1. Bacteria in the Hudson River Enterococci as microbial indicators of pathogens

2. Where does bacteria come from? Untreated wastewater (CSOs) Improper boat waste disposal Animal and wildlife waste Stormwater runoff

3. Bacteria from the intestines of humans and other warm-blooded animals Used by the EPA as federal standard to indicate presence of pathogens Pathogens indicated by presence of enterococci can cause gastrointestinal disease in humans Enterococci

4. Sewage NYC sewer system- 6000 miles of sewer pipes 14 water treatment plants throughout NYC NYC produces ~1.4 billion gallons of wastewater per day

5. North River Wastewater Treatment Plant Capacity: 170 million gallons per day 125 mgd, dry weather 340 mgd, wet weather

6. Combined Sewer Overflow

7. Combined sewer system (CSS)= combination of street drains and household and industrial wastewater 494 outfalls in New York City EPA: CSO Control Policy –separate underground pipes for sewage and stormwater –keep combined pipes, increase capacity

9. Outfall at West 129 th Street

10. Water Quality Standards EPA enterococci standards –In Marine waters for bathing, 35 CFU/100mL –Ingestion of contaminated shellfish or surface water can cause gastrointestinal disease

11. Enterolert New method of testing enterococci by Idexx Laboratories using a nutrient indicator that fluoresces when metabolized by the bacteria

12. Colilert Similar technology in which nutrient indicator turns yellow when metabolized by coliforms, and flouresces when metabolized by E.Coli.

13. Other Measurements Precipitation, turbidity, temperature, tides, suspended matter, organic/inorganic matter, and salinity are monitored along with enterococci, total coliform, and E.Coli.