Tracking E. coli in the Charles River

BOSTON - The long standing belief that the Charles River's water quality diminishes after rainfall may be wrong.

Northeastern University researchers found levels of E. coli in the Charles River were higher during periods of no rain. Originally, most thought the rain brought pollutants into the Charles, raising the E. coli level.

The animation below was put together by Ferdi Hellweger who is a Northeastern civil and environment engineering professor. Hellweger ran a study of E. coli that was based in the Lower Charles River where he says is most of the E. coli. The E. coli is coming from Stony Brook and the Muddy River.

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