•
Section 319
NONPOINT SOURCE PROGRAM SUCCESS STORY
Outreach and Enforcement Reduce Instream E. coli Levels
and Disease Risk
WatPrbndv Irnnrnvpd Small-scale pig farms with improperly constructed waste
'} * '' " ' management systems caused Afuelo Stream to be contami-
nated with high levels of bacteria and exposed the public to the disease leptospirosis. In
2004, the stream was placed on the American Samoa 303(d) list for impairment due to bac-
terial indicators. Regular stream water monitoring, public education and outreach, facility
inspections, and enforcement of environmental and public health regulations helped reduce
the leptospirosis risk and led to impressive declines in average Escherichia coli concentra-
tions, with preliminary data indicating the stream is now meeting water quality standards.
Problem
The Territory of American Samoa lies 14° south
of the equator, about 2,300 miles southwest
of Hawaii. The territory is composed of seven
islands, with Tutuila being its largest (53
square miles) and most populated (approxi-
mately 60,000). The Matu'u watershed (popula-
tion 694) is on the southern shore of Tutuila
between Pago Pago Harbor and the Tafuna-
Leone Plain, the two most densely populated
and industrialized areas in the territory.
Pigs are an important cultural resource in
American Samoa. There are approximately
35,000 pigs on 2,700 pig farms on Tutuila alone,
mostly in private backyards. Local small-scale
pig farms (1-20 pigs) commonly consist of
makeshift open-sided buildings placed on
concrete slabs or packed earth floors. Farmers
typically clean out these facilities by flush-
ing the floor with pressurized water, which is
then discharged as waste/water slurry into an
unlined cesspool or directly into streams or
wetlands. There has been a lack of community
and political will to support proper pig waste
management, and the impacts of pig waste on
human health and water quality are now critical.
Large volumes of untreated and uncontrolled
pig urine and feces contaminate drinking water,
streams, and nearshore ocean water in 31 of
the 41 watersheds in American Samoa.
Matu'u waterfront, the site of Afuelo Stream in American Samoa.
In 2003, a construction worker exposed to
water in Afuelo Stream was diagnosed with
the disease leptospirosis. This case prompted
an effort to assess the stream's water quality
and pollution sources. Inspections in Matu'u
found that every pig farm was noncompliant
with environmental and public health laws.
Bacteria monitoring revealed E. coli concentra-
tions exceeding 40 times the allowable single
sample most probable number (MPN) criterion
of 576 per 100 ml. As a result of these findings,
Afuelo Stream was listed on the American
Samoa 303(d) list for impairment due to bacte-
rial indicators in 2004.
-------
Project Highlights
Results
American Samoa received full approval of its
319/6217 Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution
Control Program on July 24, 2003. The pro-
gram implemented several best manage-
ment practices (BMPs) throughout Matu'u
watershed, including facility inspections and
improved enforcement of environmental and
human health regulations. In addition, the
program implemented regular water quality
monitoring and developed educational materi-
als and placed newspaper, television, and radio
advertisements to increase public awareness
of the issue.
Program staff worked with landowners to
implement practices to meet American
Samoa's water quality standards and public
health regulations applicable to confined ani-
mal feeding operations. In compliance with a
50-foot setback requirement from waterbodies
and structures, they installed walls and other
structures to contain and direct runoff to waste
management systems including portable pens,
dry litter systems, septic tanks and leach
fields, and a new composting system. This
effectively moved over 100 pigs away from the
stream and reduced contaminated runoff.
Finally, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), with support and assistance
of the American Samoa EPA, LBJ Medical
Center, and U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, conducted an island-wide leptospirosis
study. The 2004 study found a 17 percent lep-
tospirosis infection rate among the American
Samoan population—approximately 1.5 times
the world average. The study also determined
that pigs are the major reservoir of leptospirosis
in American Samoa and the disease is passed
on to humans through pig urine. Officials sup-
plied the medical center with leptospirosis test
kits and the center documented illnesses and
deaths due to pig-related disease.
The beneficial effects of the BMPs on water
quality have been dramatic. Average E. coli con-
centrations in the stream declined 91 percent
(see figure), with preliminary data indicating the
stream is now meeting water quality standards.
Public awareness of water quality problems and
the health threat from leptospirosis has driven
community and political will to improve pig
waste management throughout the territory.
Afuelo Stream, Matu'u Village
Period of ASEPA and DOH
enforcement action; -100 pigs
Weekly stream samples reflect declining instream E. coli
levels following a collaborative educational and enforce-
ment effort by the American Samoa EPA and the American
Samoa Department of Health. American Samoa water
quality standards call for a single-sample most probable
number (MPN) criterion of 576 per 100 ml.
This success shows how the American Samoa
NPS program can effect real improvements in
water quality and public health protection. The
success of the Afuelo Stream project has led
to 28 other watersheds implementing similar
BMPs.
Partners and Funding
The cooperation of the people of Matu'u
Village, American Samoa Environmental
Protection Agency, American Samoa Depart-
ment of Health, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency Region 9, U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (including $50,000
in-kind services), and LBJ Medical Center (with
$5,000 in-kind services) have contributed to the
success of this project. Partners contributed
approximately $150,000 in section 319 and
other funds to the effort.
I
55
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
\ Off ice of Water
a Washington, DC
EPA841-F-06-003B
May 2006
For additional information contact:
Edna Buchan
American Samoa EPA, Water Program
684-633-2304
ebuchan3@yahoo.com
------- |