Huntington River E-Coli / Water Quality
CLICK HERE TO
Join the Huntington River Conservation Partnership E-MAIL LIST-
receive E.coli updates and other information automatically
The Huntington Conservation Commission has conducted tests for E.coli contamination in the Huntington River throughout the summer since 2002.
Starting in summer 2006,
the Huntington Conservation Commission began working with the Richmond Conservation Commission to sample the river in both
the towns of Huntington and Richmond, Vermont.
All samples are collected
once a week between 6:30 and 7:30 AM. Samples are
transported immediately to the State of Vermont Larosa Water
Quality Lab in Waterbury for analysis.
Sample analysis is supported by a grant from the Vermont Agency of
Natural Resources.
As a result
of the work of the Huntington River
Conservation Partnership
the Huntington River was
recognized as impaired by the State of Vermont in 2006.
The Vermont Department
of Health recommends against swimming in
waters with E-Coli counts over 77. This is the
most stringent standard in the country. (click for
explanation)
The EPA sets its limit at 235. At a count of 77 organisms/ 100ml of water,
there is a 95% certainty that 4 swimmers in 1000 will become ill. At 235 organisms/ 100ml of water, the risk
goes up to 8 swimmers per 1000.
Testing at the Larosa
lab is being paid for by a grant from the Vermont Water Quality Division, Dept. of
Environmental Control. This is the
second year in a row that Huntington has received this grant
opportunity.
For more information, contact:
Aaron Worthley, Huntington Conservation Commission- 434-7012
info@huntingtonriver.org