REPORT TO CHESTER RIDLEY CRUM VOLUNTEER MONITORING
PROGRAM
NEUMANN COLLEGE
APRIL 2007
Measurements and analyses were made by students taking Bio 211, Environmental
Science and Issues Laboratory, between 19 and 28 April 2007. All testing was done
using procedures and protocols from Water Quality with CBL by Robyn L. Johnson,
Scott Holman, and Dan Holmquist (1999, Vernier Software, Portland, OR, ISBN: 1929075-00-6). All information reported below comes from this source. The only
exception was the fecal coliform test, where we used Coliscan Easy Gels (Micrology
Laboratories, www.micrologylabs.com).
General Information and Weather Conditions
We analyzed water samples from two sites: immediately above Dam #1 (SITE 1) and
below Dam #2 (SITE 2) on Mount Road on Chester Creek. Investigators were Dr. Mac
F. Given and his students: Katie Burlew, Melissa Dudlek, Dominic Fiandra, William
Garrity, Kelly McCormick, and Sarah Miller. Samples and specific tests were conducted,
or initiated, on the following dates:
Date
Tests conducted
4/19 Nitrates, orthophosphates
4/20
Conductivity, turbidity, total solids, pH,
alkalinity
4/27
Dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand
(BOD)
4/28
Fecal coliform
Weather conditions
Temperature high/low: 55/46
Mostly cloudy/calm
5 inches rain 4/15-16
Temperature high/low: 70/41
Clear/calm
No rainfall
Temperature high/low: 62/46
All clouds/high wind
Rainfall approx. 1.5 inches
Temperature high/low: 68/53
Clear/breezy
No rainfall
There was no ice cover.
Chemical/Physical Water Conditions
Total Alkalinity
Two samples were analyzed for each site. Results are mean alkalinities.
SITE ONE: 15.5 mg/L CaCO3
SITE TWO: 9.0 mg/L CaCO3
Water Temperature
Water temperatures were identical at both sites. On 4/19 it was 52 degrees F and
on 4/27 it was 54 degrees F.
Conductivity
We used different units of measurement (mg/L). The conversion is 1 mg/L = 2
MicroSiemens (from the Vernier text). Your units are MicroSiemens/cm, which
is confusing because cm is a length and not a volume. Three samples were
analyzed for each site. Results are mean conductivities.
SITE ONE: 212 mg/L
SITE TWO: 212 mg/L
Dissolved Oxygen
Three independent measurements were made at each site. Results are mean
dissolved oxygen. Included is mean percent saturation.
SITE ONE: 9.9 ppm; 89% saturation
SITE TWO: 9.5 ppm; 85% saturation
Nitrate
SITE ONE: 3.3 mg/L
SITE TWO: 3.8 mg/L
pH
For each site, measurements were made with two different pH probes. Three
measurements were made with each probe. Thus, mean pH values reflect the
average of six measurements.
SITE ONE: 6.81
SITE TWO: 6.78
Orthophosphate
There were no orthophosphates at either site.
Turbidity
We measured turbidity in units called Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU). I’m
not sure what the conversion is to jtu. However, the standard for drinking water is
0.5 to 1.0 NTU. Three independent measurements were made with samples from
each site. Because of a calibration problem, measurements were adjusted by
comparing them with measurements made with distilled water, which was
assumed to have a value of 0 NTU. Results are mean NTU.
SITE ONE: 1.2 NTU
SITE TWO: 0.4 NTU
ADDITIONAL TESTS
Fecal Coliform
Two samples were analyzed from each site. Results are mean number of E. coli
per 100 ml.
SITE ONE: 233 colonies/100 ml
SITE TWO: 116 colonies/100 ml
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
This test compares the dissolved oxygen on the day of collection with the
dissolved oxygen measured five days later. High values reflect high levels of
organic matter (that uses oxygen in the process of decomposition). Three samples
were taken at each site. Results are mean BODs.
SITE ONE: 5.4 ppm oxygen
SITE TWO: 3.3 ppm oxygen
These results suggest intermediate to high levels of organic waste.
Total Solids
In this test, an empty beaker is filled with 200 ml of stream water. The water is
evaporated. The difference between the mass of the beaker + residue and the
empty beaker is the total solids (dissolved solids and suspended particles). Three
samples were taken from each site. Results are mean total solids.
SITE ONE: 83 mg/L
SITE TWO: 83 mg/L
Comments
Most measurements were consistent with relatively healthy streams. There were,
however, three exceptions. Nitrate levels were high (unpolluted waters generally have
nitrate levels below 1 mg/L). The five day BOD suggested that there were significant
levels of organic waste. Third, fecal coliform was present, although not excessive
(permissible levels for swimming are less than 1,000 colonies per 100 ml).
There were a few differences between the upstream and downstream sites. The upstream
site had a higher five day BOD and twice the concentration of fecal coliform. Perhaps
these are related. Other differences did not seem to be very large. I would be willing to
do more visits and measurements during the early summer, if desirable.
Please note that Neumann College does not have professional-level labs and that these
tests are subject to instrumental and human error. While the students were trained to do
the tests before this project, they are not experts.
Any questions can be directed to Mac Given, Neumann College, Aston PA 19014-1298,
mgiven@neumann.edu, office: 610-558-5596.