Robin Comey

Representative Comey Announces $10,000 to Address Water Contamination

Funding to Support Groundbreaking Water Quality Study 

 

Branford - State Representative Robin Comey (D-Branford) announced that she has secured $10,000.00 of state funding for support of the Johnson’s Beach Water Quality Study through 2024. A collaborative effort of the Civic Association of Short Beach (CASB), Branford Town Officials, the Connecticut Public Health Laboratory, and the East Shore District Health Department (ESDHD), the funding builds off the investments already made in this multi-year project.

This initiative is a response to the urgent need to address and improve the water quality in the 'Gut' where the Farm River meets the Long Island Sound. Short Beach bathing waters have historically had more bacterial contamination than most Connecticut beaches and have persisted for decades. According to the environmental group Save the Sound, Johnson’s Beach is among the worst four beaches out of 37 based on six years of data (2016-2021). The project initially raised $17,000.00 from the CASB and an anonymous donor, demonstrating the community's commitment to this issue.  The additional $10,000.00 will enable the ESDHD and CASB to continue the project through the end of the year.

"The water quality in our community is a matter of great concern as recreational boating, swimming, and fishing are part of the fabric of this community,” said Representative Comey. “It’s our responsibility to ensure that we are doing everything we can to determine why this area of the Long Island Sound continues to experience high levels of contamination. I was pleased to be able to provide the needed funding to support this ongoing investment in the microbial source study so we can identify and address contamination of our beach,” Comey said.

Dr. Michael Pascucilla, CEO/Director of Public Health for ESDHD, and Amy Scholz, the Deputy Director of Public Health and their team, including resident and veterinarian Dr. Ann Davis and Sarah Esenther, Ph.D. candidate at Brown University and research intern for the ESDHD, have been diligently working with various stakeholders to address this pressing issue.

The ESDHD, under the leadership of Dr. Pascucilla, is committed to leveraging this funding to implement a comprehensive and impactful water quality program that will serve as a model for environmental stewardship and community engagement.

"The water quality research and improvement project is a true example of collaboration between locally vested stakeholders - coming together utilizing innovative public health technology to improve the quality of Long Island Sound and our shoreline communities.  We are also using this technology in the neighboring town of East Haven", explained Dr. Pascucilla.

Early efforts of the microbial source tracking have yielded valuable insights into the types of bacteria from a chosen species affecting the area's water quality. The team tested for human, avian, and canine fecal indicator bacteria and found 85% of the samples tested for canine found moderate to high abundance. Improper disposal of dog waste can increase bacteria in recreation beach water.  In addition, dog waste can carry a multitude of diseases, including Giardia, which results in diarrhea in dogs, children, and immunocompromised individuals. It can also carry parasites and roundworm/tapeworm eggs.

“Through collaborative microbial source tracking efforts, we were able to conclusively identify dog waste as the primary cause of bacterial contamination at our beach,” said Dr. Ann Davis. “Doing the initial small-scale testing at Johnson’s Beach allowed us to get meaningful data on water quality, and we are grateful to Representative Comey for these additional dollars so we can engage in continued testing this summer to see if our education efforts and behavior changes result in improvements to our water quality.”

The program will also involve engagement with the Short Beach community, which has already begun behavioral change education initiatives to address the root causes of contamination. Collaborative efforts to raise awareness about responsible pet waste disposal and stormwater management will be key components of the program, which will promote sustainable practices for the long-term benefit of the environment and public health.

Rep. Comey represents the 102nd Assembly District in Branford. She serves as an Assistant Majority Whip and is a member of the Committee on Children, Education, and the Human Services Committees.