Point and Non-Point Pollution Influencing Water Quality in a Rural Housing Community

摘要

The purpose of the report was to analyze the intensity and origin of non-point pollution in protected and unprotected regions of a rural watershed (Oak Creek watershed). The Oak Creek watershed covers an area of 750 ha. The upper (northern) part of the basin drains part of McDonald Forest, a 4450 ha State-owned forest which is undisturbed except for research activities. The lower (southern) part of the basin includes a rural community consisting of 78 homes. Numbers and species of fecal indicator bacteria were studied through the entire watershed. Also, the presence of the intestinal pathogen Salmonella was studied, since the relationship of numbers of indicators and presence of this pathogen do not strictly correlate. The impact of non-point pollution on ground waters serving as drinking water supplies in this modern rural development was studied.