arTT rj I Pvefl1 ce & & . . BOSTON HARBOR j August 1115, 1975 In response to a request from Enforcement Division, Permit Branch, the S & A Division surveyed Qunicy Bay and the Nut Island wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) sludge discharge line. The purpose of this survey is twofold, the first to evaluate data submitted by the MDC, the State of Massachusetts, and the City of Quincy, and the second was to determine which outf ails in the Quincy Bay area contributed significantly to increase bacteria counts in the Wollaston Beach area. Quincy Bay, a part of Boston Harbor receives discharges from the MDC Nut Island WWTP and tistorm sewer T along Wollaston Beach. In addition, the City of Bostons Noon Island facility discharges combined sewage during rainstorm to one of the entrances of Quincy Bay. In order to accomplish the above mentioned objectives, bacteria samples were collected on August 11, 12, and 13 from the discharge to the Bay and the Bay itself. On Friday, August 15, dye was injected into the Nut Island WtP sludge line to determine where If any, leaks were located. BACTERIAL STUDIES Sampling stations were established at the Nut Island WWTF discharge, in the bubble created by the discharges, at the treatment plant bypass, at the discharges along Wollaston Beach and the Bay itself. Stations were also established at the Moon Island facility and off shore of the Mcon Island discharge but were not sampled because the facility was not discharging. Figure 1 and Table 1 show and describe the location of the sampling stations. Each station was sampled once per day for three days. The outfalls ------- 2 were sampled during low tide, while the Bay was sampled on the flood tide. The results of the sample analysis are shown on Table 2. No discharge was observed at Stations QBAYO4, QBAYQ6 and QBAYO7. Therefore, these stations were not sampled. A positive outflow was observed at Stations QBAYO8 through QBAY13. QBAY11 drains a large surface area, plus Sachem Creek ties into this outfall. This out of all the outfaUs of Wollaston Beach exhibited a fairly major flow. Probably somewhere in the area of 100 gallons per minute. As seen from Table 2, total and fecal coliform counts are relatively high. The high fecal counts are indicative of sanitary pollution. As seen by QBAY15 to QBAY17, values off the beach are relatively low as are all other stations with the exception of the first three stations located in the boils of Nut Islands discharge. The data collected by EPA is relatively close to the data collected by the state of Massachusetts and by the MDC. However, the City of Quincys data does not correlate with any of the other three sets of data. SLUDGE LINE LEAK STUDY At 0800 on August 15, 1975, just prior to sludge pumping, 15 gallons of Rhodainine B dye was injected into the sludge line. The sludge line travels under Quincy Bay to Long Island, along the east side of Long Island and discharges at the end of Long Island into President Roads. An overflight was used to observe and photograph the sludge line. The dye took 2 hours and 21 minutes to emerge at the end of the sludge line. No dye was observed along the sludge line. Thus, no leaks in the line were detected. The fact that the dye did not show any leaks indicates ------- 3 that the sludge did not contribute to an increase in coliform counts in Quincy Bay. In addition to determining that there were no leaks in the sludge line, it was observed two interesting facts, the first being that the three outf ails on an outgoing tide from Nut Island have a tendency to flow onto the Peddocks Islands beaches. Second the sludge from Nut Island discharged on the outgoing tide heads out of the Harbor through President Roads. CONCLUS IONS 1. The States data, MDCs data, and EPAs data agree. Quincys data does not agree with the other three. 2. The Nut Island outfalls do not significantly contribute to the increase in bacteria counts in the Quincy Bay area. 3. Although there were low flows from the eight outfalls on Wollaston Beach, the coliform and especially the fecal counts are high. This indicates that there is sanitary sewage flowing into these storm drains. Whether it is due to illegal connections or is just storm runoff cannot be determined. However, the matter should be investigated further as Quincy may be polluting their own beaches. 4. The Moon Island discharges could not be investigated due to dry weather conditions. It is recommended that these outfalls be looked into during a rainfall event to see if they significantly increase bacteria counts in the general area. 5. This survey was intended to give a handle on the prob .ems incurred in the Quincy Bay area. It Is by no means a definite hardcore answer to many questions. ------- TABLE 1 SAHPLING POINTS OF QUINCY BAY Discharge Bubble Long Outfall neai. Peddocks Island. Discharge Bubble Long Outfall near Sunken Ledge, Short Outfall Bubble. Discharge Bypass near jetty. Nut Island Discharge as Wollaston Beach outfall at Quincy Shore Drive. Wollaston Beach outfall Wollaston Beach outfall at Quincy Shore Drive. Wollaston Beach outfall at Quincy Shore Drive. Wollaston Beach outfall Wollaston Beach outfall Quincy Shore Drive. Wollaston Beach outfall Wollaston Beach outfall In Quincy Bay at Can Buoy No. 3 off of Wollaston Beach. Nut - Nut - Nut - Nut Island Island Island Is land QBAY 01 QBAY 02 QBAY 03 QBAY 04 QBAY 05 QBAY 06 QBAY 07 QBAY 08 QBAY 09 QBAY 10 QBAY 11 it leaves the plant. between Hummock Road and Williams Street at Ocean Street and Quincy Shore Drive. between Webster and Appleton Streets between Milton Road and Hollis Avenue at Cane Road at Quincy Shore Drive. between Vassall and Beach Streets at at Sachem Street and Quincy Shore Drive. at Strand Street at Quincy Shore Drive. QBAY QBAY QBAY QBAY 12 13 14 15 QBAY 16 QBAY 17 QBAY 18 - Seven hundred yards offshore of Wollaston Beach and 1,250 yards to the east of Can Buoy No. 3. On a line between Buoy No. 3 and Seal Rock. Seventeen hundred yards offshore of bridge over Blacks Creek and 1,000 yards to the east of QBAY 15. On a line between Buoy No. 3 and Seal Rock. On a line between marker on Hangman Island and marker on Sunken Ledge, 500 yards to the southwest of Sunken Ledge marker or 300 yards southwest of Can Buoy No. 1. Halfway along a line between the marker on Hangman Island and the stack located on Nut Island. ------- TABLE 1 (CONT.) SAMPLING POINTS OF QUINCY BAY QBAY 19 Located at Nun Buoy RB to the northeast of Nut Island Discharges 001 and 003. QBAY 20 Two hundred yards off of Moon Island discharge. QBAY 21 Discharge from Moon Island. QBAY 22 Location at Pig Rock. ------- l - - - __________- - - = r T s U 5 27 R - 5 3 - 4 b 1 7 t I iin 6 OΤS I 1AERd Inh1rnnhi()I I. U J! 4,26 ?6R..4:. / / 40 38 - The 93 5 .Rotating W & G Airp rt Ii l4 j. _... , flC4scc , 75 85 77 ____ N : $ 84 / / V ruse chjrt246 / 7. 6 2i &i Ld e 45 ________ r Alt 0cc w & Fl R /) *: l F lhUOr)fl; 75 7 ii :7--- PRESJJ)1 _-_±_. Cre tcw ti2 8 , v 42 t 114s.cR.,R,/ 3 * 4 j / \ , fBaL J. 2 22 69 t M 8 : - RU/ICB1 R η/ \ 1i \ ° _OJ ARBOR η c,*eiei S7rT aFI R10t1 6 PI(R$. ±I 73 - 6,7 ;29 J ,/*_-.i ( i iz.ge.. j NQR!1 . £ (uS. cb.#, 246) - 2 - T?f - / (/ j \ 3 j ill i0 Z 37 7 36 1A ( V DORCHESTER BAY Muon Ud 27 4t i :29 _- 7 \ 7 v? DORCJfE T};}i 1 ,,.>__l/ 8 \ I - I I J (. 4 jc 4 Sh iv-pt Biinik inl 35 4 V S 22 38 H P LY r i )RTRS \ 20 23 2. \i .o KHZ 1510kH Z H/NC/lAM BA Y ..v4.mor. Hill Lower Only marine raduobeacons have been calibrated for 1II Y Poin ) A/po . TU 0 r ------- TABLE 2 BOSTON HARBOR QUINCY BAY Sample Analysis Station Monday 08/11/75 Temp Sal Coliforms/lOOmi O °/oo Total Fecal Tuesday 08/12/75 Temp Sal Coliforins/lOOmi °C 0/00 Total Fecal Wednesday 08/13/75 Temp Sal Coliforms/lOOmi °C 0/oo Total Fecal QBAYO1 18.0 34.2 220 20 19.2 32.3 790 110 19.3 30.9 490 220 QBAYO2 . 17.9 32.7 50 20 18.6 32.8 220 80 194 31.8 4,900 700 QBAYO3 18.0 33.1 130 50 QBAYO4 No Flow QBAYO5 92,000 13,000 L240,000 17,200 160,000 27,800 QBAYO6 No Flow QBAYO7 No Flow QBAYO8 3,300 200 2,300 200 QBAYO9 21.1 9.9 160,000 13,000 160,000 17,200 L240,000 L240,000 QBAY1O 1,400 K200 2,200 K200 QBAY11 21.5 7.2 13,000 500 22.0 32.4 54,200 34,800 QBAY12 L240,000 7,900 L240,000 34,800 QBAY13 L240,000 17,200 L240,000 4,900 QBAY14 21.1g. 33.3 20 1(20 21.6 33.2 K20 K20 22.3 33.4 20 1(20 ------- TABLE 2 (CONT.) BOSTON HARBOR QUINCY BAY Sample Analysis Station Monday Temp Sal OC 0/00 08/11/75 Coliforms/lOOml Total Fecal Tuesday 08/12/75 Temp Sal Coliforms/lOOmi °/oo Total Fecal Wednesday 08/13/75 Temp Sal Coliforms/lOOmi 0/oo Total Fecal L Greater than K Less than QBAY15 21.0 33.2 K20 K20 21.2 33.2 20 K20 23.0 33.6 K20 K20 QBAY16 . 21.9 33.2 K20 K20 20.7 33.6 20 K20 22.1 33.6 K20 K20 QBAY17 19.0 33.4 330 70 19.4 33.7 20 K20 19.7 33.0 330 80 QBAY18 19.3 33.5 130 20 19.5 33.3 490 170 19.3 33.6 K20 K20 QBAY19 18.3 33.4 50 K20 18.3 33.9 790 230 19.3 33.7 700 130 QBAY2O No Flow QBAY21 No Flow QBAY22 18.0 33.5 110 K20 18.5 33.4 230 230 20.3 33.3 K20 K20 ------- |