Potential Human Health Effects Associated with Pathogens in Urban Wet Weather Flows

High concentrations of pathogens and indicator organisms found in urban receiving waters are a common cause of concern. Though some question the actual public health risk associated with exposure to these organisms, large amounts of resources are spent attempting to identify and correct their source. This paper contains a summary of recent work describing the potential human health effects associated with pathogens and commo n indicator organisms found in urban stormwater and the receiving waters they feed, as well as a brief discussion of the development of water quality standards for pathogens. This information will enable the reader to more effectively consider the level of risk that may actually be present locally. Future phases of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency research that supported these initial investigations will develop and test methods communities may use to assess local risk to humans and the environment associated with exposure to urban stormwater and receiving waters (Lalor and Pitt 1998 and Easton 2000).