Bacteria Meeting Review

1. Bacteria Meeting Review Swimmable & Fishable Waters

2. Goal of Meeting • To gather information on the “human health” aspect of water quality in Chesapeake Bay (swimmable/fishable) • Beach monitoring • Monitoring of shellfish growing areas • Learn about existing monitoring programs • Who does it • What indicators are used

3. Swimmable Water • Major causes of contamination discussed: • Overflows at pumping stations and sewage treatment plants • Residential & commercial sewage overflows • septic and sewer backups/failures/ overflows • Stormwater drainpipes • Pets (esp. dogs) • Boat holding tanks • Wildlife (waterfowl, raccoons, deer, etc.) • Bather contamination • Wastes from pets, farm animals • Improper manure management from pastures or crop fields • *Indicator bacteria can be found in decaying plant matter, soils, and sediments

4. Swimmable Water Enteric organisms - found in fecal waste • Giardia • Cryptosporidium • Campylobacter • Salmonella • E. Coli • Hepatitis A • norovirus Indigenous organisms - naturally occurring in environment • Vibrio • Mycobacterium Monti 2007

5. Ideal indicators for microbiological pathogens • Easy to measure • Fast results • Short lived • Not natural to water bodies • Relate to sewage constituents only • Reliable and reproducible results Farrell, AAC Health Dept 2007

6. 1 Total coliforms 2 Fecal coliforms 3 Enterococci 4 Other potential indicators, caffeine, hormones, antidepressants etc 5 DNA (not really a screening test) Easy to measure 1,2,3 Fast results (none so far) Short lived (1 and 2) Not natural to water bodies (1,2 and 4) Relate to human sewage only (1,2 and 4) Reliable and reproducible results (none so far) Indicator organisms Farrell, AAC Health Dept 2007

7. Methods • Two different methods in use for enterococci counts: • Membrane Filtration • Enterolert • The two methods may give different results; some controversy here

8. Swimmable Water • Maryland and Virginia monitor beaches throughout the swimming season • mid-late May to early-mid September • Beach Monitoring and Reporting is guided by the Beaches Environmental & Coastal Health Act, 2000.

9. Swimmable Water • Tier 1: • frequently used beaches or beaches where risk may potentially be elevated by known pollution sources or impacts from rainfall shall be monitored weekly • Tier 2: • Less frequently used beaches, or beaches where risks of potential pollution impacts are minimal, shall be monitored biweekly • Tier 3: • All other beaches shall be monitored monthly.

10. Swimmable Water • Maryland county-level monitoring, excluding ocean-side counties: • Weekly: ~39 • Twice monthly: ~44 (beaches or recreational waters) • Monthly: ~100 • Virginia county/district-level monitoring (ocean-side excluded): • Weekly: 20

11. Swimmable EPA-guided thresholds for beach monitoring:

12. Swimmable • Available Data • MD: • Enterococci and e. coli since 2000 • Fecal coliform before 2000 (reliable data back to 1985) • VA: • Norfolk beaches (9) monitored since the 1960’s • Additional beaches added 2003-2006. • Officially adopted EPA indicator and thresholds Jan 2003

13. Fishable Maryland and VA both follow the guidelines of the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (FDA) Standardized method of classification provided by NSSP States conduct routine, standardized monitoring Frequency and criteria thresholds based on classification

14. Fishable • Bacteriological standards are set by the NSSP • Fecal coliform or total coliform • Variety of standards and monitoring levels, depending on classification • Approved-Remote • median or geometric mean • ≤ 14 MPN or MF/100 mL fecal coliform, • ≤ 70 MPN/100 mL for total coliform • Conditionally Approved-PS… • Conditionally Approved-NPS… • Restricted-PS, shellstock source… • Restricted-NPS, shellstock source… • Prohibited…

15. Fishable

16. Fishable • Different types of monitoring: • “Adverse Pollution Monitoring” • “Systematic random sampling monitoring.” • Determined by reasons for conditional approval/restriction • Requirements for each are set by NPSS

17. Fishable • VA data: • 2181 Seawater sampling stations in the main tributaries and subtributaries of Tidewater Virginia • Stations are generally sampled once per month • 24,166 seawater samples analyzed in 2006 • “goldmine of data to be analyzed” • MD data: • ~900 stations throughout Maryland waters • Goal is to monitor 2x/month; 6x/year where no oyster resource • Database back to 1970; reliable back to 1985. • “available and very large.”

18. HABs - VA • 1. Monitoring of specific Chesapeake Bay sites for HAB organisms • Feb 1 – March 31: • 18 stations sampled monthly for HABs in the Northern Neck • Dinophysis sp. • April 1 – October 30: • 51 stations are sampled monthly for HABs in water • One mid-summer sediment sample/station for evidence of cysts • Water quality parameters recorded: temperature, salinity, DO and turbidity • Monitoring of visible blooms any time during the year • Notification Hotline

19. HABs - MD • 1. HAB monitoring for composition on a monthly basis • Microscope analysis and molecular probes for HAB community composition • Database back to 1998 for molecular monitoring; at least 1985 for microscope data • ___ stations? • If HABs are encountered at long-term sites, then they’re reported • Notification hotline for public to call in with reports • can result in rapid response; spp identification; toxin analyses on an as-needed basis

20. Discussion • Beach and shellfish monitoring programs are standardized and guided by federal agencies/legislation • Criteria are already developed and are consistent across states • We would need to set goals for a restored bay • Are there/ or how can we determine acceptable levels of criteria violation for a “healthy” bay?