Knowledge Area: Pathogens & Human Health

Our Objective

WERF will provide state-of-the-art methodologies, relevant and accurate data, and user-friendly tools to evaluate potential human health risk from waterborne microbes. The results will inform the development of EPA’s new recreational water quality criteria, and provide methods and strategies that address the needs of WERF subscribers. Key areas of research include quantitative microbial risk assessment, pathogens in inland flowing waters, and pathogen indicators in tropical and subtropical waters.
View the latest Pathogens & Human Health research activities. Updated July 2010.

still availae.

Rhonda Kranz
rkranz@werf.org

+ USEPA Recreational Water
Quality Criteria (access to
science plan, stakeholder
engagement, settlement agreement)

Dogs on the Scent: Using Canine-Scent Tracking to Locate Sources of Storm Drain Contamination
The use of dogs in locating human sewage in storm drains is being tested in this new study funded under WERF's unsolicited research program.

Water Ingestion During Water Recreation
New WERF research is supporting ongoing efforts to address knowledge gaps in estimating health risks of water recreation.

WERF Research on Fate and Transport of Fecal Indicators in Sand and Seawater
A WERF research team from the University of Hawaii in Manoa is investigating how fecal indicators of pathogens are transported to beach sand and seawater during rainfall events.

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WERF Blending Report: Effluent and Other Contributory Sources during Peak Weather Events (03-CTS-12PP)
This study evaluated the impacts of blending on effluent and receiving water quality and estimated public health risks associated with recreation in surface waters receiving blended flows.

Report: Pathogen Risk Indicators: (03-HHE-2)
The detection and enumeration of all pathogens is not viable task, creating a need to develop new indicators of their presence in waste matrices. Thus, this project set out to develop indicators to determine treatment efficacy rather than to detect the presence of fecal contamination.

Workshop Report Prioritizes Research Needs for Criteria Development in Inland Waters (PATH4W09)
WERF teamed up with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to bring together 31 experts to examine differences between coastal and inland waters and identify research needs for the development of recreational water quality criteria applicable for inland water. This free report summarizes their discussion and findings.

WERF Workshop on Microbial Source Tracking
The drinking water and wastewater industries are interested in developing a better understanding of sources of fecal contamination. Order this document about the WERF Microbial Source Tracking workshop that brought together a diverse group of 45 scientific experts to identify MST technology knowledge gaps and research needs.

WERF Fact Sheet on Disinfection Alternatives
This fact sheet provides information about WERF's research on disinfection of wastewater to protect the public from exposure to pathogenic microorganisms. WERF has funded various projects looking at aspects of disinfection, including ultrasonic and ozonation disinfection.

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Water Environment Research Foundation
|
635 Slaters Lane, Suite G-110
|
Alexandria, VA 22314
|
571.384.2100
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email us

WERF research examines the social, economic, and environmental aspects of challenges confronting wastewater and stormwater facilities.