Charles Lugg

Environmental Issues
Stockton University
13 December 2016

Cohansey River Water Quality: Fecal Coliform

Bridgeton, NJ
Assessment of water quality is a crucial aspect of meeting requirements of the
Clean Water Act of 1972. Monitoring of waters is a continuous process to compare
quality to standards and regulations set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Of the many contaminants tested for in U.S. waters, is the assessment of fecal coliform
bacteria levels. This chapter aims to discuss importance of fecal coliform standards,
recent studies involving Cohansey River in Bridgeton, NJ, and an overview of
membrane filtration assessments completed October 2016.
Fecal Coliform:
Fecal coliforms, are gram-negative, lactose-fermenting bacteria that are
associated with only the fecal material of warm-blooded animals. Fecal coliform testing
is important because although fecal coliforms are not normally pathogenic, they are
indicator organisms to the presence of viruses, disease producing bacteria, and
pathogens that also originate from fecal material. Using fecal coliforms as an indicator
is done because testing for each individual type of pathogen and bacteria is impractical.
Escherichia coli, E. coli, is one common type of fecal coliform that is tested for in water
quality assessments.
Fecal pathogens are a major concern as they are ranked number one pollutant in
rivers in the United States and at least third most common pollutant in bays, estuaries,
coastlines, and wetlands. Testing for fecal coliform levels is important for both drinking
water supply but also areas used recreationally. For drinking water, the EPA maximum
contaminant level (MCL) is 0. For water bodies used for recreational purposes, the EPA
MCL is 200 cfu/100 mL.
Testing for bacteria can be difficult due to complex environmental variables that
all effect measurements. Fecal coliform bacteria levels are effected by temperature,
oxygen levels, turbidity, and discharge. Fecal coliform levels are normally highest during

the summer months and following high precipitation/high discharge events. The
bacteria can survive in the sediment of a river bottom and can be agitated, increasing
measurement counts, following periods of high turbidity.
Testing for fecal coliforms should occur on over a long time as levels change with
the seasons. Agitation of sediments from storm surges associated with summer months
and summer recreational activity can result in contributions to high fecal coliform levels
(Crabill, 1999).
Another aspect of fecal coliform contamination is that of the land use
classifications of the watershed area. Land-use classifications can help in the
quantification and prediction of possible contaminations. In some watersheds,
Geographic Information Systems have been used to model relationships between land
use classification data and fecal contamination levels. Study results showed the
importance of proximity to septic tanks and rainfall runoff from urbanized areas (Kelsey,
2004). Predictions can also use meteorological conditions, streamflow, and other
conditional data to estimate levels of fecal coliform contamination (Eleria, 2005).

Upper Cohansey Watershed:

The watershed area that contributes to Sunset Lake in Bridgeton, NJ, and thus
the Cohansey River and canal, is a largely agricultural landscape with low slope and
soil. The land-use for the watershed area is 72% agriculture, 12% urban/developed
land, 7% forested, and 7% wetlands. River classified as a
In 2003, a total maximum daily load for fecal coliform was established for the
watershed. A study conducted from 2006-2009 by Rutgers University found that ~25%
of water samples from the upper watershed exceeded benchmark levels.
In 2010 the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDEP) conducted assessments
of pump stations and NJDEP permitted facilities. The Cumberland County Department
of Health (CCDOH) also performed assessment of septic systems in the watershed
area. A few leaking systems were found and fixed as well as leaking pipe infrastructure.
Septic pump truck services were observed to determine adherence to set dumping
standards/locations. The CCDOH, in cooperation with the City of Bridgeton, attempted
goose population control at Sunset Lake Park in 2010.
In August 2011, the dam was destroyed by storm surge flooding and the lake was
emptied. The lake remained empty until construction efforts to fix the dam and raceway
were complete in 2015. During this time from 2012-2013, Rutgers Cooperative

Extension/CCDOH conducted a study to determine sources of fecal coliforms to the

watershed area. The study resulted in negative findings of human source contributions.
Since the refilling of Sunset Lake in 2015, the CCDOH has continued
monitoring for fecal coliforms. From data compiled since 2002, on average, 32% of
samples exceed the allowable limit of fecal coliform for recreational use (200
cfu/100mL). There is a positive fecal coliform correlation to forested and suburban area
samples and a negative correlation to samples near agricultural fields. This indicates
that wildlife in forested and suburban areas could be a large contributor to the fecal
coliform levels.
Aeration bubblers have been installed in Sunset Lake in hopes to increase
dissolved oxygen levels as a means to limit fecal coliform activity. Since their
installment, no noticeable connection to lowered fecal coliform levels has been
observed.

Initial membrane filtration assessments

In October 2016, assessments of fecal coliform levels were conducted with
membrane filtration techniques at Stockton University. Samples were collected from two
locations on raceway (upstream/downstream of zoo), and two locations on Cohansey
River (upstream/downstream). Figure 2 shows sampling location sites.

Figure 2. Sample Locations on Cohansey River and Raceway

Membrane filtration was accomplished, filtering variable quantities of samples

through a FILTER and allowed to incubate on a BLANK agar. Results indicate presence
of fecal coliform bacteria. Extraction/comparison of results to previous data is not
recommended due to test parameters. Initial results gathered from assessments on
samples taken on 13 and 27 October 2016. Increased frequency and volume of
sampling, as well as standardization of membrane test procedures will increase the
accuracy of results. Initial results show a positive increase in both the number of total
bacteria and number of fecal coliforms when sample location moved downstream of
both river and canal. Figures 3, 4, & 5 show some comparisons between a few
developed filters (varying processed volumes) from the 4 sampling locations.

Figure 3. Comparison of Developed Plates from 13 October Sampling

Figure 4. Comparison of Developed Plates from 27 October

Canal/Raceway Sampling

Figure 5. Comparison of Developed Plates from 27 October River

Sampling
Conclusion

Testing for fecal coliforms should occur over long duration and be continuously
monitored. Although results show increase of fecal coliforms in downstream samples,
locations should be continuously sampled over summer season to determine if true
difference occurs.

Literature Cited:
Crabill, Christine. Donald, Ravin. Snelling, Julie. Foust, Richard. Southam, Gordon.
(1999). The impact of sediment fecal coliform reservoirs on seasonal
water
quality in Oak Creek, AZ. Elsevier. Volume 33(9). pp. 2171. 10.1016/s0043
-1354(98)00437-0
Eleria, Anna. Vogel, Richard M. (2005). Predicting Fecal Coliform Bacteria Levels in the
Charles River, Massachusetts, USA. Journal of the American Water Resources
Association. Volume 41(5). pp. 1209. 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2005.tb03794.x
Kelsey, H. Porter, D. E. Scott, G. Neet, M. White, D. (2004). Using geographic
information systems and regression analysis to evluate relationships
between
land use and fecal coliform. Elsevier. Volume 298(2). pp. 209.
10.1016/
s0022-0981(03)00359-9
Mangiafico, Salvatore S. Bell, Kim. Hetzell, Noah. (2016). Fecal Coliform
Concentrations in the Upper Cohansey River Watershed Predicted by Air
Temperature, Discharge, and Land Use. Journal of Extension.
Volume 54(3). pp
13. Retrieved https://joe.org/joe/2016june/rb1.php
Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program. (2009). Upper Cohansey
River Watershed restoration and protection plan: Data report. Retrieved
from
www.water.rutgers.edu/Projects/UpperCohansey/
Upper_Cohansey_River_Watershed_Data_Report_120409.pdf