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Dependency of Bacterial Growth on Pollutants in Brevard County Waterways

Dependency of Bacterial Growth on Pollutants in Brevard County Waterways. By Ben Zink, Margaret Roth, and Jay Leskowyak. Purpose.

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Dependency of Bacterial Growth on Pollutants in Brevard County Waterways

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  1. Dependency of Bacterial Growth on Pollutants in Brevard County Waterways By Ben Zink, Margaret Roth, and Jay Leskowyak

  2. Purpose • The purpose of this project is to determine if bacterial growth is present in the Brevard County Atlantic Ocean beaches and in the Indian River Lagoon. Additionally the purpose of this project is to determine if the bacterial growth is a direct result from pollutants deposited into these waterways.

  3. Hypothesis • Bacterial growth is present in the Brevard County Waterways and that the bacterial growth is dependent on the pollutants deposited into these waterways • Bacteria cultures of Escherichia Coli and Enterococcus that are subjected to the highest concentrations of pollutants will result in the greatest increases in bacterial growth

  4. Procedures • Sampling • Presence/Absence of E. coli and Enterococcus • Pollutant Analysis • Pollutants and Bacteria • Coulter Counter Analysis

  5. Procedures • Collected from 20 sample sites from Jetty Park to Sebastian Inlet in the ocean and river • Used UV-light test for presence/absence • Determined concentrations of nitrates, phosphates, and ammonia in water • Cultured bacteria in media with low, medium, and high concentrations of pollutants • Used a Coulter Counter to measure amount of bacteria in pollutant cultures

  6. Results • E. coli and Enterococcus bacteria are present in all waterway sites tested • There are many sources of nitrate, phosphate, and ammonia pollutants throughout the county and there is distinct variation in the concentrations of pollutants in the waterways • No distinct correlation between the amount of bacteria and the concentration of pollutants was determined

  7. Pollutant Analysis Conclusion • Point-sources of pollution include: • Cement plant by the Eau Gallie River • Boat fiber-glassing locations at the port • Use of septic systems and their replacement on the beachside dunes • Golf course runoff • Live aboard boats and cruise ship dumping • Dredging and depuration plants • Orange grove and cattle pasture runoff

  8. Bacteria Growth Conclusion • No overall correlation between the amount of bacteria growth and the concentrations of pollutants • Ammonia cultures: growth increased with increased concentration of pollutants • Nitrate and Phosphate cultures: growth was higher under extreme concentrations • Further testing is needed • Results confirm that different concentrations of pollutants do effect the bacterial growth • Therefore, bacterial growth is dependent on the pollutants in the waterways

  9. Overall Conclusion • As the amount of pollution in the environment continues to increase the amount of harmful bacteria in the waterways will also continue to increase • As the bacteria increases many detrimental problems could result: • Health problems if the bacteria got into the systems of human beings or other animals in the food chain • (continued on next slide)

  10. Overall Conclusion • Excessive bacteria could cause eutrophication and possibly: • Harm or kill off waterway life such as fish, birds, and plant life • Result in water that is not habitable to life because of the lack of oxygen • Closing of beaches and waterways which would result in economic problems due to the tourist industry, as well as surfers, and beachgoers in general • The results of this experiment illustrate how important it is that the people of Brevard County work together to clean up the area especially those surrounding the waterways and beaches.

  11. Future Studies • Count the bacteria levels in the initial samples • Find way to combat or diminish the bacteria levels • Find an inexpensive and affordable set of testing means that could be used by developing third-world countries and other areas • Continue testing to determine if there is a correlation between bacteria growth and concentration of pollutants • Determine if combinations of pollutants would cause greater bacteria growth • Determine if there is a suitable range of pollutants that will result in bacteria levels not harmful to the environment

  12. Applications • Testing done by local environmental organizations in the fight to obtain better water quality • Community awareness programs • Government intervention • International water quality testing and therefore better water quality and health for people worldwide

  13. Local Applications • The testing done encompassed the entire county and all of the Intercoastal Waterways • Affects every individual in Brevard County because it is about the place that they live in and the hidden issues that are evolving in the waterways they pass everyday • Pollution in the Indian River Lagoon must be reduced it the lives of the thousands of species of flora and fauna dependent of the estuary’s health are going to survive

  14. Additional Research • Additional research and experimentation is being conducted and will be completed and presented by April 19, 2006

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