Abstract
Four rural municipalities were evaluated for their bacterial contributions to the nonpoint source pollution (NPSP) in the Little Bear agricultural watershed. Total and fecal coliform were investigated to determine the bacterial contributions of these municipalities. Grab samples collected from perennial streams upstream and downstream of these municipalities were collected for about 15 months in 1993-1994. Total and fecal coliform were statistically significantly higher downstream compared to upstream for each municipality. The number of total coliform bacteria in either the upstream or downstream samples did not exceed the State criterion of 5000/100 mL. However, the State numerical criteria for fecal coliform, 200/mL, was exceeded in downstream samples at least five times over the 15-month period for all four municipalities. Bacterial nonpoint source pollution from rural municipalities should be incorporated in the predictive computer models used to determine total NPSP from agricultural watersheds.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 97-101 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers |
| Volume | 40 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| State | Published - 1997 |
Keywords
- Bacterial contributions
- Fecal coliform
- Nonpoint source pollution
- Rural municipalities
- Total coliform
- Water quality
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous)