Using composition and density to identify possible sources of sewage contamination at La Tour-de-Peilz

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Report for La Tour-de-Peilz, hammerdirt 2017
Contents
Purpose :.................................................................................................................................................. 2
Origin of data and methodology ............................................................................................................. 2
Methodology....................................................................................................................................... 2
Objectives............................................................................................................................................ 2
Language, conflict of interest.................................................................................................................. 2
Beach litter survey results: all sites combined........................................................................................ 4
Beach litter survey results: individual sites............................................................................................. 4
Discussion:............................................................................................................................................... 6
Conclusion:.............................................................................................................................................. 6
Recommended Actions: .......................................................................................................................... 7
Limitations of this study .......................................................................................................................... 7

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Report for La Tour-de-Peilz, hammerdirt 2017
Report beach-litter survey results: La Tour-de-Peilz
Purpose :
This report was established per request of Ms. Taraneh Aminian of La Tour-de-Peilz in preparation for
a planned meeting on February 21, 2017 with hammerdirt association, Ms. Taraneh Aminian and, Ms
Génivieve Pasche.
Origin of data and methodology
The results presented here are from a lake wide surveillance of shoreline beach litter density. This
document is derived from a larger analysis. The original document, analysis results and data can be
found here:
https://indd.adobe.com/view/afcb0eed-e213-4ed7-a105-5963cdfc8fab
Methodology
Shannon and Roger Erismann, founding members of hammerdirt, removed, sorted and counted trash
found on the shoreline of four locations within the municipal boundaries of La Tour-de-Peilz. The
detailed protocol can be found in Annex b of the ln(beach-litter-density):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzPFamJgOYe1S2R4WC01cDBlQzg/view
Objectives
The data and analysis provided here is intended to put the litter density on the shoreline of La Tour-
de-Peilz in relation to the results from the rest of the Lake. Specifically:
1. Identify categories of items that are a result of local pollution
2. Identify categories of items that are a result of regional pollution
3. Explore measures that can be initiated to reduce the levels of shoreline litter within the
municipality
4. Understand how this data can be used to measure the efficiency of current programs and
interventions
This report is not intended to diminish the ongoing efforts of municipal workers or other NGOs in the
region. The data presented here is the observations of two residents (Shannon and Roger Erismann)
of the city of La Tour-de-Peilz, following a written protocol and applying common statistical methods
to their observations. Critical feedback is greatly appreciated, please address all comments to
info@hammerdirt.ch
Language, conflict of interest
The language of this publication is English, any translations of this document into French or German
are unauthorized without the express written consent of hammerdirt association. It is our intention
to produce reports in French and German when the financial resources are available for this task.
Neither hammerdirt association nor the members have received any financial support from public or
private sources for this report or any other activity related to the quantification of shoreline litter on
Lake Geneva.

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Report for La Tour-de-Peilz, hammerdirt 2017

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Report for La Tour-de-Peilz, hammerdirt 2017
Beach litter survey results: all sites combined
Four separate locations were surveyed within the municipality of La Tour-de-Peilz between March
26, 2016 and May 31, 2016. The four surveys yielded 3’318 pieces of trash with an average density
of 22.96 pieces of trash per meter (pcs/m). Table 1 summarizes the combined results.
Expanded polystyrene, cigarette butts,
broken pieces of plastic and cotton swabs
combine to equal 62% of the categories
identified. Chart 1 and table 2 summarize
the composition of all items that are equal
to or greater than 1% of the total.
Table 1: Beach litter
survey results
commune de La
Tour-de-Peilz
Date
piecesofgarbage
Length-meters
Densitypcs/m
Bain des Dames 26.03 594 17 34.94
Maladaire 31.03 733 60 12.21
Oyonne 10.04 717 32 22.40
Le Port 19.04 570 17 33.53
Maladaire 31.05 704 60 11.73
Table 2: Percent composition of
shoreline debris La Tour-de-Peilz ;
categories > 1% of total, n=3’318
Polystyrene pieces 1 > < 50 cm 27.8%
Plastic pieces 1 > <50 cm 16.8%
Cigarette butts 10.8%
Cotton swabs 6.6%
Industrial sheeting 4.5%
Candy and Chips bags 4.4%
Bottles incl. Pieces 3.2%
Bottle caps 2.3%
Paper fragments 2.0%
Plastic caps lids unidentified 1.8%
Plastic constuction waste 1.8%
Plastic rings from bottle
caps/lids
1.6%
Shotgun cartridges 1.6%
Plastic caps/lids drinks 1.4%
Biomass holders 1.0%
Everything else 12.4%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
90.0%
100.0%Everything else
Biomass holders
Plastic caps drinks
Shotgun cartridges
Plastic rings from
bottle caps
Plastic constuction
waste
Plastic caps
unidentified
Paper fragments
Bottle caps
Bottles incl. Pieces
Candy and Chips bags
Plastic films
Cotton swabs
Cigarette butts
Plastic pieces <50 cm
Polystyrene pieces < 50
cm
Chart 1: Percent composition of shoreline
debris La Tour-de-Peilz ; categories > 1% of
total, n=3’318

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Report for La Tour-de-Peilz, hammerdirt 2017
Beach litter survey results: individual sites
The four sites at La Tour-de-Peilz display two distinct composition profiles in relation to the results
for Lac Léman (chart 2):
• Profile 1: elevated amount of cotton swabs and broken plastic
• Profile 2: elevated amount of polystyrene pieces
The density of anthropogenic shoreline debris at La Bain-des-Dames and the Port are greater than
95% of the values recorded in the 2015-2016 operations.1
The Oyonne is greater than 90% of those
values and the Maladaire falls within the 68th
percentile.
See annex a for a complete list of items found at each location.
1
The full results can be seen in the document ln(beach-litter-density)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
LacLéman
BaindesDames
LePort
Maladaire
Oyonne
Chart 2: La Tour-de-Peilz Percent composition of shoreline
debris per site in relation to results for Lac Léman
Solde
Pailles et bâttonets - boissons
Métal < 50cm
Anneau de bouchon plastique
Bouchon plastique - non identifiées
Capsule bouteille - metal
Douille de fusil
Débris de chantier plastique
Papier
Bouchon plastique boisson
Débris de verre
Film plastique
Coton-tiges
Emballages friandises
Plastic < 50cm
Mégots
Styromousse < 50cm
1
2
1
2

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Report for La Tour-de-Peilz, hammerdirt 2017
Discussion:
The results from La Tour-de-Peilz represent single samples from specific locations. Statistical
inference from these results is not possible except in relation to the larger sample group. However,
the elevated proportion of cotton swabs and lower proportion of Styrofoam at the Port and Bain-
des-Dames may be significant because of the proximity to each other and the existing infrastructure.
Within the confines of the port
infrastructure (image 1) at least two
stormwater drains can be identified using
the interactive map from
www.cartoriviera.ch.
The breakwater surrounding the port
could act as a barrier from debris
originating from the lake like Styrofoam
while simultaneously trapping the objects
that are discharged from the stormwater
drains.
The results from “Operation Riviere
Propre”i
do not indicate any unmonitored
discharges of waste-water in the
immediate area.2
When the density values for all locations
on the lake are compared, locations with
less than 10 surveys (like La Tour-de-Peilz)
tend to have a higher density and
encompass a greater range of densities.
Furthermore, the surveys at La Tour-de-
Peilz happened during and after the
quadrennial event (chart 3). These two
periods can also be characterized with a
greater average density.3
Conclusion:
The density values found at La Tour-de-
Peilz are elevated when compared to the
average of Lac Léman. Howver, given the
amount of samples taken and the date
range they were taken it is impossible to
determine if the density is persistently
elevated.
2
Operation Riviere Propre is a project by the Association pour la sauvegarde du Léman : http://asleman.org/
3
See annex b of the ln(beach-litter-density)
Image 1:Map of stormwater drains and survey locations, the Port and
Bain des Dames

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Report for La Tour-de-Peilz, hammerdirt 2017
Recommended Actions:
1. Contact neighboring communities to identify common problems and solutions
2. We strongly recommend monitoring of the area, at least to determine the base line density for
the region and verify the elevated density of cotton swabs
3. Investigate with the local water board the connections with the two storm-water drains that are
located within the Port
4. Engage the local rowing, sailing and lifeguard groups to participate in monitoring and surveillance
of aquatic litter in the immediate area of the Port
5. Facilitate and simplify the marking of storm-water drains throughout the basin. Use simple
measures like stencils and nontoxic paint combined with art designed by students in the region.
These activities go a long way to raising awareness and encouraging participation.
Limitations of this study
The data collection is repetitive and requires a certain amount of physical effort, the categorization
of objects is tedious, subjective and could be described as “déplaisante” or “unpleasant”. Litter
collection happens along the lake therefore weather and seasonal changes may influence collection
and sorting for example; the shore may be snow covered or waves may limit site exposure.
Logistically it is not feasible to keep samples, limiting the opportunities to do recounts to evaluate
categorization variances between volunteers.
This is a hammerdirt publication
Contact: info@hammerdirt.ch

8. Annex A : list of objects found La Tour de PEilz
Location Bain des DaMaladaire Oyonne Le Port Maladaire
Plastic bags collective role 0 1 0 0 0
Drink bottles <= 0.5l 0 0 1 0 0
Drink bottles => 0.5l 0 0 2 0 0
Food containers/fast food containers 4 0 17 0 2
Plastic caps lids unidentified 19 6 10 23 2
Plastic caps/lids drinks 9 8 6 11 14
Plastic caps/lids chemicals and detergents 8 15 0 0 8
Plastic rings from bottle caps/lids 13 9 0 16 15
Tobacco pouches 7 3 1 0 6
Cigarette lighters 7 2 2 0 2
Cigarette butts 53 133 73 22 77
Candy and Chips bags 23 37 17 26 42
Lolipop sticks 3 4 5 1 6
Cups and cup lids 2 0 1 5 3
Toys and fireworks 5 12 5 2 4
Cutlery and trays 0 0 2 3 0
Straws and stirers 6 2 6 12 0
String/cord < 1cm 1 0 0 0 0
Fishing line 0 0 1 0 0
Strapping bands 4 0 1 13 4
Industrial sheeting, industrial packaging 36 23 3 72 15
Shotgun cartridges 16 10 8 8 10
Plastic pieces 1 > <50 cm 166 126 47 167 51
Polystyrene pieces 1 > < 50 cm 43 184 343 28 325
Cotton swabs 59 31 6 86 38
Sanitary towels/tampons and backing strips 1 0 0 0 4
Toilet freshners 0 0 0 0 1
Medical/Pharma containers and tubes 4 2 10 1 4
Biomass holders sewage treatment 8 5 0 11 9
Other medical items 4 1 0 0 0
Plastic constuction waste 7 16 10 0 26
Dog feces bags 0 0 1 0 0
Bottles incl. Pieces 27 17 13 36 14
Construction material 0 0 17 0 0
Bottle caps 16 25 12 14 8
Aerosol spray cans 0 0 1 0 0
Beverage cans 0 0 6 0 0
Foil wrappers 0 4 11 2 5
Wire, wire mesh, barbed wire 2 0 10 1 0
Other metal < 50cm 11 5 15 0 0
Cartons/Tetrapack other 0 1 0 0 0
Cigarette packets 9 0 0 0 0
Cups, food trays, wrappers, drink containers 0 0 3 0 0
Paper fragments 10 27 29 2 0
Other paper items 0 0 1 0 0
Corks 0 1 6 0 2
Ice‐cream sticks, chip forks 0 0 1 0 0
Processed timber 0 0 2 0 0
Ballons and balloon sticks 0 1 1 3 1

9. Annex A : list of objects found La Tour de PEilz
Location Bain des DaMaladaire Oyonne Le Port Maladaire
Balls 0 1 0 0 2
small plastic bags 1 5 3 0 1
cleaner bottles 0 0 0 0 1
beach use cosmetics 0 2 3 0 0
Other cosmetics 0 1 0 0 0
Other bottles and containers 2 0 0 0 0
Pens and pen lids 2 3 2 3 0
Plastic flower pots 1 1 1 0 0
Syringes and needles 1 0 0 0 2
Floats for fishing nets 0 1 0 0 0
Parafin/wax 1 1 0 0 0
Rope, string nets 1 0 0 2 0
Other textiles ‐ rags 0 6 0 0 0
Disposable BBQ 0 1 0 0 0
Other > 50cm 0 0 2 0 0
Rubber bands 2 0 0 0 0
Daily Total 594 733 717 570 704
MLW categories 39 39 44 26 32
Density 34.9 12.2 22.4 33.5 11.7