Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2017KY268B

Using anthropogenic compounds in sewage to create new fecal source and fecal age indicators for use in protecting and improving water quality in Kentucky watersheds

Institute: Kentucky
Year Established: 2017 Start Date: 2017-03-01 End Date: 2018-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $5,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $11,188

Principal Investigators: Gail Brion

Abstract: The objective of the proposed research is to validate newly developed, chemically-based, fecal source and age indicators in local watersheds, and compare their performance to previously established qPCR analyses considered to be the current gold-standards for microbial source tracking. The nature of the proposed research will include both field surveys and laboratory activities. The scope of the research spreads across space and time as we plan to survey several sites in local watersheds and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) during dry and wet seasons, which occur in spring and late summer respectively. Influent and effluent sites at West Hickman WWTP and Town Branch WWTP will be sampled to document the concentrations of acetaminophen and Sucralose for comparison with what may be found in adjacent watersheds that receive sewage leaks and overflows. Samples at the treatment facilities will be analyzed and the results used to compare if the acetaminophen to Sucralose (A/S) ratio in raw sewage is constant over time, and across different facilities.