Biology ETDs

Publication Date

5-1973

Abstract

In order to evaluate the efficiency of Albuquerque sewage treatment plants no. 1 and no. 2 and to determine the amount of enteric bacterial pollution their effluents contribute to the Rio Grande, at­tempts were made to isolate fecal coliform, fecal streptococcus, and Salmonella species from effluent samples between 1000 hr and 1500 hr over a 12-month period.

Membrane filter techniques were used to isolate and count fecal coliforms and fecal streptococcus, and tetrathionate broth followed by brilliant green agar was used to isolate Salmonella organisms.

Plant no. 1 is a heavy contributor of enteric organisms between 1000 hr and 1500 hr. High fecal coliform and fecal streptococcus counts and 45 Salmonella isolations were harvested from its effluent. Of 22 sampling days, 16 days (73%) yielded 45 Salmonella species of 15 dif­ferent serotypes. Salmonella enteritidis ser Senftenberg and ser Typhimurium (including variant Copenhagen) were the most common with a frequency of 31.1% and 28.9%, respectively. Of 22 sampling days, four yielded either zero fecal coliform counts or zero fecal streptococcus counts and were positive for Salmonella,

Plant no. 2 yielded low, usually zero, counts of fecal coliforms and fecal streptococcus and six Salmonella species of five different serotypes. Of 22 sampling days, 14 yielded either zero fecal coliform counts with one Salmonella isolation or zero fecal streptococcus counts with no Salmonella isolationB.

In plan t no. l high fecal coliform and fecal streptococcus counts occurred more often, with a frequency of 31% at 1400 hr, which is the time of pea k flow.

Temperature s of the effluents of plants no. 1 and no 2 stay within 1 to 2 degrees of each other and vary from 17 C in January to 28 C in June and July. There appears to be no correlation to temperature and season with fecal coliform, fecal streptococcus, and Salmonella isolations.

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Biology

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

UNM Biology Department

First Committee Member (Chair)

Clarence Clayton Hoff

Second Committee Member

John August Ulrich

Third Committee Member

Larry L. Barton

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