Compared to results last month, water quality conditions are improved at many East Hampton Town sites this week, according to results of samples taken by Concerned Citizens of Montauk on Monday morning. However, four survey sites returned high levels of Enterococcus bacteria, three of them in Lake Montauk.
Conditions at 29 percent of the 33 sites in Montauk, Amagansett, and East Hampton have improved as compared to the results of samples taken during the week of June 30.
Enterococcus is bacteria commonly found in the intestines of humans and animals and often used as indicators of water contamination, particularly by fecal matter. According to the federal Environmental Protection Agency, recreational waters are considered unsafe if Enterococcus levels exceed 104 colony-forming units, or C.F.U., per 100 milliliters for marine water and 61 C.F.U. per 100 milliliters for freshwater.
In Lake Montauk, an Enterococcus measurement of greater than 24,196 C.F.U./100 mL was recorded at the Benson Drive culvert sample site, by far the highest of this week's results. The East Creek at Lake Montauk saw 496 C.F.U./100 mL, and Lake Montauk's Causeway South site saw 218 C.F.U./100 mL. In East Hampton, the culvert at Northwest Creek saw a measurement of 410 C.F.U./100 mL.
Medium levels, defined as 36 to 104 C.F.U./100 mL, were sampled at Lake Montauk's Stepping Stones site and at Folkstone Drive at Three Mile Harbor, both of which saw measurements of 41 C.F.U./100 mL.
C.C.O.M. has announced three new sites to its testing program: the east and west sides of Fort Pond in Montauk, where sites on the north and south sides are already sampled, and an oyster garden at the north side of Accabonac Harbor, which joins three existing sample sites in that water body. Low levels of Enterococcus were measured at each of the three sites this week.
The group notes in its report that, post-rainfall, water quality this week may have worsened since its field sampling.
Because stormwater runoff is a principal mechanism by which contaminants are introduced to many of Suffolk County's beaches, particularly those located in poorly flushed bays and harbors, the Suffolk Health Department advises against swimming in those locations for at least 24 and preferably 48 hours after a heavy rainfall.
Exposure to pathogen-contaminated water can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, and fever. Illnesses of the upper respiratory tract and minor skin, eye, ear, nose, and throat infections have also been associated with pathogen exposures. Those with compromised immune systems, the elderly, and children, the latter because of their level of activity and opportunities for ingestion of water, are most vulnerable to these illnesses.
Low Blue-Green Algae
C.C.O.M., in collaboration with the Gobler Lab at Stony Brook University, also samples Fort Pond for harmful algal blooms. Results so far this year have shown low or lower than the detection limit for cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, indicating a low risk for a harmful or toxic algal bloom. Blooms have historically been recorded annually, typically starting in late August, though two were recorded in July last year.
