1. New Wilmington Streams: Tainted Water or Tainted Thinking? A Presentation by Westminster College’s Limnology Class

2. A Preliminary Assessment: Health in Aquatic Ecosystems New Wilmington, Pennsylvania

3. From Webster's Dictionary: Taint — to touch or affect slightly with something bad

4. And the potential sources of contamination for our lakes and streams

5. Goals of our study Are Brittain Lake and Little Neshannock as polluted as some think? Is there contamination from the sewage treatment plant, livestock, and housing development?

6. What makes a healthy ecosystem? Healthy for humans We might wonder if humans are at risk due to the contamination Healthy for organisms Good conditions for one may be bad for another

7. All we can do is monitor the impact of human activity

8. Assessing the health of an ecosystem Monitoring the chemical content Measuring biological parameters

9. But there are still differences in opinion... How vulnerable is an area to contamination? What should the guidelines be? How much is permissible? or Is NO contamination permissible?

10. We can monitor specific sites May provide a warning of potential problems and the impact of outside sources.

12. Brittain Lake

14. McClure’s Run

16. Little Neshannock Creek Before Livestock

17. Route 208 Bridge

18. Before McClure’s Run

19. Confluence of McClure’s Run and Little Neshannock Creek

20. Before Sewage Pipe

21. Sewage Treatment Facility

22. After Sewage Pipe

23. Cottage Grove

25. Water Sampling

26. pH Acidity of streams –decomposition –nutrient binding

27. Dissolved Oxygen Concentration not uniform –temperature –photosynthesis –respiration Affects organisms

28. Phosphate Most limiting nutrient in fresh water Not toxic to humans or animals Cycles Sources and inputs –erosion –waste water –storm water –runoff –feces EPA limits

29. Nitrate Not found in influent Found in effluent Sources –atmosphere –runoff –waste water –agricultural fertilizers Toxic to fetuses, infants and small children Public Health Systems limits

30. Methods pH, dissolved oxygen - meters phosphate and nitrate -spectrophotometer

31. Phosphate Analysis

33. Nitrate Analysis

34. Results pH Dissolved oxygen Phosphate Nitrate

35. Poor Fair Good Excellent

36. Good Excellent

42. Conclusions

45. Microbiological Monitoring Uses microorganisms to assess the quality of water Coliform bacteria used as indicator organisms of bacterial pathogens Two types of coliforms: –total coliforms –fecal coliforms

46. EPA Standards Total coliforms are the standard for which potable and recreational water guidelines are based –1 coliform/100mL permissible in drinking water –1000 coliforms/100mL permissible in recreational water

47. Fecal coliforms indicate fecal contamination and possible bacterial pathogens Fecal coliforms/Fecal streptococci ratio gives indication of the origin of fecal contamination

48. Methods Sterilize Collect Membrane Filter Technique

49. KF Agar M-Endo Broth M-FC Broth Fecal Streptococci Total Coliforms Fecal Coliforms

50. Results Total Coliforms Fecal Coliforms Fecal Streptococci FC / FS Ratio

51. Total Coliform Bacteria All sites are NOT suitable for drinking (more than one coliform per 100 ml) Only Lake Brittain within Recreational Limit (u nder 1000 coliforms per 100 ml)

53. Testing 9/24

54. Fecal Coliform Bacteria All sites show contamination –possible presence of bacteria pathogens Below the sewage treatment pipe extremely high on one test day –water cloudy, dark, and smelled

56. Fecal Streptococci Numbers are less than FC All sites indicate fecal contamination at some time –Possible presence of bacteria pathogens Below the sewage treatment plants was the highest Brittain Lake was the lowest

58. FC/FS Ratio Ratio > 4 indicates possible human fecal contamination Ratio < 0.7 indicates animal origin Below the sewage treatment pipe the highest McClure’s Run was also high Ratios fluctuate daily

60. Testing 9/24

62. Biological Monitoring The use of organisms to assess or monitor environmental conditions

63. Macroinvertebrates for Biomonitoring Accurate indicators of polluted ecosystems Often inhabit bottom sediments Very diverse organisms- reflect changes in biodiversity Insects, mollusks, crustaceans, and worms

64. Macroinvertebrates for Biomonitoring Large distribution area Variety of habitat Primary food source Long-lived Easy to collect and identify

65. Methods Surber sampling Five samples per site Approximately ten centimeters taken in each sample Stored in alcohol and rose bengal (preserve and stain organisms)

66. Sieving Samples

67. Sorting Samples

68. Identification of Macroinvertebrates

69. Biological Indices HBI (Hilsenhoff’s Biotic Index) –uses tolerance values to indicate level of pollution Tolerance –0-10 scale; 0 = intolerant, 10 = tolerant

71. Biological Indices Percent Model Affinity (PMA)- –compares non-impacted community of seven major types of organisms with the community being studied

73. Biological Indices EPT- measures number of Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies), and Trichoptera (caddisflies) to determine water quality Mostly clean-water organisms = presence generally correlated with good water quality

74. EPT Organisms

75. Fair Good

76. Biological Indices Family Diversity- combines family richness with the community balance or evenness to determine condition of the community High Family Diversity = healthy, diverse communities

78. Results-Macroinvertebrates Brittain Lake Lowest values of all sites, as expected Effect of Livestock Data inconclusive Effect of Sewage Pipe Higher values below sewage pipe indicates better environment for macroinvertebrates

79. Chironomids Non-biting midge fly 1/2 inch Detritivores

80. Morphological Testing Deformities in mouthparts Effect of chemical contaminants Early indicator

81. Mounting Head Capsule

82. Mounting CMCP 9/9AF Medium

83. Chironomid Deformities Normal

84. Chironomid Deformities Class I Slight abnormalities

85. Chironomid Deformities Class II Extra teeth Missing teeth Fused teeth Loss of symmetry

86. Chironomid Deformities Class III Severe abnormalities

87. Percent Deformity Number of chironomids with deformed teeth divided by the total number of chironomids that were sampled

89. Toxic Score Different Deformities

92. Conclusions: Lake Brittain Healthiest for humans Good nutrient level: Nitrate, Phosphate High dissolved oxygen level Low chemical toxicity Less suitable for macroinvertebrates

93. Sewage Treatment Plant Pipe Definite effect at this site High coliform count –bad for humans High nutrient level –good for organisms

94. Livestock More human fecal contamination Inconclusive for organisms

95. Farm / Housing Increased levels of phosphate and nitrate Indicates high non-natural chemical levels –Agriculture More human fecal contamination

96. Further Studies More sites More research into geographical area Greater diversity of organisms Sediment testing Heavy metals Pesticides and herbicides

97. Acknowledgements Ann Throckmorton, Ph.D. Joe Balczon, Ph.D. Suzanne Butch - Consumer’s Water Company Population Ecology Class Microbial Diversity Class Fred Garret - New Wilmington Sewage Treatment Facility Borough of New Wilmington US EPA PA DEP