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Fecal Source Characterization of Regulated MS4 Discharges in Washington, D.C.
Citation:
Shanks, O. AND A. Sharifi. Fecal Source Characterization of Regulated MS4 Discharges in Washington, D.C. Department of Energy & Environment Seminar Series, Washington, DC, August 22, 2018.
Impact/Purpose:
Under Section 402(p)(3) of the Clean Water Act, permits are required for municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) discharges in census designated urban areas or in jurisdictions where the population is greater than 100,000. More than 7,500 local community operators are required to develop, implement, and mitigate stormwater management programs with the goal to reduce polluted MS4 discharges. MS4 discharges traditionally include precipitation from rain events and snow melt that may contain wash-off from lawns and other landscaped areas, buildings, roadways, and parking lots. However, run-off may also contain other sources such as infiltrating groundwater, leaking domestic water supplies and sewage, washwaters, industrial byproducts, pet and wildlife waste, illicit sewer connections, sewer cross-connections, remnant septic systems, and other contaminants. As a result, urban stormwater can contain disease causing pathogens and other pollutants and is considered to be one of the leading causes of surface water impairment in the U.S. In response, EPA ORD scientists are seeking a partner to develop novel urban stormwater management strategies using advanced genetic monitoring technologies to characterize sources of fecal pollution in MS4 discharges. This seminar will provide background information on genetic fecal source identification technologies and discuss the developing partnership between EPA ORD and the Washington DC Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE). Anticipated outcomes include providing technical assistance to DOEE and the development of an advanced stormwater management strategy for future us by district, EPA region, and nation communities dealing with fecal pollution in MS4 discharges.
Description:
To be presented in the Department of Energy & Environment Seminar Series. Under Section 402(p)(3) of the Clean Water Act, permits are required for municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) discharges in census designated urban areas or in jurisdictions where the population is greater than 100,000. More than 7,500 local community operators are required to develop, implement, and mitigate stormwater management programs with the goal to reduce polluted MS4 discharges. MS4 discharges traditionally include precipitation from rain events and snow melt that may contain wash-off from lawns and other landscaped areas, buildings, roadways, and parking lots. However, run-off may also contain other sources such as infiltrating groundwater, leaking domestic water supplies and sewage, washwaters, industrial byproducts, pet and wildlife waste, illicit sewer connections, sewer cross-connections, remnant septic systems, and other contaminants. As a result, urban stormwater can contain disease causing pathogens and other pollutants and is considered to be one of the leading causes of surface water impairment in the U.S. In response, EPA ORD scientists are seeking a partner to develop novel urban stormwater management strategies using advanced genetic monitoring technologies to characterize sources of fecal pollution in MS4 discharges. This seminar will provide background information on genetic fecal source identification technologies and discuss the developing partnership between EPA ORD and the Washington DC Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE). Anticipated outcomes include providing technical assistance to DOEE and the development of an advanced stormwater management strategy for future us by district, EPA region, and nation communities dealing with fecal pollution in MS4 discharges.