Bacterial Assessment: Malden River, Little Creek, Malden Canal and Spot Pond Brook Survey

Transcription

1 Bacterial Assessment: Malden River, Little Creek, Malden Canal and Spot Pond Brook Survey Hotspot Sampling Date: September 24, 203 Report Date: November 4, 203 Technical Report # Executive Summary: The Mystic River Watershed Association conducted wet weather monitoring in the municipalities of Malden, Medford, Melrose and Cambridge on September 24, 203. The main goal of the monitoring event was to evaluate conditions in the Malden River and other water bodies that have led to a degradation of water quality during the past three years. As shown in the following chart, E. coli levels have risen dramatically since 20 signaling the possible failure of upstream infrastructure. Elevated bacteria levels have the potential to make recreational users of the river ill after contact. Bacteria concentrations at this site are higher than at any other Mystic Baseline Monitoring site for the period of Samples collected in the Malden Canal at site MALMR0, showed the highest September 24, 203 MYSTIC RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION Technical Report #: 3-002

2 2 levels of bacteria during this sampling event with E. coli levels of 4,2 MPN/0mL. Also contributing to the impairment the Malden River were sites MAL9NES (E. coli levels of,460 MPN/0mL) and MALNEN (E. coli levels of 9678 MPN/0mL). Archive data shows that all of these sites have had poor water quality in the past. High levels of bacterial contamination were also found impacting the Malden Canal at MAC00 (4,480 MPN/0mL). Samples collected in Little Creek at LIC003S, a tributary to the Malden River showed elevated E. coli levels (,74 MPN/0mL). MassDEP Water Quality Standards for Class B water bodies are 260 E. coli / 0 ml. for swimming and 235 E. coli / 0 ml for boating. Water quality samples were taken in accordance with the MyRWA MA-DEP approved QAPP along with accurate notes. Citation This report was prepared by: Mystic River Watershed Association 20 Academy St. Suite 203 Arlington, MA Principal Investigators: Patrick Herron, Katrina Sukola Water Quality Monitors: Katrina Sukola, Gabrielle String Lab Analysis: EPA Region Laboratory, Chelmsford MA This report describes monitoring data collected by MyRWA under its MassDEPapproved Quality Assurance Project Plan with funding support from the Sterling Suffolk Racecourse, LLC. EPA Region Laboratory in Chelmsford, MA conducted all laboratory sample analyses. These services were provided in-kind to this project. This report should be cited in the literature in the following manner: Bacterial Assessment: Malden River, Little Creek, Malden Canal and Spot Pond Brook Survey September 24, 203 Technical Report Mystic River Watershed Association, Arlington, MA. September 24, 203 MYSTIC RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION Technical Report #: 3-002

3 3 Table of Contents Executive Summary:... Hotspot Sampling and Results... 4 Conclusions and Action Items... 5 MyRWA Background... 5 Methods... 5 Quality Assurance... 6 Results: Figure. Bacteria data collected Results: Table. Data collected from sampling sites Sampling location coordinates and directions....9 Maps of sampling locations... Archive bacteria data of outfall pipes September 24, 203 MYSTIC RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION Technical Report #: 3-002

4 4 Water Quality Data Hotspot Sampling and Results On September 24, 203 the Mystic River Watershed Association conducted a wet weather sampling event along the Malden River, Little Creek, Malden Canal, Spot Pond Brook and the Little River in Malden, Medford, Melrose and Cambridge. During this sampling event, MyRWA collected twelve water samples and tested them for bacteria levels to identify potential sources of contamination that could affect water quality in the surface water bodies. The inputs contributing to the impairment of the Malden River include the sampling site MALMR0 which showed the highest level of E. coli (4,2 MPN/0mL) during this sampling event. Due to challenges accessing the site, no additional water quality data were collected. High levels of bacterial contamination were also found impacting the Malden River from sites MAL9NES and MALNEN, with E. coli levels of,460 MPN/0mL and 9,678 MPN/0mL, respectively. Both sites also had dissolved oxygen concentrations that did not meet state water quality standards (4.96 and 4.9 mg/l, respectively) and elevated detergents concentrations (0.75 ppm, at both sites), indicating possible inputs of sewage. These sites have had historically high E. coli values, as shown on the archive tables on page 2. Outfall MALMR also contributed to poor water quality in the Malden River which had elevated ammonia levels (3.0 mg/l), low dissolved oxygen (4.34 mg/l) and elevated water temperatures (8.8 C), indicating possible inputs of sewage. This site also had elevated salinity levels (9.78 ppt). The sample had a faint musky odor, was orange/tea colored, and an orange flocculent was present around and in the pipe. Also contributing to the impairment of the Malden River was outfall MALx29 which had elevated ammonia levels (2.0 mg/l) and elevated salinity levels (0.82 ppt) indicating a possible salt water intrusion. There was a musky/oily odor while sampling, the sample was orange/tea colored, orange flocculent was present around the pipe and orange foam and oil was present near the pipe. High levels of bacterial contamination were also found impacting Little Creek from LIC003S (E. coli levels of,74 MPN/0mL). Impairments to the Malden Canal were found at MAC00 with an E. coli level of 4,480 MPN/0mL. September 24, 203 MYSTIC RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION Technical Report #: 3-002

5 5 Conclusions and Action Items ) City of Malden should follow up on outfalls MALMR0, MAL9NES, MALNEN, MALMR and MALx29 to investigate likely sources of impairment to the Malden River. 2) City of Malden should follow up on outfall MAC00 to investigate likely sources of impairment to the Malden Canal. 3) City of Medford should follow up on outfall LIC003S to investigate likely sources of impairment to Little Creek. 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 Enterolert method for enumerating the most probable number (MPN) 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 September 24, 203 MYSTIC RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION Technical Report #: 3-002

6 6 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: Detergent data was collected using the CHEMetrics Detergents Kit utilizing the Methylene Blue method for analysis. Quality Assurance Quality control procedures have been documented for each parameter tested by MyRWA, and can be reviewed in Table B5- of the QAPP (approved January 20). 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 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 Access 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. September 24, 203 MYSTIC RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION Technical Report #: 3-002

7 Location Malden, Medford, Melrose and Cambridge MA Water Bodies Malden River, Malden Canal, Spot Pond Brook and Little River Hot Spot Sample Date 9/24/203 Rain Events (past 48 hours) Wet (0.3" 48 hr prior to sampling) Monitor(s) Katrina Sukola, Gabrielle String Lab EPA Region - Chelmsford 7 E.coli MPN/ 0mL ND Levels of E.coli in the Malden River, Malden Canal and Spot Pond Brook in Malden, Medford and Melrose MA during Hotspot sampling 9/24/ Secondary Contact/Boating standard: 260 E.coli MPN/ 0 ml Primary Contact/Swimming standard: 235 E.coli MPN/0 ml Figure. Bacteria counts from samples collected by MyRWA on 9/24/203 during Hotspot sampling event along the Malden River and Wellington Brook. Five of twelve samples exceeded water quality standards for secondary contact/boating in a Class B water body (260 MPN/0mL). See maps and site descriptions for information on

8 Location Malden, Medford, Melrose and Cambridge MA Water Bodies Malden River, Malden Canal, Spot Pond Brook and Little River Hot Spot Sample Date 9/24/203 Rain Events (past 48 hours) Wet (0.3" 48 hr prior to sampling) Monitor(s) Katrina Sukola, Gabrielle String Lab EPA Region - Chelmsford 8 Table. Data collected from sampling sites Sample # Site ID E.coli (MPN/ 0mL) 9//3 H2O Temp (C ) DO (mg/l) Sp. Cond. ( μs/cm) Salinity (ppt) Surfacants (mg/l) Ammonia (mg/l) Time (AM) Type Comments 242 MALx29 ND :55 Outfall Musky and oil odor, sample was orange/tea colored, orange floc growing around pipe, orange foam and oil present near site 243 MALMR ND :35 Outfall Orange floc, orange/tea colored sample, faint musky odor 244 LIC003N :55 Outfall Suspended material 245 LIC003S :00 Outfall 246 MAL9NES :40 Outfall 247 MALNEN :55 Outfall 248 MALMR0 42 :24 Outfall 249 MALMR6 268 :4 Outfall 250 MAC :57 Outfall 25 MELx :23 Outfall 252 CAMD45OF :25 Outfall 253 CAMD46OF :35 Outfall * ND <4 MPN/ 0mL * Surfactants measured using Chemetrics Test Kit Data Entry: Data QA: KS PH Primary Contact/Swimming standard: 235 E.coli MPN/ 0 ml Secondary Contact/Boating standard: 260 E.coli MPN/ 0 ml

9 Table 2. Sampling locations 9 Sample Site Town Waterbody Latitude Longitude Directions 242 MALx29 Malden Malden River South of Medford St bridge, west bank of river 243 MALMR Malden Malden River Sampled behind National Grid facility, access using kayak 244 LIC003N Malden Little Creek LIC003S Medford Little Creek MAL9NES Malden 247 MALNEN Malden 248 MALMR0 Malden 249 MALMR6 Malden 250 MAC00 Malden 25 MELx06 Melrose Malden River Malden River Malden River Malden River Malden Canal Spot Pond Brook CAMD45OF0006 Cambridge Little River CAMD46OF0002 Cambridge Little River North culvert where Little Creek Commercial Ave South culvert where Little Creek Commercial Ave South pipe of double rectangular culvert at NE end of Malden River North pipe of double rectangular culvert at NE end of Malden River 'x'- West side of double box North end of River North of Medford St bridge, east side of river Malden R. "canal" by Oak Grove T as it disappears underground; park on T station access road (off Winter St.) Park on Banks Pl and walk down foot path Outfall to Little River; AKA Acorn Park Outfall to wetland near Acorn Park Dr

10 Maps of sampling locations: Blue labels = water quality standards met (E.coli concentrations < 235 cfu / 0 ml) Yellow labels = primary contact / swimming standards not met (E.coli between cfu / 0 ml) Red labels = secondary contact / boating standards not met (E.coli > 260 cfu / 0 ml) Map. Sampling locations near Canal and Medford St in Malden Map 2. Sampling locations near River's Edge Dr in Malden and Medford

11 Blue labels = water quality standards met (E.coli concentrations < 235 cfu / 0 ml) Yellow labels = primary contact / swimming standards not met (E.coli between cfu / 0 ml) Red labels = secondary contact / boating standards not met (E.coli > 260 cfu / 0 ml) Map 3. Sampling locations near Canal St in Malden Map 4. Sampling location near Winter St in Malden

12 Blue labels = water quality standards met (E.coli concentrations < 235 cfu / 0 ml) Yellow labels = primary contact / swimming standards not met (E.coli between cfu / 0 ml) Red labels = secondary contact / boating standards not met (E.coli > 260 cfu / 0 ml) 2 Map 5. Sampling locations on near Banks Pl in Melrose Map 6. Sampling locations near the Concord Turnpike and Acorn Park Dr in Cambridge

13 E. coli (cfu) E. coli (cfu) E. coli (cfu) Table 3. Archive Data The graphs presented below display the record of bacteria sampling performed by MyRWA. All bacteria data presented is e. coli MPN/0 ml. Data was collected during wet and dry weather. Note: Bacteria counts are plotted logarithmically. 3 MALx29,000,000 0 MALx29 4/2/20,230 dry 9/24/203 wet, cfu/0 ml 235 cfu/0 ml ND // 9// 5//2 //3 9//3 MALMR MALMR 4/2/20 dry,000 9/24/203 wet, cfu/0 ml 235 cfu/0 ml ND // 9// 5//2 //3 9//3 LIC003N LIC003N /23/20078, dry 20,460,000 2/6/2008 4,024 wet 4,024 2/6/2008,274,334 wet 230,000 2/6/2008,274 wet /6/2008 2,06 wet /5/2008 8,664 wet 4/23/ dry 4 4/2/ dry 9/4/20 3 dry 2//064/24/202 6//08 20,460 2//09 wet 6// 235 2// /24/ wet 260 cfu/0 ml 235 cfu/0 ml

14 E. coli (cfu) E. coli (cfu) E. coli (cfu) Table 3. Archive Data Continued 4 LIC003S,000,000 0 LIC003S 5/28/ dry 3/5/2008,298 wet 4/23/ dry 3//20 4,298 dry 4/2/20 80 dry 9/24/ wet cfu/0 ml 235 cfu/0 ml 4 4 3//02 3//04 3//06 3//08 3// 3//2 MAL9NES MAL9NES /28/ ,264 dry,000 8,300 /28/2003 8,300 wet 9,880 3/20/ ,72 dry 235 2, /24/ dry,462,844,000 6/4/ ,804 wet 6/4/2007 4, wet /4/2007 5,72 wet /4/2007 4,264 wet 6/4/2007 6,867 wet 3/30/20 9,880 dry 4/2/20,462 dry 7/9/20 2,400 dry 9/4/ dry 4/24/202,844 wet 3//02 9/24/203 3//04 3//06,4603//08 wet 3// 3//2, cfu/0 ml 235 cfu/0 ml /28/ dry MALNEN /28/2003 4,800 5,53 wet 3/20/ dry,000 4/24/2007 4, ,72 dry 2,400 6/4/2007 2, wet,549,000 6/4/2007 5,53 wet /4/2007 5,72 wet /4/2007 5, wet 0 6/4/ ,96 wet 2/6/ wet 2/6/ wet 2/6/ wet 2/6/ wet 4/2/ dry 3//02 7/9/20 3//04 3//062,4003//08dry 3// 3//2 9/4/ dry 4/24/202,549 wet ,678 9, cfu/0 ml 235 cfu/0 ml

15 E. coli (cfu) E. coli (cfu) E. coli (cfu) Table 3. Archive Data Continued 5 MALMR0,000,000 0 MALMR0 /28/2003,800 wet 4/20/2004, dry 9/24/ ,2 wet 4,2 260 cfu/0 ml 235 cfu/0 ml 3//02 3//04 3//06 3//08 3// 3//2 MALMR MALMR6 3/20/07 dry 4/24/202 6 wet 9/24/ wet cfu/0 ml 0 6 //07 9//08 5// //2 9//3 235 cfu/0 ml Wet MAC MAC00 5/28/ dry /4/ dry 9/24/ wet cfu/0 ml 235 cfu/0 ml 3//02 3//04 3//06 3//08 3// 3//2 Wet

16 E. coli (cfu) Table 3. Archive Data Continued 6 CAMD45OF0006 CAMD45OF0006 4/23/ dry 000 2/24/2004 dry 9/24/ wet //02 3//04 3//06 3//08 3// 3//2 260 cfu/0 ml 235 cfu/0 ml Wet