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Montas Bravo L, Chen Y, Zhang H, Abdool-Ghany AA, Lamm E, Quijada A, Reiner R, Ortega Castineiras C, Knowles A, Precht L, Solo-Gabriele H. Enterococci pathways to coastal waters and implications of sea level rise. Water Res 2024; 254:121341. [PMID: 38422693 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Highly urban coastal communities in low lying areas and with high water tables are vulnerable to sea-level rise and to corresponding increases in coastal groundwater levels. Stormwater conveyance systems are under increased risk. Rising groundwater levels affect the hydraulics of the stormwater system thereby increasing contaminant transport, for example the fecal indicator bacteria enterococci, to coastal waters. This study offers a unique opportunity to evaluate the impacts of increased contaminant transport on marine coastal environments. Here we assessed historic and recent coastal water quality, stormwater sampling data, groundwater monitoring and tidal elevations near the coastline, in the context of altered hydraulics within the system. Two pathways of enterococci to marine waters were identified. Direct discharge of contaminated stormwater runoff via the stormwater outfalls and tidally driven contaminated groundwater discharge. As sea level continues to rise, we hypothesize that a diminished unsaturated zone coupled with altered hydraulic conditions at the coastal groundwater zone will facilitate the transport of enterococci from urban sediments to the study site (Park View Waterway in Miami Beach, FL USA). We recommend improvements to the stormwater conveyance system, and maintenance of the sanitary sewer system to mitigate these impacts and minimize transport of enterococci, and other stormwater pollutants to coastal waters. The results of this study can be useful to interpret high enterococci levels in low lying coastal areas where groundwater is influenced by rising sea water levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Montas Bravo
- Department of Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering, University of Miami, 1251 Memorial Drive, McArthur Engineering Building, 1251 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146, United States.
| | - Yutao Chen
- Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, United States
| | - Hekai Zhang
- Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, United States
| | - Afeefa A Abdool-Ghany
- Department of Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering, University of Miami, 1251 Memorial Drive, McArthur Engineering Building, 1251 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146, United States
| | - Erik Lamm
- Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, United States
| | - Ashley Quijada
- Department of Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering, University of Miami, 1251 Memorial Drive, McArthur Engineering Building, 1251 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146, United States
| | - Rivka Reiner
- Department of Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering, University of Miami, 1251 Memorial Drive, McArthur Engineering Building, 1251 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146, United States
| | - Cristina Ortega Castineiras
- City of Miami Beach, Department of Public Works, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139, United States
| | - Amy Knowles
- City of Miami Beach, Environment and Sustainability Department, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139, United States
| | - Lindsey Precht
- City of Miami Beach, Environment and Sustainability Department, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139, United States
| | - Helena Solo-Gabriele
- Department of Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering, University of Miami, 1251 Memorial Drive, McArthur Engineering Building, 1251 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146, United States; Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, United States
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