In cooperation with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collected water and bed sediment samples along Alley Creek (Queens, New York) to help determine likely sources of fecal bacteria to the creek and Little Neck Bay. Potential terrestrial sources include stormwater, sewage via combined sewer overflow (CSO) and compromised infrastructure, bed-sediment resuspension, and groundwater discharge. Host sources that were targeted using microbial source tracking (MST) techniques included human, canine, waterfowl, and general Bacteroides. Routine water samples were collected and analyzed for the fecal indicator bacteria enterococci and fecal coliform, along with the physicochemical constituent total suspended solids (TSS), at the NYC DEP Newton Creek Microbiological Laboratory (Brooklyn, New York) and for MST markers at the USGS Ohio Water Microbiological Laboratory (OWML; Columbus, Ohio)--these results from routine samples are available at the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) Web interface (https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/qw). Data in this data release were generated from the two local investigations of NYC DEP sites TI-008 and TI-24 collected to supplement routine monitoring. At TI-008, sediment and water samples were collected along a stormwater conveyance line between Oakland Lake and Alley Creek on September 22, 2020 to conduct a sediment resuspension experiment. In May 2021, a total of 20 surface water and depth-profile samples (taken from a hole in a 7-foot submerged wastewater pipe adjacent to TI-024), along with thermal imagery, were collected adjacent to combined sewer overflow outfall TI-024.

Onsite wastewater disposal systems (OWDS) in coastal regions of Long Island, New York, contribute bacteria, nutrients, and organic wastewater-associated compounds (including pharmaceuticals, personal care and domestic use products referred to here as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs)) to downgradient shallow groundwater in nearshore settings. Many of the densely populated areas along the East Coast (i.e. Long Island, New York) are served by OWDS. Approximately 75 percent of Suffolk County, New York, residents rely on simple OWDS such as a series of cesspools (ground pits lined with cement blocks or rings without a sealed bottom) and septic systems. Cesspools provide minimal wastewater treatment, typically relying on bacteria to breakdown the solid waste while untreated water percolates into the sandy surficial aquifer. The high hydraulic conductivity of the sandy surficial aquifer of the New York coastal region makes these areas particularly vulnerable to organic wastewater contamination. Groundwater samples were collected from the shallow groundwater flow system along the shoreline of (1) a barrier island summer community and (2) the mainland of Long Island. Both locations are distinctive coastal communities in Suffolk County, NY, and typically rely on a simple OWDS system. The coastal communities selected are in areas inundated by the storm tide brought on by Hurricane Sandy and are considered vulnerable to extreme storms (i.e. hurricanes and nor’easters), flooding events, and sea-level rise; all of which can damage wastewater infrastructure and lead to biogeochemical changes that disrupt the level of onsite treatment and result in increased discharge of contaminants to estuaries through groundwater seepage. Specific locations were selected in areas along the shore that are within 180 m downgradient from OWDS and just above the reaches of the spring high-tide mark along the shoreline. For our study, beach areas without bulkheads (a retaining wall built for shoreline protection) were targeted due to the need to access areas downgradient of OWDS. Twenty-nine of the 103 pharmaceuticals measured were detected at least once at the NY sample locations. Other detected CECs include PCDUs (caffeine, nicotine, and metabolites), methyl-1H-benzotrizole (a corrosion inhibitor), and piperonyl butoxide (a pesticide synergist). Lidocaine, an over-the-counter topical anesthetic, was the most commonly detected pharmaceutical (35% of samples). Other commonly detected pharmaceuticals included fexofenadine (an over-the-counter antihistamine detected in 30% of samples), and carbamazepine (an anticonvulsant), desvenlafaxine (antidepressant), meprobamate (an anxiolytic), metformin (an antidiabetic), and tramadol (an opioid) each detected in 25% of the samples.

Onsite wastewater disposal systems (OWDS) in coastal regions of Long Island, New York, contribute bacteria, nutrients, and organic wastewater-associated compounds (including pharmaceuticals, personal care and domestic use products referred to here as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs)) to downgradient shallow groundwater in nearshore settings. Many of the densely populated areas along the East Coast (i.e. Long Island, New York) are served by OWDS. Approximately 75 percent of Suffolk County, New York, residents rely on simple OWDS such as a series of cesspools (ground pits lined with cement blocks or rings without a sealed bottom) and septic systems. Cesspools provide minimal wastewater treatment, typically relying on bacteria to breakdown the solid waste while untreated water percolates into the sandy surficial aquifer. The high hydraulic conductivity of the sandy surficial aquifer of the New York coastal region makes these areas particularly vulnerable to organic wastewater contamination. Groundwater samples were collected from the shallow groundwater flow system along the shoreline of (1) a barrier island summer community and (2) the mainland of Long Island. Both locations are distinctive coastal communities in Suffolk County, NY, and typically rely on a simple OWDS system. The coastal communities selected are in areas inundated by the storm tide brought on by Hurricane Sandy and are considered vulnerable to extreme storms (i.e. hurricanes and nor’easters), flooding events, and sea-level rise; all of which can damage wastewater infrastructure and lead to biogeochemical changes that disrupt the level of onsite treatment and result in increased discharge of contaminants to estuaries through groundwater seepage. Specific locations were selected in areas along the shore that are within 180 m downgradient from OWDS and just above the reaches of the spring high-tide mark along the shoreline. For our study, beach areas without bulkheads (a retaining wall built for shoreline protection) were targeted due to the need to access areas downgradient of OWDS. Twenty-nine of the 103 pharmaceuticals measured were detected at least once at the NY sample locations. Other detected CECs include PCDUs (caffeine, nicotine, and metabolites), methyl-1H-benzotrizole (a corrosion inhibitor), and piperonyl butoxide (a pesticide synergist). Lidocaine, an over-the-counter topical anesthetic, was the most commonly detected pharmaceutical (35% of samples). Other commonly detected pharmaceuticals included fexofenadine (an over-the-counter antihistamine detected in 30% of samples), and carbamazepine (an anticonvulsant), desvenlafaxine (antidepressant), meprobamate (an anxiolytic), metformin (an antidiabetic), and tramadol (an opioid) each detected in 25% of the samples.

Data for Figures 3-6

Data are from water samples collected from tributaries of the Great Lakes at three different drainage basin scales, including 1). watershed scale: 8 tributaries of the Great Lakes, 2). subwatershed scale: 5 locations from the greater Milwaukee, Wisconsin area, and 3). small scale: 213 storm sewers and open channel locations in three subwatersheds within the Great Lakes Basin including the Middle Branch of the Clinton River in Macomb County, Michigan (65 sample locations), Red Creek in Monroe County, New York (88 sample locations), and the Kinnickinnic River in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin (60 sample locations). At the watershed- and subwatershed-scale locations, water samples were collected over a 24-hour duration for low-flow periods, and throughout the duration of increased streamflow for runoff-event periods. An individual sample included multiple subsamples that were composited using automatic samplers. At the small-scale locations, discrete grab samples were collected by direct bottle submersion or by peristaltic pump. Water samples were analyzed for absorbance spectra and fluorescence excitation-emission matrices (EEMs), which are presented in this data release. Samples were also analyzed for human-specific viruses, at the watershed- and subwatershed-scale locations only, human- and fecal- indicator bacteria, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), which are archived in the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System (NWIS). These data were used to develop regression models for describing variability of human-associated and fecal indicator bacteria, and an archive of these models is provided. Sample collection, laboratory analyses methods, and a detailed description of the modeling process are described in the associated journal publication: Corsi, S.R., De Cicco, L.A., Hansen, A.M., Lenaker, P.L., Bergamaschi, B.A., Pellerin, B.A., Dila, D.K., Bootsma, M.J., Spencer, S.K., Borchardt, M.A., and McLellan, S.L., 2021, Optical properties of water for prediction of wastewater contamination, human-associated bacteria, and fecal indicator bacteria in surface water at three watershed scales: Environmental Science and Technology, 55, 20, 13770–13782, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c02644.

Data are from water samples collected from tributaries of the Great Lakes at three different drainage basin scales, including 1). watershed scale: 8 tributaries of the Great Lakes, 2). subwatershed scale: 5 locations from the greater Milwaukee, Wisconsin area, and 3). small scale: 213 storm sewers and open channel locations in three subwatersheds within the Great Lakes Basin including the Middle Branch of the Clinton River in Macomb County, Michigan (65 sample locations), Red Creek in Monroe County, New York (88 sample locations), and the Kinnickinnic River in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin (60 sample locations). At the watershed- and subwatershed-scale locations, water samples were collected over a 24-hour duration for low-flow periods, and throughout the duration of increased streamflow for runoff-event periods. An individual sample included multiple subsamples that were composited using automatic samplers. At the small-scale locations, discrete grab samples were collected by direct bottle submersion or by peristaltic pump. Water samples were analyzed for absorbance spectra and fluorescence excitation-emission matrices (EEMs), which are presented in this data release. Samples were also analyzed for human-specific viruses, at the watershed- and subwatershed-scale locations only, human- and fecal- indicator bacteria, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), which are archived in the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System (NWIS). These data were used to develop regression models for describing variability of human-associated and fecal indicator bacteria, and an archive of these models is provided. Sample collection, laboratory analyses methods, and a detailed description of the modeling process are described in the associated journal publication: Corsi, S.R., De Cicco, L.A., Hansen, A.M., Lenaker, P.L., Bergamaschi, B.A., Pellerin, B.A., Dila, D.K., Bootsma, M.J., Spencer, S.K., Borchardt, M.A., and McLellan, S.L., 2021, Optical properties of water for prediction of wastewater contamination, human-associated bacteria, and fecal indicator bacteria in surface water at three watershed scales: Environmental Science and Technology, 55, 20, 13770–13782, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c02644.

This dataset reports concentrations of RNAse P, PMMoV, and CrAssphage, as measured by qPCR, in wastewater at 28 sites including water treatment plants as well as smaller sewersheds. All sites are in the Louisville, KY, USA metro area. This dataset is not publicly accessible because: The data was generated and is being stored with the first author, a non-EPA resesarcher. It can be accessed through the following means: This data can be accessed by emailing the first author, Rochelle Holm, at rochelle.holm@louisville.edu. Format: Excel spreadsheets with columns for the site, sample collection time and date, and concentration of RNase P, PMMoV, and CrAssphage (copies/ml of wastewater). This dataset is associated with the following publication: Holm, R., M. Nagarkar, R. Yeager, D. Talley, A. Chaney, J. Rai, A. Mukherjee, S. Rai, A. Bhatnagar, and T. Smith. Surveillance of RNase P, PMMoV and CrAssphage in wastewater as indicators of human fecal density across urban sewer neighborhoods Kentucky. FEMS Microbes. Oxford University Press, OXFORD, UK, 3(1): 1-12, (2022).

Dataset includes water quality measurements from an urban stream and three municipal separate storm sewer system outfalls. Additional details provided in attached Dataset Description document. “This research dataset has been reviewed in accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), Office of Research and Development, and approved for release. Mention of brand names or vendors does not constitute an endorsement of products or services by the U.S. EPA.”

This dataset consists of trace organic contaminant concentrations and bacteria counts in wastewater effluents, and observed responses in fish exposed to effluents. The study was conducted from April to September 2022 at a facility located in Hutchinson, Minnesota. Nine pairs of primary-treated, activated sludge secondary treated, and membrane bioreactor secondary treated wastewater were characterized for select trace organic contaminants (pharmaceuticals, pesticides and pesticide degradates, hormones, alkylphenols, and bisphenols) and bacterial (total coliform, Escherichia coli) counts. Two 21-day exposures were conducted on-site in which fathead minnows were exposed to activated sludge secondary treated effluent and membrane bioreactor secondary treated effluent. Effluent samples were collected once per month in April, August, and September, and once weekly during the on-site exposures.