BRATTLEBORO — The Southeastern Vermont Watershed Alliance's (SeVWA) summer water-quality monitoring program held its second round of testing July 7, according to a news release.
Volunteers are collecting 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.
The days leading up to the July 7 test in the West River and Whetstone Brook watershed were very dry - so dry that the National Weather Service's Regional Drought Monitor lists Windham County and the southern half of Windsor County as experiencing “moderate” drought conditions.
As a result, only two 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 - the Brattleboro Farmer's Market on Whetstone Brook (518) and Rowes Road in South Londonderry on the West River (462).
The Whetstone had the highest reported E. coli levels, ranging from 105 (below Ames Hill Brook) to 205 (across from the Brattleboro Food Co-op).
All the West River sites had levels below 50 while, 0n the Rock River, Indian Love Call in Newfane had a 62.
High bacteria levels are often a result of heavy rains, and the storms that passed through the region in the days after testing may 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.