Impacts | urban-conservation

Impacts

The results show that even though the Allandale Road trail had highest use (many dogs, high concentration of faecal deposits), there was no E. coli found when that site was sampled. E. coli (and other coliform bacteria) were only found in the institutional zone (Long Pond, Kent’s Pond, and Rennie’s River).

E. coli levels observed downstream in Long Pond exceeded acceptable levels for recreational contact as outlined by Health Canada (500 CFU, or Colony-Forming Units, per 100 mL was what we observed; 200 CFU per 100 mL is what is allowable) (6). We suggest that this is the effect of microbial accumulation downstream from up-river sources.

The Allandale Road trail may be a source of contamination for waterways in the institutional zone, because the elevation is high, and system flushing appears to be rapid.

Contamination likely depends on more variables than trail use, and the mobility of E. coli may account for absence at Allandale Road trail. Seasonal variation in bacterial numbers could be a factor.

To fully determine the source of the bacteria, we still need to do more research, and in future studies a larger sample size would provide a better indication of the degree of faecal contamination of the Pippy Park watershed.

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