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Urbanization Impacts the Physicochemical Characteristics and Abundance of Fecal Markers and Bacterial Pathogens in Surface Water

Author

Listed:
  • Tianma Yuan

    (Department of Biological Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China)

  • Kiran Kumar Vadde

    (Department of Biological Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China)

  • Jonathan D. Tonkin

    (School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand)

  • Jianjun Wang

    (Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China)

  • Jing Lu

    (Futurepolis LLC, Suzhou 215021, China)

  • Zimeng Zhang

    (Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK)

  • Yixin Zhang

    (Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China)

  • Alan J. McCarthy

    (Microbiology Research Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK)

  • Raju Sekar

    (Department of Biological Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China)

Abstract

Urbanization is increasing worldwide and is happening at a rapid rate in China in line with economic development. Urbanization can lead to major changes in freshwater environments through multiple chemical and microbial contaminants. We assessed the impact of urbanization on physicochemical characteristics and microbial loading in canals in Suzhou, a city that has experienced rapid urbanization in recent decades. Nine sampling locations covering three urban intensity classes (high, medium and low) in Suzhou were selected for field studies and three locations in Huangshan (natural reserve) were included as pristine control locations. Water samples were collected for physicochemical, microbiological and molecular analyses. Compared to medium and low urbanization sites, there were statistically significant higher levels of nutrients and total and thermotolerant coliforms (or fecal coliforms) in highly urbanized locations. The effect of urbanization was also apparent in the abundances of human-associated fecal markers and bacterial pathogens in water samples from highly urbanized locations. These results correlated well with land use types and anthropogenic activities at the sampling sites. The overall results indicate that urbanization negatively impacts water quality, providing high levels of nutrients and a microbial load that includes fecal markers and pathogens.

Suggested Citation

  • Tianma Yuan & Kiran Kumar Vadde & Jonathan D. Tonkin & Jianjun Wang & Jing Lu & Zimeng Zhang & Yixin Zhang & Alan J. McCarthy & Raju Sekar, 2019. "Urbanization Impacts the Physicochemical Characteristics and Abundance of Fecal Markers and Bacterial Pathogens in Surface Water," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-19, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:10:p:1739-:d:231856
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lan Zhang & Shenghua Gao & Binggan Wei & Yonghua Li & Hairong Li & Li Wang & Bixiong Ye, 2017. "Effects of Urbanization on Rural Drinking Water Quality in Beijing, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-12, March.
    2. Yiping Cao & Meredith R. Raith & Paul D. Smith & John F. Griffith & Stephen B. Weisberg & Alexander Schriewer & Andrew Sheldon & Chris Crompton & Geremew G. Amenu & Jason Gregory & Joe Guzman & Kelly , 2017. "Regional Assessment of Human Fecal Contamination in Southern California Coastal Drainages," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-15, August.
    3. Xiang Chen & Weiqi Zhou & Steward T. A. Pickett & Weifeng Li & Lijian Han, 2016. "Spatial-Temporal Variations of Water Quality and Its Relationship to Land Use and Land Cover in Beijing, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-17, April.
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