Pollutants in the Pasquotank River Heather Potersnak Michael Costa Kanika Bryant Matt Bishop

The Problem As we all know, the Pasquotank River’s water quality is exceedingly below national standards. Not only is it unappealing, there are several harmful bacteria living and growing in the water. One extremely hazardous bacteria is Escherichia Coli (E. coli). The five testing stations used along the Pasquotank River.

E. coli E. coli is a bacteria that lives solely in the feces of warm blooded animals. Because of this, you may think that there is very little chance of contracting it. However, E. coli is mostly found in three places, rivers and other bodies of water, human hands, and finally our food! If infected with E. coli poisoning, you may experience vomiting, fever, and chills. Long- Term results may include severe gastrointestinal illnesses.

Runoff There are two major types of runoff. One type is point source runoff which comes from definite points of origin, such as sewer pipes. However the most prominent in our area, are non-point sources which can originate from anywhere, such as storm water.

How E. coli Travels After extensive research, E. coli was found to be the single most dominant bacteria in the Pasquotank River. Surprisingly, Non-point source runoff is E. coli’s major transportation. Heavy rain water sweeps urban streets, ditches, and heavily wooded areas, carrying with it bird, farm animals, and various other organisms feces. From there the runoff travels downhill eventually to our rivers, where they grow into colonies.

Monthly E. coli Levels *Average level is 126 colonies per 100 mL

Prevention Now that we have found an underlying problem, preventative measures were researched. Studies show that thick vegetation in certain areas greatly reduces runoff into rivers and streams, and if runoff cannot reach our rivers, neither can the E. coli bacteria.

Further Conservation A few additional ways to aid in the breakdown of E. coli in our rivers: Plant trees along the river’s edge.Plant trees along the river’s edge. Refrain from littering.Refrain from littering. Pick up any non-biodegradable waste in your area.Pick up any non-biodegradable waste in your area. Always clean up after your animals!Always clean up after your animals!

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