News

Pamlico-Tar Riverkeeper Katey Zimmerman was in the field on Wednesday, scouting sampling sites for a regional Water Quality Management Planning grant.

In partnership with the Mid-East Commission, Sound Rivers will be conducting bacteria testing in areas deemed high risk for potential failing septic infrastructure. The grant covers five counties: Beaufort, Pitt, Bertie, Martin and Hertford.

“The goal is to find the worst places and seek funding to fix these things. The sampling will prove that we need the funding to fix the systems that are failing,” Katey said.

Water Quality Specialist Taylor Register Seijo is currently creating a sampling plan, with sampling starting at the end of May and extending through June of 2027. With GIS mapping and analysis from Mid-East Commission Planner Jamie Heath, Katey and Taylor have mapped out potential sites.

“With Google maps, we’re taking the areas identified by Jamie and comparing them to where we think accessible sites may be,” Katey said.

Katey made the first foray Wednesday, visiting six sites in Bertie, Martin and Hertford counties.  Twelve sites will be tested during the first round of sampling, which will be narrowed down to five later in the process, as sites most impacted by septic-sourced bacteria become apparent.

“We will be doing some DNA sampling as well, to make sure the bacteria we’re seeing in results is human,” Katey said.

Like the work your Riverkeeper is doing to keep your waterways clean? We love it! Donate today to support her work!