Modeling the transport and fate of waterborne pathogens for enhanced water quality and public health protection

Paper Details

Research Paper 12/12/2023
Views (522)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

Modeling the transport and fate of waterborne pathogens for enhanced water quality and public health protection

AO. Ukpene, OC. Molua, CN. Isibor, TN. Apaokueze, JO. Vwavware, JU. Emagbetere, CP. Ukpene
J. Biodiv. & Environ. Sci. 23(6), 68-73, December 2023.
Copyright Statement: Copyright 2023; The Author(s).
License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Abstract

This research delves into the intricate dynamics of waterborne pathogens and their influence on water quality and public health protection. The study’s primary objective is to unveil the mechanisms governing the transport and fate of these pathogens in various water bodies, utilizing a robust methodology that combines data collection, statistical analysis, mathematical modelling, and geographic information systems. The data encompass pathogen concentrations, water quality parameters, and other relevant variables collected across diverse locations, depths, and downstream areas. A rigorous preprocessing and validation process ensures the quality and integrity of the data, while normalization provides consistency for meaningful analysis. The results of our study offer illuminating insights into the interactions between water quality parameters and pathogen concentrations. Statistical analyses reveal significant associations, which have implications for understanding pathogen behaviour’s temporal and spatial trends. Mathematical models, validated against the data, provide a comprehensive framework for simulating the transport and fate of waterborne pathogens. Spatial analysis using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) helps pinpoint areas of concern and potential contamination sources, further enhancing the study’s utility. The findings yield practical recommendations for improving water quality and public health protection, encompassing strategies for mitigating pathogen contamination and enhancing water quality management. This research advances our knowledge of waterborne pathogen dynamics and serves as a practical resource for water quality professionals, public health agencies, and environmental scientists. By elucidating the intricate interplay between pathogens, ecological parameters, and public health, this study contributes to enhancing water quality and safeguarding public health, reinforcing the importance of rigorous scientific research in these critical domains.

Buse H, Ji P, Gomez-Alvarez V, Pruden A, Edwards M, Ashbolt N. 2017. Effect of temperature and colonization of Legionella pneumophila and Vermamoeba vermiformis on bacterial community composition of copper drinking water biofilms. Microbial Biotechnology 10, 773 – 788. https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.12457.

Bergion V, Lindhé A, Sokolova E, Rosén L. 2018. Risk-based cost-benefit analysis for evaluating microbial risk mitigation in a drinking water system. Water Research, 132,111-123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2017.12.054.

Dalu T, Barson M, Nhiwatiwa T. 2011. Impact of intestinal microorganisms and protozoan parasites on drinking water quality in Harare, Zimbabwe. Journal of Water Sanitation and Hygiene for Development 1, 153-163. https://doi.org/10.2166/WASHDEV.2011.049.

Du Y, Song K, Liu G, Wen Z, Fang C, Shang Y, Zhao F, Wang Q, Du J, Zhang B. 2020. Quantifying total suspended matter (TSM) in waters using Landsat images during 1984-2018 across the Songnen Plain, Northeast China. Journal of Environmental Management 262,110334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110334.

Folgado-Fernández J, Di-Clemente E, Hernández-Mogollón J, Campón-Cerro A. 2018. Water Tourism: A New Strategy for the Sustainable Management of Water-Based Ecosystems and Landscapes in Extremadura (Spain). Land. https://doi.org/10.3390/LAND8010002.

Gautam R, Bani-Yaghoub M, Neill W, Döpfer D, Kaspar C, Ivanek R. 2011. Modeling the effect of seasonal variation in ambient temperature on the transmission dynamics of a pathogen with a free-living stage: example of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in a dairy herd. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 102, 10-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2011.06.008.

Hofstra N, Vermeulen L, Derx J, Flörke M, Mateo-Sagasta J, Rose J, Medema G. 2019. Priorities for developing a modelling and scenario analysis framework for waterborne pathogen concentrations in rivers worldwide and consequent burden of disease. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.COSUST.2018.10.002.

Kumar M, Ji B, Zengler K, Nielsen J. 2019. Modelling approaches for studying the microbiome. Nature Microbiology 4, 1253 – 1267. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-019-0491-9.

Pérez L, Dragićević S. 2009. An agent-based approach for modeling dynamics of contagious disease spread. International Journal of Health Geographics 8, 50 – 50.

Tang Y, Liang Z, Li G, Zhao H, An T. 2021. Metagenomic profiles and health risks of pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes in various industrial wastewaters and the associated receiving surface water. Chemosphere 283, 131224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.

Weller D, Brassill N, Rock C, Ivanek R, Mudrak E, Roof S, Ganda E, Wiedmann M. 2020. Complex Interactions Between Weather, and Microbial and Physicochemical Water Quality Impact the Likelihood of Detecting Foodborne Pathogens in Agricultural Water. Frontiers in Microbiology 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.00134.

Related Articles

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of Pleurotus citrinopileatus Singer and Pleurotus sajor-caju (Fr.) Singer

P. Maheswari, P. Madhanraj, V. Ambikapathy, P. Prakash, A. Panneerselvam, J. Biodiv. & Environ. Sci. 27(2), 90-96, August 2025.

Mangrove abundance, diversity, and productivity in effluent-rich estuarine portion of Butuanon River, Mandaue City, Cebu

John Michael B. Genterolizo, Miguelito A. Ruelan, Laarlyn N. Abalos, Kathleen Kay M. Buendia, J. Biodiv. & Environ. Sci. 27(2), 77-89, August 2025.

Cytogenetic and pathological investigations in maize × teosinte hybrids: Chromosome behaviour, spore identification, and inheritance of maydis leaf blight resistance

Krishan Pal, Ravi Kishan Soni, Devraj, Rohit Kumar Tiwari, Ram Avtar, J. Biodiv. & Environ. Sci. 27(2), 70-76, August 2025.

Conservation and trade dynamics of non-timber forest products in local markets in south western Cameroon

Kato Samuel Namuene, Mojoko Fiona Mbella, Godswill Ntsomboh-Ntsefong, Eunice Waki, Hudjicarel Kiekeh, J. Biodiv. & Environ. Sci. 27(2), 58-69, August 2025.

Overemphasis on blue carbon leads to biodiversity loss: A case study on subsidence coastal wetlands in southwest Taiwan

Yih-Tsong Ueng, Feng-Jiau Lin, Ya-Wen Hsiao, Perng-Sheng Chen, Hsiao-Yun Chang, J. Biodiv. & Environ. Sci. 27(2), 46-57, August 2025.

An assessment of the current scenario of biodiversity in Ghana in the context of climate change

Patrick Aaniamenga Bowan, Francis Tuuli Gamuo Junior, J. Biodiv. & Environ. Sci. 27(2), 35-45, August 2025.

Entomofaunal diversity in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] cultivation systems within the cotton-growing zone of central Benin

Lionel Zadji, Roland Bocco, Mohamed Yaya, Abdou-Abou-Bakari Lassissi, Raphael Okounou Toko, J. Biodiv. & Environ. Sci. 27(2), 21-34, August 2025.

Biogenic fabrication of biochar-functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles using Miscanthus sinensis for oxytetracycline removal and toxicological assessment

Meenakshi Sundaram Sharmila, Gurusamy, Annadurai, J. Biodiv. & Environ. Sci. 27(2), 10-20, August 2025.