Urban Waters Federal Partnership—Patapsco Watershed (Baltimore, Md. region) Active
Reductions in PCBs Mandated for Baltimore’s Tidal Waters
USGS pilot study to provide guidance
Several watersheds in the Baltimore region have elevated PCB loads in tidal waters. Local jurisdictions are responsible for reducing PCB loading from their watersheds. The USGS is embarking on a pilot study in the Patapsco watershed that will help determine sources of PCBs and will demonstrate innovative monitoring and analysis techniques for more efficient use of mitigation resouces.
Industrial chemicals known as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are legacy pollutants—they persist in the environment long after their use has been banned. This group of carcinogenic chemicals was banned in 1979 but continue to contribute to contamination of Chesapeake Bay. Researchers from the USGS and the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) are focusing on PCBs in tributaries to the Back River to better understand the contamination. The Patapsco watershed will serve as a pilot study to refine approaches to determining PCB sources and to apply innovative sampling and analysis techniques.
The Back River, along with several other Chesapeake Bay waterways, has been classified as PCB-impaired by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), which identifies the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive while still maintaining water-quality standards, mandates a reduction in PCBs loads in these waterways.
In the initial phase of the pilot study, the USGS has inventoried existing data and discharge permits, identified potential locations for sample collection, and compiled that information into a Geographic Information System (GIS) platform. Field reconnaissance has aided in refining location of sampling sites. USGS and UMBC are investigating three general sources: 1) mobile sediment-bound PCBs under low-flow and stormflow conditions, 2) stationary sediment-bound PCBs in "hot spots", and 3) PCBs in wastewater, including effluent and sanitary sewer overflows. Sampling has begun and will continue through 2020.
The results of pilot study could aid in eventual cleanup efforts in other urban areas in the region and around the country.
The project is being done in cooperation with Baltimore City, Baltimore County and UMBC.
More about other Urban Waters Federal Partnership projects
- Middle Rio Grande (Albuquerque, N. Mex.)
- Little Calument River (Northwest Indiana)
- Bronx and Harlem River Watersheds (New York, N.Y.)
- San Antonio River Basin (Bexar County, Tex.)
- Middle Blue River Basin (Kansas City, Mo.)
Learn about other Urban Waters Federal Partnership projects at the links below.
Urban Waters Federal Partnership—Bronx and Harlem River Watersheds (New York, N.Y.)
Urban Waters Federal Partnership—Middle Rio Grande (Albuquerque, N. Mex.)
Urban Waters Federal Partnership—Little Calumet River (Northwest Indiana)
Urban Waters Federal Partnership - Suspended Sediment and Nutrient Delivery to the Gulf of Mexico
Urban Waters Federal Partnership—Middle Blue River Basin (Kansas City, Mo.)
- Overview
Several watersheds in the Baltimore region have elevated PCB loads in tidal waters. Local jurisdictions are responsible for reducing PCB loading from their watersheds. The USGS is embarking on a pilot study in the Patapsco watershed that will help determine sources of PCBs and will demonstrate innovative monitoring and analysis techniques for more efficient use of mitigation resouces.
Industrial chemicals known as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are legacy pollutants—they persist in the environment long after their use has been banned. This group of carcinogenic chemicals was banned in 1979 but continue to contribute to contamination of Chesapeake Bay. Researchers from the USGS and the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) are focusing on PCBs in tributaries to the Back River to better understand the contamination. The Patapsco watershed will serve as a pilot study to refine approaches to determining PCB sources and to apply innovative sampling and analysis techniques.
The Back River, along with several other Chesapeake Bay waterways, has been classified as PCB-impaired by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), which identifies the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive while still maintaining water-quality standards, mandates a reduction in PCBs loads in these waterways.
In the initial phase of the pilot study, the USGS has inventoried existing data and discharge permits, identified potential locations for sample collection, and compiled that information into a Geographic Information System (GIS) platform. Field reconnaissance has aided in refining location of sampling sites. USGS and UMBC are investigating three general sources: 1) mobile sediment-bound PCBs under low-flow and stormflow conditions, 2) stationary sediment-bound PCBs in "hot spots", and 3) PCBs in wastewater, including effluent and sanitary sewer overflows. Sampling has begun and will continue through 2020.
The results of pilot study could aid in eventual cleanup efforts in other urban areas in the region and around the country.
The project is being done in cooperation with Baltimore City, Baltimore County and UMBC.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media DetailsMore about other Urban Waters Federal Partnership projects
- Middle Rio Grande (Albuquerque, N. Mex.)
- Little Calument River (Northwest Indiana)
- Bronx and Harlem River Watersheds (New York, N.Y.)
- San Antonio River Basin (Bexar County, Tex.)
- Middle Blue River Basin (Kansas City, Mo.)
- Science
Learn about other Urban Waters Federal Partnership projects at the links below.
Urban Waters Federal Partnership—Bronx and Harlem River Watersheds (New York, N.Y.)
The Harlem and Bronx Rivers provide ecological and social resources in an intensively urban area. Connecting people to rivers requires clean water—the USGS is helping to assess the efficacy of green infrastructure to improve the quality of stormwater that flows into the rivers.Urban Waters Federal Partnership—Middle Rio Grande (Albuquerque, N. Mex.)
The Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge, just 7 miles south of downtown Albuquerque on the Rio Grande, will reconnect people, especially young people, with nature in this highly populated area. The USGS is gathering data that will help gauge the success of habitat restoration efforts.Urban Waters Federal Partnership—Little Calumet River (Northwest Indiana)
The USGS works with a wide range of cooperators to investigate many aspects of water quality. The newly integrated USGS Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center is assisting in furthering urban water-quality research in Northwest Indiana.Urban Waters Federal Partnership - Suspended Sediment and Nutrient Delivery to the Gulf of Mexico
Suspended sediment and nutrients from greater San Antonio can affect instream ecological health of the San Antonio River and ultimately impact Gulf of Mexico bays and estuaries. Real-time monitoring in urban and rural parts of the river basin may provide a glimpse into the importance of urban sediment and nutrient sources. Real-time sensors provide a tool to better understand and manage water...Urban Waters Federal Partnership—Middle Blue River Basin (Kansas City, Mo.)
Reconnecting people and water is an increasingly important goal in many urban areas. Parks, urban trails, boat ramps, and urban agriculture all are ways that an urban population can interact with nature and improve quality of life. USGS is participating in gathering the information that will make these projects possible.