Save The Sound: '23 Fecal Bacteria Monitoring 'Bigger, But Not Better'

LONG ISLAND SOUND, NY — Eight Westchester County sites tested for fecal bacteria over a 12-week period this summer, in the Village of Mamaroneck, Mount Vernon, Rye, and Harrison, had 100 percent of their samples fail.

Save the Sound announced that their 10th season of fecal bacteria monitoring in the western Long Island Sound, from Greenwich through Westchester County, and into Queens and Nassau County, was their biggest yet, with 777 water samples collected.

However, the organization noted that when it comes to water quality, "bigger does not necessarily mean better."

Samples were collected by summer interns and community scientists, trained by Save the Sound staff, once a week over the course of the 12-week summer monitoring season. Those samples were then taken to the John and Daria Barry Foundation Water Quality Lab in the Larchmont office, where they were analyzed by full-time and seasonal staff for the presence of fecal indicator bacteria: Enterococcus in marine water and E. coli in freshwater.

The fecal indicator bacteria concentration in water determines whether or not it is safe for people to swim in. High fecal bacteria counts and associated pathogens in the water can make people ill and can be associated with untreated sewage or increased amounts of polluted stormwater.

"I want to thank our summer interns and the 28 volunteers who conducted sampling for us this season," Ameera Khan, the environmental analyst who oversees the program's sample collection, said. "We were able to consistently and successfully test 65 sites, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our volunteers."

Greenwich Cove in Greenwich was the only site without a failing sample in 2023.

There were nine New York locations where samples failed 100 percent of the time during the 12-week summer testing period. Eight of them are in Westchester County (shown below).

2023 Season Westchester County WQM Failure Rate Summary:

• Glover Field, Mount Vernon: 100 percent
• Outfall at Farrell and Beechwood, Mount Vernon: 100 percent
• Upstream of Farrell and Beechwood, Mount Vernon: 100 percent
• Pelham Lake at Willson's Wood Park, Mount Vernon: 83 percent
• Shore Park, Pelham Manor: 58 percent
• Glen Island Park, New Rochelle: 8 percent
• Glen Island Approach, New Rochelle: 58 percent
• Neptune Boat Club, New Rochelle: 8 percent
• Five Islands Approach at Le Fevres Ln., New Rochelle: 67 percent
• Five Islands Park on Beach, New Rochelle: 25 percent
• Premium River at Pryer Manor Rd., New Rochelle: 92 percent
• Larchmont Harbor at Park Ave., Larchmont: 17 percent
• Flint Park, Larchmont: 83 percent
• Sheldrake Lake, New Rochelle: 17 percent
• Sheldrake River at Bonnie Briar Lane, Mamaroneck Town: 42 percent
• Beach Point Club, Mamaroneck Village: 25 percent
• Harbor Island Beach, Mamaroneck Village: 33 percent
• Shore Acres Yacht Club, Mamaroneck Village: 83 percent
• Mamaroneck Harbor East Basin, Mamaroneck Village: 100 percent
• Mamaroneck River at Phillips Park Rd., Mamaroneck Village: 83 percent
• Sheldrake River at Columbus Park, Mamaroneck Village: 83 percent
• Mamaroneck River at Station Park Rd., Mamaroneck Village: 92 percent
• Mamaroneck River at North Barry Ave. Ext., Mamaroneck Village: 92 percent
• Mamaroneck Harbor at Taylor Ln, Mamaroneck Village: 8 percent
• Otter Creek at S. Barry Ave. Bridge, Mamaroneck Village: 67 percent
• Guion Creek at South Barry Ave. Bridge, Mamaroneck Village: 50 percent
• Van Amringe Milpond, Mamaroneck Village: 17 percent
• Beaver Swamp Brook at Boston Post Rd., Mamaroneck Village: 100 percent
• Beaver Swamp Brook at Rye Neck HS, Mamaroneck Village: 100 percent
• Tributary to Beaver Swamp Brook, Harrison: 100 percent
• Mamaroneck River at Joint Water Works, Mamaroneck Village: 75 percent
• Mamaroneck River at Saxon Woods Park, Mamaroneck Town: 92 percent
• Mamaroneck River at Reynal Rd., White Plains: 92 percent
• Mamaroneck River at Saxon Woods Rd., White Plains: 83 percent
• Beaver Swamp Brook at Truxton St., Harrison: 92 percent
• Beaver Swamp Brook at Greenwood Union Cemetery, Harrison: 75 percent
• Rye Marshlands Conservancy, Rye: 83 percent
• Rye Playland Park, Rye: 50 percent
• Blind Brook at Disbrow Park, Rye: 83 percent
• Blind Brook at Purchase St., Rye: 83 percent
• Blind Brook at N. Ridge St. and Ridge Blvd, Rye: 83 percent
• Playland Lake at Edith Read Natural Park, Rye: 50 percent
• Blind Brook, Rye Nature Center, Rye: 100 percent
• Byram River at Columbus Park, Port Chester: 92 percent

Save the Sound says the results from the 2023 monitoring season show that overall fecal contamination rates increased from 56 percent in 2022 to 64 percent in 2023, across all 65 sites tested in the western Long Island Sound. This compares to 49 percent in 2016, when Save the Sound first posted its overall pass-fail rates.

"Some of the increase can be attributed to the addition of three new stations this season, all in Westchester County: two on Blind Brook and one on a tributary to Beaver Swamp Brook," Peter Linderoth, Save the Sound's Director of Water Quality, said, noting that 32 of the 36 samples (88.9 percent) from those sites failed. "Our staff will be conducting field investigations around these stations with a focus on identifying and correcting any sources of pollution we find, ensuring that water quality meets the swimmable, fishable objectives outlined in the Clean Water Act."

The 73 percent failure rate for samples taken in wet weather conditions, when a half-inch of rainfall or more occurred in the 3 days prior to collection, decreased from 74 percent in 2022. As in previous years, fecal contamination levels were higher after rainfall at most sites. Dry weather samples failed 44 percent of the time, up from 41 percent in 2022.

Save the Sound said that in the 2023 season, rivers remained the most polluted sites, failing 79 percent of the time, compared to 75 percent in 2022.

"This is particularly problematic because many of these rivers run through communities and carry unacceptable levels of fecal contamination, posing a risk to human health," Linderoth said. "People deserve to be able to wade in their local waters without worrying about getting sick."

While embayments (47 percent failure) and shoreline sites (29 percent failure) passed more than half the time, both failure rates increased from 2022.

Save the Sound said that everyone can help reduce sewage pollution sources by conserving water which will lessen the wear-and-tear on the water infrastructure and reduce sewage overflows by lowering the volume of water in the system. The organization also recommends that homeowners repair sewer lines that connect their homes to municipal sewers or maintain their septic systems. Dog owners should put pet waste in the trash and never in a catch basin or on the street. Communities and homeowners can create rain gardens to help reduce runoff. If you see sewage overflowing in your community, you can email a photo or video with details about the time and location to this address.

More details about the collection and analysis of water samples in the Bacteria Monitoring Program can be found on the Save the Sound website, and in the recent blog post, "Journey of a Water Sample."