Contaminants of Emerging Concern

Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) - chemicals, microbes and illicit discharges - are increasingly present in water bodies through stormwater runoff. To protect water, ecology and residents, town officials conduct Outfall Reconnaissance Inspections (ORIs) to detect CECs in stormwater. Based on those findings town officials are required to find the source of contamination and through enforcement protect stormwater runoff. However, in some cases a direct source is not readily detectable. In an effort to educate the public to reduce sources of contamination, town officials engaged Union College environmental science and environmental studies interns to develop the following series of fact sheets. Each explains how a particular CEC ends up in water bodies and what impact the CEC has on local ecology or aquatic life, as well as the harm to humans that come into contact with the contaminated water. For more information please contact Town Hall at 518-688-1218 or mcherubino@townofglenville.org.