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Virginia’s BEACH Monitoring Program

Virginia’s BEACH Monitoring Program. Michele M. Monti Division of Zoonotic and Environmental Epidemiology Office of Epidemiology Virginia Department of Health. Virginia’s BEACH Monitoring Program. BEACH Act of 2000 Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act – 10/10/2000

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Virginia’s BEACH Monitoring Program

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  1. Virginia’s BEACH Monitoring Program Michele M. Monti Division of Zoonotic and Environmental Epidemiology Office of Epidemiology Virginia Department of Health

  2. Virginia’s BEACH Monitoring Program • BEACH Act of 2000 • Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act – 10/10/2000 • beaches in VA had been monitored since 1960’s Norfolk & VA Beach • EPA BEACH Act funds created a state-coordinated program in VDH starting in December 2001 • funds used for 2002 monitoring season @ VA Beach and Norfolk

  3. Virginia’s BEACH Monitoring Program • Sampling conducted by local health departments or health districts • Virginia Beach and Norfolk – long-term monitoring programs - 2002 funds • Hampton, Newport News/Yorktown, King George Co. began beach monitoring in 2003 • Eastern Shore and Gloucester in 2004 • Festival Beach in Mathews Co. in 2006

  4. Virginia’s BEACH Monitoring Program • What are the requirements? • States must adopt EPA Bacteria Criteria for Recreational Waters

  5. VA Water Quality Standards – Effective 1/15/03

  6. Indicator Organism for Virginia’s Marine waters • Enterococci • Enterococci instead of E. coli because enterococci has been found to be a better indicator of gastrointestinal illness in swimmers. • EPA single sample standard for enterococci: Cannot exceed 104 cfu • At 105 cfu or above, we issue a swimming advisory

  7. Waterborne Pathogens • Enteric organisms - found in fecal wastes • Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Campylobacter, Salmonella, E. coli, Hepatitis A, norovirus • Indigenous organisms - naturally occurring in marine/estuarine environments • Vibrio, Mycobacterium

  8. Sources of Contaminants • Stormwater drainpipes • Pets (esp. dogs) • Boat holding tanks • Wildlife (waterfowl, raccoons, deer, etc.) • Overflows at pumping stations, sewage treatment plants, residential & commercial sewage overflows (i.e., septic and sewer backups/failures/ overflows)

  9. Virginia’s BEACH Monitoring Program • What are the requirements? • States must adopt EPA Bacteria Criteria for Recreational Waters • States must submit beach water quality monitoring and notification data to EPA • XML schema - STORET • 1x/year submission • Web-enabled database for bacteria data - 2007

  10. Virginia’s BEACH Monitoring Program • What are the requirements? • States must adopt EPA Bacteria Criteria for Recreational Waters • States must submit beach water quality monitoring and notification data to EPA • Monitoring Plan – frequency, locations • QA/QC plan; tiered monitoring plan; protocols for sampling collection and analysis; predictive tools (for anticipating problems; pre-emptive closures)

  11. Virginia’s BEACH Monitoring Program • weekly monitoring – all beaches Tier 1 (48) • season mid-May thru September • Approved QAPP – includes protocols for sampling & analysis • working on rainfall & bacteria predictive model, not enough data, site-specific • pre-emptive closures/advisories based on rain and sewage overflow

  12. Virginia’s BEACH Monitoring Program • Sterile 100 ml bottles used for beach water sample • Meters used to obtain dissolved oxygen, salinity, temperature and pH of water • Samples must be delivered to lab & analysis begun w/in 6 hours

  13. Methods/Labs Used for Enterococci Analysis • Enterolert • VA Beach • Newport News Waterworks • Method 1600 - MF • Norfolk • VDH -Shellfish Labs • Accomac – eastern shore • State lab – DCLS

  14. Virginia’s BEACH Monitoring Program • What are the requirements? • States must adopt EPA Bacteria Criteria for Recreational Waters • States must submit beach water quality monitoring and notification data to EPA • Monitoring Plan – frequency, locations • Notification Plan – when and how to issue an advisory; public scrutiny of monitoring plan; press releases, web page(s)

  15. Virginia’s BEACH Monitoring Program • Reporting to the public • Reporting to local govts • VDH web page: • www.vdh.virginia.gov • http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/Epidemiology/DZEE/BeachMonitoring/

  16. Media Relations • Establish good relationships w/ your local reporters

  17. Public Notification and Risk Communication • Swimming Advisories • 2004 – 11 beaches, 27 advisories, 114 advisory days • 2005 – 8 beaches, 14 advisories, 43 advisory days • 2006 – 4 beaches, 8 advisories, 43 advisory days (*33)

  18. Problems: Solved • Hampton - diverted stormwater away from beach; repaired crack in ww pipe • Newport News – illegal hookup of ww to sw; ghost ww pipe found and capped; illegal hookup of trailer park ww to sw

  19. Microbial Source Tracking - VA Tech • Source tracking • Antibiotic resistance analysis • Dr. Charles Hagedorn • Fluorometer – human or animal?

  20. Indicator/Pathogens Rapid Methods Study - VIMS • PCR Analysis (standard and real-time) • Dr. Howard Kator, Dr. Kim Reece • E. coli, Enterococcus faecalis/faecium, • Staphylococcus sp. • noroviruses w/ comparison to standardized culture assays

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