Fecal Coliform Bacteria TMDL for Four Mile Run : Fecal Coliform Bacteria TMDL for Four Mile Run Northern Virginia Regional Commission
Don Waye
June 14, 2001 Photo by Chuck Moore
Slide3 : Size: 20 square miles
Population: 183,000 (2000 Census)
Population density: >9,000/sm
Land Use: 0% agriculture; 100% urban (from medium density residential to high density commercial, highways, roads, stream valley park system, 1 golf course); 35-40% impervious Four Mile Run Watershed Characteristics
Graphic Showing Predominance of Storm Drains in the Watershed : Graphic Showing Predominance of Storm Drains in the Watershed There are over 10 linear miles of storm drains in every square mile across the Four Mile Run watershed
Slide5 : Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Regulations: A TMDL or Total Maximum Daily Load is a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can receive and still meet water quality standards, and an allocation of that amount to the pollutant's sources.
Water quality standards are set by States, Territories, and Tribes. They identify the uses for each waterbody, for example, drinking water supply, contact recreation (swimming), and aquatic life support (fishing), and the scientific criteria to support that use. The Clean Water Act, section 303, establishes the water quality standards and TMDL programs. A TMDL is due May 1, 2002
(NVRC Contract with Virginia starts June 2001)
TMDL Rules: Old vs. New : TMDL Rules: Old vs. New Four Mile Run TMDL regulated by Old Rule
New rule becomes effective Oct. 1, 2001 (unless Congress changes things)
New rule requires Implementation Plans
Old rule does not, but…
Virginia requires IPs
An IP for Four Mile Run will follow TMDL
Timeline for Meeting CWA Goal : 1998-2000: DNA bacteria source investigation
1999-2001: Optical brightener monitoring
2001-2002: TMDL development
2002: Draft Implementation Plan
2003: Public review for IP
2003-2004: Final actions/adoptions by EPA, Virginia and local governments
~2008: Deadline for achieving CWA goals/ attaining w.q. standards Timeline for Meeting CWA Goal
Timeline for TMDL Development : Timeline for TMDL Development June 01: Begin contract; 1st public meeting
June-Dec 01: Storm drain regrowth research
June-Oct 01: TMDL model dvpt. & calibration
Nov 01: Determine & model allocation scenarios; 2nd public meeting
Dec 01: Draft outlines for implementation strategies, monitoring & evaluation plans
Jan 02: Present plans at 3rd public meeting
Feb 28, 02: DEQ submits draft TMDL to EPA
Mar 02: 30 day EPA Region 3 review period
Apr 02: Address EPA comments; Final TMDL due 5/1/02
Slide10 : Source: Center for Watershed Protection Four Mile Run Bacteria
Perception v. Perspective
Slide12 : GW Parkway Bridge near National Airport Columbia Pike Bridge
Slide13 : Arlington WWTP discharge easliy meets its permit limit of 200 monthly geometric mean.
Pictorial Tour of Bacteria : Microbial puddles during drought of Summer 1999 Iron-fixing bacteria is orange Pictorial Tour of Bacteria
Slide16 : Bacteria colonies often appear as a surface sheen, slightly iridescent in blue-gray spectrum.
Slide17 : Ballston Beaver Pond in Arlington
Slide18 : Detail Mystery “clouds” of organic-rich proteins or lipids in the sewers downstream of Ballston Beaver Pond
Slide19 : Raccoon tracks in sewers (bottom) and silt bar next to sewer in Four Mile Run
Slide20 : Raccoon scat in the sewers of Four Mile Run
Two Complementary Efforts : Two Complementary Efforts 1. Optical Brightener Monitoring
involves cotton
and black light 2. DNA Source Tracking
involves animal scat and expensive lab gizmos Photo by Don Waye
Optical Brightener Monitoring : Optical Brightener Monitoring low cost ($50-$20,000)
survey or spot-checks
low tech w/ high tech option
quick turn-around (1-3 days)
composite sample
not in “Standard Methods”
“Shimadzu scanning spectrofluorophotometer” DNA Source Tracking vs. high cost ($20,000-$150,000)
sample only
high tech
slow turn-around (6-18 months)
grab sample
not in “Standard Methods”
“Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE)”
Optical Brightener Monitoring : Optical Brightener Monitoring A quick and cheap way to inventory a municipal separate storm sewer system* for certain types of illicit connections Cotton traps at outfalls pick up laundry brighteners & whiteners present in nearly all laundry detergents Helpful for Phase 2 NPDES MS4* Communities Photo by Don Waye
OBM Explained : Look for elevated concentrations in outfall traps Dyes known as optical brighteners are added to all commercial laundry detergents (whitens & brightens without bleach) These dyes do not occur in nature, are unique to laundry detergents, and degrade slowly in the environment They glow under common black light (fluoresce when exposed to UV light) OBM Explained It is not the brighteners that are a problem; they are merely the means to detect sewage connections.
OBM Results : Most had no detectable optical brighteners One illicit connection was confirmed with this technique OBM Results a hotel had two industrial-sized washing machines tied to the storm sewer system 9-25 outfalls (out of 297) may have a problem; follow-up is pending
Bacteria Source Identification Using DNA Fingerprinting : E. coli-specific testing Dr. George Simmons pioneered this technique with work in Virginia’s Eastern Shore PFGE DNA profiling (like barcoding) Bacteria Source Identification Using DNA Fingerprinting Photo by Don Waye
Bacteria Source Identification Station Map : Bacteria Source Identification Station Map
Urban Wildlife in Four Mile Run : humans *
dogs *
cats *
raccoons *
Canada Geese *
Mallard Ducks *
other ducks
pigeons
seagulls *
gray squirrels *
opossum *
rats *
beavers
mice
shrews
bats
deer
rabbits
flying squirrels *
foxes *
groundhogs
muskrats Project-specific DNA scat library included 54 samples representing 12 species* Urban Wildlife in Four Mile Run
Slide29 : Canada Geese Populations of the non-migratory race of this large waterfowl have exploded in recent years. Dogs At ~800 per square mile, dogs contribute over 5000 pounds of pet droppings each day to the 20 square mile Four Mile Run watershed.
Cats In several comparable MST studies of urban/suburban stream systems, cats have been implicated in roughly the same degree as dogs. Rogues Gallery of Bacteria Sources
Slide30 : Population densities of this adaptive nocturnal mammal are an order of magnitude greater in urban settings than in the wild. They are known to use storm drain networks as their own "Intelligent Transportation System" to move from greenspace to greenspace. Humans Although the watershed has a separate sewer system, illicit discharges are discovered from time to time. (Homeless population adds a wildcard factor) Raccoons Rogues Gallery (cont.) Sanitary sewer interflow?
Slide31 : Success of Isolate Matching, Pie Success of Isolate Matching N = 639
Slide32 : Isolates by “Probable” Species N = 302
Slide33 : Lack of matches with species absent in watershed fosters confidence in technique
DNA work confirms low microbial biodiversity (large population of E. coli clones)
Waterfowl, humans, raccoons and dogs seem to be leading sources Conclusions Storm drains and sediments (& scour pools?) seem to promote regrowth of bacteria
Why Suggest Regrowth? : Why Suggest Regrowth? Occum’s Razor—the simplest answer that fits the data
Highest bacteria counts from storm drain outfalls and sediments
Need more comparative data on bacteria strain variability (e.g., paired watershed study) Doctor’s Run
TMDL Model Choice? : TMDL Model Choice? HSPF? WASP? BASINS/Win HSPF? SWMM? WTM? QUAL2E? Other?
Slide36 : NVRC’s SWMM Model
Slide37 : Land Use Info for Water Quality Model
For more information, visit www.novaregion.org/ 4MileRun/tmdl DEQ contact: Joan Crowther (703) 583-3828 NVRC contact: Don Waye (703) 642-4628 : For more information, visit www.novaregion.org/ 4MileRun/tmdl DEQ contact: Joan Crowther (703) 583-3828 NVRC contact: Don Waye (703) 642-4628
Slide39 : The End
Slide40 : Extra Slides
Slide41 : Restore conditions to encourage bacteria predation from other microbes like paramecium and rotifers
Go after the sources (e.g., “GeesePeace”-type solutions for waterfowl droppings, control pet waste, block raccoon ledges in storm drains)
UV light exposure (natural or artificial) Ways to Kill or Reduce Bacteria Theoretical Ways;
Not Recommended Antibiotics
Heat
Chlorine
Slide42 : Short term:
Track down illicit connections with Optical Brightener Monitoring and other tools
Enforce pooper scooper laws
Clean out catchbasins Recommended Approach Investigate associations with scour pools and sunlight exposure (continue research) Investigate benefits of high efficiency street sweeping
Slide43 : Long-term:
Restore conditions to encourage bacteria predation from other microbes like paramecium and rotifers
go after animal sources of bacteria
dissuade raccoons from using storm drains as toilets (e.g., remove ledges)
oral contraceptives for raccoons (being developed to fight spread of rabies) ?!
promote storm drain daylighting (very long term!) Recommended Approach* *For discussion purposes
Slide44 : NVRC's first water quality project in the Four Mile Run watershed was born on Earth Day 1990, when it made stencils and paint available to volunteers.
It was the first storm drain stencilling program in Virginia. Coming Summer 2001…
NVRC & the 4 watershed localities to design custom markers for Four Mile Run & order bulk quantities
Colorful, attractive, durable, affordable
Volunteers needed! Storm Drain Marking …Then & Now
Slide45 : ACE dedicates new watershed education signs in Barcroft Park, Spring 2000 Photo by Don Waye
Slide46 : Alexandria Approved new Water Quality Master Plan
Consolidated environmental functions into 1 division with new staff (e.g, Bill Skrabak & Bill Hicks)
Alexandria’s Parks Commissioner, Judy Noritake, worked with Congressman Moran to secure $1M from EPA to investigate how to make the Four Mile Run flood control channel more environmentally friendly and aesthetically inviting
Gold Award winner in Va’s Chesapeake Bay Community Partner program
Award-winning “Targets of Opportunities” program. (e.g., Highpointe at Stonebridge has 3 innovative BMPs (sand filter, stormceptor, & bioretention)
Slide47 : Falls Church New city-wide water quality study
Woodward-Clyde study in the mid-1990s
Urban Forest demo project in Four Mile Run/East Falls Church Park
Ches. Bay Preservation Ordinance
Slide48 : Fairfax County Most comprehensive long-term chemical monitoring of streams statewide (FCHD)
Recently completed IBI-based county-wide Stream Protection Survey (available off County website)
New stream protection efforts, including use of OBM
High marks for responsiveness to active citizenry
Cooperating with Accotink Creek bacteria studies and TMDL
Restructured DPWES with new highly qualified staff to protect water quality
Acronym soup: NVSWCD & EQAC
Slide49 : Fairfax County
Slide50 : Arlington Recently strengthened its Ches. Bay Protection Ordinance
Newly approved Watershed Management Plan, web-downloadable (Jason Papacosma)
Will share $1M EPA grant for Four Mile Run with Alexandria
Over $750K for new environmental initiatives including: 1st-ever catchbasin cleaning
More & better street sweeping
New hires, including new E&S inspector for better enforcement
Slide51 : Arlington Over $750K for new environmental initiatives (cont.): A “quantum leap forward” -Jay Fissette, Arlington Board Chair Inspection of the County's 360-mile (!) storm sewer network to identify problems such as clogged inlets, collapsed pipes, leaking joints and prohibited connections
Stormwater utility study
Watershed outreach activities (Aileen Winquist)
New volunteer stream-monitoring program