TIVERTON -- A neighborhood in the north part of town already dealing with contaminated soil in its streets and yards now has another environmental concern: high levels of fecal coliform bacteria in its surface water.
The state Department of Environmental Management late last month ordered tests of a stream that runs through Bay and Bottom Streets and empties into Sakonnet Bay.
Of the five samples taken, two came from near Bay and Bottom Streets and three came from where the stream empties into the bay.
One sample taken at the shoreline showed more than 1,600 fecal bacteria per 100 milliliters of water, the maximum amount that can be found from the type of test conducted. One of the tests from the neighborhood also indicated a count greater than 1,600.
The state water quality standard for swimming areas is 200 fecal bacteria per 100 milliliters of water. The standard is 14 in shellfishing areas.
Although there isn't a state standard in this situation, the results are a "cause for concern," especially if high levels were found in the neighborhood's open stream, said David Chopy, supervising engineer at DEM's office of compliance and inspection.
Chopy said fecal coliform is not harmful in itself, but parents should keep their children away from the stream.
According to the state Department of Environmental Management, fecal coliform bacteria may indicate the presence of the disease-causing organisms.
Failed septic systems or direct discharge from a homeowner's toilet or laundry machines are usually account for the organism's presence, Chopy said. Pet waste is another possiblilty, he said..
"Zero is what's acceptable," said Gail Corvello, president of the neighborhood group ENACT (Environmental Neighborhood Awareness Committee of Tiverton). "Anything is considered unsafe."
She also said having this "come to light is a good thing" because the results suggest that the town should sewer this area sooner rather than later.
Yet, a moratorium on digging and excavation in North Tiverton was enacted by the Town Council in August after soil contamination was discovered beneath the streets and in homeowners' lawns and backyards. Sewer work in the area was put on hold.
"This area should be first and foremost [for sewers] because of what's already here," Corvello said. "The solution is to clean it [soil contaminants] out of the streets and lay the pipes at the same time."
ENACT is planning to meet with the WasteWater Management Commission early next month to discuss the matter. ENACT's proposal that the sewers pipes be put in place when the streets are cleaned of contamination is a good idea, commission director Raul Fernandes said.
However, there are other areas in town "that are just as bad" and the commission will continue to sewer those parts until the moratorium is lifted or until the council decides to give the commission a waiver from the moratorium. He said the money also has to be there to lay the pipes, which has been coming in slowly over the years.
"We would have liked to have started down there," Fernandes said. "The whole area is bad and that's what I've been telling people. This [the presence of fecal coliform] just proves it. Sewers are going to correct it."
The DEM will conduct additional tests in the next couple of weeks to determine whether the fecal coliform count would exceed 1,600. Chopy said the test results will also indicate the source of the bacteria.
Alisha Pina can be reached at 253-1200 or by e-mail at apina@projo.com.
