Global survey on the use of genetic methods by water utilities, testing facilities and government agencies for microbiological water quality testing

Monitoring for microbial water safety has traditionally been performed using cultivation-based methods (e.g., enumeration of faecal indicator bacteria). Genetic, or molecular-based methods, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nucleic acid sequencing, offer promising new perspectives.
The aim of this survey is to assess how the uptake of these innovative genetic methods by water utilities, testing facilities and government agencies varies over the world and to examine opportunities and barriers to their more widespread use and acceptance.

Primarily, we invite water utilities, testing and research facilities and government agencies that already use (in-house and/or outsourced) genetic measurements in their operation to complete the survey. Organisations that currently do not use genetic measurements but have an interest in them, are also welcome. Finally, we also invite legislative government branches, regulatory bodies, national and international expert groups and advocacy groups to complete the survey.

Please provide responses that are representative of your organisation. Based on our tests, answering all questions should take no longer than 30 to 45 minutes. Questions requiring an answer are marked with an asterisk (*). You may return to edit your answers by opening the link from the same device. We greatly appreciate your time and cooperation.

The survey complies the EU Regulation 2016/679, GDPR- General Data Protection Regulation and the Austrian law DSG-Datenschutzgesetz, BGBl. I Nr. 165/1999 i.d.F. BGBl. I Nr. 2/2023 on the protection of personal data. Please read the Data Protection Statement here.

The results of this survey will be presented in an aggregated form with no reference to responses from individual organisations, or persons. You are under no obligation to provide us with your contact details. However, if you do, all personal data will be used exclusively within this research project and will not be shared with any third parties.

By answering the survey, you consent to the processing of your data. You can revoke this consent at any time as long as no anonymization of the data has taken place. The declaration of revocation does not affect the lawfulness of the processing carried out on the basis of the consent until the revocation. Please send the revocation to water.survey@hrwm.eu.

If you have any questions, please contact the survey coordinator, Dr. Katalin Demeter, TU Wien, Austria at water.survey@hrwm.eu