Vargas-Babilonia, Priscila

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    Fate and transport of enterococci bacteria at Rincón Public Beach
    (2021-05-14) Vargas-Babilonia, Priscila; Rodríguez-Abudo, Sylvia; College of Engineering; Chardón-Maldonado, Patricia; Aponte-Bermúdez, Luis D.; Muñoz-Barreto, Jonathan; Department of Civil Engineering; Ramírez-Durand, Lillian
    Bacteria contamination is a frequent problem in Puerto Rico's beaches. In-situ surveys are currently the only way to determine episodes of fecal pollution. These tests require 24 hours of incubation and cannot provide insight on the transport and decay of bacteria. The goal of this thesis is to have a better understanding of the fate and transport of fecal bacteria at Rincón Public Beach (RPB) by combining a comprehensive field campaign with a numerical modeling effort aimed at predicting concentrations of Enterococcus spp. in a marine environment. Overall, a good validation was achieved, especially closer to the main discharge. In the model, bacteria were transported from the stream to RPB in a southeastward direction, concurring with the observations measured at the site. Three cases with hypothetical conditions were also simulated: (i) an increased stream flowrate, (ii) a more energetic swell and (iii) a less energetic wave conditions. The first case caused higher bacteria concentrations; the second case showed similar concentrations; and the third case had the highest magnitudes which persisted longer due to reduced water mixing. Based on these results, it can be concluded that a significant source of fecal contamination at the beach may originate from streams and is intensified by rainfall events that increase stream flowrates, and lower wave energy conditions that decrease water mixing.