Pathogens in Urban Stormwater Systems

This report was completed to serve as a technical resource for local governments working to address elevated fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) in urban areas, particularly with regard to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit requirements arising from FIB total maximum daily loads (TMDLs). The authors are primarily water resources engineers and water resources scientists, as opposed to microbiologists and epidemiologists. For this reason, the report focuses primarily on information needed to develop and implement plans for addressing elevated FIB in MS4s, as opposed to discussion of the biological underpinnings of human health risks from pathogens.