Surfrider Foundation Rincon PR

Fundacion Surfrider Rincón added 2 new photos.

12 hours ago

Ayer, el capítulo también asistió a una reunión de varios grupos comunitarios de toda la isla que están involucrados en la protección del medio ambiente, educación y la ciencia ciudadana. Este evento se llevó a cabo en el Centro de Estudiantes de UPR-RUM y fue patrocinado por CoHemis Rum. Fue una gran oportunidad para conocer a otros grupos que realizan un trabajo similar al nuestro, ¡y se discutieron varias posibles colaboraciones futuras! Las fotos muestran a Thay Moya ayudando a preparar, y nuestra mesa de exhibición.

Yesterday the chapter was also attending a reunion of various community groups from around the island which are involved in environmental protection, education and citizen science! This event was held at the Students Center of UPR-RUM and was sponsored by CoHemis. It was a great opportunity to meet other groups doing work similar to ours, and several possible future collaborations were discussed! The photos show Thay Moya helping to prepare, and our finished display and table. ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

Fundacion Surfrider Rincón added 5 new photos.

5 days ago

OK, here's the timeline regarding the recent PRASA problem at the Quebrada sin Nombre:
Oct 31 11:25 am regular BWTF sampling at QsN mouth before problem was reported to us, outflow 1 gal/sec : MPN 174 for enterococcus, 24196 for total coliforms, 1450 for E. coli
Nov 1 evening, Nov 2 morning: chapter receives several reports from residents of Vista Azul regarding sewage smell, surface discharge from manhole
Nov 2 5:30- 6:15 pm: Terry Norman and Steve Tamar do a site visit, confirming minor discharge from manhole, and note several pressure filtrations from PRASA high pressure sewage line infrastructure where the old railroad bridge crosses the QsN (photos). A 3 site transect of QsN was conducted:
Station A, about 30 m upcurrent of the PRASA substation:
MPN 148 for ent, 25000 (exceeded test max) for coliforms, 1860 for E coli.
Station B, at site of filtrations at bridge (about below where Terry is standing): MPN 552 for ent, 25000 coliforms, 1670 for E. coli
Station C, regular BWTF site, outflow 1 gal/sec: MPN 241 for ent., 25000 for coliforms, 2142 for E. coli
Nov 5 a report of the filtration problem was sent to PRASA, with the transect results and photos.
Nov 8 noon, regular BWTF site. No filtration noted at bridge or surface discharge at manhole, less than 1/4" rain recorded on 7th, no runoff signs noted in Special Study Area (RMTP /Balneario area), outflow 1 gal/sec: MPN 9208 for ent., 25000 for coliforms, 5475 for E. coli
Thus the minimal rainfall amount recorded does NOT seem to be a significant factor involved in the very elevated bacterial counts detected yesterday.

It is quite possible that a pressure backup sufficient to force sewage through cement/metal and cement/cement seams would also damage pipe joints and other subsurface infrastructure in this area, causing continual low flow seepage into the surrounding soil and accumulating in the lowest elevation, the quebrada. This would be a very difficult problem to detect directly, and only when it became extreme (via smell or obviously anomalous damp areas). It could be indirectly detected by continual anomalously high bacterial counts in the QsN, this is our only recourse for now.
It is also to be noted that this is the same area, same sewage infrastructure etc. that would service the proposed megahotel/casino project! It is the chapter's contention that existing PRASA sewage capacity is barely adequate to meet even current local demand (especially after the hurricane) and that without significant upgrades of infrastructure and the Aguada WWTP itself, the huge increase in demand from proposed megadevelopment projects will only increase the number, type, and severity of these kinds of failures - to the detriment of freshwater and beach water quality, public health, our environment and quality of life in general, and the very tourism these megaprojects seek to promote. ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

Fundacion Surfrider Rincón added 3 new photos.

5 days ago

Water Quality results for Nov 7/8: All beaches tested had excellent WQ - except for the Balneario / South Reserva Marina Tres Palmas area, maybe a long term issue in this area?
The latest Rincón BWTF results, site locations, historical data, and other related info: www.surfrider.org/blue-water-task-force/chapter/4
The most recent Rincón BWTF results and a whole bunch of other useful coastal data is also available at: www.caricoos.org/ecosystem-and-water-quality

Aparte de los resultados inusuales continuos de la EDAR de Sardineras, los únicos recuentos de bacterias notables fueron de los sitios de balneario y SRMTP, y los recuentos de bacterias inusualmente elevados en la Quebrada sin Nombe! Esto puede ser un motivo de preocupación a largo plazo para estos sitios, porque el viernes pasado se informó al capítulo sobre un problema de descarga de aguas residuales en la subestación PRASA detrás de Urb. Vista Azul adyacente a la quebrada. La foto con Terry Norman Terry el viernes es donde la línea de alcantarillado de alta presión cruza la quebrada, lo que muestra que la línea estaba obstruida (¿?) y que la presión en realidad estaba expulsando el líquido de aguas residuales a través de las juntas de la infraestructura! Una filtración, no una fuga. La otra foto se tomó el jueves y no mostró filtración ... sin embargo, dado que los recuentos de bacterias son mucho más altos en el QsN que en el transecto que hicimos el viernes, es posible que el respaldo de presión haya dañado la infraestructura del subsuelo ... Lo haremos investiga el sitio y monitorea esta área más atentamente, pero le sugerimos que evite las playas cercanas hasta que tengamos más información.
Vamos a hacer un post por separado sobre este tema a continuación, ¡estad atentos!

Aside from the continuing unusual results from the Sardineras WWTP, the only noticable bacterial counts were from the balneario and SRMTP sites - and unusually elevated bacterial counts in the Quebrada sin Nombe! This is maybe a cause for long term concern for these sites, because last Friday the chapter was informed of a sewage discharge problem at the PRASA substation behind Urb. Vista Azul adjacent to the quebrada. The photo with Terry on Friday is where the high pressure sewage line crosses the quebrada, showing that the line was plugged(?) and the pressure was actually forcing the sewage fluid out through seams and joints of the infrastructure! A filtration, not a leak. The other photo was taken on Thursday, showing no filtration... however since bacterial counts are far higher in the QsN than the transect we did on Friday, it is possible that the pressure backup has damaged the subsurface infrastructure... We will do what site investigating is possible, and monitor this area more closely - but we suggest you avoid the nearby beaches until we have more info.
We will do a separate posting about this issue next, stay tuned! ... See MoreSee Less

Photo