ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a better understanding of the effects of urban and recreational surfaces on the inactivation of surrogates for enteric pathogens under controlled exposure to simulated sunlight for 6 h followed by 18 h in dark conditions. It understands the effects of different surface types on the inactivation of surrogate organisms after urban floods. The inactivation of E. coli, B. subtilis spores, and bacteriophage MS2 was studied under controlled exposure to simulated sunlight on artificially flooded concrete, asphalt, pavement blocks and glass as control. On concrete the highest inactivation under light conditions of E. coli observed may be explained due to the combined effect of UV from the light source and pH of concrete. This research, in combination with Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment and mapping of urban surfaces, can be used to develop policy-making tools for the implementation of measures to mitigate public health risks after flooding.
