Dr. Peter Wallis discusses testing of a low cost method to identify trace organics in river and treated wastewater. The motivation for SEAWA's work comes from being the people at the downstream end of a watershed, in this case, at the downstream end of the South Saskatchewan River Basin in Alberta. SEAWA decided to test a low-cost USDA method for detecting trace organic compounds (see www.abraxiskits.com).
The water quality of the S. Sask. River at Medicine Hat is actually quite good based on limited current data. He reviews the existing data sources on endocrine disruptor compounds (estrogen and estrogen like compounds) found in Alberta waters. He reports on limited testing of samples that compared the USDA ELISA methodology with conventional testing techniques. They found reasonable agreement between the two methods. Trace detections and below detection limits were typical findings.
Peter Wallis is Dean of Science, Medicine Hat College, Medicine Hat, Alberta and a board member of the SE Alberta Watershed Alliance (SEAWA). His presentation was part of of CWRA/WPACs Joint Conference, Red Deer, Alberta, March 13-14, 2013.
