Report Date: October 20, 2010 Technical Report #

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1 1 Bacterial Assessment: Halls Brook, Horn Pond, Sweetwater Brook Hotspot Sampling Date: September 22, 2010 Report Date: October 20, 2010 Technical Report # Executive Summary MyRWA conducted a Dry weather monitoring event in the municipalities of Stoneham and Woburn on October 22, The main goal of this monitoring event was to evaluate water quality of locations in Woburn that had not been sampled in prior years and revisit a few known problems. Three outfalls were sampled in Woburn OF118, OF119 and OF161. The highest level of bacteria was found at OF118 with 384 E. coli/ 100 ml (MPN). High levels of bacteria contamination were found in Halls Brook in Woburn, MA with in-stream sample yielding 1,741 E. coli / 100 ml. MassDEP Water Quality Standards for Class B water bodies are 235 E. coli / 100 ml. for swimming and 1260 E. coli / 100 ml for boating. Water quality samples were taken in accordance with the MyRWA MA-DEP approved QAPP along with accurate notes. October 20,2010 MYSTIC RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION Technical Report #:

2 2 CITATION This report was prepared by: Mystic River Watershed Association 20 Academy St. Suite 306 Arlington, MA Principal Investigators: Patrick Herron PhD, Roger Frymire, Katrina Sukola, Vasiliki Tsakraklides Water Quality Monitors: Roger Frymire, Roger Frymire Lab Analysis: EPA Region 1 Laboratory, Chelmsford MA This report describes monitoring data collected by MyRWA under its MassDEPapproved Quality Assurance Project Plan with funding support from the Massachusetts Environmental Trust (MET) and the Caswell Foundation. The EPA Region 1 Laboratory has provided valuable support to this work by providing laboratory services (bacteria analysis). This report should be cited in the literature in the following manner: Bacterial Assessment: Halls Brook, Horn Pond, Sweetwater Brook: September 22, 2010 Technical Report Mystic River Watershed Association, Arlington, MA. October 20,2010 MYSTIC RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION Technical Report #:

3 3 Table of Contents 1 Cover Sheet- Executive Summary 2 Citation information 3 Table of Contents 4 Hotspot Sampling Results 4 Action Items 5 MyRWA Background 5 Methods 5 Quality Assurance 7 Results: Figure 1. Bacteria data collected from in-stream and outfall locations 8 Results: Table 1. Data collected from sampling sites 9 Sampling location coordinates and directions 10 Maps of sampling locations 12 Archive bacteria data of outfall pipes October 20,2010 MYSTIC RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION Technical Report #:

4 4 Hotspot Sampling Results: Woburn Water samples collected from outfall pipes in Woburn did not yield any samples that were of particularly high levels. A single pipe in particular raised concerns based on multiple parameters. OF118 yielded effluent with the highest bacteria concentration of 384 E. coli/ 100 ml (MPN). This level of bacteria contamination is relatively low compared to many other pipes in the watershed. However, the other parameters collected at this site (Salinity 1.4 mg/l (highest of all samples), Dissolved oxygen 4.89 mg/l (lowest of all samples, failing MA-DEP water quality standards) suggests likely influence of sewage sources. Hall s Brook at HAB087 continues to have low water quality with bacteria concentration in excess of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) State Water Quality Standards for secondary contact / boating (1260 MPN/100 ml). Archive data shows that Halls Brook has had water quality problems at this site since The levels of bacteria at HAB087 and HAB87US suggest the possible input of bacteria as the water flows under Merrimac St. A 50% increase in bacteria level as it passes below the bridge could indicate inputs but it is also possible that the levels are within the variance of bacteria measurements. Two measurements over 1,000 make the levels of bacteria at this site suggest it is too high to believe that normal wetland wildlife are contributing to the bacteria load. Stoneham The sample collected at Sweetwater Brook (TOMS) did not indicate high levels of pollution. Action Items: MyRWA recommends the following activities 1. Woburn continue to investigate sources of pollution at Halls Brook that contributes to impairment of the water body for bacteria. There is suspicion that an outfall under Merrimac St. does contribute to the impairment seen at HAB087. MyRWA requests information on whether any septic systems exist in this area. 2. Woburn should follow up on OF118 if work has been completed recently to investigate likely sources of pollution. MyRWA requests a report on work conducted at this location or follow-up measurements. October 20,2010 MYSTIC RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION Technical Report #:

5 5 MyRWA Background. The Mystic Monitoring Network (MMN) was created in 2000 by the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) to collect valuable water quality data along the Mystic River and its tributaries. The MMN is a volunteer-based project that is made up of trained citizen volunteers, student interns, and scientific advisors throughout the region. The goals of the MMN are to establish a high quality baseline of data for the Mystic River Watershed, identify and address water pollution problems, raise public, municipal and state agency awareness of water quality in the Mystic, and create a network of informed and active citizen advocates. MMN s Hot Spot monitoring program at MyRWA allows the organization to test water quality in locations not regularly sampled in our baseline program or that are suspected of having problems with bacteria loading. Methods Water quality samples are always collected by trained MyRWA staff and volunteers following the protocol written in MyRWA s Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP). For centerline locations, bacteria samples are collected directly from the river and for end-of-pipe samples, water is collected directly from the outfall. In fresh water, samples are analyzed for the bacteria E. coli and in saltwater, samples are analyzed for the presence of Enterococcus. The bacteria samples are collected in sterile containers containing a sodium thiosulfate tablet and kept on ice until delivery to either the EPA lab in Chelmsford, or MyRWA s lab at Tufts University. Samples are analyzed using the Colilert method for enumerating colony forming units (cfu) of bacteria. Physical habitat parameters are measured according to the QAPP. A YSI meter is used to collect measurements for water temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductivity, and salinity. The coordinates of each sample location are recorded with a Garmin 76Cx GPS unit. Air temperature is recorded with an alcohol thermometer at the beginning and end of the sampling period. Data on precipitation during the past 48 hours are obtained from the USGS website (realtime data for stream gage located at Muddy River in Brookline: Quality Assurance Quality control procedures have been documented for each parameter tested by MyRWA, and can be reviewed in Table B5-1 of the QAPP (approved December 2006). October 20,2010 MYSTIC RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION Technical Report #:

6 6 Quality control of data is ensured in several ways. YSI meters are subjected to pre- and post-calibration for each sampling event. Thermometers are calibrated on an annual basis. GIS coordinates are marked at an accuracy of 20. As discussed in the QAPP, field duplicates are not collected due to the heterogeneous nature of bacteria in an aquatic medium. EPA Region 1 Laboratory has submitted a copy of their quality assurance plan and standard operating procedures. They do not submit results of their quality control measures, such as relative percent difference, but QC protocol are followed according to their standard operating procedures (available on request). During this sample event, no violations of QC occurred. All samples were delivered to the EPA lab within the designated holding time, and the EPA lab did not report any violations of their standards. Data received from the EPA lab and collected from the field were entered into MyRWA s Excel database by the Project Manager and were checked for error by another staff person. No changes to the data entry were made. Following the QAPP, these data, as reported here, are sent to the Department of Public Works and the Board of Health of the relevant municipalities. After 30 days, the data will be sent to MassDEP, the EPA, conservation commissions of the relevant communities, and any other stakeholders that have expressed interest in receiving water quality data from MyRWA. A full list of these recipients is available upon request. October 20,2010 MYSTIC RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION Technical Report #:

7 E. coli MPN/mL (logarithmic scale) Hot Spot Sample Date Rain Events (past 48 hours) Location Woburn, Stoneham Water Bodies Sweet Water Brook, Horn Pond, Halls Brook 9/22/2010 Dry 7 Monitors Lab Roger Frymire, Katrina Sukola EPA Region 1 - Chelmsford Levels of E. coli found at outfall pipes and in-stream flow of water bodies in Woburn and Stoneham, MA during Hotspot sampling on 9/22/ Secondary Contact/Boating standard: 1260 E.coli MPN/100mL Primary Contact/Swimming standard: 235 E. coli MPN/100 ml Stream sample 1 Outfall pipe Figure 1. Bacteria counts from samples collected by MyRWA on 9/22/2010 during Hotspot sampling event in Woburn and Stoneham MA. One of twelve samples failed to meet water quality standards for secondary contact/boating in a Class B water body (1260 MPN/100mL). See maps and site descriptions for information on sampling locations. Note: Bacteria counts are plotted logarithmically.

8 8 Water Bodies Sweet Water Brook, Horn Pond, Halls Brook Hot Spot Sample Date 9/22/2010 Rain Events (past 48 hours) dry Location Woburn, Stoneham Monitors Lab Roger Frymire, Katrina Sukola EPA Region 1 - Chelmsford Table 1. Data collected from sampling sites Sam ple # Site ID E coli MPN/100ml H2O Temp. C DO mg/l Sp. Cond. μs/cm Salinity ppt Time (AM) Type Comments 1933 TOMS :22 Centerline Much orange flocculant 1934 WOPKWY :12 Centerline Downstream of last Road stream from OF OF :27 Pipe New black corrugated plastic 1936 OF :31 Pipe Large concrete stream outlet 1937 UNCLEA 105 7:47 Centerline Stream from under road 1938 OF :03 Pipe Outfall to pond 1939 HAB :30 Centerline Downstream roads 1940 HAB87US :35 Centerline Upstream of culvert under roads 1941 HABBOS :02 Centerline Halls Brook downstream of New Boston St BOSEND :15 Centerline North end of tributary beside Boston St BOSDEP :26 Centerline After West tributary from landfill park 1944 HAB :44 Centerline Outlet of Halls Brook Holding Pond Data Entry: Data QA: VT PH

9 Table 2. Sampling locations 9 Sample Site Town Water Body Latitude Longitude Directions 933 TOMS Stoneham Sweetwater Brook Sweetwater Brook at short aboveground section by Toms Court 934 WOPKWY Woburn Horn Pond Northern Trib of Horn Pond - accessed from Water Street on Downstream side 935 OF119 Woburn Horn Pond South of Woburn OF-118 (West bank)- outfall to northern trib to Horn Pond- Water Adams Dr. 936 OF118 Woburn Horn Pond outfall starting HOPUT1 northern trib to Horn Pond- Water Adams Dr 937 UNCLEA Woburn Horn Pond Downstream of Harrison Ave. Accessed by parking near corner of Harrison and N Warren St. 938 OF161 Woburn Horn Pond Accessed by parking near corner of Harrison and N Warren St. Outfall at NE end of small pond 939 HAB087 Woburn Halls Brook Halls Merrimac Rd. (DS side)- there is a sewer pipe under the roadpark on Dartmouth St. 940 HAB87US Woburn Halls Brook Halls Merrimac Rd. (US side)- - park on Dartmouth St. 941 HABBOS Woburn Halls Brook Accessed by New Boston Street 942 BOSEND Woburn Tributary to Halls Brook 943 BOSDEP Woburn Tributary to Halls Brook Accessed by New Boston Street Accessed by New Boston Street 944 HAB001 Woburn Halls Brook Hall's Brook gage station

10 Maps of sampling locations: 10 Blue labels = water quality standards met (E. coli concentrations < 235 cfu / 100 ml) Yellow labels = primary contact / swimming standards not met (E. coli between cfu / 100 ml) Red labels - secondary contact / boating standards not met (E. coli > 1260 cfu / 100 ml) Map 1. Sampling location TOMS in Stoneham near Rt-28 Map 2. Sampling locations in Woburn near Horn Pond

11 11 Blue labels = water quality standards met (E. coli concentrations < 235 cfu / 100 ml) Yellow labels = primary contact / swimming standards not met (E. coli between cfu / 100 ml) Red labels - secondary contact / boating standards not met (E. coli > 1260 cfu / 100 ml) Map 3. Sampling locations in Woburn near Horn Pond Map 4. Sampling locations in Woburn near Halls Brook

12 12 Blue labels = water quality standards met (E. coli concentrations < 235 cfu / 100 ml) Yellow labels = primary contact / swimming standards not met (E. coli between cfu / 100 ml) Red labels - secondary contact / boating standards not met (E. coli > 1260 cfu / 100 ml) Map 5. Sampling locations in Woburn near Halls Brook

13 Table 3. Archive Data 13 Site Date Wet/Dry E.coli (cfu) FecCol (cfu) TOMS 2/25/09 N/D 38 5/27/09 N/D 183 5/27/09 N/D 241 9/22/10 Dry 12 WOPKWY 9/22/10 Dry 236 OF119 7/18/06 Dry 2,452 9/22/10 Dry 16 OF118 7/18/06 Dry 1,102 12/3/2009 Wet 6,212 9/22/10 Dry 384 UNCLEE 9/22/10 Dry 105 OF161 9/22/10 Dry 4 HAB087 8/30/05 Wet 2,452 12/3/2009 Wet 1,230 9/22/10 Dry 1,741 HAB87US 9/22/10 Dry 1,230 HABBOS 9/22/10 Dry 913 BOSEND 9/22/10 Dry 354 BOSDEP 9/22/10 Dry 326 HAB001 6/24/03 Wet 6,000 6/2/05 Dry 60 2/20/07 Dry 1,045 9/22/10 Dry 124