WPCNR WATER REPORT. By John F. Bailey. September 10, 2005, Updated 11:42 P.M.E.D.T.: Leakage of raw human sewage from the Harrison sewer on July 18, from a deluge of rain which backed up the sanitary sewers on the northeast shore of Silver Lake has contaminated the lake for five weeks, according to White Plains Commissioner of Public Works, Joseph Nicoletti. The human sewage bacteria content is just clearing up within the last week, the Commissioner reported to WPCNR Friday afternoon. Presence of E.Coli bacteria in the water trace the pollution directly to human waste.
Joseph Nicoletti,
Commissioner of Public Works,White Plains.
Photo, WPCNR News Archive.
Speaking to WPCNR Friday afternoon with permission of The Mayor’s Office, Nicoletti said his department August 30 samples of Silver Lake passed water standards by a comfortable margin, allowing Liberty Park on the lake to be reopened for Sunday’s 9-11 Memorial Ceremonies.
An Undisclosed Volume of Raw Sewage Runoff First Formed Algae in Northeast corner of Silver Lake which is adjacent to a Harrision Sanitary Sewer Line. The presence of the sewage in the lake was not announced to the public by the city, the County Department of Health, or the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Photo,WPCNR News.
Nicoletti said two water test results by the White Plains dock taken August 30 on the lake’s West White Plains shore showed water quality at very low bacteria levels, while two test samples taken at the lake “outfall” into the Mamaroneck River were, Nicoletti said, “under the threshold,” for fecal coliform and E.coli levels at which the lake front area would have been closed if it were a swimming beach. These were the first tests, Nicoletti said, in a month that showed the contamination level was declining.
As of August 30, a test analysis performed by the Westchester County Department of Labs and Research, showed on a sample taken from the North end of the lake, Coliform was reported to be 170 per 100ml, Fecal Coliform and E.Coli bacteria as less than 20 closing levels, (200 to 300 MPN).
On a sample taken from the Silver Lake Dock area, about mid-lake, bacteria contamination was almost the same with Coliform Most Probable Number to be 170, Fecal Coliform contamination to be 20 and E.Coli at 20.
Human Waste In the Lake.
The test results provided to WPCNR by the city appear to prove the souce of contamination was human waste due to the nature of E. Coli bacteria being found in the Silver Lake test samples taken August 30. Levels were far higher for 5 weeks (1,600 MPN) approaching five times the level at which the lake would have been closed by the County Department of Health if it were a bathing beach.
Coliform is bacteria only found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals, of which human beings are a member, which appears to proove the contamination was raw human sewage. Fecal Coliform is bacteria found in warm blooded animals (including geese), however, E.Coli bacteria is only found in the human intestinal tract.
Mr. Nicoletti dismissed the geese droppings as a cause, espoused by the New York State Department of Environmental Protection, because the geese would not contribute to the readings he found, or the tell-tale stench of the Silver Lake contamination. The geese also arrived at the lake only after the contamination had already occurred -- according to White Plains Executive Officer Paul Wood.
At the “outfall,” of Silver Lake into the Mamaroneck River on Lake Street, the August 30 readings of the two samples taken were higher, and closer to the bacteria levels at which the County Department of Health would close the lake if it were a bathing beach.
Nudging Threshold at Mamaroneck River Outfall Still.
The readings, taken August 30, with results coming back Thursday, September 8, the first location near the Mamaroneck River outfall, south of the Liberty Park Dock showed the Coliform Most Probable Number to be 1300 per 100ml (five times the level at which it would be closed), the Fecal Coliform’s Most Probable Number of 140 per 100ml (200 being the “closing threshold,” and the E.Coli Most Propable Number, 140 per 100ml (200, the “closing threshold).
The second location near the outfall into the Mamaroneck River off the Liberty Park Dock, was: Coliform, 1100, Fecal Coliform, 230, and E. Coli, 230. Beaches are closed by the County Health Department at from 200 to 300 bacteria levels, according to the White Plains DPW. Based on these results, Nicoletti has decided it is safe to reopen the area.
The "Outfall" of Silver Lake to the Mamaroneck River Monday, Labor Day, six days after the latest samples were taken August 30. Photo by WPCNR News.
Nicoletti said the algae would be dying off naturally as the nights got cooler. He said his department had removed some of the algae manually. He said adding fish to the lake would have taken more time in getting permits from the Department of Environmental Conservation than if the contamination was allowed to run its course, which it seems to be doing, he said, based on the latest readings.
The Tell-Tale Clue: Ammonia.
Mr. Nicoletti said he recognized the unmistakable stench of raw sewage, distinguished by its distinctive ammonia odor, (“I’ve smelled it enough to know it,” Nicoletti said) when it was first reported the day after the apocalyptic one hour cloudburst that drenched White Plains July 18.
Nicoletti said White Plains received 2.9 inches of rain in an hour. He is convinced, as the County Department of Health and the New York State Department of Environmental Conversation have told WPCNR, that the human sewage leakage came from a stormwater runoff from the Harrison sanitary sewer line on the northeast shore. He said that was where the algae blooms first appeared with a week of July 18.
Repairs Since Undertaken by Harrison.
Nicoletti revealed that Bob Wasp, Commissioner of Public Works, had told Nicoletti that Harrison has since conducted repairs to the manholes and portions of the Harrison sewer line. Neither the Mayor of Harrison, Steve Malfitano, nor the Harrision Department of Public Works would comment on this situation last week.
The Probable Source.
Nicoletti attributed the human waste runoff to the Harrison sewer line being filled to capacity very quickly by the July 18 deluge, and under such pressure that raw sanitary sewer water overflowed the manholes and forced its way through bricks lining the sewer. Nicoletti said since the algae bloom first appeared on the Northeast shore and White Plains sanitary sewer lines are south of the lake, the Harrison sewer line was the only logical source. Nicoletti said White Plains sewer lines were tested and found secure.
The County Health Department conducted dye tests on the county sewer line, the Harrison sewer line, and the White Plains sewer lines, and they all turned up negative, showing no leakage from the sewer lines (under normal circumstances). It could not be determined if the County Health Department dye tests were tested under pressure comparable to the pressures exerted on the sewer lines July 18.
1600 Levels July 28.
. Nevertheless, the samples Mr. Nicoletti’s department took July 28, analyzed by the County Department of Labs, showed e.coli, coliform and fecal coliform levels five times in excess of the level (1,600 Most Probable Number) where a swimming beach is closed. Nicoletti closed the White Plains side of the lake July 19 after he detected what for him was the unmistakable smell of raw sewage in the lake, that had been reported by residents. The level did not go down until last week (August 30), so the sewage has been contaminating the lake and the Mamaroneck River for approximately six weeks.
Remedies.
Nicoletti said he considered putting copper sulphate in the lake to purify the waters, but decided against it, because of the possibility of a fish kill or worse.
He said the six week heat wave of consistent high temperatures and very little rain encouraged the algae bloom, which by WPCNR estimate covers about 40% of the lake surface. Nicoletti said the lake contamination levels had existed on a consistent high level, over 1600 Mean Probable Number for about 5 weeks, before their test of August 30, showed acceptable bacteria levels. Only one area of the lake still tests high and that is at the outfall.
Asked how much sewage went into the lake, July 18, Nicoletti said, “I don’t know if I can quantify it, but it was a large volume of (contaminated) water, there was a significant amount getting in there.”
Nicoletti said the algae was a direct result of the raw sewage contamination. He also said there was “rooted algae” growing up from the lake bottom. He said he had never seen algae contamination to this extent in the lake in the past. No baseline bacteria counts were taken when the city leased the Liberty Park area and the lake from the county in fall 2002.
Communication Lines.
Nicoletti explained the city would not notify the New York Department of Environmental Protection, that it was the County Health Department’s job to keep DEC in the loop.
Asked if the city felt the pond was a West Nile mosquito breeding ground, Nicoletti said he did not think so, because the lake was flowing water. He said the county could test for mosquitos as a precaution, but he was not going to request it.
He said he did not see the algae would be a recurring problem next year.
The Legal Issue Will Not Go Away. Ryan to Press.
City Executive Officer Paul Wood denied Thursday that County Legislator Bill Ryan had ever contacted the city on the Silver Lake contamination, and repeated the city contention that the city is not responsible for the water quality of the lake.
Westchester County Executive Bill Ryan clarified the County’s legal position Friday to WPCNR, saying White Plains was still responsible for the quality of the lake. Asked if Ryan had reviewed the lease with the Westchester County Attorney, Ryan said, “pretty much – I spoke personally with the county attorney (on the terms of the lease).”
Ryan said White Plains peformance on the lake water contamination was still “totally unsatisfactory and I will be following up on this next week with the city.”
This week the New York Department of Environmental Conservation and the Westchester County Department of Health said they had no idea whether the contamination consisted of human sewage, but attributed the algae bloom to runoff from the sewers. Neither agency expressed knowledge of the nature of the contamination, the E. Coli bacteria, the fecal coliform. The DEC attributed it to geese droppings. However, the geese arrived at the Liberty Park after the contamination of algae had developed, according to the White Plains Department of Public Works.
Return of the Green Scum
SILVER LAKE on Liberty Park, viewed from the Harrison (East Side) of Lake looking south to White Plains and Lake Street on August 31, 2006. Photo, WPCNR News
WPCNR: What is causing the new green scum coating Silver Lake for the last three weeks now that temperatures are in the 60s? Related Question: did the Town of Harrison ever repair their sanitary sewer line as the city was told it would do?
Mr. Wood: The cause is biological. It is not sewage from Harrison. Buddy (Commissioner of Public Works sent me a memo explaining the situation).
Mr. Maloney: We’ve initiated dialogue with upper level federal elected officials for help in cleaning it (Silver Lake) up. (Mr. Maloney declined to say who the elected officials were the city has contacted.) . The park closes in 7 weeks – we have time to work on a solution for next year.
Silver Lake Scum in the Sunset. August 31. Looking West. Liberty Park dock is at left.
Photo, WPCNR News.
WPCNR: Is the city requesting federal aid from elected officials to clean up Silver Lake?
Mr. Maloney: . Buddy (Nicoletti) is seeking aid from the state, we are holding discussions at the federal level. We’re in the early stages of discussion, it’s too soon to tell what the officials can do. We’re actively pursuing it.
Joseph "Bud" Nicoletti Supervising in the field, relining the Main Street Sewer
Commissioner of Public Works.
A short time later, Mr. Wood shared with WPCNR this Memorandum he had received from Commissioner of Public Works, Joseph Nicoletti on the causes and efforts to alleviate the return of the Silver Lake scum:
It’s not quite like last year when the sewage from Harrison was getting into the lake, but due to natural causes, there are many rooted algae plants that grow there. Arne (Abramowitz, Commissioner of Recreation and Parks) and I noticed this several months ago, and it does hamper the use of our paddle boats.
The removal of these “weeds” requires an exhaustive engineering study with much chemical analysis. The removal plan would then have to be submitted to the State DEC (Department of Environmental Conservation) and, after approval, we’d go out for bids to retain the specialized underwater contractors that do this work.
That’s why, last December, we jointly applied with Harrison to the State for a $220,000.00 grant to retain an environmental engineering firm to begin the study and come up with a DEC-approved plan. We’ve yet to hear back (from the state) as to the status of this grant.
The actual construction work, consisting of dredging of certain parts of the lake (especially near the outfall basin near Lake St.; removal of the lake bottom muck and rooted algae, and the easier to discard, floating algae; treating the water with chemicals which will retard the regrowth of algae, but not enganger one’s ability to potentially drink the water, etc., has an estimated price tag of $500,000.00 to $1,000,000. Presumably, if we got the initial State grant for the design, the State would come up with more money for the actual work.
I’ll check with the State next week as to the grant status.
The Dump, The DEC and The City
WPCNR: Will the city have to remediate the existing TCE’s from the city dump before executing repairs and reconfiguration of the City Dump Composting site to comply with DEC regulations? Is the DEC allowing the city to leave the TCE contamination in the dump?
Mr. Wood said he would be arranging a discussion of the project between WPCNR and Mr. Nicoletti, and the schedule submitted to the DEC
(Editor’s Note: Wendy Rosenbach, Spokesperson for the Department of Environmental Conservation told WPCNR Tuesday of this week that the DEC has received a schedule from the Department of Public Works for the construction requirements the DEC seeks to allow the city to keep composting in the City Dump. Rosenbach advised WPCNR that it has not been decided whether the city will be asked to remediate the TCE (TriChloralEthanes) that remain in the City Dump, or whether the city will be allowed to cap the landfill in a manner that seals off the TCEs and prevents them from leaking into the ground and the Mamaroneck River, which the TCEs have been polluting for thirty years. Rosenbach confirmed to WPCNR that the landfill has to be closed and that the city has begun removing the storm debris and other items they were not supposed to dump in the landfull such as concrete, barrels and general effuse. )
For additional information, see Spring 2010 Newsletter.
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