E.coli Article, 2004

The Times Ink! Of Richmond and Huntington

by Aaron Worthley, Huntington Conservation Commission

The summer of 2004 has been much different than the past couple of years in many ways, most notably due to rain, rain and more rain. However, the Huntington Conservation Commission and a dedicated band of volunteers have continued data collection and study on the E.coli levels in the Huntington River.

E.coli is a type of bacteria that originates in the intestines of mammals and birds. While some strands of the E.coli bacteria can make humans sick, it is not always the case. E.coli is best used as an indicator of water pollution from fecal sources. Presence of E.coli in water tells us that fecal material from deer, beavers, geese, humans, livestock dogs or any other animal is entering the watercourse and there is potential for the water to contain any number of pathogens- organisms that might make you sick.

For the third year in a row, the Huntington Conservation Commission (HCC) has been sampling the Huntington River and having the samples analyzed for the presence of E.coli bacteria. The lab work this year and last is being paid for by a grant from the State of Vermont, Department of Environmental Conservation.

This year a more extensive sampling regimen has been adopted. The HCC has enlisted volunteers to take weekly samples at 13 sites along the River throughout the town of Huntington. Many of the sites are at popular swimming holes. In addition, the mouths of all major brooks are sampled monthly and other “floating sites” are used to narrow in on areas of higher pollution.

Last year many sites on the River were very contaminated, well above levels for swimming recommended by either the State of Vermont (77 organisms/100ml of water, the State of Vermont has the most stringent standard in the country) or the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (235 organisms/100ml of water). The data we collected led to the hypothesis that the main cause of the pollution in the River was failing or poorly performing septic systems. This suspicion was reached based on two factors. 1. The highest E.coli counts were centered in the populated village centers. 2. The E.coli levels went up with LOWER rainfall.

When the beaches in Burlington and Colchester are closed due to E.coli it is usually associated with HIGH rainfall events, not low. So what is different in Huntington? E.coli pollution can come from many sources, but it is always a result of fecal material reaching the waterway. During heavy rains pet, livestock and waterfowl waste is washed off the surface of the land and/or sewage disposal facilities overflow into the water. During dry periods, steady sources of contamination such as from leaking septic systems will build up in the water, increasing the concentration of E.coli. When it rains, this concentrated bacteria is diluted again, bringing the levels back down.

This year the E.coli levels seem to be a bit lower than last year. We haven’t seen the sample results reach into the thousands, but they are still hitting 500 (organisms/100ml of water) on some days.

The correlation with rainfall has been a bit more difficult this year because, as we all know, it really hasn’t stopped raining all summer. We will know more when the summer sampling season is complete and we have had a chance to analyze all the data.

The big question, of course, is “What do we do about it so we can all get back to swimming safely?” The HCC is working closely with the Huntington Health Officer and the Vermont Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) on designing further studies and plans for what to do to clean up the River. The most important component is continued testing. The HCC intends to continue sampling the River and posting the results so river users can make informed decisions about swimming risks.

It is likely that with another year of similar data the Huntington River will be added to the listing of Impaired Waters for the State of Vermont. This will bring more attention to the cause and the State will be required to develop a plan for cleaning up the River. Federal EPA money could also become available through this listing. The list of impaired waters is long though, and it could be years before the Huntington River gets its turn in the DEC line up. Impaired water status will also give the health of the River more attention during the issuance of environmental permits for discharges that might affect the river’s water quality. Meanwhile, the HCC will continue to collect data, educate river users and look for alternative ways to bring our river back to the clean, safe, high quality river we all expect it to be.

In addition to further E.coli sampling, other techniques being explored by the HCC and our partners include: drilling groundwater monitoring wells in the village, testing the river for phosphorus and nitrogen, looking for evidence of detergents in the water and DNA analysis of E.coli to distinguish the source animal.

Weekly E.coli results are distributed by email to anyone interested, send requests to aaronw@gmavt.net. Results and more information are also posted at the two stores in Huntington and online at: http://www.gmavt.net/~aaronw/e-coli/2004_home.htm. Further questions can be directed to: Aaron Worthley, aaronw@gmavt.net, 434-7012.