TY - JOUR
T1 - Predicting microbial water quality with models
T2 - over-arching questions for managing risk in agricultural catchments
AU - Oliver, David M.
AU - Porter, Kenneth D.H.
AU - Pachepsky, Yakov A.
AU - Muirhead, Richard A.
AU - Reaney, Sim M.
AU - Coffey, Rory
AU - Kay, David
AU - Milledge, David G.
AU - Hong, Eunmi
AU - Anthony, Steven G.
AU - Page, Trevor
AU - Bloodworth, Jack W.
AU - Mellander, Per-Erik
AU - Carbonneau, Patrice E.
AU - McGrane, Scott J.
AU - Quilliam, Richard S.
PY - 2016/2/15
Y1 - 2016/2/15
N2 - The application of models to predict concentrations of faecal indicator organisms (FIOs) in environmental systems plays an important role for guiding decision-making associated with the management of microbial water quality. In recent years there has been an increasing demand by policy-makers for models to help inform FIO dynamics in order to prioritise efforts for environmental and human-health protection. However, given the limited evidence-base on which FIO models are built relative to other agricultural pollutants (e.g. nutrients) it is imperative that the end-user expectations of FIO models are appropriately managed. In response, this commentary highlights four over-arching questions associated with: (i) model purpose; (ii) modelling approach; (iii) data availability; and (iv) model application, that must be considered as part of good practice prior to the deployment of any modelling approach to predict FIO behaviour in catchment systems. A series of short and longer-term research priorities are proposed in response to these questions in order to promote better model deployment in the field of catchment microbial dynamics.
AB - The application of models to predict concentrations of faecal indicator organisms (FIOs) in environmental systems plays an important role for guiding decision-making associated with the management of microbial water quality. In recent years there has been an increasing demand by policy-makers for models to help inform FIO dynamics in order to prioritise efforts for environmental and human-health protection. However, given the limited evidence-base on which FIO models are built relative to other agricultural pollutants (e.g. nutrients) it is imperative that the end-user expectations of FIO models are appropriately managed. In response, this commentary highlights four over-arching questions associated with: (i) model purpose; (ii) modelling approach; (iii) data availability; and (iv) model application, that must be considered as part of good practice prior to the deployment of any modelling approach to predict FIO behaviour in catchment systems. A series of short and longer-term research priorities are proposed in response to these questions in order to promote better model deployment in the field of catchment microbial dynamics.
KW - catchment management
KW - diffuse pollution
KW - faecal indicator organism
KW - human health
KW - pathogens
UR - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00489697?sdc=1
U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.11.086
DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.11.086
M3 - Article
SN - 0048-9697
VL - 544
SP - 39
EP - 47
JO - Science of the Total Environment
JF - Science of the Total Environment
ER -