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Development and validation of the microbial source tracking method based on E.coli as a standard indicator of water qualityMaxim Sheludchenko PhD 2007 - 2010 
Faculty Institute for Sustainable Resources/Faculty of Science and Technology Supervisor/s Aspro Megan Hargreaves, Prof Sobana Goonetilleke Thesis Abstract With the constant influx of new settlements into south-east Queensland, pressures increase as growing water consumption contributes to depletion of water sources; and building of new onsite wastewater treatment systems worsens the risk of contamination of aquifers and surface water.
One of the most critical sites in the region is the Coomera catchment which is also expected to develop rapidly over the next few decades. Urban planners have identified the management of the health risks from the potential inflow of sewage into surface waters thence aquifers as a high priority. A successful microbial source tracking strategy will inform government bodies about land-use management and health risk assessment. However, until now there has not been a universally reliable method for indicator bacteria established for Australia. Therefore, the main aims of this work will be to develop (i) a qualitative method for typing source of faecal contamination and (ii) a quantitative method for evaluation of input of the source of water contamination in the Coomera catchment area. The future methods will permit recommendations for solutions to problems in the settlements for the council and government. |
