The continuing sagas of the Blue Heron Bridge

[sportxlh]

Dove the bridge today after work for almost 90 minutes. Kevin from underwater explorers loaned me a hood which was nice given the 70 degree temp and the fact that I had left mine at home. Visibility was moderate at best: some places it seemed to be 15 feet, others less than 10.

The water sort of smelled bad like it did a couple of weeks ago when the health warning was first posted. Not sure I would want to be getting in this very often.

I saw an interesting nudi and a caribbean sea spider. Photos are not great, but you'll get the idea. Also saw a flying gurnard, but it scampered away before I could get a shot. I've not seen one of those in quite some time

 

[DennisW]

I hope the viz is better on the 9th, but I'll have fun either way.

 

[danvolker]

I hope the viz is better on the 9th, but I'll have fun either way.

I should have a couple of test kits by Thursday....I started with 2 of these:
Bacteria Testing Kits: ColiQuant EZ & MF :: Lamotte Company

Ideally, the Bridge Diving crowd should chip in on an Incubator conversion for a small referigerator...like a bar or dorm room fridge....it uses a heating module instead of refrigeration, but the insulation properties of the fridge are perfect....it keep the water sample cultures at 82 degrees, so we can get results in 24 hours instead of up to 3 to 5 days, at room temp......
Cost if one of you guys donating a small fridge you are not using, and the conversion kit costs around $760...I will look for the link...

Force E is very excited about helping with this... I spoke with Skip and he is cool with keeping and running the test stuff at the shop by the bridge.

I am thinking we should do an hour before high tide test by the shipwreck, by the shipping channel under the bridge( where boats cross under), and probably by the breakwall near where the fish cleaning station and hose are....
Initially, we do both an hour before and then at peak low tide for a baseline of change, and then mostly just the hour before high tide after this.


I would not mind trying to figure out "where" the polution is coming from--if it is a broken sewer pipe or something that is being ignored due to expense, we will need to get on this in a big way....alternatively, this whole thing could be no more than agenda fallout after we asked for a marine sanctuary--the timing and coincidence is amazine ....

So who wants to help with the fridge or converter?..
See email copy below:
Thank you for your inquiry about LaMotte analytical products.

Attached above is a copy of the instructions for our ColiQuant EZ kit # 3-0034 @ $ 36.60. It completes 10 tests and can be stored frozen for up to 1 year. This kit is used extensively to test natural waters for both Total Coliform bacteria and E. coli bacteria. ColiQuant MF, order code # 3-0035, is recommended for testing drinking water. Attached below is a link to additional information about ColiQuant on our website. ColiQuant kits have a 5 day lead time and ship directly from the lab.

http://lamotte.com/microbiological/product_line/coliquant_ez_mf.html

As we discussed, culture time can be speeded up by using an incubator. LaMotte offers a unit that converts a standard or dorm sized refrigerator into an incubator. It is order code # 6124-N10 @ $ 778.80. This item has a 10 day lead time.
I trust this information is helpful. Please contact me with any questions.

Charlie Gloyd
Technical Service
LaMotte

Phone : 800 344 – 3100 x 7028
Fax : 410 778 – 6394
E-mail : cgloyd@lamotte.com



If a bunch of us chip in on this, the cost is irrelevant, and Skip will carry the ball in the testing and access to this for all of us....

 

[Dr. Doug Ebersole]

PM me with how I can help. I'm not local but will be glad to send you guys some money for a small refrigerator or other supplies you need.

Doug

 

[jimw]

The contingent from Port St Lucie will donate a few bucks as well. We COULD even donate all the lead we find at the bridge.
Thanks to Force E for "housing" the project!

 

[Angry Turtle]

Dan,

You may know this already, but just in case I'll point it out.

The kit that you are planning to buy is for E. Coli and total coliforms.

The Health department tests for these on a secondary basis, but the primary indicator for possible sewage contamination in saltwater is enteroccocci.

Even if your tests show no coliforms, it does not rule out enterococci

5.11 Fecal Bacteria | Monitoring & Assessment | US EPA


"Enterococci are a subgroup within the fecal streptococcus group. Enterococci are distinguished by their ability to survive in salt water, and in this respect they more closely mimic many pathogens than do the other indicators. Enterococci are typically more human-specific than the larger fecal streptococcus group. EPA recommends enterococci as the best indicator of health risk in salt water used for recreation and as a useful indicator in fresh water as well."


"Studies conducted by EPA to determine the correlation between different bacterial indicators and the occurrence of digestive system illness at swimming beaches suggest that the best indicators of health risk from recreational water contact in fresh water are E. coli and enterococci. For salt water, enterococci are the best. Interestingly, fecal coliforms as a group were determined to be a poor indicator of the risk of digestive system illness. However, many states continue to use fecal coliforms as their primary health risk indicator."


If you look at the Dept of Health results page for Phil Foster Park, you will see that fecal coliform is tested only sporadically. They are not even testing now that the enterococci are high.

Beach Sampling History

 

[jimw]

Here's the press release from the 28th of Feb.

NO SWIMMING ADVISORY REMAINS POSTED?PHIL FOSTER PARK Press Release, Palm Beach County Health Department

It speaks to closure and measurements. Interpret please Angry Turtle.

 

[Angry Turtle]

Here's the press release from the 28th of Feb.

NO SWIMMING ADVISORY REMAINS POSTED?PHIL FOSTER PARK Press Release, Palm Beach County Health Department

It speaks to closure and measurements. Interpret please Angry Turtle.

Jim,

The geometric mean (very roughly translated) is a "fancier" average. (it is not distorted by one extreme value like a regular "average"http://www.supermind.org/blog/747/arithmetic-mean-vs-geometric-mean)

From what I can glean online, the Florida health dept calculates the geometric mean using at least 5 separate samples within the last 30 days.

What they mean when they say "Phil Foster's results for enterococcus have dropped to 21 but the geometric mean drops to 40.38 which is still in the “poor” range." is that even when the last four consecutive samples are in the "good" range, the previous "poor" readings where high enough to "sway" the "average" to be still in the "poor" range.

 

[jet126]

I can donate a small bar fridge. I have one that's about 3 ft tall (fits under a countertop) and maybe 18" wide. Also happy to chip in a few $$.

I should have a couple of test kits by Thursday....I started with 2 of these:
Bacteria Testing Kits: ColiQuant EZ & MF :: Lamotte Company

Ideally, the Bridge Diving crowd should chip in on an Incubator conversion for a small referigerator...like a bar or dorm room fridge....it uses a heating module instead of refrigeration, but the insulation properties of the fridge are perfect....it keep the water sample cultures at 82 degrees, so we can get results in 24 hours instead of up to 3 to 5 days, at room temp......
Cost if one of you guys donating a small fridge you are not using, and the conversion kit costs around $760...I will look for the link...

Force E is very excited about helping with this... I spoke with Skip and he is cool with keeping and running the test stuff at the shop by the bridge.

I am thinking we should do an hour before high tide test by the shipwreck, by the shipping channel under the bridge( where boats cross under), and probably by the breakwall near where the fish cleaning station and hose are....
Initially, we do both an hour before and then at peak low tide for a baseline of change, and then mostly just the hour before high tide after this.


I would not mind trying to figure out "where" the polution is coming from--if it is a broken sewer pipe or something that is being ignored due to expense, we will need to get on this in a big way....alternatively, this whole thing could be no more than agenda fallout after we asked for a marine sanctuary--the timing and coincidence is amazine ....

So who wants to help with the fridge or converter?..
See email copy below:
Thank you for your inquiry about LaMotte analytical products.

Attached above is a copy of the instructions for our ColiQuant EZ kit # 3-0034 @ $ 36.60. It completes 10 tests and can be stored frozen for up to 1 year. This kit is used extensively to test natural waters for both Total Coliform bacteria and E. coli bacteria. ColiQuant MF, order code # 3-0035, is recommended for testing drinking water. Attached below is a link to additional information about ColiQuant on our website. ColiQuant kits have a 5 day lead time and ship directly from the lab.

http://lamotte.com/microbiological/product_line/coliquant_ez_mf.html

As we discussed, culture time can be speeded up by using an incubator. LaMotte offers a unit that converts a standard or dorm sized refrigerator into an incubator. It is order code # 6124-N10 @ $ 778.80. This item has a 10 day lead time.
I trust this information is helpful. Please contact me with any questions.

Charlie Gloyd
Technical Service
LaMotte

Phone : 800 344 – 3100 x 7028
Fax : 410 778 – 6394
E-mail : cgloyd@lamotte.com



If a bunch of us chip in on this, the cost is irrelevant, and Skip will carry the ball in the testing and access to this for all of us....

 

[tibenmiami]

I can donate a small bar fridge. I have one that's about 3 ft tall (fits under a countertop) and maybe 18" wide. Also happy to chip in a few $$.

Where? to whom? I can donate a few $$