Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2013ND276B

Investigation of Cryptosporidium oocysts in Influent and Effluent of the Fargo Water Treatment Plant

Institute: North Dakota
Year Established: 2013 Start Date: 2013-03-01 End Date: 2014-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $3,007 Total Non-Federal Funds: $5,226

Principal Investigators: Khan Eakalak, John McEvoy

Project Summary: The main goal of this project is to investigate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium oocysts in a drinking water system. The specific objectives of the proposed studies are: 1. To quantify the amount of Cryptosporidium oocysts in the influent and effluent of the Fargo Water Treatment Plant. 2. To perform molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium oocysts in the influent and effluent of the Fargo Water Treatment Plant. Previous studies by this group generated useful results for understanding the transport of cryptosporidium under different groundwater regimes and different precipitation conditions. This new proposed research will demonstrate for the first time the prevalence of number and type of Cryptosporidium. It will greatly benefit North Dakota in identifying a possible source of cryptosporidiosis outbreaks in North Dakota and will benefit public health.