Potential sources of bacteria and actions to address.
Link to this table.
General Category | Source | Action |
---|---|---|
Municipal Sanitary Infrastructure | Combined Sewer Overflows1 | Replace infrastructure, if possible |
Sanitary Sewer Bypasses/Overflows | Line sanitary sewer pipes | |
Inflow and Infiltration | Minimize and eliminate through repairing damaged sewers | |
Illicit discharges from unsewered communities | Detect and eliminate illicit discharges | |
Human Sanitary Sources | Leaky/failing septics | Update and enforce SSTS ordinances |
Educate homeowners on septic system maintenance and opportunities for replacement | ||
Implement higher standards for setbacks for installing septics near waterbodies | ||
Porta-potties | Ensure construction site temporary toiles have appropriate pollution prevention BMPs | |
Domestic pets | Dogs, cats, dog parks, walking trails, residential yard and sidewalk runoff (spring runoff after winter accumulation) | Pet waste disposal stations along trails, in dog parks, etc. |
Pass and enforce pet waste ordinances and educate pet owners about them | ||
Add infiltration BMPs downstream of parks/residential areas and upstream of stormwater pipes (i.e., somewhere between the park/residential area and the stormwater outfall so as to intercept and infiltrate some or all of the flow from these areas) | ||
Reduce transport from parks, residential, and other areas by the use of buffers and other disconnection of flow pathways (e.g. impervious surface, disconnection, downspout disconnection) | ||
Urban wildlife | Rodents (raccoons, squirrels, etc.), deer, etc., birds (geese, ducks, swallows, etc.), areas where wildlife congregate such as fields, parks, and golf courses | Wildlife feeding bans and control of nuisance populations, including ducks and geese and other wildlife |
Remove community facilities such as vending machines for feeding ducks and geese | ||
Add buffers in riparian areas near waterbodies to deter waterfowl congregation | ||
Consider wildlife barriers if wildlife (e.g. raccoons) are found to be living in storm sewers | ||
When possible, use infiltration BMPs instead of detention ponds in residential developments and other areas where wildlife may congregate | ||
Other Urban Sources (non-stormwater) | Excessive irrigation/overspray | Assess the extent to which irrigation over-spray occurs at city-owned facilities and eliminate overspray as appropriate |
Education on water conservation | ||
MS4 Infrastructure | Illicit sanitary connections to MS4 | Detect and eliminate illicit discharges |
Leaky sewer pipes | Line sewer pipes | |
Biofilms/regrowth | Reduce dry weather flows, which provide conditions that promote bacteria growth. Dry weather flows could be from night time irrigation of lawns/parks or leaky stormsewer pipes. | |
Decaying plant matter, litter, and sediment in the storm drain system | Enhance street sweeping program. | |
Prevent the discharge of grit chamber clean out effluent | ||
Remove leaf litter and soil in street and gutters: implement an Adopt-a-storm drain program | ||
Other Natural Sources | Stream Bank Erosion | Streambank restoration |
1Note only a few combined sewers remain in Minneapolis