Improving Water Quality in the Short Beach Neighborhood of Branford, Connecticut, 2019-A Citizen Science Project.

Abstract

We initiated a collaboration between local government, academia, and citizen scientists to investigate high frequencies of elevated <i>Escherichia coli</i> bacteria levels in the coastal Short Beach neighborhood of Branford, Connecticut. Citizen scientist involvement enabled collection of short-duration postprecipitation outfall flow water samples (mean <i>E. coli</i> level = 4930 most probable number per 100 mL) and yielded insights into scientific collaboration with local residents. A records review and sanitary questionnaire identified aging properties with septic systems (3.3%) and holding tanks (0.6%) as potential sources of the <i>E. coli</i> contamination. (<i>Am J Public Health</i>. 2022;112(9):1261-1264. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.306943).