Purpose and Background

Protection of recreational beneficial uses is becoming one of the most costly and ubiquitous challenges for stormwater managers in the United States.  Multi-tiered approaches, and in some cases multi-billion dollar implementation plans, have been developed to address fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) TMDLs.  Due to its nature, FIB presents unique challenges.  Recent advances in the state-of-the-practice (e.g., innovative stormwater planning tools) and the state-of-the-science (e.g., for source identification and risk assessment) have created opportunities for innovative and adaptive cost-saving approaches to the protection of recreational beneficial uses. This four-part series will probe those challenges and opportunities, based on the recent ASCE report, Pathogens in Urban Stormwater Systems.

This second webinar will focus on the bacteria and pathogens sources in urban stormwater, as well as state-of-the-science source identification tools, which are being used across the U.S. for both implementation guidance (TMDL compliance planning and enhancement to Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination programs) and to support alternative regulatory pathways (e.g., natural source exclusion and risk-based site specific criteria).

Primary Discussion Topics

• General sources of bacteria in urban environments
• Source ID tools (simple to advanced)
• Using source ID to direct/prioritize controls
• Regulatory implications of source ID
• Link to QMRA/site specific standards

Learning Outcomes

• Recognize the range of sources of pathogens in the urban environment, including human, animal and secondary environmental sources
• Obtain a general working knowledge of monitoring and source tracking approaches that can be applied in urban watersheds
• References for more in-depth information

Webinar Benefits

• Understand how human and non-human sources of FIB can lead to FIB impairments
• Find out about the latest source tracking techniques useful for identifying sources of FIB

Intended Audience

• Public Works managers and staff
• Attorneys
• Regulators
• Consultants
• Scientists

Webinar Outline

An overview-level presentation of the following chapter content in the Pathogens in Urban Stormwater Systems report will be provided during this webinar, including:

• Sources of pathogens in the urban environment (Chapter 3)
• Sanitary sources
• Wet weather discharges to storm sewer systems (non-sanitary)
• Dry weather discharges to storm sewer systems
• Urban wildlife and domestic animal sources
• Environmental and natural background sources of FIB
• Approaches for monitoring, source tracking, and evaluating FIB and pathogen data, including a discussion of challenges associated with these activities (Chapter 5)
• Basic monitoring issues for stormwater microorganisms
• Source area toolbox to identify origins of stormwater microorganisms
• Conventional culture-based analytical methods
• Emerging molecular -based analytical methods

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