URI Watershed Watch uses the USEPA approved membrane filtration method with mTEC media for analyzing fecal coliform and E. coli bacteria, bacteria species that can indicate the presence of human sewage and the associated pathogens, or disease causing organisms. For the past several years URI Watershed Watch has been splittling primarily marine site samples to analyze enterococci values using the USEPA approved membrane filtration method with mE media. Enterococci are a different group of bacteria species which have been identified as being slightly better indicators of increased risks of contracting gastointestinal illnesses than E. coli, and significantly better than the fecal coliforms as a group.

As of 2004, the Rhode Island Department of Health adopted standards for licensed swimming beaches based on enterococci. Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management water quality standards still consider fecal coliform as indicators of overall water quality.

Watershed Watch data is intended for screening purposes only, but is very valuable for targeting areas of concerns and for tracking potential sources of bacterial contamination. Samples may have been collected over a period of days for each collection period, and may reflect dry weather versus wet weather or rain event values. Please contact Watershed Watch for specific sample dates.

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management marine water standards:
For recreational contact - Fecal coliform not to exceed 50 fecal coliform per 100 mL.
For Shellfishing - Fecal coliform not to exceed 14 fecal coliform per 100 mL .

Rhode Island Department of Health Swimming Beach Enterococci Standards:
Marine Waters - Not to exceed 104 enterococci per 100 mL.

(Enterococci data available upon request for select locations).

2004

MARINE BACTERIA DATA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAY
MAY
JUNE
JUNE
JULY
JULY
AUG
AUG
SEPT
SEPT
OCT
OCT

**

 = URIWW Watershed Code
Fecal

E.

Fecal

E.

Fecal

E.

Fecal

E.

Fecal

E.

Fecal

E.

Updated 10/20/04

coliform

coli

coliform

coli

coliform

coli

coliform

coli

coliform

coli

coliform

coli

**

SURF SITES
---
---
---
---
COUNT
PER
100
mL
---
---
---
 ---

CW

WATCH HILL
10
7
< 1
< 1
< 1

< 1
6
6
< 2
< 2
< 2
< 2

CW

MISQUAMICUT SURFING AREA
< 1
< 1
14
14
2
1
18
14
14
14
110
84

CW

WEEKAPAUG BREECHWAY
2
2
161
161
20
16
144
144
46
46
106
106

CW

DEEP HOLE
< 1
< 1
1
1
< 1
< 1
4
4
-
-
-
-

CW

THE K'S
1
1
61
60
188
188
32
32
10
10
106
106

CW

CONANT AVE.
2
1
35
35
15
15
8
8
< 2
< 2
24
24

CW

 SCARBOROUGH SURFING AREA
< 1
< 1
186
186
16
14
20
20
20
20
60
60

CW

MONAHAN'S
< 1
< 1
26
26
2
2
14
14
6
6
116
116
CW

NARRAGANSETT PIER STEPS
7
7
64
62
1
1
12
12
6
4
32
28
CE

SECOND BEACH
< 1
< 1
69
69
10
10
8
8
4
4
1180
1180
CE

FIRST BEACH
18
18
82
82
16
14
13
13
140
90
620
620
                           
   
MAY
MAY
JUNE
JUNE
JULY
JULY
AUG
AUG
SEPT 1
SEPT 1
SEPT 29
SEPT 29
   
Fecal

E.

Fecal

E.

Fecal

E.

Fecal

E.

Fecal

E.
Fecal

E.

  SALT POND

coliform

coli

coliform

coli

coliform

coli

coliform

coli

coliform

coli

coliform

coli
**
 SITES
---
---
---
---
COUNT
PER
100
mL
---
---
---
 ---
CW GREEN HILL - IN POND
52
52
4
4
2
2
-
-
26
26
46
-
CW GH - INDIGO PT
93
93
6
6
4
4
2
2
34
34
580
580
CW GH - SEA LEA
105
105
54
54
5
5
4
4
32
32
260
260
CW GH - TEAL RD.
32
32
8
8
4
4
2
2
124
124
-
-
CW GH - TWIN PENISULA
38
38
162
160
2
2
16
16
86
86
380
380
CW NINIGRET POND - CRAWFORD DOCK
14
14
22
22
8
8
8
8
14
14
1410*
1410*
CW NP - FT NECK COVE
-
-
6
6
10
10
3
3
24
20
-
-
CW NP - POND STREET
21
21
26
26
3
3
7
7
22
20
-
-
CW NP - STUMPY POINT
-
-
86
86
2
2
6
6
-
-
-
-
CW NP - TOCKWOTTEN DOCK
92
92
12
12
18
18
9
9
12
12
230
230
CW NP - TOM COD COVE
-
-
10
8
38
38
3
3
4
4
868
868
CW NP - VIGNA'S DOCK
-
-
14
14
20
20
2
2
4
4
276
276
                    * contaminated with sediment
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