Bacteria Testing

Milwaukee Riverkeeper has begun work on a new project aimed at reducing bacteria and pathogen loads in the Menomonee River. Based on modeling by Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) and Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Comission (SEWRPC), bacteria from human fecal sources (fecal coliform bacteria) are much greater than anticipated at a section of the river between Burleigh Ave. and 60th St.

At an instream monitoring station near 70th St., the amount of fecal coliform regularly exceeds the recreational use standard (200 cells/100ml) by 15 times and has been as high as 1,500 times the standard. The amount of fecal coliform has increased over the past decade, likely exacerbated by an aged and failing sanitary sewer system.

Along with being a health hazard, sewage contains nutrients, trash, and pathogens that cause a wide array of environmental problems. The nutrients provide the food for algae, creating large algal blooms. When the algae die, they strip the water of oxygen and can cause massive fish kills. The bacteria and pathogens lead to polluted river water unsuitable for recreational use, and contribute to beach closings as they discharge into the lake.

Milwaukee Riverkeeper is testing storm water outfalls between Burleigh Ave. and Hawley Rd. on the Menomonee and the lower reaches of Honey Creek and Underwood Creek.  After the samples are collected, Sandra McLellan’s lab at the UW-Milwaukee Great Lakes Water Institute is analyzing the samples for E. coli and Enterococcus.  They then use a technique called Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to determine if the bacteria are human or animal based by looking at the DNA of the Bacteroides strain of bacteria (Bacteroides are found in the gut of mammals). Once the problem outfalls have been determined, we will be working with the City of Wauwatosa so they can prioritize repairing the areas contributing the highest concentration of pollution first.

Bacteria Map _{"Google Maps"}

Bacteria Map _{"Google Earth" required}

More information on E. coli and Sandra McLellan’s work

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