Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2015
Abstract
Temporal and spatial trends for key water quality measures were evaluated in 12 rural drinking water systems within a threecounty study area in Alabama. The water systems varied in size from very small (25–500 people served) to large (10,001–100,000 people served). Large-volume water samples were collected from 10 diverse locations within each system on three sampling dates. Sampling locations were assigned to one of five location categories: well, post-treatment, post-storage, in-line, and endline. Water quality parameters (i.e., free and total chlorine, pH, turbidity, pressure, heterotrophic plate count) and microbial indicators (i.e., total coliforms, Escherichia coli, Enterococci, male-specific coliphages) were analyzed for spatial and temporal trends. Analysis of the samples from these rural water systems over nine months did not show a statistically significant association between distribution system sampling locations and water quality measures or microbial indicators. Temporal trends were consistent across sampling locations and were stronger than trends in spatial variability. However, substantial temporal heterogeneity of water quality measures was noted, potentially the result of seasonality, temperature fluctuations, and distribution system operation and maintenance practices. The study results indicate that system-level sampling efforts intended to inform microbial risk assessments must account for variability in indicators of risk over time.
Recommended Citation
Wedgworth, J.C., Brown, J., Olson, J.B., Johnson, P., Elliott, M., Grammer, P., Stauber, C.E. 2015. Temporal Heterogeneity of Water Quality from Rural Water Supplies in Alabama. Journal - American Water Works Association 08/2015; 107. DOI: 10.5942/jawwa.2015.107.0098
Comments
Published in:
Wedgworth, J.C., Brown, J., Olson, J.B., Johnson, P., Elliott, M., Grammer, P., Stauber, C.E. 2015. Temporal Heterogeneity of Water Quality from Rural Water Supplies in Alabama. Journal - American Water Works Association 08/2015; 107. DOI: 10.5942/jawwa.2015.107.0098
Reprinted from Journal AWWA, Vol 107, by permission. Copyright © 2015, American Water Works Association.