Brown, R. Stephen

Prof. R. Stephen Brown has been at Queens University since 1996, jointly appointed in the Department of Chemistry and the School of Environmental...

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About Brown, R. Stephen

Prof. R. Stephen Brown has been at Queens University since 1996, jointly appointed in the Department of Chemistry and the School of Environmental Studies. His research interests are related to water quality, ranging from chemical and microbiological contaminants to water policy, governance and sustainability. Collaborations with academic, industrial and government and community partners have addressed questions related to safety of drinking water systems as well as fate and toxicity of oil contamination in aquatic environments. His group invented new technology for monitoring E. coli, fecal coliform and other bacteria in water, and he co-founded the Kingston, Ontario-based company TECTA-PDS to commercialize the technology.

Brown, R. Stephen

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Description: Monitoring Wastewater Effluent Using a Rapid, Automated Detection System for E. coli...

Monitoring Wastewater Effluent Using a Rapid, Automated Detection System for E. coli and Fecal Coliform Bacteria

Abstract

The main microbial indicators used in wastewater monitoring are [i]Escherichia coli[/i] (EC) and Fecal Coliforms (FC) (Bitton, 1994). Levels of these fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) are used both to track performance in the wastewater treatment system (Naidoo & Olaniran, 2014) as well as to control human health risk associated with the wastewater treatment plant effluent (WHO 1989). While the limitations in these FIB to capture the risk of all fecal pathogens are recently being appreciated (Sauve et al., 2012; Montazeri et al., 2015), future monitoring requirements are likely to include these FIB along with additional indicators (Harwood et al., 2007). The TECTATM B16 system (TECTA-PDS, 2019) has been shown to provide results equivalent to other methods for recreational water, while being simpler and less costly to use (Bramburger et al., 2015; Schang et al., 2016; Roca et al., 2018). The faster sampling-to-result time could provide EC and FC detection that can be used to monitor and adapt wastewater treatment to optimize efficacy. In this work we report on characterizing the system for selective and specific quantitation of EC and FC in wastewater. A protocol was adapted from the US-EPA Alternate Test Protocol (US-EPA-ATP, 2019) document, including confirmation tests to determine specificity and sensitivity rates.

The TECTA™ system was characterized for rapid, automated detection of Fecal Coliform (FC) and E. coli (EC) bacteria. Replicate 10 mL diluted sewage samples were also tested with reference methods (APHA Standard Method 9222D, mFC, for FC; US-EPA Method 1603, mTEC for EC). The TECTA method results were confirmed by further characterization. Quantitative results from the TECTA system were statistically in agreement with the reference methods, and confirmation showed specificity and sensitivity were both greater than 90%. The TECTA method had a wider dynamic range and provided results in 12 hours or less for positive samples.

SpeakerBrown, R. Stephen

Presentation time

13:30:00

13:45:00

Session time

13:30:00

15:00:00

SessionPathogen Pep-Talk: How We Monitor, Model, and Convey Data

Session number510

TopicDisinfection and Public Health, Public Communication and Outreach, Watershed Management, Water Quality, and Groundwater

Author(s)

R. Stephen Brown

Author(s)R. Brown1; E. Marcotte2; L. ODonnell1; D. Wilton2; C. Fricker3;

Author affiliation(s)School of Environ.Studies and Dept. of Chemistry, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, CA1TECTA-PDS, Inc., Kingston, ON, Canada2CRF Consulting Ltd, Reading, UK3

SourceProceedings of the Water Environment Federation

Document typeConference Paper

PublisherWater Environment Federation

Print publication date Oct 2021

DOI10.2175/193864718825158152

Volume / Issue

Content sourceWEFTEC

Word count17

Base text size -

Brown, R. Stephen

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