Article: Water quality monitoring following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Journal: International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management (IJETM) 2008 Vol.8 No.2/3 pp.210 - 228 Abstract: Following the passage of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans was left with 80% of its land area flooded. In some locations, the flood waters were over 30 feet deep. In the heat and stagnation, the waters quickly became heavily polluted. Pump out operations began in early September 2005 to get the city dried out quickly. Lake Pontchartrain was the primary receiving water body. A variety of approaches were evaluated to achieve treatment with minimal impact on pumping operations. Some of these included; sorbet booms in the channels and the lake near outfalls, oil and debris removal skimmers in channels and near outfalls, sediment control devises for hot spots, application of flocculation chemicals, aerators in the channels and near the outfalls, etc. Over 100 water quality sampling sites were set-up throughout the city to characterise water conditions as the pump out proceeded. High risk areas were identified in a dynamic process and decisions make for best corrective action. Lake Pontchartrain continues to be monitored and long term rehabilitation efforts will be predicated on water quality monitoring results. Lessons learned from a water quality perspective during this massive disaster are presented with the goal of assisting future recovery efforts. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Water quality monitoring following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

Authors: William E. Roper, Kevin J. Weiss, James F. Wheeler

Addresses: College of Science, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, MS 5C3, Fairfax, VA 22030. ' Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460, USA. ' Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460, USA

Abstract: Following the passage of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans was left with 80% of its land area flooded. In some locations, the flood waters were over 30 feet deep. In the heat and stagnation, the waters quickly became heavily polluted. Pump out operations began in early September 2005 to get the city dried out quickly. Lake Pontchartrain was the primary receiving water body. A variety of approaches were evaluated to achieve treatment with minimal impact on pumping operations. Some of these included; sorbet booms in the channels and the lake near outfalls, oil and debris removal skimmers in channels and near outfalls, sediment control devises for hot spots, application of flocculation chemicals, aerators in the channels and near the outfalls, etc. Over 100 water quality sampling sites were set-up throughout the city to characterise water conditions as the pump out proceeded. High risk areas were identified in a dynamic process and decisions make for best corrective action. Lake Pontchartrain continues to be monitored and long term rehabilitation efforts will be predicated on water quality monitoring results. Lessons learned from a water quality perspective during this massive disaster are presented with the goal of assisting future recovery efforts.

Keywords: dewatering operations; expedient pollution control; Hurricane Katrina recovery; New Orleans; sediment sampling; water quality; quality monitoring; flood waters; disaster recovery; environmental management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETM.2008.017332

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, 2008 Vol.8 No.2/3, pp.210 - 228

Published online: 27 Feb 2008 *

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Title: Water quality monitoring following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

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