Dependency of Bacterial Growth on Pollutants in Brevard County Waterways

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Dependency of Bacterial Growth on Pollutants in
Brevard County Waterways

• By Ben Zink, Margaret Roth,
• and Jay Leskowyak

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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.

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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

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Procedures

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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)

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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.

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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

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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

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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 estuarys
  health are going to survive

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Additional Research

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