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New data from the Houston Department of Health and Human Services suggests that some areas exposed to Hurricane Harvey’s flood water recorded higher than normal amounts of E. coli just as of last week. Houston Department of Health and Human Services suggests that some areas exposed to Hurricane Harvey’s flood water recorded higher than normal amounts of E. coli just as of last week.
Surface water near Barker Reservoir and water from Brays Bayou on I-610 contained 58 times the maximum level of E.coli deemed appropriate, Lisa Montemayor, environmental investigator for the city, told Chron.com Tuesday.
"E. coli enters flood and surface waters from a number of sources including sewer back-ups, storm water runoff that carries bacteria from animal and pet waste, flooded wastewater treatment plants, and failing septic systems.
"[People] need to ensure they are disinfecting all exposed surfaces properly and are minimizing the conditions that encourage mold development, post-demolition."
The health department regularly monitors E.coli at more than 100 locations, Loren Raun, chief environment science officer for the city, told Chron.com. Raun added that E. coli counts in surface water tend to increase after rain events due to non-point source runoff and storm water infiltration into the sewage system.