Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacterial source tracking (BST) is a valuable tool for identifying human and animal sources of fecal pollution.

Protection of our water resources is one of the most significant environmental challenges of the new millennium. According to the 2008 Texas Water Quality Inventory and 303(d) List, there are 274 bacterially impaired water bodies in Texas. Nonpoint sources (NPS) of pollution greatly affect water quality. Identifying and assessing sources of fecal pollution is a key component in effectively implementing a NPS pollution management program. Proper evaluation of these sources is needed to target best management practices and develop bacterial total maximum daily loads (TMDLs). This information may also be useful to properly assess risk in contact recreation, as many waterborne pathogens causing human illness do not colonize nonhuman hosts.

The Texas E. coli BST library currently contains 1,172 E. coli isolates obtained from 1,044 different domestic sewage, wildlife, livestock and pet fecal samples. Expansion of the library to include additional known source isolates from different Texas watersheds and different animal hosts is needed. The use of an expanded Texas E. coli BST library to identify NPS and development of TMDLs would provide significant cost and time savings.

The technologies used for BST have evolved greatly in the past few years. A host of new information is currently available, yet not readily distributed or known to state agency personnel. Through this project, a statewide workshop on recent advances in BST technologies, methodologies, applications and results will be held.