M1 AM Delaware River/Bay
Monday, 14 November 2005: 8:00 AM - 11:40 AM in Ballroom 1

(AUF-1117-827245) Molecular tracers of soot and sewage contamination in the upper Delaware River.

Aufdenkampe, A¹, Arscott, D¹, Dow, C¹, Standley, L^{1, 2}, ¹ Stroud Water Research Center, Avondale, PA, USA² Watershed Solutions, Beaverton, OR, USA

ABSTRACT- As part of an extensive six-year stream-monitoring project of source watersheds to NY City drinking water supplies (http://www.stroudcenter.org/research/newyorkproject.htm), a suite of organic molecules were analyzed to assess the extent and sources of pollution to 110 stream sites distributed across all source watersheds, with 38 sites in the upper Delaware Basin. These molecular tracers include: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), which target petroleum and combustion products; caffeine and fragrances (HHCB & ANTN) found in domestic products, which indicate the presence of septic or waste water treatment plant (WWTP) effluent; and fecal steroids, which track animal (farm or wildlife) and human fecal contamination. PAH contamination was substantial at a number of sites and appears to enter streams primarily as soot deposition. Caffeine appears to be a conservative tracer of human sewage and can be used to calculate non-point source (septic) inputs. Ratios of fecal steroids also appear conservative, and can be used to distinguish human from animal sources of fecal material to streams.

Key words: caffeine, fecal steroid, PAH, source tracking