Bacteria in the Hudson River

Enterococci as microbial indicators of pathogens

Where does bacteria come from?

•Untreated wastewater (CSOs)•Improper boat waste disposal•Animal and wildlife waste•Stormwater runoff

• Bacteria from the intestines of humans and other warm-blooded animals

• Used by the EPA as federal standard to indicate presence of pathogens

• Pathogens indicated by presence of enterococci can cause gastrointestinal disease in humans

Enterococci

Sewage

•NYC sewer system- 6000 miles of sewer pipes

•14 water treatment plants throughout NYC

•NYC produces ~1.4 billion gallons of wastewater per day

North River Wastewater

Treatment Plant

Capacity: 170 million gallons

per day

125 mgd, dry weather

340 mgd, wet weather

Combined Sewer Overflow

•Combined sewer system (CSS)=

combination of street drains and household and industrial wastewater

•494 outfalls in New York City•EPA: CSO Control Policy

– separate underground pipes for sewage and stormwater

– keep combined pipes, increase capacity

Outfall at West 129th Street

Water Quality Standards

• EPA enterococci standards – In Marine waters for bathing, 35

CFU/100mL– Ingestion of contaminated shellfish

or surface water can cause gastrointestinal disease

EnterolertNew method of testing enterococci by

IdexxLaboratories using a nutrient indicator

thatfluoresces when metabolized by the

bacteria

ColilertSimilar technology in which nutrient indicator turns yellow when metabolized by coliforms, and flouresces when metabolized by E.Coli.

Other Measurements• Precipitation, turbidity,

temperature, tides, suspended matter, organic/inorganic matter, and salinity are monitored along with enterococci, total coliform, and E.Coli.