Karen Reynolds, Environmental Canine Services LLC The Nose Knows! Using Canines to Scent Track bacterial pollution sources in the navesink river Karen Reynolds, Environmental Canine Services LLC

WHY TRACK SOURCES OF BACTERIA? Exposure to bacteria in the water can cause diseases and infections in people and animals. Shellfish harvesting, fishing, boating, and swimming are impacted by serious health concerns in water polluted by bacteria 1972 - to keep the nation’s waters healthy and safe.

Sources of Bacterial pollution Animal Feces Pets Livestock Wildlife

Human Sewage Broken/leaking sewer lines Failing septic systems Illicit connections Sewer overflows

Environmental canine services llc K9 detection & source tracking of human sewage pollution in stormwater and surface water Founded in 2009 by Karen & Scott Reynolds Nationwide - 3 Teams Northeast Midwest West Over 50 projects completed in 11 states CA, CT, FL, MA, ME, MI, NH, VT, WA, WI, WV

Why use canines? Born to sniff! Olfactory receptor cells Human = 5 million Dog = 300 million Odor Concentrations Detect scent at up to 100 million times lower level than humans Scent discrimination Catalog incredible amount of specific scents

Advantages of Using ECS canines Human Specific Immediate Results On-the-fly Source Tracking Lower costs

Human specific & Immediate Results Fecal coliform lab results = 24-48 hours *Animal or human ? ECS canine results 7 samples = 30 seconds!

On-The-Fly Source Tracking ECS canines can quickly check for pollution upstream through stormwater systems and surface waters, providing instant information and allowing immediate source tracking .

Canine investigation METHODS: WHAT WE CAN USE TO HELP THE NAVESINK Watershed water sample testing Septic failure and direct discharge investigations Stormwater system investigations Shoreline investigations Investigations by boat

Watershed Water Sample Testing Ship and Sniff On Site

Septic Failures & Direct Discharges Failing Septic Exeter, NH Illicit Discharge Berrien County, MI

Stormwater Systems Outfalls Milwaukee, WI Catch Basins Manholes Seattle, WA Boston, MA

Shorelines Bay Manchester, WA Ocean Freshwater Salem, NH Rye, NH

By Boat Lincoln Lake in Kent County, MI

Questions?