Roadside ditches as conduits of fecal indicator organisms and sediment: Implications for water quality management

Roadside ditches are ubiquitous, yet their role in water pollution conveyance has largely been ignored, especially for bacteria and sediment. The goal of this study was to determine if roadside ditches are conduits for fecal indicator organisms and sediment, and if land use, specifically manure amen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Journal of environmental management 2013-10, Vol.128, p.1050-1059
Main Authors:	Falbo, Kimberly, Schneider, Rebecca L., Buckley, Daniel H., Walter, M. Todd, Bergholz, Peter W., Buchanan, Brian P.
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	animal wastes Animal, plant and microbial ecology Animals Applied ecology Artificial drainage Bacteria Biological and medical sciences Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife Ditches drainage E coli Escherichia coli Escherichia coli - isolation & purification Feces - microbiology Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology General aspects Geologic Sediments - microbiology indicator species Indicators land use Livestock Manure Manure amendment manure spreading Manures New York Organisms Pets Rain Rainfall Roadside ditches Roadsides Sediments storms Stormwater streams Total suspended solids Water Microbiology Water pollution Water Quality Water resources management watersheds wildlife
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Summary:	Roadside ditches are ubiquitous, yet their role in water pollution conveyance has largely been ignored, especially for bacteria and sediment. The goal of this study was to determine if roadside ditches are conduits for fecal indicator organisms and sediment, and if land use, specifically manure amendment, affects the concentrations and loadings. Seven roadside ditches in central New York, adjacent to either manure amended fields or predominately forested land, were monitored for one year for Escherichia coli (E. coli), total suspended solids (TSS) and flow. E. coli concentrations in water samples following storms averaged 4616 MPN of E. coli/100 mL. Concentrations reached as high as >241,960 MPN of E. coli/100 mL and frequently exceeded New York State and US EPA recommendations. Concentrations peaked in both summers following manure spreading, with declining levels thereafter. However, viable organisms were detected throughout the year. The concentrations were also high in the forested sites, with possible sources including wildlife, pets, septic wastes and livestock. E. coli concentrations and loadings were related to TSS concentrations and loadings, whether manure had been spread in the last 30 days and for concentrations only, antecedent rainfall. Viable E. coli were also present in ditch sediment between storm events and were available for resuspension and transport. Total suspended solids concentrations averaged 0.51 g/L and reached as high as 52.2 g/L. Loads were similarly high, at an average of 631.6 kg/day. Both concentrations and loads tended to be associated with discharge and rainfall parameters. The cumulative pollutant contribution from the ditch network was estimated to be large enough to produce detectable and sometimes high concentrations in a receiving stream in a small, rural watershed. Roadside drainage networks need to be actively managed for water quality improvements, because they capture and rapidly shunt stormwater and associated contaminants to streams. •We monitored 7 NY roadside ditches for land use effects on ditch water quality.•Roadside ditches transport high concentrations and loads of Escherichia coli and sediment.•Roadside ditch substrates contain E. coli between flow for possible resuspension.•Land management and hydrologic factors affect concentrations and loads.•The ditch network was estimated to contribute to stream water quality degradation.
ISSN:	0301-4797 1095-8630