Transcript Jessica M. Lucas - Bonner Network Wiki.

Bonner Gala
Spring 2009
SML Water Quality Mission
 The mission of the Smith Mountain Lake
Water Quality Program is to ensure that all
potable drinking water is safe and secure
within the lake. There are various
recreational sites, camps, and homes
located on this lake and everyone’s security
is of the utmost importance.
Summer of Service Overview
 I worked as a Water Quality Technician
for the Smith Mountain Lake Water
Quality Association and Ferrum College.
 At the beginning of the summer, I
utilized my Bonner training to help train
and inform 50 volunteers how to properly
use equipment.
Regional Connection
 Smith Mountain Lake reaches three different counties,
Bedford, Franklin, and Pittsylvania, within
Southwestern Virginia.
 The water we tested affects all different communities,
including a 4-H camp in Franklin County.
 Volunteers from all over these counties contribute
countless hours each summer to this program.
Community Connection
 The most amazing aspect of this project is that
everyone, with the exception of the technicians, are all
volunteers in the community.
 A need to see water improvement has actually brought
about change over the past 23 years.
 The program reports directly to the Virginia
Department of Health .
S.O.S Overview
 Bi-weekly water sample pick-ups from
the monitors houses. This is where
interaction would occur and the water’s
condition would be discussed.
 There were Bi-weekly sample testing's
for E. coli and Fecal Coli forms.
Tributary Testing
In June and August there
were tributary water sample
pick-ups and these samples
were tested for antibiotic
resistance.
Jessica Lucas
Summer 2008
Natural Sciences and Mathematics Presentation
Escherichia coli
 Escherichia coli or E. coli is a type of fecal coliform
bacteria that is primarily found in the intestines of
both humans and animals. Therefore, E. coli are found
in the waste of humans and animals.
 E. coli can make its way into water sources by rainfall,
snow melting, or any other type of precipitation.
 If the water source is left untreated humans may
consume E. coli.
 Smith Mountain lake is a recreational use water body
and is used in some cases as a potable water supply.
Escherichia coli
 We were collecting and evaluating water samples from
Smith Mountain Lake this summer (2008)
 Many E. coli strains are harmless and live in the
intestines normally. The E. coli O157:H7 strain is one
that can cause severe illness to humans.
 Symptoms of infection due to E. coli O157:H7 are
 Abdominal cramps
 Non- bloody diarrhea
 Hemolytic uremic syndrome*
*Only in rare cases
Determination of E. coli
 Purpose- To determine if E. coli and total coliforms
are present in the water samples obtained.
 The method used is Colilert™.
Total Coliforms
 Total coliforms are simply bacteria associated with animal
or human waste.
 The wells turn a light to bright yellow when total coliforms
are present.
E. coli
 The wells fluoresce under UV light when E.coli is present.
E.coli
 For drinking water Virginia does not allow any E.coli to
be present after treatment.
 The Commonwealth of Virginia standard for
recreational/potable water is 126 MPN E. coli per 100
mL of water.
 Due to warm-blooded animals such as ducks and
beavers, it is very unlikely that SML will have zero E.
coli without being treated first.
E. coli
 Currently the bacteria counts have provided optimistic
??results.
 There have been no samples that surpassed the state’s
legal limit.
 However, Smith Mountain Lake Yacht Club and
Ponderosa Campground should continue to be
monitored closely due to higher levels of E. coli found
this summer (2008).
ARA
 Antibiotic Resistant Assay
 Purpose- To determine if any fecal matter is present in
the water samples, and if so what the source of the
matter is.
 Also, it determines which bacteria have resistance to
the antibiotics we tested.
Antibiotics Used
 Amoxicillin – AMX
 Cephalothin- CEP
 Chlortetracycline – CTC
 Erythromycin – ERY
 Oxytetracycline – OTC
 Neomycin – NEO
 Streptomycin – STR
 Tetracycline – TET
 Vancomycin - VAN
ARA
 The June 2008 ARA data has been compiled and
assessed.
 The results show that the main sources of fecal matter
are livestock and wildlife. There were very few traces of
human and domestic fecal matter present.
Bedford County Tribs June 2008
Domestic
Human
Livestck
Wildlife
35
74.47
0
0.00
0
0.00
12
25.53
47
Human
2
0.47
358
84.24
48
11.29
17
4.00
425
Livestck
1
0.15
43
6.24
612
88.82
33
4.79
689
T11
0
0.00
3
9.38
12
37.50
17
53.13
32
T12
23
56.10
1
2.44
10
24.39
7
17.07
41
T13
25
52.08
1
2.08
4
8.33
18
37.50
48
T14
10
22.73
0
0.00
17
38.64
17
38.64
44
T15
30
63.83
0
0.00
5
10.64
12
25.53
47
T16
12
26.67
3
6.67
11
24.44
19
42.22
45
T17
0
0.00
7
14.58
37
77.08
4
8.33
48
Wildlife
27
5.82
22
4.74
75
16.16
340
73.28
464
165
438
831
496
1930
Count
Row %
Domestic
Bedford County Tribs
Current Percentages for Bedford County
Tribs:
Domestic : 8.5 %
Human : 22.7 %
Wildlife : 25.7 %
Livestock: 43.1 %
Questions