Effect of seasonal effluent chlorination on coliforms in Jamaica Bay

Quite frequently, the need for chlorinating effluents discharged to receiving waters not used for recreational purposes is questioned. A study was undertaken to demonstrate that chlorination of wastewater treatment plant effluents that, by volume, represented less than 0.5 percent of the receiving water volume, would significantly improve the bacteriological quality of Jamaica Bay. This estuary was an ideal site for such an investigation because more than 99 percent of the treated effluents being discharged to the Bay are chlorinated on a seasonal basis only- May 15 to September 30. (AU)