OCEAN BLUFF BEACH 2021 WATER QUALITY SAMPLE TEST RESULT BACKGROUND REPORTOCEAN BLUFF WATER QUALITY TESTING SAMPLE 2021. OVERVIEW For the last 3 years, Ocean Bluff Beach has had water quality samples collected and paid for by a private resident for many reasons. The results of the latest test, the September 2021 sample, are shocking and disturbing. The September 8, 2021 water quality sample; yielded a result of 5,800/100 mL E.coli count, the State of Massachusetts limit is 104/100 mL E.coli count. ‘The Conditions during sample collection were calm with a heavy amount of seaweed present at collection site. There was no significant rainfall for 6 days prior to sample collection. There is also a drainage pipe of unknown origin at the Massasoit Ave ramp as welll as a wastewater outflow discharge pipe just to South of Ocean Bluff Beach. ‘Samples taken in 2019 & 2020 at same location, had E.coli levels of 0/100 mL. & 81/100mL respectively. ‘The 2019 sample had no seaweed present and the 2020 sample had a light-moderate amount of seaweed present. The cost of each E.coli sample test is $35. ‘The exact reason for the 5,800/100mL E.coli count is unknown, more testing and monitoring is needed to determine the exact cause and take appropriate course of action. Funding will be a central component of testing, monitoring and any course of action taken, however there are multiple potential funding sources available, including Town of Marshfield Budget, “Free Cash” from remaining Marshfield budget funds, State Grants, Massachusetts Environmental Trust (MET) Grant and possibly EPA grants; (if wastewater is cause). BACKGROUND Since around 2009, Ocean Bluff has had a pervasive alien seaweed problem. While Marshfield as a hole, has experienced seaweed blooms intermittently since that same time frame, Ocean Bluff has seen a continuous problem each Summer. Since 2013, the problem has increased in seaweed volume and length of stay. What used to be a nuisance for a few days, has morphed into a months long, (April to October currently) public health and ecological hazard. From April 2021 up and including today, October 4, 2021, the seaweed has remained at Ocean Bluff Beach. ‘The seaweed has been decaying in the heat, humidity and direct sunlight, producing vast number of fies as well as a strong odor of rotten eggs, which is Hydrogen Sulfide. Hydrogen Sulfide, according to resources from the State of Washington Department of Public Health, causes lung/breathing issues in compromised individuals. There is also the E. coli & Total Coliform Bacteria count related to seaweed, which affects not only leisure activities but commercial & recreational fishing. In 2019, a water sample was collected by a resident of Ocean Bluff, with zero seaweed present, the test result came back PERFECT, no E. coli detected, total coliform was miniscule. (On July 6, 2020, a water sample was collected by a resident of Ocean Bluff while seaweed was present. Seaweed at Ocean Bluff produced an E. coli bacteria test count that was near the State limit for a single test sample with Total Coliform “too numerous to count. The 2020 sample conditions had a fair amount of seaweed present and no significant rainfall within 7 days of collection, On September 8, 2021, another sample was taken by a resident of Ocean Bluff, this was the first ‘opportunity to take a sample collection without having rain being the top reason for any possible above limit result. There was no significant rainfall for at least 4 days prior to sample collection on September 8, 2021. The results were shocking. An E. coli count of 5,800. The test result is 56 times greater than the accepted limit for a single test sample on the State of Massachusetts Department of Public Health website for a marine location. 25 times greater than the limit of a single sample for a fresh-water environment.Sample collection guidelines were strictly followed according to the State of Massachusetts Department of Public Health website as well as verbal instructions by one of the program coordinators in charge of beach quality at State. Photographs of the 2020, 2021 sample conditions, pictorial timeline of 2021 (April-September) Seaweed Presence and the water sample reports are attached later in report. In addition to the presence of seaweed, there is a Wastewater Treatment Plant just to the South of Ocean Bluff. The discharge pipe, according to Town documents/maps, is located approximately 3,000 feet off Brant Rock Beach. While weekly water testing Is conducted at Brant Rock during Summer ‘months on Tuesday mornings, there is no monitoring of water quality in the immediate surrounding area, such as Ocean Bluff Beach, after discharge or the following days, to my knowledge. For a water test sample to register 5,800/100 mL on a single sample at Ocean Bluff is concerning. Why the abnormally high count is what needs to be investigated, monitored, and addressed for the Public and Ecological Health of Ocean Bluff and its surrounding area. 2021 Ocean Bluff Beach Water Quality Sample Collection ‘On September 8, 2021, a resident of Ocean Bluff collected a water sample near 500-506 Ocean Street, ‘with conditions sunny, no significant rainfall within at least 4 days and heavy seaweed. The sample collection methods strictly followed the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Guidelines for sample collection according to its website. In addition, the resident spoke directly with a Program Coordinator from the Beach Quality Department of DPH regarding the instructions/methods for collection. This was the 3 sample, (2019, 2020 previous samples) collected by resident. The results were shocking, registering a staggering 5,800/110 mL E. coli Coliform result. The Total Coliform count was “Too Numerous To Count”/100mL. ‘This result is 56 times greater than the allowed limit for safe swimming & recreational activities, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health website for a single testing sample. ‘This was the 3" year in a row a resident collected a sample and brought to a State of MA approved lab for analysis. The previous years, 2019 & 2020, have provided baseline data to measure against. ‘Sample conditions in 2019 were overcast, no significant rain for days with a northern current crystal-clear ice-cold water with zero seaweed present. The water test results were perfect. Literally. E, coli count of 0/100 mL. ing in 2020 sample conditions were sunny, warm, no significant rain (all Summer) with seaweed present at testing location. The total coliform count was “Too Numerous To Count”/100mL and E. coli Coliform Count at 81/100 ml. State of Massachusetts limit of E. col for a single sample test is 104/100 ml and a 3-test median average ‘of 35/100mL. 2020 was approaching the single test limit and 2021 is 56 times greater than the limit **Photos, screenshots and water quality reports are attached to this report on following pages.** ‘There are a few possible reasons for a 5,800/100 mL E. coli count in 2021, the two most likely reasons are heavy seaweed & Wastewater Treatment Discharge. Significant rainfall is not a likely source of the astronomically high count, as surrounding beaches, Brant Rock, Sunrise, Rexhame & Green Harbor did NOT record unusually high counts all Summer or the week prior to the Ocean Bluff Beach test and there ‘was no significant rainfall in the days prior to sample collection.POSSIBLE REASONS Water Treatment Plant Located on Joseph Driebeck Way in Brant Rock, the Wastewater Treatment Plant releases treated sewer ‘water into the ocean from a discharge pipe approximately 3,000 offshore from Brant Rock Beach. To the best of my knowledge, there are no follow-up tests once treated water has been discharged off Brant Rock Beach. In fact, a brochure from water treatment plant states treated water is “released into ‘ocean’ and then moves onto a different subject. There is no explanation discussing procedures protecting public and ecological health in area nearby discharge point. E. coli Coliform Testing is the detection of human or animal fecal bacteria in the water, itis a primary bacterium causing human sickness and a better indicator than Total Coliform which is naturally ‘occurring and covers MANY different types of bacteria. E. coll is chosen due to its testing reasons and prime indicator of human sickness. Itis an efficient test for health and safety out of many possible types of bacteria, according to the EPA. Here isa link to the testing reasons and background on E. coli and Total Coliform testing at EPA: 2012 Recreational Water Quality Criteria | US EPA Heavy Seaweed 2021 was a months long seaweed problem, April up to and including today, October, seaweed has been continuously present. This year the seaweed has stayed the longest it has ever stayed in the past. Photos are attached below to prove the long-term seaweed issue at Ocean Bluff during the Summer of 2021. With the prolonged stay on Ocean Bluff Beach, during hot, humid, and sunny days as well as more rain than usual, the seaweed decay may be the reason for the high E. coli count. The seaweed produced an exorbitant number of fies, gnats and a rotten egg smell attributed to the release of Hydrogen Sulfide. ‘These effects of decaying seaweed could have also contributed to the 5,800/100mL E. coli Count on ‘Ocean Bluff Beach on September 8, 2021. The prolonged stay of decaying seaweed in the hot Summer months had an interesting effect on the sand at Ocean Bluff, It turned the sand black. Photos are attached. While documenting and photographing seaweed for the past few years at Ocean Bluff, | have never seen black sand as a result of seaweed until 2021. 2021 was not a “once in a blue moon” type problem and “will sort itself out” as claimed by Conservation ‘Administrator; Seaweed at Ocean Bluff has been a reoccurring problem for over a decade, and it is getting worse. As stated earlier, since at least 2009, seaweed has been a continuous problem on Ocean Bluff Beach, particularly during the Summer months. For years, the seaweed would stay for around a week, disappear and then reappear for a week, mostly during big Summer days, (3° of July, Labor Day). Google Earth Satellite images from August 2013, show a MASSIVE seaweed blob on Ocean Bluff Beach, as well as Brant Rock Beach. The seaweed is so prevalent and thick, a satelite high above Earth in orbit ‘captured in detail the seaweed locations as well as the water discoloration created by this seaweed blob. In 2017, all Marshfield beaches experienced seaweed issues, while beaches such as Green Harbor and Brant Rock had seaweed removed or buried. There was a quote in the Marshfield Mariner by a Marshfield Official, which stated Green Harbor Beach was “posted” or closed for swimming due to high bacteria count and that seaweed was a possible reason. Article at end of report.