and loading of fecal bacteria into the creek. SCCWRP continues to progress in this area with projects to evaluate and adapt methods for use in southern California, for example, testing of optical brighteners to identify human fecal bacteria inputs to creeks in Malibu, CA.

Optical brighteners, a common additive to laundry detergent, can be measured through a simple lab or field test, and lead investigators to sources of household wastewater.

Microbial source tracking projects include:

For more information about rapid indicator research, contact John Griffith at johng@sccwrp.org (714) 755-3228.

This page was last updated on: 06/05/2009