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

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

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

And the potential sources of contamination for our lakes and streams

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?

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

All we can do is monitor the impact of human activity

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

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?

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

Brittain Lake

McClure’s Run

Little Neshannock Creek Before Livestock

Route 208 Bridge

Before McClure’s Run

Confluence of McClure’s Run and Little Neshannock Creek

Before Sewage Pipe

Sewage Treatment Facility

After Sewage Pipe

Cottage Grove

Water Sampling

pH Acidity of streams –decomposition –nutrient binding

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

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

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

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

Phosphate Analysis

Nitrate Analysis

Results pH Dissolved oxygen Phosphate Nitrate

Poor Fair Good Excellent

Good Excellent

Conclusions

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

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

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

Methods Sterilize Collect Membrane Filter Technique

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

Results Total Coliforms Fecal Coliforms Fecal Streptococci FC / FS Ratio

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)

Testing 9/24

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

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

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

Testing 9/24

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

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

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

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

Sieving Samples

Sorting Samples

Identification of Macroinvertebrates

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

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

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

EPT Organisms

Fair Good

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

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

Chironomids Non-biting midge fly 1/2 inch Detritivores

Morphological Testing Deformities in mouthparts Effect of chemical contaminants Early indicator

Mounting Head Capsule

Mounting CMCP 9/9AF Medium

Chironomid Deformities Normal

Chironomid Deformities Class I Slight abnormalities

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

Chironomid Deformities Class III Severe abnormalities

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

Toxic Score Different Deformities

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

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

Livestock More human fecal contamination Inconclusive for organisms

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

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

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