Local Case Studies for the Reduction of Bacteria

Local Case Studies for the
Reduction of Bacteria
Barbara Warren
Executive Director, Salem Sound Coastwatch
MassBays Lower North Shore Regional Coordinator
January 22, 2015 – North Coastal Bacterial TMDL
& MS4 Permitting
Sources of Pathogens
• Illicit connections (new developments as well as old)
• Non-connections in historic areas along the coast
• Failing infrastructure: cracks in sewers & stormwater pipes
• Septic systems condition and failure
• Animal waste: dogs and congregating birds (feeding)
• Recreational uses: boating
Clean Beaches & Streams
(SASI - 1993) 1999 - 2014
Salem Sound Coastwatch:
• Monitoring storm water
flows into the Sound from
outfall pipes and streams
• 20 to 25 sites sampled
biweekly every summer
Historic Salem
For years, illicit connections have been found and fixed.
EPA Administrative Order No. 11-021
Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Efforts and Illicit Discharge Removal
Derby Wharf, Juniper Beach, Palmer Cove, and Commercial Street MS4 Drain Outfalls
Systematic, thorough investigation for each drainage area
INSPECTION
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Manhole inspections
Building inspections
Dye testing
Sampling
CCTV pipeline inspection
Exploratory excavations
ACTIONS
• Installation of sewer pipe to redirect
sanitary sewer connections from drains
• Replacement of sewer manholes
• Repair of damaged drain pipes
• Internal sealing and waterproofing
sewer and drain manholes
• Internal sealing of sanitary sewer pipe
• Joint testing and sealing of collector sewers
Worked completed by New England Civil Engineering for the City of Salem
Mason Street, Salem
North River
INSPECTION
Small stream piped
Dry weather flow impossible to isolate
1. Top of catchment- found white bacteria
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Ammonia present
CCTV pipeline inspection
Dye testing
Sewer manhole exfiltrating to drain joint
2. Sampling in key manholes
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Optical brighteners - negative
Rag baskets – caught paper
Led to CCTV pipeline inspection
to find an illicit connection
3. Ammonia in manhole
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CCTV found cracks
Dye test
Found leaking sanitary line to storm drain
1
Mason Street, Salem
North River
ACTIONS
1. Sealed sewer manhole and
replaced pipe
2. Installation of sewer pipe to
redirect sanitary sewer
connections from storm drains
3. Sealed joints along sanitary
sewer pipe
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Also: 2 drain catchments
connected with a partially
collapsed line – collapsed line
repaired and temporary plug
to separate
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3
Detective Work
at Palmer Cove, Salem
Salem Sound Coastwatch’s
Clean Beaches & Streams Monitoring
• 2009 – geometric mean = 373 cfu/100ml
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June 15, 2010 results =
>24,000 cfu/100mL
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June 29, 2010 =
14,100 cfu/100mL
FOUND: Community garden manure
pile was placed next to the storm drain.
Detective Work
at Palmer Cove, Salem
BUT next year another SPIKE &
sewer back up at Pioneer Terrace
• Hole in drain line fixed
• Main sanitary sewer line tested,
repaired and sealed
• Drain line from outfall to end of
line adjacent to the leak, cleaned
after the joint sealing
New England Civil Engineering
Sandy Beach, Danvers
2003 to 2007
Multiple beach closures due
To high bacteria counts led
to a survey of boaters.
Survey indicated that 58%
of boaters never used a
pump-out facility.
They may have been
contributing to the problem
but the real culprit was
new housing up river.
Sandy Beach
When built in 2003, the sewer was not connected properly, which was
not discovered until 2007 when a catch basin overflowed.
Wolf Trap Marsh, Black Beach
Kettle Cove, Manchester-by-the-Sea
2007-2015
Manchester
Coastal Stream Team
volunteers
working with SSCW
Clean Beaches &
Streams sampled
at 3 sites and found
high than expected
bacterial levels.
Septic Systems
surround the marsh.
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3
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Wolf Trap Marsh, Black Beach
Kettle Cove, Manchester-by-the-Sea
Passed Manchester Town Meeting 2009 ARTICLE 19.
To see if the Town will require the Board of Health to develop a plan of
regular Title V testing of the Town’s septic systems that are five years of
age or older, with priority given to those systems in areas of
environmental vulnerability.
Wolf Trap Marsh, Black Beach
6 Years Later
Prior to 2009 (14)
• 11 <10 years old (yellow)
• 3 Title V inspected
(light purple)
Since 2009 (63)
• 23 passed Title V
(purple)
• 29 REPLACED (orange)
• 11 are ongoing (pink)
being designed, unoccupied by
BOH order or have tight tanks
Stramski Beach, Marblehead
Not easy to find the problem(s)!
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23 Beach closures since 2003
– 52% (12 times) associated with rain events
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Extensive investigation (Rockmore floating restaurant? SESD break? Animals?)
Take Home Thoughts
Storm water runoff is a major delivery
system of bacterial pollution to our
ocean and beaches!
• Need outfall monitoring
• Need illicit connections detection
• Need storm drain cleaning
• Report foul smell from
storm drains to the DPW.
• Avoid water contact for 72 hours
after heavy rainfall
and watch which way the wind is blowing.