The County of Orange Health Care Agency's Water Quality Program took part in an 8 week project that demonstrated the use of new ocean water testing methods.These new rapid methods provided same day results of water status and notification to the public. The project was known as the Beach Water Quality Rapid Methods Demonstration Project and was the first of its kind in the nation to use rapid methods technology for ocean water quality testing and public health notification purposes. To enhance public health protection, the Rapid Methods Project provided water quality testing results in two to four hours as compared with the 24-hour turnaround of standard method sand provided beach-goers with same-day information about the quality of the ocean waters. As a result, faster and more meaningful water quality advisories were provided keeping surfers, swimmers and all other beach-goers better informed of ocean water quality conditions and potential health risks. The current standard testing methods are culture based and grow bacteria colonies which are then counted. This process takes 24 hours, and therefore public notification of water quality comes one day after the actual water samples are collected.The rapid method project was developed to provide same day water quality testing results and notifications. The name of this new water monitoring methodology is quantitative polymerase chain reaction, or “qPCR”. It is a genetic method that looks for the presence of DNA from target bacteria. The clientele served included all those interested in Orange County beach water quality, and specifically benefited beach-goers. The results of the demonstration project show that the rapid method was found to be equivalent to our current method. It is reliable for use along beach areas with open coastline. The project met its objectives as a pilot program as it provided accurate and thorough information on a new and technologically advanced method of ocean water quality testing. Once a rapid testing method is approved by either the state authority or the USEPA, this method, if adopted, could provide an improved water quality notification process for beach-goers everywhere.
This year the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) has added a new way to participate in the Call for Abstracts process for the Annual Educational Conference (AEC) & Exhibition. It is called, "Be a voice" and it gives you the opportunity to tell us what you'd like to experience at the AEC. Tell us topics you'd like to hear about and speakers you'd like to see. Review abstracts and provide input.
Help NEHA develop a training and education experience that continues to advance the proficiency of the environmental health profession AND helps create bottom line improvements for your organization!
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