Significant Reduction of Fecal Bacteria and Suspended Solids Loading by Coastal Best Management Practices

Abstract

ABSTRACT Mallin, M.A.; Turner, M.I.H.; McIver, M.R.; Toothman, B.R., and Freeman, H.C., 2016. Significant reduction of fecal bacteria and suspended solids loading by coastal best management practices. The Town of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, is a resort island that has periodic stormwater runoff problems, affecting local swimming and shellfishing waters from excessive fecal bacteria loading. In 2013–15, the planning, installation, and before-and-after monitoring of several types of best management practices (BMPs) designed to reduce pollutant loading to estuarine waters occurred. A straight pipe carrying runoff directly into estuarine Banks Channel was replaced by a buried infiltration chamber. The infiltration chamber did not reduce fecal bacteria concentrations but caused 93% stormwater discharge reduction, 96% fecal bacteria, 90% Enterococcus load reductions, and a 99% total suspended solids (TSS) load reduction to Banks Channel. Near the town's municipal area a number of curb cuts, reversed sto...