About the Program:
Program Committees & Work Groups - Pathogens

Goals of the Pathogens Module: 

• To preserve, restore and maintain human uses of Harbor and coastal waters for bathing and shellfishing
• To ensure protection of human health from ingestion of pathogens
• To protect marine and coastal resources from adverse pathogenic effects

Contamination by pathogenic (disease-causing) microorganisms is a concern in many parts of the estuary, where high levels of these organisms can cause closure of bathing beaches to swimmers and shellfish beds to harvest. One of the major pathways for introduction of pathogens to our waterways is via combined sewer overflows (PDF), which discharge untreated sewage directly to the estuary when it rains.

Early work by the Pathogens Work Group focused on investigating alternative methods of discharge disinfection, and determining the feasibility of looking for more effective indicators of pathogenic contamination in the estuary’s waters. Recently, the Pathogens Work Group was reconstituted in order to focus on the development of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for local waterbodies. The TMDL is a regulatory tool that helps set limits on the amount of pathogenic contamination that can be released to the estuary in a given day in order to ensure that water quality standards are met. TMDLs are currently being prepared in the region for pathogens and a number of toxic chemicals. Stay tuned for further updates as the Work Group delves into the TMDL issue.

For more information on the Pathogens Work Group, contact Jim Olander at 212-637-3833.

Pathogens Work Group Documents

• Pathogens Long Term Analysis Model Results | PDF
  
  
• The Status of Shellfish Beds in the NY-NJ Harbor Estuary | PDF
  
  
• NY/NJ Beach Closures and Monitoring Information | PDF

Meeting Minutes

• September 13, 2006 | PDF
• March 29, 2006 | PDF
  
• January 25, 2006 | PDF
• August 16, 2005 | PDF
• June 21, 2005 | PDF
• May 12, 2005 | PDF
• January 13, 2005 | PDF
• May 06, 2004 | PDF
• February 05, 2004 | PDF
• December 4, 2003 | PDF

 

New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program • 290 Broadway, 24th Floor • New York, NY 10007-1866
Phone: 212-637-3816 • Fax: 212-637-3889 • E-mail: info@harborestuary.org