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The Deal Lake Commission has joined forces with Clean Ocean Action [COA] to search for possible sources of human pathogen pollution within the Deal Lake watershed, Chairman Don Brockel announced in written news statement Monday.

“This effort started months ago after hearing about the successful efforts of COA and the Environmental Canine Services [ECS] within the Navesink basin,” Brockel said. “The ECS uses scent trained canines to identify and source track human contamination.”

In a June 2016 COA report from the Navesink study, human pathogen pollution is said to be a greater public health issue and should be given remediation priority. The cause can most often be tied to failing sewer sanitary lines and agricultural and urban runoff.

Brockel said they are implementing a ‘Ship and Sniff’ study to locate potential human sources of pathogen pollution in the watershed. Founded in 1974, the Commission works to preserve and restore the the 158 acre waterbody that borders Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Deal, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Neptune and Ocean townships.

In July, a joint probe into both an oil and a sewer line leak tip was headed by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection with County and City assistance. The state agency placed containment booms in Deal Lake along the railroad bridge near the Main Street boat ramp. And while the emergent case was fixed, the new testing will help them determine where other potential issues may be lying dormant, Brockel said.

COA will coordinate and facilitate the program, while the Commission will fund the effort.

“We are thrilled to be working with the Deal Lake Commission and the many amazing community leaders throughout the five fingers of the vast Deal Lake Watershed,” COA Director Cindy Zipf said. “If there is human pollution in the lake, the dogs will find it. Together we can implement the ‘no-blame game, find-it/fix-it’ strategy and bring about community-wide watershed mindfulness.”

A proposed maximum of 100 ‘Ship and Sniff’ samples will be collected from 26 sites around the lake, including key spillways, pipes and main bodies of water, Brockel said. Samplings will be taken prior and post storm events.

“The results of the first two rounds of testing will generate a more detailed review of pipes and/or streams leading into the lake,” Brockel said.

The samples will be shipped to Maine for the Canine sniff, he said.

“The Deal Lake Commission is very excited to work with Clean Ocean Action,” Brockel said. “They are such great advocates for a cleaner Ocean. A cleaner Deal Lake is a cleaner Ocean.

[Photos courtesy of the Deal Lake Commission]

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