Municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) dry weather flows and potential flow sources as assessed by conventional and advanced bacterial analyses.

Municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) function in urbanized areas to convey flows during both wet weather (i.e., stormwater) and dry weather (i.e., urban runoff as well as subsurface sources of flow) to receiving waters. While urban stormwater is known to contain microbial and chemical pollutants, MS4 dry weather flows, or non-stormwater discharges (NSWDs), are much less studied, although they are also known to contain pollutants, especially when these flows include raw sewage. In addition, some natural NSWDs (e.g., from groundwater infiltrating MS4 pipes) are critical for aquatic habitat protection. Thus, it is important to distinguish NSWD sources to prevent non-natural flows while retaining natural waters (i.e., groundwater). Here, MS4 dry weather flows were assessed by analyzing water samples from MS4 outfalls across multiple watersheds and water provider service areas in south Orange County, CA; potential NSWD sources including sewage, recycled water, potable water, and groundwater were sampled and analyzed for their likely contributions to overall NSWDs. Geochemical and microbiological water quality indicators, as well as bacterial communities, differed across NSWDs, yet water quality within most locations did not vary significantly diurnally or by sampling date. Meanwhile, NSWD source waters had distinctly different bacterial taxa abundances and specific bacterial genera. Shared geochemical and microbial characteristics of certain sources and outfall flows suggested the contributions of sources to outfall flows. The average proportions by sources contributing to MS4 outfalls were further estimated by SourceTracker and FEAST, respectively. The results of this study highlight the use of multiple tools when assessing chemical and microbiological water quality to predict sources of NSWDs contributing to urban MS4 flows during dry weather. This information can be used to support management actions to reduce unnatural and high risk sources of dry weather drainage while preserving natural sources important to environmental health in downstream receiving waters.

Use of needle safety devices by clinical laboratories in North Carolina hospitals.

Laboratories across the U.S. have implemented needle safety devices to varying degrees and are making efforts to comply with the most recent legislation in this area, The Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act. A survey was conducted among hospital clinical laboratories in North Carolina, with a 70% response rate. Of 86 responding laboratories that offered either inpatient and/or outpatient phlebotomy, 88% reported currently using safety devices, and only two of the nonusers indicated no plans for adoption of such devices. The most commonly reported types of venipuncture safety devices in use or being adopted were the modified vacuum-tube holder for either one-handed needle release or needle retraction and sheathing, followed by needle clips. Despite studies demonstrating reduced needlestick rates and cost savings with use of needle safety devices, respondents' concerns included added cost, staff dissatisfaction with devices because they were cumbersome, and being uncertain that the devices would reduce needlesticks.