In-situ fluorescence spectroscopy indicates total bacterial abundance and dissolved organic carbon

Sorensen, James P.R.; Diaw, Mor Talla; Pouye, Abdoulaye; Roffo, Raphaëlle; Diongue, Djim M.L.; Faye, Seynabou C.; Gaye, Cheikh B.; Fox, Bethany G.; Goodall, Timothy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1526-4071; Lapworth, Daniel J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7838-7960; MacDonald, Alan M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6636-1499; Read, Daniel S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8546-5154; Ciric, Lena; Taylor, Richard G.. 2020 In-situ fluorescence spectroscopy indicates total bacterial abundance and dissolved organic carbon. Science of the Total Environment, 738, 139419. 10, pp. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139419

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139419

Abstract/Summary

We explore in-situ fluorescence spectroscopy as an instantaneous indicator of total bacterial abundance and faecal contamination in drinking water. Eighty-four samples were collected outside of the recharge season from groundwater-derived water sources in Dakar, Senegal. Samples were analysed for tryptophan-like (TLF) and humic-like (HLF) fluorescence in-situ, total bacterial cells by flow cytometry, and potential indicators of faecal contamination such as thermotolerant coliforms (TTCs), nitrate, and in a subset of 22 samples, dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Significant single-predictor linear regression models demonstrated that total bacterial cells were the most effective predictor of TLF, followed by on-site sanitation density; TTCs were not a significant predictor. An optimum multiple-predictor model of TLF incorporated total bacterial cells, nitrate, nitrite, on-site sanitation density, and sulphate (r2 0.68). HLF was similarly related to the same parameters as TLF, with total bacterial cells being the best correlated (ρs 0.64). In the subset of 22 sources, DOC clustered with TLF, HLF, and total bacterial cells, and a linear regression model demonstrated HLF was the best predictor of DOC (r2 0.84). The intergranular nature of the aquifer, timing of the study, and/or non-uniqueness of the signal to TTCs can explain the significant associations between TLF/HLF and indicators of faecal contamination such as on-site sanitation density and nutrients but not TTCs. The bacterial population that relates to TLF/HLF is likely to be a subsurface community that develops in-situ based on the availability of organic matter originating from faecal sources. In-situ fluorescence spectroscopy instantly indicates a drinking water source is impacted by faecal contamination but it remains unclear how that relates specifically to microbial risk in this setting.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139419
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Soils and Land Use (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	0048-9697
Additional Keywords:	fluorescence spectroscopy, faecal contamination, drinking water, flow cytometry, groundwater, total bacterial cells, GroundwaterBGS, International development, Groundwater quality
NORA Subject Terms:	Health Hydrology
Date made live:	25 Jun 2020 12:54 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/528018

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139419

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Soils and Land Use (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

0048-9697

Additional Keywords:

fluorescence spectroscopy, faecal contamination, drinking water, flow cytometry, groundwater, total bacterial cells, GroundwaterBGS, International development, Groundwater quality

NORA Subject Terms:

Health
Hydrology

Date made live:

25 Jun 2020 12:54 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/528018