IS THE RIVER SAFE? Bob Washam Environmental Health Director - PDF document

IS THE RIVER SAFE?

Bob Washam Environmental Health Director Martin County Health Department •Bachelor of Environmental Technology, FIT •Master of Environmental Epidemiology, University of Miami School of Medicine •Registered Environmental Health Professional

WHAT WE DO WHAT WE DO • Bacteria sampling of swimming areas, • Bacteria sampling of swimming areas, every other week every other week • Issue health advisories • Issue health advisories • Monitor for illnesses in the community • Monitor for illnesses in the community

Martin County Results posted at: www.martincountyhealth.com

What are enterococci? What are enterococci? • Indicators of bacteria, viruses and • Indicators of bacteria, viruses and protozoa protozoa • Typically found in intestinal tract of • Typically found in intestinal tract of animals and humans animals and humans • Relatively easy to sample and test • Relatively easy to sample and test

COMMON HEALTH EFFECTS COMMON HEALTH EFFECTS • Upset stomach and diarrhea • Upset stomach and diarrhea • Eye or ear irritation • Eye or ear irritation • Skin rashes • Skin rashes

RIVER BACTERIA SOURCES RIVER BACTERIA SOURCES • Storm water runoff • Storm water runoff • Animal waste • Animal waste • Inadequate wastewater treatment • Inadequate wastewater treatment

MORE RIVER BACTERIA SOURCES MORE RIVER BACTERIA SOURCES • Sewage spills • Sewage spills • Boat discharges • Boat discharges • Agricultural operations • Agricultural operations

WHEN DO BACTERIA LEVELS WHEN DO BACTERIA LEVELS INCREASE IN THE ST. LUCIE? INCREASE IN THE ST. LUCIE? • Low salinity • Low salinity • High turbidity • High turbidity • High flows related to runoff and releases • High flows related to runoff and releases from rivers and canals from rivers and canals

1000 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 0 1/3/2012 2/3/2012 3/3/2012 Roosevelt Bridge 4/3/2012 5/3/2012 6/3/2012 7/3/2012 8/3/2012 9/3/2012 10/3/2012 Entero

Enterococci Levels at Roosevelt Bridge vs Discharges into the St. Lucie

Fecal Coliform Levels at Roosevelt Bridge vs Discharges into the St. Lucie

Haney Creek, Rio 2005

Blue Green Algae (Cyanobacteria) • Blooms when nutrients and water temperature are high • Can release toxins into water • Do not swim in algae blooms, or allow pets to swim in the bloom

Summary Summary • Bacteria seem to increase when runoff • Bacteria seem to increase when runoff from the land occurs and salinity from the land occurs and salinity decreases decreases • Blue • Blue- -green algae blooms occur when green algae blooms occur when nutrients increase nutrients increase • Bacteria and Blue • Bacteria and Blue- -green algae are green algae are generally highest when releases occur generally highest when releases occur

What can you do? What can you do? • Minimize the use of fertilizers • Minimize the use of fertilizers • Keep your septic system maintained • Keep your septic system maintained • Keep elected officials informed • Keep elected officials informed