Jed Fuhrman DNA/Virus Studies in the Ocean

Heal the Ocean’s round of virus testing, done in November 2000, revealed a very strong presence of enteroviruses - as well as a weaker reading for Hepatitis A - in sewage effluent being discharged into the ocean from the city of Santa Barbara’s El Estero wastewater treatment plant.

A researcher in the USC laboratory that confirmed the presence of the viruses in the El Estero sample, said the enterovirus reading was as strong as the straight polio vaccine used as a test control. Alison Davis noted in her report that the Hepatitis A virus was present as well, but “was much lighter and fainter.” Enteroviruses include polio, coxsackie, and echoviruses.

The November 11, 2000 sampling was done at Arroyo Burro Beach, Butterfly Beach, Carpinteria Beach, El Estero Wastewater Treatment Plant, Goleta Beach, Leadbetter Beach, and Summerland Beach. Except for El Estero, all sites were negative for both enteric and Hepatitis A viruses. There had been a strong rain two weeks before test day, and Heal the Ocean had hoped to test before the rains came. We had been working with USC researchers on their theory that there is a “Hepatitis A season” during the spring and summer months - when the creeks are NOT running.

In a way, our November results supported the USC theory, because the creeks were running and the beach water we collected contained no viruses.

The fact that the Hepatitis A and enteric viruses showed up in the ocean when the creeks are not running may mean that human waste is getting into the ocean from a source or sources no one has yet investigated - which includes groundwater, as well as sewage outfalls.

Heal the Ocean, therefore, contracted with D.M. Bernal Geologic Consulting to initiate an “Environmental Quality Assessment of Shallow Groundwater/Ocean Interface” - a four-part study that took a closer look at the possibility of leaking sewer pipes getting into the flow of groundwater to the sea.