BRATTLEBORO — This summer's drought is slowly easing in southeast Vermont, but the long-term trend heading into the fall months, according to the National Weather Service, is for drier than normal conditions.
The variability of rainfall and runoff has affected results in round four of the Southeastern Vermont Watershed Alliance's summer water-quality monitoring program on Aug. 17.
According to a news release, all but one site in the West River and watershed passed 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. Only Rowe Road in South Londonderry (262) exceeded the limit.
However, every tested site on Whetstone Brook in Brattleboro failed. The most contaminated site on the Whetstone was near the Vermont Land Trust farm parcel on Meadowbrook Road (580). Other swimming sites near Ames Hill Brook (262), the Farmers' Market on Western Avenue (326), and the Brattleboro Food Co-op (366) also flunked.
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, bacteria found in the guts of all warmblooded animals, including humans.
High bacteria levels are often a result of heavy rains, and heavy rain that fell on Aug. 13 and 14 caused significant rises in bacteria on the Whetstone. It is generally recommended to wait 24-48 hours after a significant rainfall to resume swimming in lakes and streams.
Most E. coli won't make people sick, but the bacteria 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.
For more on SeVWA's monitoring-program sites and results and other Connecticut River watershed water-quality and recreational information, visit www.connecticutriver.us.