Mechumps Creek E. coli

Locating Point and Non-point Sources of Escherichia coli in the Mechumps Creek Watershed, Hanover County, Virginia

EVST 105, 2006 – 2009

For this project, RMC’s Environmental Studies students partnered with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VADEQ), the County of Hanover, and the Town of Ashland to locate sources of fecal coliform bacteria (using the indicator species Escherichia coli or E. coli) in the College’s local watershed. In 1998 and 2002, the VADEQ listed 5.69 stream miles along Mechumps Creek, Hanover County, Virginia as impaired because of violations of fecal coliform bacteria. During a four-year period, RMC students sampled runoff and storm drains during rainstorms and dry periods and performed lab work to identify sources and quantify amounts of E. coli reaching Mechumps Creek. Additional work included determining the reliability of Bacterial Source Tracking methods used to identify the source of fecal bacteria in environmental samples (e.g. from humans, livestock, or wildlife).