HomeMy WebLinkAbout10 - Viral & Coliphage Testing in Storm Drains & Tributaries to Newport BayITEM to
TO: Members of the Newport Beach City Council
FROM: Dave Kiff, Deputy City Manager
SUBJECT: Contract Approvals - Viral and Coliphage Testing in Storm Drains and
Tributaries to Newport Bay
RECOMMENDED Authorize the Mayor to execute two contracts with the Southern California
ACTION: Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP) and with the Regents of the
University of California for viral and f- specific coliphage testing in storm drains
and tributaries to Newport Bay.
BACKGROUND: At least nine locations in Newport Bay routinely show bacteria levels higher than
allowed by State law (AB 411, Wayne, 1997) for water contact recreational
activities like swimming and wading. These areas include:
— 43rd Street Beach (Channel Place Park)
Arches Marina (PCH and Newport Boulevard)
Bayshore Beach
Santa Ana /Delhi Channel
San Diego Creek at Jamboree
Big Canyon Wash
Back Bay Drain/ East Side of Newport Dunes
The Orange County Health Care Agency's Environmental Health Division
(HCA) tests these nine areas and about 25 more at least one time a week. If the
areas exceed AB 411 standards for total coliform, fecal coliform, or enterococcus,
the County directs that the waters be posted as potentially unsafe for water
contact recreation. A posting is separate from a closure. Per AB 411, the latter
occurs when HCA suspects or knows of a sewage spill or leak. The sign on the
left is a closure sign - the sign on the right is a posting.
Beach Closure Beach Posting
KEEP OUT
SEWAGE CONTAMINATED
WATER
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WARNING!
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The three bacteria listed above are known as indicator bacteria, meaning that
they may indicate the presence of a human pathogen like a virus. The key word is
may - for we do not know with certainty whether or not a virus is always
attached to or near the indicator bacteria. Nor do we know the source of the
indicator bacteria - the bacteria may be present due to bird droppings (a single
bird dropping can have 2.4 million fecal coliforms), pet waste, garden fertilizer,
or other decomposing organic matter.
Sourcing the bacteria is an expensive challenge. Some scientists - like Dr.
Mansour Samadpour with the University of Washington - have proposed getting
a genetic fingerprint of the bacteria and attempting to match it with bacteria from
animals, humans or birds. Others question this method, arguing that the data
resulting from Dr. Samadpour's methods has no statistical significance.
The "holy grail" of water quality testing may be tests which identify the presence
or absence of human viruses in a water sample. But such testing involves both
young science and high prices.
With this in mind, the City sought and received a grant from the California State
Water Resources Control Board in the FY 1999 -2000 State Budget for $175,000 to
conduct a source identification study in the Newport area. Working with the
California Regional Water Quality Control Board (Santa Ana Region), local
health officials at OC HCA, and local experts like Dr. Jack Skinner, we developed
a three - phased Scope of Work for our Study.
The Phases are as follows
• Phase I - Preliminary Virus, Coliphage, and Bacteria Testing of Newport
Bay Storm Drains and Tributaries. This phase tested nine sites for viruses,
f- specific coliphage, and the three indicator bacteria once a week for three
weeks, including:
431d Street Beach (Channel Place Park)
— Arches Marina
— Bayshore Beach
Santa Ana Delhi Channel (near Mesa and near University)
— San Diego Creek (near Campus and near Michelson)
— Big Canyon Wash
— Back Bay Drain/ East Side of Newport Dunes
• Phase II -- Expanded Testing of f Key Areas Identified within Phase I Plus
Vessel Waste and Swimmer Contribution Studies. This Phase will re-
examine and re -lest (with greater frequency) sites at:
43,x' Street Beach (Channel Place Park)
— Santa Ana Delhi Channel (several locations)
San Diego Creek (near Campus and near Michelson)
Newport Dunes North
This Phase may also include a study to attempt to determine the extent, if
any, of vessel waste discharges into the Harbor and of the contribution, if
any, of fecal coliform and viruses by swimmers (known to health experts
as "shedding ") in popular swimming locations in the Bay.
• Phase III — Rapid Testing of Hot -Spots. Phase III will look at instances
where the OC HCA has identified a spike in bacteria numbers and will
immediately attempt to test the same waters for the presence or absence of
viruses.
Two contracts will initially draw from the $175,000 State Grant. Since the Grant
is administered through the Regional Board with the City serving as the local
project manager, the contracts are both with the City. We identified the Grant
monies in the FY 2000 -01 CIP (Item #250 -7251, Page 133).
Our contractor for the viral portion of the Study (approximately $30,000 in Phase
I) is the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project ( SCCWRP), with Dr.
Rachel Noble of SCCWRP /USC acting as the lead scientist. Our contractors for
the coliphage portion of the Study (approximately $10,000 for Phases I and II) are
the Regents of the University of California. Dr. Sunny Jiang of UCI is the lead for
the coliphage portion of the Study.
This item authorizes the Mayor to approve both contracts on the City's behalf per
the CIP project's guidelines and per the Professional Services Agreement
submitted to and approved by Drs. Noble and Jiang.
ATTACHMENTS: Attachment A - Contract with SCCWRP
Attachment B - Contract with Regents of the University of California