SOBA Public Library

Intentional or inadvertent releases of boat waste can be a source of fecal bacteria contamination in the marine environment. While there are many approaches to characterize the extent of bacteria pollution, it is more challenging to identify specific sources, which could include surface runoff from farms, leaking septic systems, and wildlife. In order to differentiate contributions from boat waste from other sources, we have used advanced analytical techniques to develop a chemical signature specific to boat waste. In this presentation, we will describe the signature development process, and the results of a pilot study.