Microbial water quality assessment and source tracking at Volunteer Park

Recreational waters provide numerous societal benefits and contribute to public health and well-being. Recreational waters can pose a risk to the public when microbial contamination is present. To improve quality of life and local water quality, developing new locations for recreation in Vancouver is a focus of community groups including partner organization Swim Drink Fish. In developing new recreational areas, water quality is assessed to ensure site suitability. This project focuses on Volunteer Park, which is not designated for recreational water use and exhibited persistent E. coli contamination from May to September 2023. The goals of this project are to monitor microbiological water quality of the water at Volunteer Park throughout summer and into fall and winter 2024, and to identify the source of the microbial contamination. This will aid in the development of remediation plans that may make Volunteer Park suitable for recreational water access in the future.

Faculty Supervisor:

Jane Fowler

Student:

Partner:

Swim Drink Fish

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Other services (except public administration)

University:

Simon Fraser University

Program: