Microbial Source Tracking Using Quantitative and Digital PCR To Identify Sources of Fecal Contamination in Stormwater, River Water, and Beach Water in a Great Lakes Area of Concern.

Areas of concern (AOCs) around the Great Lakes are characterized by historic and ongoing problems with microbial water quality, leading to beneficial use impairments (BUIs) such as beach postings and closures. In this study, we assessed river and beach sites within the Rouge River watershed, associated stormwater outfalls, and at Rouge Beach. The concentrations of as well as human- and gull-specific qPCR microbial source tracking (MST) markers were assessed at all sites.