BRATTLEBORO — The Southeastern Vermont Watershed Alliance (SeVWA) began its monitoring program for the summer on June 22, according to a news release.
Volunteers will collect samples from 30 sites on eight rivers and streams every other week through the end of August to test for E. coli., a bacterium found in the guts of all warmblooded animals, including humans.
Most E. coli won't make people sick, but the bacterium can become pathogenic and cause illness. Also, the presence of E. coli in waters can indicate the presence of pathogens that are more difficult to detect.
This year, SeVWA has test sites on the West River, Rock River, North Branch Ball Mountain Brook, Williams River (including South Branch and Middle Branch), Saxtons River, Sacketts Brook, and Whetstone Brook.
The days leading up to June 22 in the West River and Whetstone Brook watershed were quite dry, and only a few sites failed the “suitability for swimming” standard set by the state of Vermont and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of a maximum of 235 E. coli per 100 milliliters of water.
On the Whetstone, E. coli levels ranged from 136 (below Ames Hill Brook) to 366 (across from the Brattleboro Food Co-op) at the only site in the two watersheds that exceeded the standard.
On the Rock River, Indian Love Call in Newfane had the cleanest water, at 25, while on North Branch Brook in Jamaica, Pikes Falls came in at 51.
All the West River sites in Brattleboro, Dummerston, and Brookline passed, ranging from 53 at the West Dummerston Covered Bridge to 138 at Rowes Road in South Londonderry.
High bacteria levels are often a result of heavy rains, and the day before testing was generally dry with only some scattered sprinkles. Because heavy rains can cause rapid rises in bacteria, it is generally recommended to wait 24-48 hours after a significant rainfall to resume swimming in lakes and streams.
For more on SeVWA's monitoring-program sites and results and other Connecticut River watershed water-quality and recreational information, visit www.ctriver.us.