Keenum Ishi, Medina Melitza Crespo, Garner Emily, Pieper Kelsey J, Blair Matthew Forrest, Milligan Erin, Pruden Amy, Ramirez-Toro Graciela, Rhoads William J
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, United States.
Center for Environmental Education, Conservation and Research, Inter American University, San Germán, Puerto Rico 00683, United States.
Environ Sci Technol. 2021 Mar 16;55(6):3775-3785. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.0c08814. Epub 2021 Mar 1.
Maria made a landfall in Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017 as a category 4 hurricane, causing severe flooding, widespread electricity outages, damage to infrastructure, and interruptions in water and wastewater treatment. Small rural community water systems face unique challenges in providing drinking water, which intensify after natural disasters. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the functionality of six very small rural public water systems and one large regulated system in Puerto Rico six months after Maria and survey a broad sweep of fecal, zoonotic, and opportunistic pathogens from the source to tap. Samples were collected from surface and groundwater sources, after water treatment and after distribution to households. Genes indicative of pathogenic spp. were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in all systems reliant on surface water sources. spp. was detected in surface and groundwater sources and some distribution system water both by culture and PCR. spp. and spp. gene numbers measured by quantitative PCR were similar to nonoutbreak conditions in the continental U.S. Amplicon sequencing provided a nontarget screen for other potential pathogens of concern. This study aids in improving future preparedness, assessment, and recovery operations for small rural water systems after natural disasters.
2017年9月20日，“玛丽亚”以四级飓风的强度登陆波多黎各，造成严重洪灾、大面积停电、基础设施受损以及水和污水处理中断。小型农村社区供水系统在提供饮用水方面面临独特挑战，自然灾害后这些挑战会加剧。本研究的目的是评估“玛丽亚”过后六个月，波多黎各六个非常小的农村公共供水系统和一个大型规范系统的功能，并全面调查从水源到水龙头的一系列粪便、人畜共患病和机会性病原体。样本取自地表水和地下水源、水处理后以及分配到家庭之后。在所有依赖地表水水源的系统中，通过聚合酶链反应（PCR）检测到了指示致病物种的基因。通过培养和PCR在地表水和地下水源以及一些配水系统水中检测到了该物种。通过定量PCR测量的该物种和该物种的基因数量与美国大陆非疫情状况相似。扩增子测序为其他潜在的相关病原体提供了非靶向筛选。本研究有助于改善自然灾害后小型农村供水系统未来的备灾、评估和恢复行动。
