Connecticut River bacteria monitoring begins fifth seasonDate: 7/11/2012 July 11, 2012
By G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com
The Connecticut River is cleaner than you probably think.
Much of the river is safe for swimming and boating, according to the Connecticut River Bacteria Monitoring Program. The results of the program weekly testing of river water can be accessed at www.ConnecticutRiver.us.
The testing is a joint project of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) and the Connecticut River Watershed Council (CRWC) and Anne Capra, the principal planner at PVPC, explained to Reminder Publications "tremendous progress [in improving the river] has been made in the last 20 years."
The improvement is due to the removal of combined sewer overflow (CSO) locations, she said. CSOs are older sewer lines that allow storm water to sweep untreated sewage into the river. CSOs have been the subject of a mandate from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Capra said that millions of dollars have been spend in correcting the problem.
CSOs have been completely eliminated from West Springfield, Agawam and Ludlow, Capra said, and many of them have also been removed from Holyoke, Chicopee and Springfield, although some do remain in those cities.
There has been a 50 percent decrease in CSOs in the last 20 years, she added.
The sampling of the water takes place at more than 30 locations along the river and some of tributaries, Capra said. The results are posted on the website on Fridays. The tests are designed to detect E. coli bacteria and the results are designed as "just guidance," she added.
The testing has taken place over the past four summers and Capra said the level of bacteria rises after a storm when contamination from CSOs and other sources go into the river. Those other sources include lawn chemicals and pet waste run-off from properties bordering the river as well as grit and automotive chemicals from roadways, she explained.
The rule of thumb is to stay out of the river 24 to 48 hours after a storm, she said.
Besides the results of the monitoring program, the new website has information on recreational access to the river and hiking and biking near the river.
The result of a cleaner river has been an increase in recreational use, Capra said.
"I'm amazed at the number of boaters," she noted. "The marinas up and down the river are thriving."
She also said there appears to be an increase in fishing in the river, although it has not been documented.
Funding for the program has been provided by a EPA Targeted Watershed Initiative grant to PVPC and by Brown & Caldwell, CDM Smith, and the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts to CRWC. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. provides support in Vermont to CRWC.
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