A new report from Pennsylvania environmental groups finds streams and rivers in the Pittsburgh area routinely test positive for the bacteria E. coli, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
TheĀ reportĀ from PennEnvironment looked at state water monitoring data to see how often E. coli is found.
Statewide, more than half of 653 waterway sites tested had at least one day with potentially unsafe levels of the bacteria last year. Nearly 4 in 10 sites had elevated contamination levels on one-quarter of the days tested.
Around Pittsburgh, the report said Saw Mill Run had high levels of the bacteria in more than 80% of samples taken. Eight out of 12 tests on the Monongahela River found high levels.
Koa Reitz, an environmental scientist with Three Rivers Waterkeeper, said the tested sites are not necessarily designed for recreation.
But, she said, people should be able to use their local waterways without fear of getting sick.
āThere’s lots of people that fish or just enjoy time by the creek because it’s the one that they have in their neighborhood,ā Reitz said.
A river watchdog tracks pollution violations at a chemical plant
Three Rivers Waterkeeper tests about a dozen sites around Pittsburgh each week as part of itsĀ Swim GuideĀ program. Reitz said only 40% of the sites meet the Environmental Protection Agencyās recreational standards for E. coli.
Bacteria and other pollution often ends up in waterways because of stormwater runoff and sewer overflows. Older cities, such as Pittsburgh, have combined sewer systems, in which sanitary sewage and stormwater can mix on days with high precipitation, leading to overflows.
Allegheny Countyās sewer authority, Alcosan, is in the midst of a massive infrastructure project toĀ reduce overflows. The Clean Water Plan aims to reduce combined sewage overflow by 7 billion gallons per year. Alcosan hasĀ an alert systemĀ so people can see when overflows have happened.
āWe’re fortunate here in Pittsburgh that we have a good plan,ā said Wanda Wilson, PennEnvironmentās Western Pennsylvania advocate. āIt’s just that it takes an extremely large amount of money that all of us are paying forā¦on our water bills, with stormwater fees and additional Alcosan fees.ā
More money is needed to continue tackling the problem, through both traditional and green infrastructure.
Wilson said EPA estimates put the needed cost of wastewater and stormwater infrastructure improvements at more than $12 billion over 20 years in Pennsylvania. In the most recent fiscal year, Congress only gave $135 million to Pennsylvania specifically for water quality projects.
Reitz said stormwater issues will likely evolve with climate change, which is expected to bring more intense rain storms that could overwhelm even the redesigned stormwater infrastructure.
