Author(s): S. Scutt; J. Shucksmith; H. S. Jensen; J. Diaz-Nieto; I. Douterelo Soler
Linked Author(s): James Shucksmith
Keywords:
Abstract: In the UK most drainage infrastructure UK was not designed for a changing climate, and thus with the increase of heavy rainfall events year on year, many sewer systems in densely populated urban areas, are unable to cope– causing flooding. Sewage overflow and surface run off in urban areas can act as vectors for the dissemination of pathogens, known to cause disease among human populations. Most of the previous studies in this field have focused on using faecal indicators such as E. coli when assessing the microbial risk of floodwater (Yard et al., 2014). However, traditional indicators do not accurately reflect the true risk that urban flooding poses (Hussain., 2019). Previous investigations in UK waterlogged soils have shown a clear response of microbial communities to water table variation, temperature, and nutrient availability in soil profiles (Douterelo et al., 2009). Not only do we need to investigate the pathogenic and disease causing species present, - but also how long they survive after a flood, how many are present, how they move during a flood, and how they travel between the flood water and urban surfaces. To build a better understanding of these processes this project will focus on the specific aspect of transport and survival of multiple species of pathogenic microorganisms in and between urban soils and flood water. Routine sampling in the field as well as analysis using advanced molecular methods, the dynamics of pathogens (i. e. movement through soil, diversity, abundance, and survival rates), and microbial interactions at the soil/water interface will be investigated.
Year: 2022