PPT Slide
Studies of fecal coliform levels have found much higher levels in urban stormwater runoff than the standard accepted levels.
Copyright 2000, Center for Watershed Protection
Notes:
Fecal coliform levels in urban stormwater runoff are typically 15 to 50 times the standard set for water contact recreation. Fecal coliform can be derived from human and nonhuman sources. In fact, research indicates that much of the fecal coliform in urban runoff is from nonhuman sources such as dogs, cats, horses, squirrels, rats, geese, pigeons, and ducks. However, very high levels of bacteria may be due to leaks of human sewage from sanitary sewer overflows, leaking septic systems, combined sewers or illicit discharge of sewage.