Multiple modes of water quality impairment by fecal contamination in a rapidly developing coastal area: southwest Brunswick County, North Carolina

Fecal contamination of surface waters is a significant problem, particularly in rapidly developing coastal watersheds. Data from a water quality monitoring program in southwest Brunswick County, North Carolina, gathered in support of a regional wastewater and stormwater management program were used...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Environmental monitoring and assessment Vol. 188; no. 2; p. 89
Main Authors:	Cahoon, Lawrence B, Hales, Jason C, Carey, Erin S, Loucaides, Socratis, Rowland, Kevin R, Toothman, Byron R
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Cham Springer International Publishing 01-02-2016 Springer Nature B.V
Subjects:	Animals Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution Bacteria brackish water Clean Water Act-US Coastal zone Coasts coliform bacteria Contamination Earth and Environmental Science Ecology Ecotoxicology Environment Environmental degradation Environmental Management Environmental Monitoring Facilities planning Fecal coliforms Feces Groundwater Groundwater pollution Humans Land use monitoring Monitoring/Environmental Analysis North Carolina Pollutants Pollution monitoring Ponds Rain Rivers Runoff Sewage Sewage treatment Sewer systems Storm runoff Stormwater Stormwater management streams Surface water Urbanization wastewater Wastewater treatment Water Water Microbiology Water monitoring Water pollution Water Pollution - analysis Water Pollution - statistics & numerical data Water quality Water Quality - standards Water quality management Watershed management Watersheds North Carolina Sewage Silicate Stormwater Groundwater Fecal coliform bacteria Septic tanks
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Summary:	Fecal contamination of surface waters is a significant problem, particularly in rapidly developing coastal watersheds. Data from a water quality monitoring program in southwest Brunswick County, North Carolina, gathered in support of a regional wastewater and stormwater management program were used to examine likely modes and sources of fecal contamination. Sampling was conducted at 42 locations at 3–4-week intervals between 1996 and 2003, including streams, ponds, and estuarine waters in a variety of land use settings. Expected fecal sources included human wastewater systems (on-site and central), stormwater runoff, and direct deposition by animals. Fecal coliform levels were positively associated with rainfall measures, but frequent high fecal coliform concentrations at times of no rain indicated other modes of contamination as well. Fecal coliform levels were also positively associated with silicate levels, a groundwater source signal, indicating that flux of fecal-contaminated groundwater was a mode of contamination, potentially elevating FC levels in impacted waters independent of stormwater runoff. Fecal contamination by failing septic or sewer systems at many locations was significant and in addition to effects of stormwater runoff. Rainfall was also linked to fecal contamination by central sewage treatment system failures. These results highlight the importance of considering multiple modes of water pollution and different ways in which human activities cause water quality degradation. Management of water quality in coastal regions must therefore recognize diverse drivers of fecal contamination to surface waters.
Bibliography:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-5081-6 ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0167-6369 1573-2959
DOI:	10.1007/s10661-015-5081-6