Green Plan Students Water Sampling

This year we are testing for E. coli at the most common swimming sites including Engine Point, Ojibway Park, Big Bend, Charles Point,  and Bell's Point. So far the water is still quite cold and the E. coli levels are very very low!

Happy swimming!

 Here is Daeson at Big Bend

Here is Cole and Deb at Big Bend










What is E. coli and why do we test for it?

E. coli is a naturally occurring bacteria that lives in the digestive tract of warm blooded animals, including humans, and as such, serves as an indicator of possible bacteria pathogen contamination. It could indicate pollution from sewage and waste water, and the potential that other pathogens may also be present.  Only some strains of E. coli are actually dangerous.

What can high levels of E. coli cause if ingested?:

Gastrointestinal infection symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, exhaustion.
Urinary tract infections
 
Sources of E. coli in swimming water:

Illegal waste dumping, septic systems that have overflowed, storms can cause waste water treatment plants to overflow into surrounding water systems, animal waste (such as watefowl) and agricultural runoff.

After a rainfall, E. coli levels will be elevated because of water runoff and the fact that E.coli is a natural bacteria. E. coli levels will only become dangerously high if there is an excess due to the above sources.

For example: So far our levels have been under 30 MPN, and in order to be able to cause illness, levels have to be above 200 MPN. In 3 years of water sampling, the highest number the Green Plan has found was 60, and this was after a heavy rainfall.