CRWA in the NewsGeese feces foul Charles RiverBy Leslie H. Dixon, Daily News Staff Milford Daily News, Thursday, August
10, 2006 The sampling results from Milford to the Charles River Dam in Boston were released this week by the Charles River Watershed Association, a nonprofit organization in Weston dedicated to protecting and preserving the water quality of the Charles River. "Generally, Milford doesn't have a high bacteria count. This month it was a little unusual. I'm kind of surprised to see that," said Rebecca Scibek, of the Charles River Watershed Association. According to the sampling, which was conducted by CRWA volunteers at the Central Street bridge, near the old Archer Rubber Company, Milford had a bacteria result of 825 cfu (colony forming units per 100 millimeters) and was the only one of 35 sites tested from Milford to the Charles River Dam in Boston to show a higher than EPA standard count. Milford's 825 cfu is compared with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency boating standard that is 630 cfu. The boating standard is the level of bacteria that the EPA thinks is safe for boaters (mostly in canoes, rowboats, etc) who may come into contact with the water, Scibek said. "It is a higher level, obviously, than the swimming standard because higher levels of bacteria are needed to do any harm if you are just splashed or put a foot in the water, as opposed to swimming," she said. "If the amount becomes greater or continues to be a problem, we will be monitoring it," said Scibek of the Milford site. While the result was high on July 18, it was 270 on May 16 and 35 on March 21 of this year. "Thirty-five is a very low number," said Scibek. The next highest test sample to Milford was 420 cfu at the Muddy River at Commonwealth Avenue in Boston. Bellingham had three sites testing at 115, 180 and 55 cfu, and Franklin had one site tested at 210 cfu. One of Bellingham's sites that tested 115 cfu this month had tested 1,200 cfu in May. Scibek said the variation in test results are often caused by geese or other animal feces and construction runoff rather than illegal discharges. "It's not typically a sewage problem or pipe discharge unless (the numbers) are in the mid thousands (1,500 or higher.) Then we go do more testing," said Scibek. Milford has a vigilant, ongoing illegal discharge program. Health Agent Paul Mazzuchelli said yesterday he has not received a notice of an illegal hookup from the Sewer Department, which conducts the program, for at least a year. "We make sure we're in compliance," said Mazzuchelli. While illegal discharges are probably not the reason for the jump in numbers, Mazzuchelli said that if geese are the problem it would not be surprising. Geese have been an ongoing problem at Plains Park and other town parks and the ponds in town for a long time. This summer Parks Department employees have been cleaning up the park every two or three days each week and send one of their dogs out to chase them away. CRWA will be back in town in another week to do more tests for E. coli and total phosphorus, which is done during the summer. Scibek said total phosphorous is the most significant nutrient pollution to the Charles River that causes overgrowth of aquatic plants and contributes to introduction of exotic plant species. Through phosphorus does occur naturally, she said elevated levels are often the result of sewage discharges, runoff from agricultural sites and some lawn fertilizers. Scibek said the CRWA is the only agency that does routine sampling of the river. The results are sent to the Department of Environmental Protection and the Environmental Protection Agency. Although two other sites on Central Street were once part of the routine testing in Milford, Scibek said the CRWA stopped testing there two years ago because of access problems. The next sampling will take place Aug. 15. Leslie H. Dixon may be reached at 508-634-7521 or by e-mail at ldixon@cnc.com. |