Development and Application of a Regional Model of

Development and Application of a Regional Model of NY/NJ Harbor For the Protection of Beaches and Shellfish Areas Charles Dujardin Hydro. Qual, Inc. September, 2008

Regional Model Development Overview l Planned and Unplanned Sewage Discharges Causes Regional Concern l Lack of Tri-State Communication is Evident l Lack of Predictive Tool is Evident Impact on beaches and shellfish areas l Regional Bypass Workgroup is Formed Establish Communication Protocol Develop Predictive Tool to Assess Conditions

Regional Events of Concern l Pipeline Leak and Pump Station Bypass near City Island Precautionary Closures at Orchard Beach Westchester County Closes Beaches Connecticut Closes Beaches

Regional Bypass Workgroup Participants l Wastewater Administration NYS DEC NJ DEP CT DEP IEC EPA NYC DEP USCG l Consultant Hydro. Qual, Inc. l Shellfish & Health NYS DEC NYS DOH NJ DEP FDA NYC DOH Nassau Co HD Westchester Co HD Rockland Co HD Suffolk Co HD NPS

Model Development Considerations l Parameters of Concern Total/Fecal Coliform Enterococci l Water-bodies Considered NY-NJ Harbor Long Island Sound Atlantic Ocean (NJ Coast) l Input Variables Duration , Quantity & Quality of Discharge Temperature

Regional Bypass Program l Discharge Characterization Specifications Select Discharge Location Volume Rate (MGD) Concentration l View Results Select Site Location View Temporal Profile View Animations

Initial Pathogen Discharge Model is Developed l Limitations of Initial Model (1998) Limited number if discharge locations Limited number of viewing locations Could not handle multiple discharges Time of discharge within tidal-cycle is approximated l Model Improved in 2008 Computer speed, GIS Application Unlimited number of discharge locations Model results may be viewed through animations Multiple discharges are possible

Model Domain Full Domain NY/NJ Harbor

GIS Information Layers Available (7) Example: Beach Locations

GIS Information Layers Available (7) Example: CSO Locations

Add Load Specify: Flow, Duration, Time, and Concentration and Click on Location

Model Execution l After Discharges Are Entered User Clicks “Run Model” l Model Execution Takes About 5 Minutes l User Immediately Views Results Time Series in Any Model Segment Animation (Movie) of Results

User May View Time Series Results In Any Model Segment

View Animation Example: 6 Hours After Release

View Animation Example: 12 Hours After Release

View Animation Example: 25 Hours After Release

View Animation Example: 44 Hours After Release

User May Zoom-In To View Details of Results

Summary l Model Has Been Distributed To Over a Dozen State and Local Environmental, Health, and Shellfish Agencies l There Are Nearly 100 Spill Events Per Year l Agencies Can Quickly Assess If There Is a Concern After a Spill Event