T56 Urban Geochemistry (Posters)

Sunday, 9 October 2022
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Exhibit Hall F

CHARACTERIZING HUMAN HEALTH RISKS FROM FECAL COLIFORM EXPOSURE IN URBAN WATERWAYS IN INDIANAPOLIS DUE TO STORMWATER RUNOFF

Paper number: T56-3
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Authors

  • Isheka Orr Presenting Author
    Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN
  • Gabriel M. Filippelli
    Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), Indianapolis, IN
  • Rui Li
    Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), Indianapolis, IN
  • John T. Shukle
    Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), Indianapolis, IN
  • Katerina Mazari
    Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), Indianapolis, IN

Abstract

Combined Sewage Overflow (CSO) Systems collect domestic sewage, industrial waste, and rainwater into a combined system. Indianapolis, like many cities in the US, has an outdated and undersized CSO system that can result in raw sewage release into waterways after as little as ¼” of rainfall. A major stormwater infrastructure upgrade is currently underway to mitigate this issue, but in the meantime, local waterways suffer the burden of frequent pathogenic bacterial input from sewage. We hypothesize that a significant proportion of the fecal coliform present in urban waterways in Indianapolis is human-related E. Coli along with associated fecal pathogens that persist in waterways well after CSO outflow events. We will use 16s rRNA sequencing technology to characterize and quantify the microbial community present at the taxa and species levels. The information collected may help to identify the different animal sources and potential toxicity of these pathogen and human health risks associated with this urban waterway affected by CSO input. Current data shows that there is an increase in the fecal coliform levels present in the Pleasant Run Waterway after CSO overflow events. This data can be used to inform waterway recovery trajectories in the future, an outcome that will benefit the hundreds of other cities around the US undergoing similar conversions.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 54, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2022AM-379217

© Copyright 2022 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.