Using Agent-based Modelling to evaluate the potential health impact of E.coli in fountain water
Summary
This study aims to assess how Agent-Based Modelling can be used to evaluate the health impact
of faecal pathogens in fountain water. This study focuses on human exposure to E.coli in
fountain water. A model was developed that simulates individual exposure for three different
fountain locations in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The model simulates the movement of
people that visit the fountains. Visitors either sit on the benches that surround the fountain
(indirect contact with water) or play in the fountain (direct contact with water). Elements such
as the distance of the spray of the fountain, the angle of the spray of the fountain and the number
of people visiting the fountain are incorporated in the experiments. At last, different water
management strategies are tested to determine useful approaches that can limit the chances of
exposure. The project shows that it is possible to evaluate factors contributing to E.coli exposure
with the use of an Agent-Based Model. The experiments prove that exposure to E.coli mainly
occurs due to direct contact with water. Secondly, this research shows that the number of
visitors can strongly influence the infection of the fountain and therefore also determines the
number of exposed visitors. At last, according to the model we see that increasing the frequency
of cleaning proves to be the most successful management strategy. This approach lowers the
chance of exposure and therefore limits the number of exposed visitors.