Identifying Pollutant Sources through the Use of the USEPA/GLRC Standardized Sanitary Survey Tool

Transcription

1 Identifying Pollutant Sources through the Use of the USEPA/GLRC Standardized Sanitary Survey Tool Dr. Julie Kinzelman City of Racine Health Department Racine, WI Dr. Greg Kleinheinz UW-Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI

2 GL Policy, Strategies, Initiatives Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement 2002 Great Lakes Strategy USEPA BEACH Act of 2000 GL Regional Collaboration Coastal Health Strategy goals USEPA Beach Sanitary Survey Pilot Study (2007) GLRC Clean Beach Initiative (2009)

3 Much Monitoring has Occurred Since BEACH Act There eeaest are Still Lots of Advisories/Closures! es/cosu es!

4 Great Lakes Pollution Sources Reported Sources Causing Beach Actions in Great Lakes States in 2003 (1,462 actions) Wildlife 3% Other 2% Charles Kovatch, USEPA Unknown 95%

5 Great Lakes Pollution Sources Reported Sources Causing Beach Actions in Great Lakes States in 2004 (2,281 actions) Storm 5% Other 3% Charles Kovatch, USEPA Unknown 92%

6 Great Lakes Pollution Sources Reported Sources Causing Beach Actions in Great Lakes States in 2005 (1,481 actions) Storm 7% Other 3% Charles Kovatch, USEPA Unknown 90%

7 Fifteen percent of Great Lakes beach samples violated public health standards for safe swimming in 2007,more than twice the national average. NRDC, TTW 2008

8 The Great Lakes Regional Collaboration: A Strategy to Improve A Strategy to Improve Coastal Health

9 BACKGROUND In May of 2004 President Bush signed an Executive Order Recognized the Great Lakes as a national treasure Cabinet level interagency task force Great Lakes regional collaboration comprised of local, state, federal, NGO tribes & others (over 1500 participants) Eight issue area strategy teams

10 First steps: GLRC Initiative Following the Conveners Meeting, 8 issue area strategy teams began their work. These teams were organized using priorities identified by the Council of Great Lakes Governors. The priorities were: Aquatic invasive species Habitat conservation and species management Near-shore waters and coastal areas (Coastal health) Areas of concern Non-point sources Toxic pollutants Indicators and information Sustainability Draft for comment in July 2005 Final published in December 2005 Individual id chapter initiatives iti ongoing (CH = Beach Initiative)

11 CH - Problem Statement As a natural body of water, contact (including external, ingestion, and inhalation) with the near shore waters of the Great Lakes can pose a risk to human health BUT as the primary source of drinking water, supplier of fish, and recreational outlet for millions of US residents the minimum possible risk to human health should be present through contact with the Great Lakes

12 COASTAL HEALTH GOALS Four Goals 1. Wet Weather Events - eliminate human/industrial waste discharge to surface waters 2. Risk Management reduce BWQF, develop and implement sanitary surveys, remediate 3. Indirect Sources of Contamination reduce bacterial, algal & chemical contamination, provide public education 4. Safe Drinking Water protect drinking water from chemical & biological contamination, including acts of bioterrorism Recommended Actions to Achieve Goals Short-term (by 2009) Short-term (by 2009) Long-term (2009 and beyond)

13 CH Goal 2 - Recommended Actions Fully fund the BEACH Act provides monies for monitoring i to state, t tribal & local l authorities which h meet criteria Evaluate and trial real-time testing technologies including predictive models - eventually supplanting existing test methods Comply with BEACH Act requirements for public notification Draft and implement standardized sanitary surveys to identify pathogen sources Use historic monitoring data & source information to devise risk-based approach to management ala Annapolis Protocol (USEPA/WHO 1999)

14 CH Goal 3 Recommended Actions Implement coastal community education and outreach programs Promulgate enforceable local ordinances which will serve to reduce inputs of direct and indirect contamination Using sanitary surveys ID 90-95% of all indirect pollutant sources resulting in beach closures Control, o manage, age, remediate ed sources identified by sanitary surveys

15 GLRC BSS Timeline 2003/2004 Racine develops local BSS tool to gather potential pollutant source information Other locations also using for local l purposes (NYState t Parks, MI) 2005 Draft tools created by EPA BSS workgroup 5 year watershed assessment, annual, routine Summer 2006 Routine & annual tools piloted at volunteer GL beaches Autumn 2006 US EPA GLNPO released RFP Summer 2007 grants awarded for pilot studies 9 awards, 61 beaches Electronic data retrieval system for beach managers November 2007 USEPA compiled pilot study results Spring 2008 EPA revised BSS documents GLRC CBI/GLSLCI Promote use of BSS, 2008 GLRC CBI 2009 Beach Manager Questionnaire

16 Were SS Used at GL Beaches Pre-GLRC? Sanitary surveys were typically y associated with drinking water and shellfish programs. Identify sources of pollution Assess the magnitude of pollution Suggest appropriate actions to control pollution Identify priority locations for sampling Broad-based use unlikely Limited use by some Previous figure demonstrates magnitude of unknown sources Not an eligible expense under the BEACH Act of 2000 No standardized form No mechanism for sharing data/results

17 What is a Beach Sanitary Survey? Guided data collection Creates a common approach Aid state and local water program managers in ascertaining i local l beach contamination ti sources Assist in the development of predictive models Evaluate conditions that pose risks to human health at recreational beaches Targets mitigation measures to improve GL water quality

18 Environmental Data Collected Routine/Daily il BSS General Beach Conditions Bather Load Air temperature Total number of people at beach Wind speed/direction Swimmers/non swimmers Rainfall Potential Pollution Sources Weather condition (sunny, etc.) Current speed/direction Wave Height Water Quality FIB concentrations Water temperature Water color/odor Turbidity (clarity) Sources of discharge Rivers, outfalls, wetlands, etc. Floatables Amountof of debris/litter Amount of algae Stranded on beach Floating/submerged in water Presence of wildlife Gull counts Geese, deer, other Presence of domestic animals Dogs, Horses

19 Land Use/Source ID Data Annual Survey Wastewater discharge points Septic systems Combined sewage overflows Subsurface sewage disposal Caged Animal Feeding Storm water outfalls Operations (CAFOs) Rivers, creeks & streams Wildlife Agricultural run-off Urban run-off Industrial waste Marinas & harbors Moored boats Land Use (local & watershed) Annual bather load Domestic animals Stream bank erosion Landfills, open dumps Ground water Bathhouse toilet facilities Drains & pipes Wetland drainage Hydrological assessments Sediment/Sand assessments

20 Motivation for Action Public perception/expectations Citizens value utility as condition of residence Economic issues Social issues Equity with regards to access Environmental protection/preservation Coastal habitat Fisheries and wildlife Public health

21 Beaches, water recreation & related activities generate billions of dollars annually

22 Healthy Waters, Strong Economy The Brookings Institution, September pdf 1. Investing $26 billion in the GL will result in $80 billion in short- and long-term economic benefits 2. Reinvigorate the economy regionally 3. Direct economic benefits from recreation 4. Raises property values 5. Makes region more attractive to businesses and workers

23 How Do BSS fit with the Beach Protection Act? Proposed language Extends BEACH Act through 2012 Requires State environmental agency notification when water quality standards are exceeded Monitoring, notification, source identification programs (includes sanitary surveys) Use of rapid testing methods (within 6 hours of receipt by testing facility) Lab based Predictive models Increases authorization at o

24 Utility of BSS Create a common approach to identify sources Standardized form Consistent data collection method Common data fields collected Creates a common mechanism for sharing data on likely pollution sources & ambient conditions Applicable to variety of water bodies in the Great Lakes basin Mechanism for sharing tips amongst beach managers to improve local l beach conditions Increased awareness of what may impact beaches Aids in prioritizing remediation measures

25 D. Rockwell, US EPA

26 D. Rockwell, US EPA

27 D. Rockwell, US EPA

28 ANNUAL BEACH ADVISORIES RACINE, WI YEAR NORTH ZOO BEACH SEASON BEACH* BEACH* (TOTAL DAYS) /19% 30/32% /16% 4/4% /16% 19/20% /66% 39/41% /20% 21/25% /31% 22/25% /32% 26/27% /22% 16/16% /5% 5/5% /3% 7/7% /3% 7/7% /1% 3/3% 88 * Number of advisory days per season/per cent of season

29 Site Specific Examples from Wisconsin Using sanitary surveys to initiate remediation immediate successes and dinsights i into further investigation

30 US EPA Beach Sanitary Forms and Guidance Document Website:

31 Sunset Park Beach Sturgeon Bay Door County, Wisconsini

32 Techniques Employed Additional samples spatial and temporal Avian fecal counts Overland flow Detailed rainfall evaluations Outfall samples (surrounding beach) Beach sand (upshore, swash, and submerged) Bathers, birds, wind speed, wind direction, wave height, ht temperature, t turbidity, long-shore current, animals, etc.. Land use evaluations Watershed Daily SS (4x/week) Annual Sanitary Survey

33 Courtesy - City of Sturgeon Bay Engineering Department. ~260 acre watershed

34 Current

35 Future

36 After Before

37 Fish Creek Beach Town of Gibraltar Door County, Wisconsin

38 Techniques Employed Additional samples spatial and temporal Avian fecal counts Overland flow Detailed rainfall evaluations Outfall samples (surrounding beach) Beach sand (upshore, swash, and submerged) Bathers, birds, wind speed, wind direction, wave height, temperature, turbidity, long-shore current, animals, etc.. Land use evaluations Watershed Daily SS (4x/week) Annual Sanitary Survey

39 Existing Conditions

40 Planned Improvements

41 Current Future

42 Maslowski Park Beach City of Ashland Ashland County, Wisconsin

43 Techniques Employed Additional samples spatial and temporal Avian fecal counts Overland flow Detailed rainfall evaluations Outfall samples (surrounding beach) Beach sand (upshore, swash, and submerged) Bathers, birds, wind speed, wind direction, wave height, temperature, turbidity, long-shore current, animals, etc.. Land use evaluations Watershed Daily SS (4x/week) Annual Sanitary Survey

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45 Existing Conditions

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47 Sand and Spatial Data

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51 More work needed! Some items identified, but many unknown and data is not consistent.

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