Microbial Source Tracking

Water Quality Detective Work

Identifying and fixing sources of pollution can be a difficult task. Sorting through a mix of private and public aging infrastructure buried under the ground to improve community health is costly in both time and resources. The IWH has partnered with Chatham County and the City of Savannah to analyze “hot spots” of bacterial pollution to prioritize efficient mitigation.

By utilizing the same technology found in COVID tests, the IWH can determine not only the level of bacteria in targeted waters, but also determine if the bacteria came from wildlife, pets, or leaking sewers and septic systems. This helps rule out any dog parks or bird nest sites as contributors. By tracing the source upstream, the IWH can then pinpoint the exact issue for a cost-effective solution where the contamination is of human origin. Such partnerships between the IWH and municipalities result in saving time and resources for better watershed management and achieving healthier waters.

Last updated: 2/8/2024