In this study, faecal sterols were used to identify human faecal pollution in a non-sewered catchment in Southeast Queensland, Australia. In all, 36 water samples were collected from six sites on six occasions and the concentration of sterols were determined using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The stanols concentration in water samples generally increased with increased catchment runoff. After moderate rainfall, high coprostanols levels found in water samples indicated human faecal pollution via defective septic systems. In contrast, it appears that during dry weather human faecal pollution is not occurring in the study catchment. Sterol profiles also pointed to a cattle farm polluting during modest catchment runoff. The method used in this study was able to identify the sources of faecal pollution to the catchment due to rainfall.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research Article|
March 01 2010
Faecal sterols analysis for the identification of human faecal pollution in a non-sewered catchment
D. Sullivan;
D. Sullivan
1Faculty of Science, Health and Education, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC 4558, Queensland, Australia
Search for other works by this author on:
P. Brooks;
1Faculty of Science, Health and Education, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC 4558, Queensland, Australia
E-mail: PBrooks@usc.edu.au
Search for other works by this author on:
N. Tindale;
N. Tindale
1Faculty of Science, Health and Education, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC 4558, Queensland, Australia
Search for other works by this author on:
S. Chapman;
S. Chapman
2SEQ catchments and Faculty of Science, Health and Education, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC 4558, Queensland, Australia
Search for other works by this author on:
W. Ahmed
W. Ahmed
1Faculty of Science, Health and Education, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC 4558, Queensland, Australia
3Department of Environment and Resource Management, Queensland, 4068, Australia
Search for other works by this author on:
Water Sci Technol (2010) 61 (5): 1355–1361.
Citation
D. Sullivan, P. Brooks, N. Tindale, S. Chapman, W. Ahmed; Faecal sterols analysis for the identification of human faecal pollution in a non-sewered catchment. Water Sci Technol 1 March 2010; 61 (5): 1355–1361. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2010.227
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
eBook
Pay-Per-View Access
$38.00