Bacteriological monitoring studies to identity sources of fecal pollution at Baby Beach, Dana Point Harbor, California

Abstract

#738)

Improving water quality through California’s Clean Beach Initiative: an assessment of 17 projects

“…This situation was demonstrated by Anderson (2005) for the UV facility on Aliso Creek where cleaned runoff became rapidly recontaminated within meters of the discharge point, thus limiting its ability to reduce FIB densities at the receiving beach. The potential for regrowth is high not only in waterways but also in beach ponds where the water can stagnate, becoming further contaminated by FIB populations residing in sediments (e.g., see Desmarais et al 2002;Ferguson et al 2003Ferguson et al , 2005Yamahara et al 2009) and within the water column (Jiang et al 2007). Therefore, when designing a disinfection facility, factors such as levels of natural turbidity, distance to the beach, and regrowth potential must be considered.…”

“…An epidemiological study conducted in Santa Monica Bay and proximity to storm drains correlated swimmer illness to FIB densities (Haile et al 1999) and was the basis for the California bathing water standards. Wildlife feces, mainly from birds, are another source of FIB impacting beaches (Ricca 1998;Alderisio and DeLuca 1999;Ferguson et al 2003;Grant et al 2001;Surbeck et al 2006). Similarly, resuspended sediments with attached FIB can be washed from wetland or estuarine areas, increasing levels of these microorganisms in adjacent beach waters (e.g., Steets and Holden 2003;Surbeck et al 2006).…”