The impact of onsite wastewater disposal systems on groundwater in areas inundated by Hurricane Sandy in New York and New Jersey.
Coastal onsite wastewater disposal systems (OWDS) were inundated by Hurricane Sandy's storm tide. This study compares the shallow groundwater quality (nutrients, pharmaceuticals, and hormones) downgradient of OWDS before and after Hurricane Sandy, where available, and establishes a baseline for wastewater influence on groundwater in coastal communities inundated by Hurricane Sandy. Nutrients and contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) were detected in shallow groundwater downgradient of OWDS in two settings along the New Jersey and New York coastlines: 1) a single, centralized OWDS in a park; and 2) multiple OWDS (cesspools) in low-density residential and mixed-use/medium density residential areas. The most frequently detected pharmaceuticals were lidocaine (40%), carbamazepine (36%), and fexofenadine, bupropion, desvenlafaxine, meprobamate, and tramadol (24-32%). Increases in the number and total concentration of pharmaceuticals after Hurricane Sandy may reflect other factors (seasonality, usage) besides inundation, and demonstrate the importance of analyzing for a wide variety of CECs in regional studies.
U.S. Geological Survey, New York Water Science Center, 2045 Route 112, Building 4, Coram, NY 11727, USA. Electronic address: ifisher@usgs.gov.
Irene J
IJ
Fisher
U.S. Geological Survey, New York Water Science Center, 425 Jordan Road, Troy, NY 12180, USA.
Patrick J
PJ
Phillips
U.S. Geological Survey, New York Water Science Center, 2045 Route 112, Building 4, Coram, NY 11727, USA.
Kaitlyn M
KM
Colella
U.S. Geological Survey, New York Water Science Center, 2045 Route 112, Building 4, Coram, NY 11727, USA.
Shawn C
SC
Fisher
U.S. Geological Survey, New York Water Science Center, 2045 Route 112, Building 4, Coram, NY 11727, USA.
Tristen
T
Tagliaferri
U.S. Geological Survey, National Water Quality Laboratory, P.O. Box 25585, Denver, CO 80225, USA.
William T
WT
Foreman
U.S. Geological Survey, National Water Quality Laboratory, P.O. Box 25585, Denver, CO 80225, USA.
Edward T
ET
Furlong
D055867:Cyclonic Storms; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D060587:Groundwater / Q000737:chemistry*; D009515:New Jersey; D009518:New York; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*
D062065:Wastewater
Estuary contaminants; Land use; Nitrogen; Pharmaceuticals; Septic systems