Boca Ciega Bay Water Quality Study

CPWG Environmental and Water Resources Engineering (EWRE) Specialists were contracted by the City of Madeira Beach to conduct water quality sampling in Boca Ciega Bay.  Our EWRE team collected six months of surface water grab samples at seven locations throughout the Bay. These samples were analyzed for fecal coliform utilizing the Enterococci method by Southern Analytical Laboratories in their Oldsmar, Florida lab.  During the same period our team collected additional samples from four separate locations in the Bay to be tested for microbial source tracking by Source Molecular in Miami. These samples were analyzed for the fecal Human gene biomarker using qPCR DNA analysis to evaluate Human fecal contamination in the Bay.

CPWG EWRE specialists analyzed tide station data, available wind speed and direction, and observed weather conditions, including rainfall prior to the sampling collection events assess factors that may be affecting the health of bay. To obtain comparable data they installed a rain gauge and collected rainfall data near the City Marina during the six months of sample collection. They also analyzed data from previously collected water samples for trends that could have been associated with the analytical results:

Before delivering the final report or team also analyzed water quality data that was previously collected by:

• Pinellas County Stormwater Department
• Pinellas County Department of Health
• Florida Department of Health
• Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
• Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

The data collected allowed CPWG EWRE Specialists perform overall trend analysis.  They evaluated the amount of rainfall before a sampling event, the direction of tide flow at the time of sampling, and the wind direction with the analytical results to evaluate potential sources of pollutants. Their findings were submitted in the final report to the City of Madeira beach.