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Microbial Contaminants Control
Microbial contamination in drinking water leads to health related problems that are usually acute in nature with gastrointestinal symptoms. Severity of the attack depends on several factors with immune system health being the most important. Human health problems are usually chronic in nature and manifest themselves after a long exposure period. Contaminants can enter the drinking water supply through numerous natural and manmade sources. Currently, 85 drinking water contaminants are regulated and require constant vigilance to maintain the quality and integrity of the water and the distribution system.
Microbial Contaminants Control (MCC) risk management research is responsible for developing techniques to detect, physically remove, inactivate or otherwise control microbial contaminants (pathogenic viruses, bacteria, and protozoa) in drinking water and water bodies impaired due to fecal contamination. Studies are carried out at the bench, pilot and field-scale. Research is almost entirely in-house.
Over the last four years, the MCC has also greatly enhanced its capability to conduct research using molecular microbiological techniques. Molecular microbiological research is currently focused on microbial source tracking and characterization of microbial communities in distribution system biofilms. We are also assisting in limited evaluations of microbial contaminants in wastewater biosolids. MCC has responsibility for leading the evaluation of building-wide studies proposed to be conducted in the Biosafety Level 3 Suite and for managing suite day-to-day operations including maintenance of all authorizations under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Laboratory Response Network and Select Agent Registration Program and U.S. Department of Agriculture Permit to transport selected microorganisms. Branch staff provide technical assistance to the Office of Water, CDC and the National Sanitation Foundation as well as other federal agencies, state and local governments. The research is also closely integrated with EPA's methods development research.
Future direction for the MCC will include studies looking at microbial communities in conjunction with individual microbes of Agency interest. Work on microbial source tracking is in its infancy and is expected to continue for some time.