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University Life
University Life
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About University of Galway
About University of Galway
Since 1845, University of Galway has been sharing the highest quality teaching and research with Ireland and the world. Find out what makes our University so special – from our distinguished history to the latest news and campus developments.
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Colleges & Schools
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Research & Innovation
University of Galway’s vibrant research community take on some of the most pressing challenges of our times.
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Business & Industry
Guiding Breakthrough Research at University of Galway
We explore and facilitate commercial opportunities for the research community at University of Galway, as well as facilitating industry partnership.
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Alumni & Friends
Alumni & Friends
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Community Engagement
Community Engagement
At University of Galway, we believe that the best learning takes place when you apply what you learn in a real world context. That's why many of our courses include work placements or community projects.
DESIGN
The DESIGN Project
The DESIGN project (Detection of Environmental Sources of Infectious Diseases in Groundwater Networks) is an EPA funded project involving University of Galway, UCC and Technical University Dublin (TUD) that aimed to investigate whether private wells are a source of the zoonotic pathogens Cryptosporidium and Verotoxigenic E. coli. University of Galway's role was concerned with the detection of this particular type of pathogenic E. coli in private groundwater wells.
Click here to read the DESIGN information for participants and find out more.
What was the DESIGN project about?
The E. coli that live in our intestines are not usually harmful, in fact they help us to break down our food. However, certain pathogenic E. coli strains that live in the intestines of cattle and sheep can be harmful to humans. These bugs can be present in high concentrations in sheep and cattle poo and can cause serious gastrointestinal illness in susceptible people, such as young children and the elderly.
These bugs are known as Verotoxigenic E. coli (or VTEC). Confusingly, they are also sometimes called Shigatoxigenic E. coli (or STEC), these two names are interchangeable and refer to the same type of pathogenic bugs.
Ireland has the highest incidence of VTEC in Europe, in most years in and around 10 times higher than the European average. This is probably due to our high livestock and septic tank density (sources), high rainfall (which washes poo into the groundwater) and reliance on unregulated private groundwater wells for drinking water. The problem usually happens when the head of the well isn't sealed correctly and surface water containing manure gets in and contaminates the well.
The DESIGN project sought to identify whether private wells are contaminated with VTEC and identify weather, geology and local/infrastrucal features that may be linked to well contamination. This research will help us to DESIGN better risk management strategies to protect well owners and their families.
For details on how to protect your private well see https://www.epa.ie/environment-and-you/drinking-water/household-wells/