Comparison of the Effects of Aeration, Chemical and Biological Treatments on the Removal of Coliforms in a Cattle Dugout

Authors

  • Amelia Murray

Keywords:

coliforms, water treatment, contamination, aeration, cattle

Abstract

Water bodies such as ponds, rivers, and drinking water reservoirs are prone to contamination by coliforms, which can be detrimental to human and ecosystem health. Comparing different water treatment methods allows us to have a better understanding of how to manage water quality and treat contamination from pathogens. In this study, the effects of three treatment methods (aeration, chemical, and biological treatments) were compared to determine which treatment and/or combination of treatments are the most efficient at removing coliforms from water. The water samples collected from a cattle pond near Miquelon Lake Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada were tested for the presence of coliforms and treated with the three treatments. The total colony counts per treatment did not follow the expected counts (X2 = 236.48, df = 8, p<0.001). There was also a significant difference in the type of bacteria relative to the treatment (X2 = 347.991, df = 12, p<0.001).

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Published

2022-04-29

Issue

Section

Natural Sciences