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Utah Bacteriological Monitoring Program
This Web site is intended to update information about the State of Utah's developing Bacteriological Monitoring Program. Currently, the program is concerned with monitoring and assessing Escherichia coli in the State's surface waters, and its potential risk to human health. The site is also intended to grow with the program and could include cyanobacteria and cryptosporidium monitoring information in the near future.
E. coli Monitoring Background
Why E. coli?
Following U.S. EPA's guidelines, the State of Utah will sample Escherichia coli (E. coli) concentrations from Utah's surface waters as part of the State's bacteriological monitoring program. It is not feasible to monitor for all pathogens in the water, so the State will analyze E. coli as an indicator organism. The presence of E. coli indicates possible fecal pollution from both human and animal waste, and can be used to assess potential health risks.
The use of E. coli as an indicator organism for fecal contamination has been adopted by the World Health Organization, U.S. EPA, and the European Union. E. coli are the only true fecal coliform bacteria in the sense that their presence can be exclusively attributed to a fecal origin. Sources of this surface water contamination can be raw sewage, grazing pastures, confined feedlots, wildlife, failing septic tanks, or dog parks. The bacteria may be washed into the surface waters during a rain event or snow melt. When these waters are used as source waters for drinking and not treated properly or used for primary contact recreation, they can pose a threat to human health.
Utah's E. coli Monitoring
The Division of Water Quality is currently moving towards a long-term monitoring and assessment strategy for recreational beneficial use support. The Division of Water Quality (UDWQ) will prioritize sites for E. coli monitoring accounting for identified impaired waters, periods of high human use, recreational uses, and areas of concentrated E. coli counts. This is an adaptive and tiered process as preliminary data are collected and evaluated. Currently, the State has implemented E. coli standards based on beneficial uses assigned to the State's surface waters.
Utah E. coli Standards
Classification
|
Protected Beneficial Use
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Not to Exceed Maximum
|
30-Day Geometric Mean
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1C |
Protected as a drinking water source. | 668 mpn |
206 mpn |
2A |
Protected for frequent primary contact recreation. | 409 mpn |
126 mpn |
2B |
Protected for infrequent primary contact recreation. | 668 mpn |
206 mpn |
(mpn—most probable number of E. coli per 100mL sample) |
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For more about UDWQ's E. coli Standards, sampling methods, Standard Operating Procedures, and additional information about E. coli monitoring, visit the Standards and Methods link.
Cooperative E. coli Monitoring
E. coli concentrations are known to be spatially and temporally variable. Intensive, statewide sampling would be ideal for monitoring and assessment but is unfeasible due to resource constraints. Therefore, UDWQ has entered into cooperative agreements with other agencies collecting E. coli data around the state to share data. The data from cooperators are an integral part of the implementation and refinement of the State's long-term E. coli monitoring strategy. Collection methods of these other monitors have been reviewed by UDWQ and the quality of data has been deemed acceptable to be used in conjunction with the State's collected data. Additionally, cooperators must undergo annual State training to reduce sampling bias and further assure data quality. A list of current cooperators is available under the Cooperators link. The Standard Operating Procedures used by cooperators have been made available under the Standards and Methods link.
Utah's E. coli Work Group
To increase cooperative efforts, assess preliminary E. coli data, and evaluate the State's strategy and efforts, an E. coli Work Group was formed in 2008 between UDWQ, Utah State Health Department, and Utah State Parks. This group meets regularly to discuss ongoing E. coli monitoring and assessment. The Work Group will expand membership to other Utah agencies and organizations involved in E. coli monitoring. Presentations, agendas, and further notes from E. coli Work Group meetings are available under the Meetings link.
Contact information
For more information on Utah's E. Coli Monitoring, please contact Sandy Wingert, DWQ.
