Nature Conservancy News ReleaseTh e Na t u re Unservanc y � �
SAVING THE LAST GREAT PLACES ON EARTH
NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT: Jody Thomas or Brad Rosov, (305) 745 -8402
Keys Canals Show High Bacteria Levels After Rains
Nature Conservancy Finds 59 Percent of 17 Canals Tested Show High Levels of Enterococcus Bacteria
SUGARLOAF KEY, FL — Dec. 16, 2002 — A Nature Conservancy program to shed light on the
water quality of Keys canals shows extremely high levels of enterococcus bacteria in Keys canals after
recent rains.
The Nature Conservancy has been testing canal water once every two weeks at 17 sites throughout the
Keys since August. The testing program, known as Florida Keys Watch, calls for water samples to be
measured for enterococcus bacteria, dissolved oxygen, salinity and temperature levels. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set a recommended guideline of 104 colony forming units
(CFU) of enterococci per 100 milliliters of water. Samples taken after last week's heavy rains showed
levels as high as 9,139 CFU per 100 milliliters of water.
During the first three months of sampling during the dry season, The Nature Conservancy found about
18 percent of the 17 sites averaged more than 104 CFU. Of the samples collected after last week's heavy
rains, an alarming 59 percent were above that level, some bacterial levels registering into the thousands
"It is not surprising to see elevated bacterial levels after heavy rains, but the magnitude of contamination
observed following last week's rain fall was startling." said Brad Rosov, marine conservation program
manager for The Nature Conservancy. Letters with the results of the tests are being sent today to
residents who live where the samples were taken, the Monroe County Health Department, the EPA and
the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Florida Keys Watch is a two -part water quality testing program that was started to determine the levels
of bacteria in Keys canals and to then locate the source of the contamination through sophisticated viral
pathogen screening. "People have asked legitimate questions about whether humans were part of the
water quality problem in the Keys. Florida Keys Watch was started to answer those questions," said
Thomas. The enteroccocus levels released today are part of the first level of testing that can determine
bacteria levels but not the source of the bacteria. Samples are taken every two weeks at 17 sites
throughout the Keys.
In early January, the Conservancy will select the six sites that demonstrate the highest continuous levels
of enterococcus bacteria to be screened further for the presence of viral pathogens. By documenting the
presence of viral pathogens, scientists can determine whether human waste is the source of the bacteria
contamination. This study is a follow -up to a 1999 University of South Florida study by Joan Rose, et al.
that found viral pathogens were linked to humans in Keys canals.
The Nature Conservancy is a nonprofit, conservation organization dedicated to preserving plants, animals and natural communities that
represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. The Conservancy's Florida Chapter has
helped protect more than 1 million acres throughout the state since 1961. Visit us online at nature.org/Jlorida.
Florida Keys Watch
A Nature Conservancy program to provide data on water quality in Florida Keys canals.
Background
For nearly 15 years, The Nature Conservancy has worked to protect the Florida Keys' nearshore
ecosystems — including seagrass beds and mangroves —and the only coral barrier reef tract in
the continental United States. For the past six years, the Conservancy's Florida Bay Watch
Program sampled nearshore waters to test for elevated nutrient levels that could be an indicator
of human pollution. Through Florida Bay Watch, we found evidence of elevated nutrients,
especially near developed shorelines and enclosed waters. Because simple nutrient testing alone
cannot indicate the source of the pollution, the Conservancy has begun a new program called
Florida Keys Watch to monitor the levels of specific bacterial indicators and viral pathogens in
canal waters throughout the Keys. The results will enable us to determine the source of pollution
in canal systems throughout the Keys.
Program
The Florida Keys Watch Program consists of two parts:
Canal Testing Program
The Nature Conservancy samples water from canals located throughout the Keys and tests it for
bacteria using Idexx Laboratory's Enterolert system. Test results showing consistently high
levels of enterococci bacteria from an individual canal will serve as a red flag for poor canal
water quality. Canals that consistently contain high levels of enterococci will be further tested for
the presence of viral pathogens and their source. (Viral pathogens are viruses able to cause
disease.)Viral pathogen samples will be analyzed through the University of South Florida's
contracted independent testing lab, Biological Consulting Service of North Florida Inc.
The Conservancy will sample canal water for one year at 17 fixed sites throughout the Keys,
from multiple sites within three neighborhoods, and episodically following rainstorms.
Neighborhood Testing Program
In addition, the Conservancy is looking for two neighborhoods where residents would like their
canals tested using the same methodology. Funding is available to test five locations within a
single canal system at two locations and to do the follow -up viral pathogen testing. While the
method to test for enterococci bacterium is simple and cost effective, the viral pathogen testing
costs about $800 per sample. People who would like to nominate their neighborhood for this free
testing should call Brad Rosov at The Nature Conservancy, (305) 745 -8402.
Conservancy volunteers trained according to a quality assurance protection plan approved by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will do the sampling.
Results
The testing results will update a 1999 study ( Joan Rose, et. al.) in which canal water samples
from Keys sites were screened for a suite of parameters — viruses, different bacteria and
parasites. Seventy -nine percent of the sites tested positive for intestinal viruses. The source of
these viruses was found to be human. By using genetic testing and DNA matching techniques,
lab scientists can document if a virus is from a human or animal source.
FLORIDA KEYS WATCH FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Doesn't a public agency already do canal sampling?
A: No. The EPA does not regularly test canal water in the Keys. The agency is funding a small
pilot project to monitor water quality within the Little Venice canal system in Marathon before
and after a sewer line is installed. The Monroe County Health Department spends most of its
limited resources on the beaches. Monroe County is doing a canal inventory assessment,
determining water flow and depth, but will not be doing water quality testing.
Q: What is the Enterolert system?
A: The Enterolert system is a new and simplified way to test for enterococcus bacteria, which the
EPA has determined is the best indicator of sewage contamination. These bacteria only survive
for a short time once the sample is taken, so timing is critical. The shortage of labs that could
conduct testing using the expensive and time - consuming traditional membrane filtration
protocols made it hard to do this testing in the Keys. The Enterolert system is simple, fast and
inexpensive and is used at the Conservancy's office on Sugarloaf Key. The more complicated
viral pathogen testing will be done at Biological Consulting Services in Gainesville, FL. Studies
support the Enterolert methodology as comparable if not better than older, slower methods.
Q: Who is advising on the science?
A: Brad Rosov, the Conservancy's marine conservation program manager, is administering the
program. He has a B.A. in neuroscience from the University of Delaware and a M.S. in marine
biology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Brad will be advised by scientists
at the University of South Florida responsible for the original study of canal water quality
conducted in 1999.
Q: What will The Nature Conservancy do with the results?
A: A quarterly report will be generated and distributed to all funders, participating residents,
University of South Florida, BCS Laboratory Inc., Monroe County Department of Health, the
Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Technical Advisory Committee of the
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the EPA and the public.
For More Information
To obtain further information, please contact Brad Rosov, The Nature Conservancy's
marine conservation program manager at (305) 745 -8402.
Canal Enterococcus Bacteria Levels After Recent Rain Event
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CFU /100m1,
Three Month Average Canal Enterococcus Bacteria Levels
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Site#
Note: For the above graph, sampling sites 1, 2, 3, 4, and 17 contained Enterococcus levels far beyond 1000
CFU /100m1,
Three Month Average Canal Enterococcus Bacteria Levels
400 -%4
350
300
S
3 250
U .
H 200
■ Enterococcus
150
150
_ 126.9
100.3 103.3
w 100 _ _89
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