Wilderness management : human waste & water quality

Human wastes in wilderness areas have a number of impacts. Many of these impacts relate to inadequate disposal methods which are unable to contain harmful pathogens found in human wastes nor prevent animal contact with them. This situation can lead to contamination of surface waters, thereby posing a public health risk. These issues are compounded by the dramatic rise in visitation to these areas and a lack of research or baseline data from which to make informed management decisions. A case study was undertaken at Pelion Plains in the Tasmanian World Heritage Area to examine the impact of human waste on water quality. Pelion Plains is a heavily used area, and there is anecdotal evidence linking the area to a number of health related problems. Using the traditional indicator method, Faecal coliform levels taken over five sample occasions ranged from 1-410 (cfu) per 100 mL water and Faecal streptococci levels ranged from 1-420 per 100 mL. Results indicate that the water is not suitable for drinking. Currently no warning is provided advising visitors of a potential health risk associated with the consumption of untreated water. The faecal sterol method was also used due to its ability to differentiate human and herbivore faecal matter. Results indicated that contamination was herbivore in origin. Due to lack of (antecedent) rain during sampling, however, results were not considered to be truly representative in this study. A limited macroinvertebrate analysis was also undertaken to provide much needed baseline data, which may be useful as a pollution indicator for the detection of long term ecological impacts. This research has demonstrated that inadequate disposal of human wastes is influencing water quality in a wilderness area, and that associated issues of public health are not being addressed. In particular this research demonstrated that the existing toilets and camping activities at Pelion Plains are implicated in the contamination of surface water which is currently used for drinking.