River issues, a regional perspective

River testing: who monitors what?

By SANDY LONG

DELAWARE RIVER VALLEY — With temperatures rising into the 90s and humidity levels that can curl a crew cut, having a cooling river running through the region poses temptation extraordinaire. Relief is just a dip or a float trip away. But when recent floodwaters left the region battered, the Delaware River remained murky for more than a week, causing some to question the safety of recreational contact with the water.

With river enthusiasts back on the Delaware within days of the primary flooding, concerns have been raised about possible safety issues related to river contamination. “Our staff has never seen the river so chocolate for so long,” said Dave Forney, National Park Service (NPS) Superintendent of the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River at a July 6 meeting of the Upper Delaware Council (UDC).

Jim Serio, chairman of the Delaware River Foundation, attributed the turbid waters to upriver reservoirs that continued to release sediment-laden flows long after the flooding event had subsided. During the UDC meeting, Serio raised concerns over what other contaminants might be contained within the river’s murky depths, and which agencies are monitoring the river for the presence of contaminants with potentially adverse impacts to human health.

With fuel oil and propane tanks carried downriver during the flooding, and damaged upriver sewage treatment facilities discharging partially treated waste into the river (see story on page 5), public concern has grown. Just what lurks in the formerly muddy flow is a matter of science and speculation.

The NPS and other federal, state and county agencies routinely monitor surface water quality, but no single agency bears responsibility for post-flooding contaminant testing as it relates to recreational use of the river. On a biweekly basis, the NPS tests for dissolved oxygen, pH, specific conductance, temperature, fecal coliform bacteria, nitrates and phosphates and turbidity, according to NPS Natural Resource Specialist Don Hamilton.

Wendy Rosenthal, spokesperson for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) said the NYSDEC doesn’t perform water testing related to recreational use following flooding events. Nor does the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), which has been concentrating on issues related to private well sampling and fuel oil tank cleanup.

The Delaware River Basin Commission limits its testing to long-term water quality issues related to normal flow patterns, not post-episode monitoring, according to spokesperson Katherine O’Hara.

In response to this issue, the NPS sampled four locations for fecal coliform bacteria on the Delaware River from Lordville to Pond Eddy on July 11. Results were well below the 200 colonies/100ml that would result in the closure of a public beach area. “Due to the dispersing effects of such a large body of water, the river rarely reaches a level of concern,” said Hamilton.

Still, the agency cautioned that levels can fluctuate and that river enthusiasts should seek current information on river conditions. To that end, the NPS plans to keep the public informed through press releases, public service announcements and the agency’s river hotline at 845/252-7100.

Although most of the agencies believed that the NYS Department of Health bears responsibility for public safety issues related to recreational contact with post-flood river waters, that apparently is not the case. According to Jeffrey Hammond, spokesman for the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), the NYSDOH focuses on public drinking water supplies and designated public bathing areas, which it monitors for bacteria levels and other contaminants related to public safety.

Hammond cautioned, “In waters not specifically designated as public bathing areas, the public is always advised to use sound judgment when swimming and boating. In light of the recent flooding events across the state, New Yorkers are advised to exercise considerable caution with regard to recreation in waters that have been affected. Concerns include high flows, debris, diminished water clarity and elevated bacteria levels.”

An ongoing need to coordinate testing schedules and results among agencies, as well as to perform costly sampling for other post-flood chemical contaminants, like volatile hydrocarbons, remains unresolved.