USGS scientists deploy SPMD and POCIS samplers to collect waterborne contaminants in Manoa Stream on Oahu, Hawaii.

Noteworthy

Press Releases

• USGS Assessment of Brackish Water Could Help Nation Stretch Limited Freshwater Supplies
• First-of-its-kind Interactive Map Brings Together 40 Years of Water-Quality Data
• 20 Years Researching Harmful Algal Blooms Supports Sustainable Water Supply in Wichita
• The Quality of the Nation's Groundwater: Progress on a National Survey (1/19/2017)

Featured Science:

• Spatial variability of harmful algal blooms in Milford Lake, Kansas, July and August 2015
• Why Monitor Water Quality? [1.7MB PDF]

Past featured science...

Water Quality Data

Today's Water Conditions

Get continuous real-time water-quality measurements from Water-Quality Watch maps.

Water Quality Portal (WQP)

Get current and historical USGS and EPA water-quality data at the WQP.

BioData

Get stream ecosystem aquatic bioassessment data from BioData.

For More Data

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USGS in Your Area

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Microbial Source-Tracking and Detection Techniques

(Related terminology - "bacterial source tracking (BST)" and "molecular microbial technologies")

Links are provided below to general information on microbial source-tracking and detection techniques, such as ribotyping (DNA fingerprinting), genetic enterovirus detection using PCR/rtPCR and IC/PCR, and pulse field gel electrophoreses (PFGE).

• Biological Consulting Services of North Florida, commercial web page
  George Lukasik and Troy Scott
  "Microbial Source Tracking" -- http://www.microbioservices.com/microbial-source-tracking.htm
  See also Source Molecular Corporation -- http://www.sourcemolecular.com/
  Contents:
  • Supporting information
  • Services
  • References

• European Union consortium, methods comparison research web page
  Anicent Blanch
  "Tracking the origin of faecal pollution in surface water" -- http://www.ub.es/microbiologia/TOFPSW.htm
  Contents:
  • Summary
  • Objectives
  • Results
  • Dissemination
  • Consortium

• Institute for Environmental Health, commercial web page
  Mansour Samadpour
  "Microbial Source Tracking" -- http://www.iehinc.com/mstindex.htm
  See also: Aquavic in Victoria, British Columbia -- http://www.aquavic.com/Services/services.html#microbial
  
  • Soil and Water Conservation Society of Metro Halifax, information web page
    S.M. Mandaville
    "Bacterial source tracking, a review" -- http://lakes.chebucto.org/H-2/bst.html
    Contents:
    • Abstract/Summary
    • A "Toolbox" approach
    • Low cost but reliable methodology - the Bacteroides-Prevotella group
    • Ribotyping
    • Microbial Source Tracking Workshop, February 2002
    • Introduction
      • Erroneous assumptions of fecal sources
      • Microbiological Indicators
    • Well published investigators conducting research in BST
    • DNA-select interesting articles
  • Southern California Coastal Waters Research Program and U.S. EPA, methods comparison research web page
    Steve Weisberg and Alfred Dufour
    "Microbiological source tracking workshop" -- http://www.sccwrp.org/tools/workshops/source_tracking_workshop.html
    Contents:
    • Workgroup findings and recommendations
    • Agenda and abstracts from the workshop
  • University of Michigan, method web page
    Frans de Bruijn
    "The rep-PCR genomic fingerprinting homepage" -- http://www.msu.edu/~debruijn/loadr.html
    Contents:
    • Basic Articles
    • Rep-PCR relevant links
    • Submit your links
    • The Rep-PCR Patent
    • How does Rep-PCR work
  • University of Minnesota, research web page
    Mike Sadowsky
    "E. coli source tracking by rep-PCR DNA fingerprinting " -- http://www.ecolirep.umn.edu/
    Contents:
    • Background
    • Overview
    • Methods
    • Patent
    • Glossary
    • Staff
    • Links
    • References
    • e-mail
  • USDA, CSREES, Southern Regional Water Quality Program research web page
    contact unknown
    "Ribotyping and Bacterial Source Tracking (BST)"
    Contents:
    • Overview of the tools and links
  • USEPA, source-tracking review, fact sheet
    Harry Zhang
    "Wastewater technology fact sheet: Bacterial source tracking" -- http://www.epa.gov/owm/mtb/bacsortk.pdf
    Contents:
    • Introudction
    • Description
    • Applicability
    • Advantages and Disadvantages
    • Performance
    • Costs
    • References
  • USGS, resources and links
    Application of molecular microbial technologies to USGS science

• Washington State University, research web page
  Doug Call
  "Microarray Lab -- Microbial Source Tracking" -- http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/research_vmp/MicroArrayLab/Webpages/MST.asp
  Contents:
  • Introduction
  • Microarrays and MST

• Wayne State University, research and reference web page
  Jeff Ram
  "Microbial source tracking for Michigan environmental health managers" -- http://sun.science.wayne.edu/~jram/MGLPF-MSTProject.htm
  Contents:
  • Survey of Michigan Environmental Health Managers and water testing laboratories
  • Survey of Microbial Source Tracking (MST) Services
  • Summary, Methods, and Results of the Project
  • Information about Microbial Source Tracking

Other sources of information:

• Comparison of Seven Protocols to Identify Fecal Contamination Sources Using Escherichia coli, USGS-authored article in Environmental Science and Technology.
• Sharing of Ribotype Patterns of Escherichia Coli Isolates During Baseflow and Stormflow Conditions, U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5004.
• Reconnaissance of the hydrology, water quality, and sources of bacterial and nutrient contamination in the Ozark Plateaus Aquifer System and Cave Springs Branch of Honey Creek, Delaware County, Oklahoma, March 1999-March 2000, U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 00-4210.
• Evaluation of water quality for two St. Johns River tributaries receiving septic tank effluent, Duval County, Florida, U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4299.
• Patterns and sources of fecal coliform bacteria in three streams in Virginia, 1999-2000, U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4115.
• Use of the Hydrological Simulation Program-FORTRAN and Bacterial Source Tracking for Development of the fecal coliform Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Accotink Creek, Fairfax County, Virginia, U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4160.
• Use of the Hydrological Simulation Program- FORTRAN and Bacterial Source Tracking for Development of the fecal coliform Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Blacks Run, Rockingham County, Virginia, U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4161.
• Use of the Hydrological Simulation Program- FORTRAN and Bacterial Source Tracking for development of the fecal coliform Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Christians Creek, Augusta County, Virginia, U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4162.
• Possible Sources of Nitrate in Ground Water at Swine Licensed-Managed Feeding Operations in Oklahoma, 2001 (Abstract), U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 02-4257.
• Assessment of Possible Sources of Microbiological Contamination and Water-Quality Characteristics of the Jacks Fork, Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Missouri - Phase II (Prepared in cooperation with the National Park Service), U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 02-4209.
• Bacterial Indicator Occurrence and the Use of an F+ Specific RNA Coliphage Assay to Identify Fecal Sources of Homosassa Springs, Florida, USGS-authored article in Microbial Ecology, v. 39, no. 1, p. 56-64.