EPA sets bacterial limits for Pennsylvania watershed

A Pennsylvania watershed contains bacteria in levels up to 100 times regulatory limits and now the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a plan to mitigate the microbes, according to an EPA release.
Sewage, runoff and failing septic systems all impact the Pine Creek Watershed in Allegheny County, Pa.

Several water quality monitoring sites in the watershed showed maximum loads of more than 100,000 counts of fecal coliform bacteria per 100 milliliters of water. The EPA enacted a Total Maximum Daily Load regulation for the creek to motivate reduction of bacterial discharges.

Citizens in the county, which includes the city of Pittsburg, use the watershed for recreation, fishing and drinking water. Click here to read the full EPA report.