INTERSTATE POLLUTION OF OHIO RIVER
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA AREA
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
REGION III
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A REPORT ON POLLUTION
OF THE OHIO RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES
IN THE PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA AREA
U. S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
REGION HI
1971
Illinois 60S05
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
List of Tables ill
List of Figures iv
Introduction 1
Summary 3
Conclusions 5
Recommendations 7
Area 11
Water Uses 15
Present Uses 15
Water Uses as Defined by Water Quality Standards 20
General Water Quality Criteria 21
Sources of Waste 29
Effects of Pollution on Water Quality and Uses 49
Effects of Pollution on Aquatic Life 73
Bibliography 90
ii
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List of Tables
1. Current Approved Specific Criteria - Ohio River
2. Ohio's Proposed Temperature Criteria for the Ohio River
3. Sources of Municipal Wastes - Ohio River
4. Sources of Municipal Wastes - Monongahela River
5* Major Industrial Dischargers, Ohio River - Pennsylvania
6. Major Industrial Dischargers, Monongahela River * Pennsylvania
7. Other Industrial Dischargers, Ohio River - Pennsylvania
8. Other Industrial Dischargers, Monongahela River - Pennsylvania
9. Sampling Stations, Special Study - EPA - Ohio River, May-June 1970
10. University of Pittsburgh Study, Monthly Average Total Coliform
Density
11. Total Coliform Density, Ohio River and Tributaries
12. Phenol Concentrations, Ohio River and Tributaries
13. Chemical Analyses of Bottom Samples of Ohio River, May 1970
14. Bottom Organisms Collected from the Ohio River from Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, Downstream to East Liverpool, Ohio, May 1970
15. Summary of Bottom Animals Collected From Basket Samplers -
Upper Ohio River, May-June 1970
iii
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List of Figures
1. Location Map, Ohio and Honongahela River Systems, Allenport to
East Liverpool
2. Location of Sampling Stations and Mile Points (Ohio River)
3. Coliform Densities, Ohio River, May-June 1970
4. ORSANCO's D.O.-BOD Model of the Ohio River
5. Monthly Average Total Iron Concentrations, Ohio River, 1964-1965
6. Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Content of Sediment Samples from
Ohio River, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Downstream to East Liverpool,
May 1970
7» Summary of Algal Responses in Bio-assays, Ohio River, May-June 1970
8. Numbers and Composition of Attached Growths, Ohio River, May-June 1970
9. Numbers of Kinds of Organisms in Attached Growth Communities,
Ohio River, May-June 1970
10. Quantity of Chlorophyll in Attached Growth Communities, Ohio River,
May-June 1970
11. Location of Bottom Animal Sampling Stations, Ohio River, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania to East Liverpool, Ohio, May 1970
12. Bottom Animals Collected in Rock Basket Samplers, Ohio River,
May-June 1970
iv
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INTRODUCTION
On the basis of reports, surveys or studies, the Administrator
of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, having reason to believe
that pollution from sources in Pennsylvania was endangering the health
or welfare of persons in Ohio and West Virginia, called a conference
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the States of Ohio and West Vir-
ginia, the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) and
the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EEd) on the interstate pol-
lution of the Ohio River in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. The
conference was called in accordance with Section 10(d) of the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act, as amended (33 U.S.C. 1160).
The purpose of this report is to delineate the characteristics of
this pollution of the Ohio River, the municipal and industrial sources
of this pollution in Pennsylvania, the effects of this pollution upon
water quality and water uses; the adequacy of present wastewater treat-
ment facilities; and future abatement requirements.
This report on pollution of the interstate waters of the Ohio
River is based upon: previous reports; data and other materials ob-
tained from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources,
ORSANCO, and the U. S. Geological Survey (USGS)j information fur-
nished by other Federal, State, and local agencies and individuals;
official records of the Department of the Interior; and data obtained
by EPA during field studies in May and June 1970, and February and
March 1971.
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SUMMERY
The Ohio River is formed by the confluence of the Allegheny
and Monongahela Rivers at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and flows gen-
erally in a northwesterly direction to form the border between West
Virginia and Ohio at river mile 1*0. This report considers the main-
stem of the Monongahela River from Allenport, Pennsylvania, at river
mile Vf, to Pittsburgh, at river mile 0, and the main stem of the
Ohio River from Pittsburgh to Chester, West Virginia, at river mile
k2. The area is highly industrialized and is noted for its heavy
concentration of iron, steel, and metal processing plants.
The Ohio River from Pittsburgh to river mile U2 is used
principally for navigation and as an industrial water supply. The
Ohio River in Pennsylvania is not used as a major municipal water
source because it contains high bacteria densities, high concentra-
tions of phenolic compounds and other materials that cause taste and
odor problems. The water is generally unpalatable without extensive
water treatment. Fishing and recreational use of the river have been
restricted by pollution. The States of Pennsylvania, Ohio and West
Virginia have adopted specific criteria for the Ohio River in order
to protect legitimate uses as defined in their Water Quality Stand-
ards. These criteria were approved by the Administrator of the
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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Unusually large loads of municipal and industrial wastes are
discharged to the Ohio and Monongahela Rivers in Pennsylvania, af-
fecting the area covered by the conference. The largest source of
municipal waste is the Allegheny County Sanitation Authority treat-
ment plant at Ohio River mile 3.1. Industrial waste sources vary
considerably but the main sources are large iron, steel, and metal
processing plants, such as the plants operated by Jones and Laughlin
Corporation at Aliquippa, Crucible Steel Corporation at Midland,
Shenango, Inc. on Neville Island, several U. S. Steel plants and the
Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel plant at Monesson. These municipal and
industrial wastes affect the water quality of the Ohio and Mononga-
hela Rivers by causing excessive bacteria densities; by depleting
the dissolved oxygen content of the Ohio River; by forming oily
sludges that are toxic to benthic microfauna; and by contributing
excessive loads of phenols, iron, oil, heat, settleable solids, imd
suspended solids.
Aquatic life in these reaches of the Ohio and Monongahela Rivers
is largely limited to pollution-tolerant fish and aquatic organisms.
The fish population is mainly comprised of those species that are not
.considered sport fishes, and pollution renders these fish inedible
because of fish flavor. Benthic fauna consists of only pollution-
tolerant sludgeworms, and these are found in low numbers indicating
toxicity.
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CONCLUSIONS
1. The Ohio River is polluted by industrial and municipal
wastes, originating in Pennsylvania, and endangering the health
and welfare of persons in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio.
2. The Ohio River from Pittsburgh to Chester, West Virginia
is polluted by untreated and inadequately treated domestic wastes
that create bacterial pollution in the river; the coliform densi-
ties exceed the Federal-State Water Quality Standards criteria
almost continually. The river can be used for a public water sup-
ply only with extensive treatment. Use of the river for recreation
is hazardous to human health.
3. The Ohio River from Pittsburgh to Chester, West Virginia
is polluted by untreated and inadequately treated organic wastes
from municipal and industrial sources that form toxic sludge de-
posits upon the river bottom and often deplete the dissolved oxy-
gen content of the river below levels necessary to support fish
and other aquatic organisms. The dissolved oxygen content of the
river is often below the minimum concentration set in Pennsylvania's
Water Quality Standards.
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U. The Ohio River from Pittsburgh to Chester, West Virginia
often contains high concentrations of phenolics, originating from
industrial discharges to the Ohio, Monongahela, and Allegheny Rivers
in Pennsylvania that cause fish flavor tainting and produce taste and
odor problems in municipal water supplies in Pennsylvania, West Vir-
ginia and Ohio.
5. The Ohio River from Pittsburgh to Chester, West Virginia
is polluted by oil, originating from industrial sources in Pennsyl-
vania, that interferes with uses for recreation, fishing, and muni-
cipal water supplies. Oily sludges, toxic to bottom animals, cover
much of the river bottom, and oils mark much of the shoreline.
6. The Ohio River from Pittsburgh to Chester, West Virginia
is polluted by waste toxic to fish and aquatic organisms. Popula-
tions of fish and other aquatic organisms are restricted to pollu-
tion tolerant species, and the fish which are present are inedible.
7. The temperature of the Ohio River from Pittsburgh to Chester,
West Virginia during critical periods borders upon the maximum tem-
perature permissable to sustain an adequate warm water fish popula-
tion.
8. Municipal and industrial discharges to tributaries of the
Ohio River in Pennsylvania, especially the Monongahela River, con-
tribute substantially to the water quality problems in the Ohio
River.
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BEOOMMEaiDATlPHS
It is reconnaended that:
1. All boroughs, townships and sanitation authorities in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that discharge municipal wastes to the
Ohio River and its tributaries, except the Allegheny County Sanitary
Authority, provide a minimum of secondary treatment for all their
waste waters. Such secondary treatment should provide a minimum of
an 85 percent reduction of both suspended solids and oxygen demand-
ing material throughout the year; the oxygen demanding material
measured by the 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD,-) test.
2. The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority's treatment plant
at Pittsburgh provide, as a minimum, a 90 percent reduction of both
suspended solids and oxygen demanding material throughout the year.
The rate of discharge by this plant shall not exceed a BOD,- load of
20,000 pounds per day and a suspended solid load of U0,000 pounds
per day.
3. All industrial discharges to the Ohio River and its trib-
utaries in Pennsylvania be treated to reduce the organic waste load
by 85 percent as measured by the 5-day biochemical oxygen demand
(BOD5) test.
k. All municipal waste treatment plants in Pennsylvania that
discharge to the Ohio River and its tributaries should provide ade-
quate year-round disinfection of their waste water effluents.
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Adequate disinfection is that which provides an effluent which
will contain a concentration not greater than 200 per 100 ml of
fecal coliform organisms as a geometric average value nor greater
than 1»OO per 100 ml of these organisms in more than 10 percent of
the samples tested.
5. Waste waters discharged into the Ohio River and its
tributaries in Pennsylvania from municipal and industrial sources:
a. Shall not show irridescence nor contain more than
10 mg/1 of total oil
b. Shall not contain amounts of the following sub-
stances that will cause the concentration in the
receiving stream to exceed the acceptable level
as specified in the most recent edition of the
USPHS Drinking Water Standards t
Arsenic Lead
Barium Nickel
Cadmium Phenols
Chromium, hexavalent Selenium
Copper Silver
Cyanide Zinc
6. Waste waters from industrial and municipal sources that
discharge to the Ohio River or its tributaries in Pennsylvania riot
contain more than 7.0 mg/1 of total iron nor 1.0 mg/1 of manganese.
7. Waste waters from industrial and municipal sources that
discharge to the Ohio River and its tributaries in Pennsylvania shall
not contain material toxic or harmful to aquatic life. Waste waters
are considered toxic if over half of the test organisms are fatali-
ties in a 96-hour bioassay.
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8. Waste waters from industrial sources that discharge to
the Ohio River and its tributaries contain no settleable solids
nor a concentration of suspended solids in excess of 30 mg/1.
9. All new and proposed expansions of existing thermal
electric power plants along the Ohio River and its tributaries
in Pennsylvania should include facilities for off-stream cooling
throughout the year.
10. All municipal and industrial waste sources in the con-
ference area have the required treatment facilities completed
and in operation by December, 1973 except where completion is
required earlier by the Federally approved water quality standards.
Interim dates for all waste sources in the conference area are to
be submitted to the conference chairman within three months.
11. Concentrations of all materials shall be determined
according to the procedures outlined in the latest edition of
Standard Methods.
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/y
OHIO
WEST
VIRGINIA
Figure I
Location Map
Principal Streams
Allenport, Pennsylvania
to
C Hester, West Virginia
ALLENPORT ®V
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AREA
The Monongahela River flows from northern West Virginia into
Pennsylvania near Point Marion, Pennsylvania and continues on a
northerly course for 91 miles to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Figure l),
At Pittsburgh, the Monongahela River joins the Allegheny River to
form the Ohio River. The Ohio River then flows in a northwesterly
direction for 25 miles to its confluence with the Beaver River,
south of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. From its confluence with the
Beaver, the Ohio River flows in a westerly direction for 15 miles
to the Pennsylvania-Ohio-West Virginia State boundary approximately
three miles east of East Liverpool, Ohio. At this point, the river
leaves Pennsylvania and forms the border between the States of Ohio
and West Virginia.
The area considered in this report is the main stem of the
Monongahela River from Allenport, Pennsylvania, at river mile Vf,
to its confluence with the Allegheny River at Pittsburgh and the
main stem of the Ohio River from Pittsburgh to Chester, West Vir-
ginia, at river mile k2. The total population of townships and
boroughs adjacent to or near to the Monongahela and Ohio Rivers in
this area was approximately 1,100,000 in 1970, including 520,000
in the City of Pittsburgh. A total population of 1,300,000 is
served by the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) which
n v
discharges to the Ohio River. This disparity between population
and population and population served results from the many commu-
nities that are served by the ALCOSAN system but are located in
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neither the Ohio River nor Monongahela River basins.
The Monongahela River at Charleroi, Pennsylvania drains an
area of 5»213 square miles, the drainage area increases to 7,38l
square miles at Pittsburgh. The largest tributary to the river
in this area is the Youghiogheny River that drains an area of
1,768 square miles and flows into the Monongahela River at Mc-
Keesport, Pennsylvania. Other major tributaries of the Mononga-
hela River in this area are Turtle, Pigeon and Peters Creeks that
drain lU?, 59 and 52 square miles, respectively.
The Monongahela River has been canalized in this area with
three dams and navigation locks. These structures provide a
9 foot channel for navigation. Locks at Dams 2, 3, and k provide
vertical lifts of 8.7, 8.2 and 16.6 feet respectively at normal
pool for the Monongahela River.
The Ohio River at Pittsburgh drains an area of 19,111 square
miles; the drainage area increases to 23,300 square miles at the
Pennsylvania State line. In Pennsylvania, the Ohio River has been
canalized with three dams and navigation locks — Emsworth, Dasfa-
ields and Montgomery. A fourth lock and dam, New Cumberland, is
located ik.h miles downstream from the State line. A 9 foot chan-
nel is maintained here also. The vertical lift at the Emsworth,
Dashields and Montgomery dams at normal pool are 17.5, 10.0 and
18.0 feet, respectively.
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The area is heavily industrialized by basic steel, metal,
processing and chemical plants that occupy the alluvial plain.
The availability of water transportation has made the area an
important terminal for barge traffic, especially for coal and
petroleum products. The heavy concentration of steel producing
facilities in the immediate Pittsburgh area has earned Pittsburgh
the title of "Steel Capital of the World."
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WA.TER USES
PRESENT USES
The Monongahela River from Allenport to Pittsburgh is
utilized principally for navigation and as an industrial and
municipal water supply. The Ohio River in Pennsylvania is also
used for navigation and as an industrial water supply, but usage
as a municipal water supply is limited. Both rivers are used
sparingly for recreation and for fishing, since these uses are
severely restricted by pollution. There is presently no use of
the Ohio and Monongahela Rivers in this area for hydroelectric
power and usage for irrigation has been negligible.
Municipal Water Supply
The Monongahela River is used widely as a source of municipal
water. About 623,000 people in this area are served by municipal
water systems that use the Monongahela River as a raw water source.
The South Pittsburgh Water Company alone serves about U80,000
people. Other major municipal users are the Charleroi, Elizabeth
and North Versailles systems that serve 60,000; 37,600; and 16,000
people, respectively.
The Ohio River in Pennsylvania is not used extensively as a
raw source for municipal water. In Pennsylvania, only the City of
Midland uses the river as a raw water supply for approximately
7,000 people. Midland's raw water intake is located approximately
four miles upstream from the Pennsylvania State line.
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East Liverpool, Ohio is the only other municipality in this area
to use the river as a raw water source; this system serves about
30,000 people.^ The extensive treatment used by the East Liver-
pool plant is Indicative of the problems encountered when using
the Ohio River as a raw water source. Chlorine dioxide is used.
for disinfection because of its characteristic of effectively de-
stroying phenolic substances that cause taste and odor problems
in finished water. The use of chlorine for disinfection of waters
containing phenolic substances results in objectionable taste atnd
odor in the finished water. High concentrations of phenols and
other taste and odor causing materials necessitate the use of
carbon filters to remove the foulness from the water. In the
winter months, even this extensive treatment proves ineffective
k
when phenol concentrations are high in the river. All other
municipal systems in this area rely upon ground water from in-
filtration galleries, Ranney wells, or drilled wells for raw
water sources.
Fishing
In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, explorers, fron-
tiersmen, settlers, and naturalists were impressed with the abun-
dance and size of the fishes that they took from the Ohio River
as they descended the river from Pittsburgh. Today, the river is
used for fishing although the use is limited by the type of fish
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population (predominantly rough species such as carp, bullheads
and gizzard shad) and the edibility of the fish (caused by fish
tainting). Fishermen are also reluctant to fish in the river
because of the oil, scum, and debris that persists near major
municipalities and industries. The Pennsylvania Fish Commission
does not stock either the Ohio or Monongahela Rivers, although
many tributary streams in the area are stocked.
Recreation
Boating is the main recreational use of the Ohio and Mononga-
hela Rivers in Pennsylvania, although the use falls short of what
would be expected if the rivers were clean. The Corps of Engineers
reports that the nine marinas, ramps, and/or docks along the 140
miles of Ohio River in Pennsylvania have a mooring capacity of
185 berths. Similar figures for the kj miles of the Monongahela
River reveal that ik marinas, ramps and/or docks have a mooring
capacity of 226 berths. For comparison, the Allegheny River from
Pittsburgh upstream to mile point to have a mooring capacity of
1657 berths at 33 facilities.5
The oil, scum, and floating debris that persists in most
sections of the Ohio and Monongahela Rivers limit their use for
contact recreation. More important, although not visible, are
the dangerously high bacterial counts, indicative of the presence
of pathogenic organisms. Bacteria densities often exceed the level
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which is considered hazardous for secondary, non-contact recreation
such as boating and fishing.
Industrial Water Supply
The Ohio and Monongahela Rivers are used extensively by indus-
tries in this area as a source of process and cooling water. Total
water use exceeds 6,2 billion gallons per day, of which approximately
three-fourths is used as once-through cooling water for thermal elec-
tric power generation. Major iron and steel producers account for
approximately 20 percent of the industrial water use, the bulk of
which is also used for cooling purposes. It has been estimated that
cooling water comprises approximately 80 percent of the total water
use in basic steel production, but reuse may alter the percentage
considerably. The balance of the industrial water (approximately
5 percent) is used by metal processing plants, chemical plants,
petroleum processing plants, and various other operations.
Navigation
Navigation is one of the most important uses of the Ohio and
Monongahela Rivers in Pennsylvania. Along with the accompanying
industrial uses, navigation is an integral part of the economic
development along these two rivers. The Corps of Engineers has
issued permits for a total of 171 river terminals from Allenport
to Pittsburgh on the Monongahela River and from Pittsburgh to mile
point i(2 on the Ohio River.
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The following table lists the number of terminals capable
of handling specific materials:
Material
Oil and gasoline
Stone, sand and gravel
Coal and coke
Iron and steel
Industrial chemicals
number of Terminals
29
35
29
23
15
The above listing is not additive in that many facilities have the
capability of handling two or more materials. Terminals for moor-
•7
ing services and miscellaneous materials complete the list.
Total tonnage by material type that passed through Lock No. 2
Q
on the Monongahela River during 1970 was as follows:
Material
Coal and coke
Iron and steel
Oil and gasoline
All other
Total
Tonnage-1970
1,167,000
1,708,290
2,722,380
21,627,090
Similar data for the Emsworth Lock on the Ohio River is:
8
Material
Coal and coke
Iron and steel
Oil and gasoline
All other
Total
Tonnage-197P
13,90^,350
2,933,199
3,217,200
^,021.100
2*S 075,81*3
Percent
Jk.l
5.*
7.9
12.6
100.0
Percent
57.7
12.2
13. fc
16.7
100.0
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The preceding table is indicative of the predominance of the coal
and steel industries in this area.
Irrigation
Use of the Ohio and Monongahela Rivers in Pennsylvania for
irrigation is negligible. In 1966, the Corps of Engineers reported
that the Pittsburgh standard metropolitan statistical area, which
included the upper Ohio River basin plus the lower Monongahela, Al-
legheny, and Beaver River basins, used only 100 acre-feet per year
for irrigation. For comparison, this volume of water would be
equivalent to an average annual flow of less than 0.2 cfs.9
WATER USES AS DEFINED BY WATER QUALITY STANDARDS
In the submission of Water Quality Standards to the Adminis-
trator of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, the States
listed the uses for each interstate stream in order to determine
the applicable water quality criteria. The following delineates
the uses of the Ohio and Monongahela Rivers as given by each State's
Water Quality Standards.
Pennsylvania
1. Aquatic Life- Warm Water Fish
2. Water Supply - Domestic, Industrial, Livestock, Wildlife
and Irrigation
3. Recreation - Boating, Fishing, Water Contact Sports and
Natural Area
U. Other - Power, Navigation and Treated Waste Assimilation
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West Virginia
1. Water Contact Recreation
2. Water Supply, Public
3. Water Supply, Industrial
k. Water Supply, Agricultural
5. Propagation of Fish and Other Aquatic Life
6. Water Transport, Cooling and Power
7* Treated Wastes Transport and Assimilation
Ohio
1. Public Water Supply
2. Industrial Water Supply
3. Aquatic Life - Warm Water Fish
k. Recreation
GENERAL WATER QUALITY CRITERIA
Each State's Water Quality Standards include general cri-
teria designed to protect the water uses of streams. The follow-
ing are the general criteria adopted by the respective States
and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency:
Pennsylvania
The water shall not contain substances attributable to muni-
cipal, industrial or other waste discharges in concentration or
amounts sufficient to be inimical or harmful to the water uses to
be protected or to human, animal, plant or aquatic life. Specific
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substances to be controlled include, but are not limited to, float-
ing debris, oil, scum, and other floating materials; toxic substances;
substances that produce color, tastes, odors or settle to form sludge
deposits.
West Virginia
Certain characteristics of sewage, industrial wastes or other
wastes or factors which render waters directly or indirectly detri-
mental to the public health or unreasonably and adversely affect
such waters for present or future reasonable uses, are objectionable
in all the waters of the State. Therefore, the State Water Resources
Board does hereby proclaim that the following general conditions are
not to be allowed in any of the waters of the State.
No sewage, industrial wastes or other wastes entering any of
the waters of the State shall cause therein or materially contribute
to any of the following conditions thereof, which shall be the mini-
mum conditions allowable:
1. Distinctly visible floating or settleable solids,
suspended solids, scum, foam or oily sleeks of
unreasonable kind or quality;
2. Objectionable bottom deposits or sludge banks;
3. Objectionable odors in the vicinity of the waters;
14-. Objectionable taste and/or odor in municipal water supplies;
5. Concentrations of materials poisonous to man, animal or fish
life;
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6. Dissolved oxygen concentration to be less than 3*0
parts per million at the point of maximum oxygen
depletion;
7. Objectionable color;
8. Objectionable bacterial concentrations;
9. Requiring an unreasonable degree of treatment for the
production of potable water by modern water treatment
processes as commonly employed.
Ohio
Minimum conditions applicable to all waters at all places
at all times:
1. Free from substances attributable to municipal, industrial
or other discharges that will settle to form putrescent or
otherwise objectionable sludge deposits;
2. Free from floating debris, oil, scum and other floating
material attributable to municipal, industrial or other
discharges in amounts sufficient to be unsightly or de-
leterious ;
3. Free from materials attributable to municipal, industrial
or other discharges producing color, odor or other condi-
tions in such degree as to create a nuisance;
k. Free from substances attributable to municipal, industrial
or other discharges in concentrations or combinations which
are toxic or harmful to human, animal or aquatic life.
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SPECIFIC WATER QU&LETY CRITERIA
In addition to the general criteria, each State adopted
specific criteria to protect the vater uses of streams. Specific
approved criteria adopted by the respective States and the U. S.
Environmental Protection Agency for the Ohio River are listed in
Table 1. The specific criteria for the Monongahela River in
Pennsylvania are identical to the specific criteria of the Ohio
River except that there is not a fluoride criterion for the
Monongahela River. Table 2 enumerates Ohio's proposed temperature
criteria for the Ohio River.
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Table 2
Ohio's Proposed Temperature Criteria for the Ohio River
Maximum Temperature (°F) During Month
July 89
August
September
October
November
January
February
March
April
May
June
50
50
60
70
80
87
December
89
87
78
70
57
27
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SOURCES OF WASTES
GENERAL
Waste discharges from municipal and industrial sources
have deleterious effects upon receiving waters in the conference
area. Municipal wastes contain oxygen demanding materials that
can reduce dissolved oxygen in a stream; severe reduction of dis-
solved oxygen can limit or destroy fish, fish food organisms and
other aquatic life. Municipal wastes also contain high numbers
of intestinal bacteria from man's excretions, including pathogenic
organisms. Objectionable surface scums, sludge deposits and tur-
bidity in a stream may result from municipal waste discharges that
contain greasy substances, settleable solids and suspended solids.
Industrial wastes may also contain oxygen demanding mate-
rials, settleable and suspended solids, and greasy substances and
oils. In addition, some industrial wastes contain objectionable
chemicals and toxic substances that can taint fish flesh, kill
aquatic life and damage a water source for use as a municipal sup-
ply. Industries use water extensively for cooling purposes. Heated
waters reduce the dissolved oxygen saturation concentration of a
water body and increase the biochemical oxidation of organic wastes,
further reducing the dissolved oxygen content.
Limited data are available on industrial and municipal dis-
charges to the Ohio and Monongahela Rivers in Pennsylvania, although
some sources have been documented quite thoroughly. Personnel of
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the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency obtained available data
(1965 to present) on these discharges from the files of the Penn-
sylvania Department of Environmental Resources. Tables 3 and
k list municipal wastes sources discharging to the Ohio and Mon-
ongahela Rivers in the area. Tables 5 and 6 are similar listings
for major industrial discharges to the Ohio and Monongahela Rivers.
Other industrial dischargers to these Rivers are listed in Tables 7
and 8.
30
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TABLE 3
SOURCES Of MOKCIHU WSTES
OHIO BITER-PITTSBURGH TO EAST HVBRPOOL, OHIO (Direr Mile Ha)
Bacterial Io«di«
Oxygen Pound Loads
Hirer
Mile
3. IS
7.6R
8.6R
10. at
11. 3H
13. 9R
lit. 51
15.98
20. OL
20. 3R
21. 6R
2l».UL
25. OR
26. 2R
28. OR
36. 3B
Hame
Allegheny County
Sanitary Authority
Uxnont State Hospital
(Mllbuck Tup.)
Glenfield Borough
Coraopolls Borough
Osborne-Sewlckley Gorongha
Edgeworth-Leetsdale Borough
Crescent Twp. -Heights
Municipal Authority
Abridge Borough
Aliqnlppa Borough
Baden Borough
Corny Borough
Monaea Borough
Rochester-Rochester Tup.
(Rochester Municipal .Anth. )
BcftTcr Borough
Plant ll
Plant )fe
Borough Twp. MBA
(Inc. Vanport)
Midland Borough
Type of
Treatment
Primary -KJlg
Secondary -tClg
Hone
Intermediate
9,900
"t.OOO
1,170
130
11,000
19,500
7,800
1,620
5,520
8.U50
H.880
250
1,880
5,200
979,260
0.0
0.1
1.0
O.It
0.1
0.0
1.1
2.0
0.8
0.2
0.6
0.9
0.5
0.0
0.2
0.5
100.0
•All bacterial loads except that of the AICOSAH plant were estimated.
"All oxygen demand loads were estimated except the following plants - ALCO8AH, Dixoont State Hospital, Coraopolis, Osbone-Sewlckley, Edgeworth-
Leetsdale, Crescent and Beaver Plant #2.
31
-------
Table k
SOURCES OF MUNICIlftL
WASTES
River
Mile
12
Ik
16
18
20
25
29
32
3*
39
M
U3
1A
1*6
MONONGAHEIA RIVER-ALLERPORT
Population
Name Served
Duquesne
McKeesport
Dravosburg
G las sport
Clairton
Elizabeth Borough
New Eagle
Monongahela
Donora
Monesson
Charleroi
Belle Vernon
Fayette City
Allenport
15,000
75,000
3,000
6,500
16,000
3,200
2,620
8,390
31,500
18,U25
8,150
5,000
1,160
7,000
TO PITTSBURGH
Type of Treatment
Secondary + chlorination
Intermediate + chlorination
Secondary + chlorination
Secondary + chlorination
Primary + chlorination
Intermediate + chlorination
Secondary + chlorination
Primary + chlorination
Secondary + chlorination
None
Secondary + chlorination
Secondary + chlorination
Primary + chlorination
None
32
-------
TABLE 5
5.2L
6.UL
6.9L
7.2L
10.8L
11.3L
11.5L
15.2L
15.9R
Industry
Duquesne Light Co.
Reed Power Station
Marquette Cement Co.
Shenango, Inc.
USS Chemicals
HOPCO Chemical Co.
Neville Chemical Co.
Shenango, Inc.
Pittsburgh Forging Co.
Blaw-Kiiox Co.
Russel Birdsale & Ward
Duquesne Light Co.
Phillips Bower Station
H. K. Porter Co.
Discharge
MOD
1*06.0
0.6
28.0
2.0
0.17
0.15
k.O
l.U
1.0
0.3
U80.0
0.23
Constituents*
(pounds/day)
Heat
SS-2,100
ALK-88,000;
BOD20-lH,8005
CN-H80; Oil-X;
Phenols -280 ;
SS-9,380
ALK-1,000;
COD-1,000;
BOD-320;
V.S.-3,700;
SS-1,100
BOD-2,000;
D.S. -11,600;
dl-X
Phenols-X
Fe-200: Heat
Heat
Heat
CH-X
Heat
CN-X;Fe-X;
Zl»-X
Remarks
Coal
Spillage
Cooling
Water
Cooling
Water
Cooling
Water
33
-------
TABLE 5 (cont.)
River
Mile
16.8L
17. OR
18. OR
23-OR
23.9L
23.9L
2k. OR
2l*.2L
2U.3L
26.5R
Industry
Jones and Laughlin Steel Co.
Aliquippa Works
Wykoff Steel Co.
Armco Steel Corp
Armco Division
Pennsylvania-Central RR
Pittsburgh Screw & Bolt Co.
VASCO (Vanadium Alloy Steel
Company)
Valvoline Oil Company
Pittsburgh Tube Company
Pittsburgh Tool Steel Wire Co.
Superior Drawn Wire
0.06
1.1
0.27
0.02
0.01
Critical
Discharge Constituents*
MSP (pounds/day) Remarks
227.0 BOD-12,000; pH 1.2 to
CN-207 to 1&5;
T.Fe-9,800 to 19,000;
Oil-X;
Phenols-151 to 28l;
SS-28,000 to 29,000;
to 150,000;
0.2
8.0
TS-250,000
T.Fe-633;
D.Fe-592
800^-3,3*0;
T. Fe-530
ABS-X;
BOD-X; D.S.-X;
Oil-X
SO^-287
ALK-9,200;
T.Fe-133;
SS-1,670
Oil-230
ACD-X; Fe-X
D.Fe-60;
T.Fe-67;
SS-151*
T.Fe-168;
SO^-250;
SS-80
pH-12.2
pH-3.0
PH-3.0
pH-3.1
-------
TABLE 5 (cont.)
Criticaj
River
Mile
28. 1L
28. 5L
29. 7L
3*.5L
Industry
Westinghouse Electric Co.
St. Joseph Lead Company
Sinclair-Kbppers Company
Duquesne Light Co.
Discharge
MGD
0.45
109.7
70.0
150.0
Constituents*
(pounds/day)
•VLW
Heat-X;
SS-U,100
BOD-11,900
Heat
Remarks
pH-2.7 to
11. U
Cooling
36.5R
WASTE
ABS
ACD
ALK
BOD
CN •
COD •
Cr •
D
River
Shippingport Atomic
Power Station
Crucible Steel Company
*KEY TO TABLE
CONSTITUENTS
Alkylbenzene Sulfonate
Acid, equivalents of
Alkalinity, equivalents of
Biochemical Oxygen Demand, 5-day
Biochemical Oxygen Demand, 20-day
Cyanide
Chemical Oxygen Demand
Chrome
Dissolved
66 Fe-22,800;
011^10,000;
Phenol-^33;
SS-118,000
Fe - Iron
pH - Hydrogen Ion Concentration
S - Solids
SS - Suspended Solids
SO^ - Sulfate
T - Total
V - Volatile
X - Insufficient data
Zn - Zinc
Mile - Miles from Pittsburgh, R and L denote right or left bank
looking downstream.
35
-------
TABLE 6
River
Mile
7-9
10.9-11.3
13.2
lU.7-15.5
17.^-17.8
18.U-21.8
23.7
39.3-to.l*
MAJOR IHDtJSTRIAL DISCHARGERS
MONONQAHEIA RIVER-ALtBNPORT TO PITTSBURGH
Industry
U, S. Steel - Homestead Works
U. S. Steel-Braddock
Edgar Thompson Works
U. S. Steel-Duquesne Works
U. S. Steel-McKeesport
National Tube Works
U. S. Steel-Irvin Works
U. S. Steel-Clairton Works
Pennsylvania Industrial
Chemical Company
Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel
Corp.-Monesson Plant
Critical
Constituents*
(pounds/day)
Remarks
Phenol-127
Cyanide-178
Suspended Solids- 926*000 Granulated
Slug
Oil-X*
Phenol-8l
Cyanide-320
Rienol-l60
Cyanide-62
Phenol-25
Cyanide-90
Oil-X
Oil-3500
Fe-3200 "
Phenol-210
Oil-X
Tar-X
Phenol-U?
Phenol-2000
Cyanides-180
Suspended Solids-20,000
Oil-X
pH-2.7
*X-Insufflcient Data
36
-------
River
Mile
O.OR
1.2R
1.3R
3.0L
3.5L
U.OR
5.1L
5.8L
7.7L
8.8L
10. 3L
TABLE 7
OTHER INDUSTRIAL DISCHARGERS
OHIO RIVER - PENNSYLVANIA
_ Name _
Tri-Boint Ice Cream Company
General Dynamics Corporation
Liquid Carbonics Division
Cowan Manufacturing Company
Gordon Terminal Service Co.
Federal Enamel and Stamp Co.
(FESCO)
Suburban Laundry
National Cylinder Gas Co.
Davis Island Yards
Mat lack Inc.
Gulf Oil Co.
Vulcan Materials Co.
Blaw-Khox Company
Lewis Works
Sterling Varnish Co.
Elwin G. Smith & Co., Inc.
Bethlehem Steel Company
Copper Range Company
C. G. Hussey & Company
rks
All wastes to ALCOSAN-I/
Cooling Water only
All wastes to ALCOSAK
Will connect to Bellevue
System
All wastes trucked away
All wastes to ALCOSAK
All wastes trucked away
Cooling water only
I/ Allegheny County Sanitary Authority
37
-------
TABLE 7 (cont.)
River
Mile Same Remarks
]A.8R J & J Rocket Carwash, Inc.
15.9L Gavlick Construction Company
16.OR American Bridge Company
16.9L H. K. Porter Company
16.9R H. R. Robertson Company
28.5R Petroleum Solvents, Inc.
33.8L Shippingport Sand and Gravel Co.
38
-------
TABLE 8
OTHER INDUSTRIAL DISCHARGERS
MOKONGAHEIA RIVER-ALLENK)RT TO PITTSBURGH
River
Mile Industry
3.k Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation
5.7 American Oil
7.0 Mesta Machine
9.2 Ashland Oil Company
9.U Bethlehem Steel
13.8 Firth Sterling Steel Company
16.1 Boswell Oil Company
16.2 Gateway Asphalt Company
18.4 Copperweld Steel Company
21.8 Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation
24.5 Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation
2^.7 Ashland Oil & Refining Company
30.3 U. S. Steel Corporation
30.7 Honongahela Iron and Metal Company
32.7 Monongahela Iron and Metal Company
38.9 Page Steel & Wire Company
*40.8 American Oil
U3.3 Guttman Oil Company
1*6.8 Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Company
39
-------
BACTERIAL LOADS (MONICIB&L)
Coliform bacteria in raw and treated sewage are used to
indicate the density of sewage associated bacteria, including
disease-producing pathogens. Though generally harmless in them-
selves, coliform bacteria have been considered indicators of the
presence of these pathogenic bacteria. Bacteria loads are often
expressed in terms of a bacterial population equivalent (BPE),
which is the average amount of coliform bacteria normally contained
in sewage contributed by one person in one day. One BPE is equal
to UOO billion coliform bacteria per day.
Sewage treatment plants can drastically reduce the amount
of bacteria in sewage depending upon capacity, type of disinfection
practiced and the skill of the plant operators. Table 3 is a list
of the major sewage treatment plants that discharge to the Ohio River
in Pennsylvania. From the table, it can be seen that the ALCOSAN
system contributes 8^.1 percent of the bacterial load to the Ohio
River in Pennsylvania. This load is equivalent to a raw sewage
discharge from 52,000 people. Table U shows that Mbnesson and
Allenport discharge untreated sewage from a total of 25,J*00 people
into the Monongahela River.
OXYGEN DEMANDING LOADS (MUNICIIfcL AND INDUSTRIAL)
The oxygen demand of municipal and industrial wastes, as
measured by the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) test, indicates
their potential for reducing the dissolved oxygen of a stream.
-------
BOD usually refers to a 5-day test (BODc), but in some cases vastes
are tested for 20 days (BOD20). For sewage, the 5-day test usually
suffices. The BOD loadings are often expressed in population equi-
valents (PE), one population equivalent being equal to 0.1? pounds
per day of BOD,.. Occasionally, industrial waste loads are also ex-
pressed in population equivalents.
Table 3 contains a tabulation of estimated population equiva-
lents of municipal discharges to the Ohio River in Pennsylvania.
The AIOOSAN plant at river mile 3.1 discharged the equivalent of
untreated wastes from approximately 900,000 people; this load
represented 9** percent of the total oxygen demand from all muni-
cipalities that discharged to the Ohio River in Pennsylvania.
ALCOSAN's discharge contained the equivalent of 121,000 pounds per
day of BOD .
In 196? and 1968, the ALCOSAN plant discharged approximately
128,000 pounds per day of BOD^ from an influent load of less than
200,000 pounds per day. For the future, the Commonwealth of Penn-
sylvania has restricted the total loadings from the ALCOSAN plant
to 60,000 pounds per day of BOD,.. This restriction, at present,
would call for a 70 percent reduction of the total load of 200,000
pounds per day (BOD,.). The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is pres-
ently requiring all other municipal plants to install facilities to
removal 85 percent of the BODc. ORSANOO's proposed effluent stand-
ards call for a 90 percent removal of BODc at the AI/COSAN plant.
-------
Information was not available on the oxygen demand loads from munici-
pal wastes along the Monongahela River in this area. Using standard
sanitary engineering figures, however, it could be estimated that the
municipal systems in Table k discharge about 16,000 pounds per day of
BOD,-, including U300 pounds per day in untreated sewage.
The limited data available on industrial wastes indicate that
the total industrial oxygen demand may be greater than the municipal
oxygen demand after municipal secondary treatment facilities become
a reality. Oxygen demand data from the Commonwealth showed that
only seven industrial plants accounted for an oxygen demand of ap-
proximately 60,000 pounds per day of BOD,.; the information was not
complete for these seven. The Jones and Laughlin plant at Aliquippa
alone discharged about 27,000 pounds per day of BOP20 from the eight
of 3k outfalls for which data were available. Shenango, Inc. on
Neville Island accounted for a daily load of 1^,800 pounds of BOD,*..
BOD loading data were not available from other major industries such
as the Crucible Steel Company plant at Midland. These figures are
presented only to show the relative minimum loadings since complete
data were not available. There was no information available on BOD
loadings from industries along the Monongahela River.
PHENOL SOURCES
Coke, a major raw material in iron and steel production, is
made by heating coal in the absence of air. Process water used to
quench the hot coke oven gas becomes burdened with many organic and
1*2
-------
inorganic materials, notably phenolic compounds. These phenolic com-
pounds contaminate receiving waters if not removed from the waste
water.
Some coke plant operations now use water containing phenols
as quench water for the hot coke. Although this may reduce the load
of phenols discharged by the coke plant, it increases the loadings
from the blast furnaces that subsequently receive the coke. A major
problem is that the great volumes of flue gas wash water containing
phenols from blast furnaces limit effective means of treatment as
compared to, smaller flows in the coke plant.
Data concerning discharges of phenols in this reach of the
Ohio and Monongahela Rivers are scarce, nevertheless, information
in the Commonwealth files indicates that approximately 1,000 pounds
of phenol per day enter the Ohio River. The Crucible Steel plant at
Midland discharged ^33 pounds per day, while Jones and Laughlin, Ali-
quippa and Shenango, Inc. Neville Island, both accounted for 280
pounds per day. Phenolic materials have been detected at other dis-
charges but data were incomplete. EFft conducted an effluent sampling
program of major industries along the lower Monongahela River in early
1971. Table 6 shows that approximately 2500 pounds per day of phenol
was discharged to the Monongahela River during this period.
OIL SOURCES
Cold rolling mills in the steel industry use large volumes
of oil that often contaminate wastewaters. Oils can also derive
-------
from machining operations, lubricating oils and various other metal
processing operations. In addition, large volumes of gasoline, oil
and oil derivatives are shipped, loaded and unloaded, on these navi-
gable streams.
The Commonwealth's files contained information of oil loads
from only the Crucible Steel Company at Midland, -which discharged
about 10,000 pounds per day of oil in a water-oil emulsion. EBfc
biologists, during the study in May-June, 1970, reported that
"masses of dense globs of oils were observed floating downstream
from a series of wastewater outfalls belonging to the Jones and
Laughlin Steel Company at river mile 16.9. Severe oil pollution
was apparent downstream from the Crucible Steel Company's wastewater
outfalls at river mile 36.3".n
EEA's industrial effluent sampling program in early 1971
revealed that oil was evident in several industrial discharges to
the Monongahela River. U. S. Steel's Irvin Works had a discharge
that contained about 3500 pounds per day of oil.
HEAT SOURCES
The largest unnatural sources of heat to these two rivers
in this area were six thermal electric power plants. The following
list shows the plants, their capacities and an estimated rate at
which heat is added to the rivers:
-------
Estimated
Capacity Heat Load Rate
Name (megawatts) (billion BTU's/hr)
Duquesne Light Co., Elrama Plant U25 2.29
West Perm Power Co., Mitchell Plant W»9 2.1*2
Duquesne Light Co., Reed Plant 180 0.97
Duquesne Light Co., Hiillips Plant 315 1.70
Duquesne Light Co., Shippingport 90 0.76
St. Joseph Lead Company 100 0.5^
Total 1,559 8.68
The two plants along the Monongahela River, the Elrama and
Mitchell Plants, would theoretically raise the temperature of the
river kl.9° F during a low flow of 500 cfs. The remaining plants
in the above table would theoretically raise the Ohio River 5»^° F
during a low flow of 3300 cfs. Other heat sources were major iron
and steel plants which use about 80 percent of their total water
usage for cooling.
SUSPENDED SOLIDS (MUNICIPAL AND INDUSTRIAL)
Steel mills discharge large loads of suspended solids. Flue
gas wash waters from blast furnaces and basic oxygen furnaces con-
tain high concentrations of suspended solids in their high flow
discharges. Process waters from rolling mills also contain con-
siderable amounts of suspended solids. Municipal treatment plants,
depending on their removal efficiencies, are another source of sus-
pended solids.
-------
The largest municipal source of suspended solids in this
area was the A1X30SAN plant which discharged approximately 5k tons
per day. Data were insufficient to obtain the total amount of sus-
pended solids from the other municipal treatment plants.
From data available, industrial plants in this area dis-
charged about 83 tons per day of suspended solids into the Ohio
River. Crucible Steel at Midland accounted for 59 tons per day of
suspended solids, Jones and Laughlin at Aliquippa was responsible
for Ik tons per day. The U. S. Steel Plant at Homestead discharged
about 1*50 tons per day of granulated slag into the Monongahela River.
IRON
Acid wastewaters from pickling operations in metal proces-
sing plants contain considerable amounts of dissolved iron, both
from the pickling solution and the acid rinse waters. Rolling
mills can discharge large quantities of suspended and settleable
iron oxides (mill scale). In addition, flue gas wash waters from
blast furnaces and basic oxygen furnaces contain significant quanti-
ties of suspended iron.
From the limited data available, the amount of iron dis-
charged to the Ohio River in this area was approximately 22 tons
per day. The Crucible Steel Company plant at Midland discharged
about 11 tons per day; the Jones and Laughlin plant at Aliquippa
accounted for another 9 tons per day. Data on the discharge of
iron were not available for most industries in this area.
-------
CYANIDES
The discharge of cyanide to water bodies is critical to the
aquatic environment because of the toxic nature of the material.
Cyanides are present in wastewaters from coke plants, by-product
plants and blast furnace flue gas wash water. Cyanides are also
used extensively in metal plating processes, thus becoming another
source of cyanides.
The limited data available indicate that the Ohio River re-
ceives about 925 pounds per day of cyanides. Information on cy-
anide discharges were available for only Shenango, Inc., on
Neville Island and Jones and Laughlin at Aliquippa; these load-
ings were If80 and M*5 pounds per day, respectively. The efflu-
ent sampling program performed by EBA. in early 1971 showed that
about 1,000 pounds per day of cyanide were being discharged by
industries into the Monongahela River.
-------
/y
OKI 0
PE N N SY LVAN lA
WEST
VIRGINIA
Figure 2
Locations of Sampling
Stations and Mil* Points
Pittsburgh to East Liverpool
-------
EFFECT OF POLLUTION OH WITER QUALITY ARD USES
Various studies and surveys have been made to define the effects
of pollution on water quality and water uses in the Ohio and Mononga-
hela Rivers in this area. In addition, the U. S. Environmental Pro-
tection Agency maintains several sampling stations in the area as part
19
of its Pollution Surveillance Program. -^
Figure 2 atid Table 9 describe 22 stations that were sampled for
physical, chemical and bacteriological analysis by EPA in a special
study of the Ohio River in May and June, 1970. Five of these stations
coincide with Pollution Surveillance stations that EPA has maintained
since 1968:
River
Mile Description
0.5 Allegheny River at Sixth Street Bridge
0.8 Monongahela River at Smithfield Street Bridge
16.0 Ohio River at South Heights, Pennsylvania
3.0 Beaver River near mouth at Route 18 Bridge
Uo.2 Ohio River at Pennsylvania-West Virginia-Ohio State Line
Concurrent with the special study in May and June, 1970, the National
Field Investigations Center, made a study on the biological effects of
pollution in this section of the Ohio River.11
The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission maintains an
electronic monitor at South Heights, Pennsylvania, that provided addi-
10
tional data. The ORSANCO station is near the EPA surveillance station
at South Heights. Another source of data was an intensive study done by
the University of Pittsburgh in l$6k and 1965 on water quality in the
-------
TABLE 9
SAMPLING STATIONS
SPECIAL STUDY-EPA-OHIO RIVER
May-June, 1970
Description M. P.
Allegheny River at Sixth Street Bridge 0.5
Monongahela River at Smithfield Bridge 0.8
Ohio River near Seaplane Dock 1.3
Chartiers Creek at Bridge near mouth 0.1
Ohio River-Back Channel of Brunot Island 9 Power Line 2.8
Ohio River opposite M & 0 Dredging Company Dock U.2
Ohio River, Back Channel at" Neville Island @ P & LE RR Bridge 5.3
Ohio River, Back Channel at' Neville Island opposite Pittsburgh- 7.0
DesMoines Dock
Ohio River, opposite Upstream Lock Wall Emsworth Dam 6.0
Ohio River, opposite Downstream Arrival Point for Emsworth Dam 6.7
Ohio River, opposite Sewlckley Cfeast Guard Depot light 10.9
Ohio River, Upstream of Warning Light for Dashields Dam 13.0
Ohio River opposite American Bridge Dock 16.0
Ohio River opposite C C. Bunton Navigation Light 22.5
Beaver River at Rt. 18 Bridge 3.0
Ohio River, Upstream of Vanport Highway Bridge 28.0
Ohio River opposite Montgomery Dam Upper light 31.1
Ohio River opposite Downstream Arrival Point for Montgomery Dam 32.2
Ohio River, Navigation Channel, opposite PhiHis Island Light 35-6
Little Beaver River at Highway Bridge near mouth 0.1
Ohio River opposite East Liverpool Water Intake 1*0.2
Ohio River opposite Chester, West Virginia Water Intake 1*2.0
50
-------
Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers.1^ This study prorided data
at the Pollution Surveillance stations plus an additional station on
the Ohio River at Rochester, Pennsylvania, river ndle 25.2.
BACTERIAL POLLUTION
Municipal sewage contains enormous numbers of bacteria, among
which there are frequently pathogenic bacteria, derived from human
excreta. These pathogenic bacteria can cause gastro-intestinal di-
seases such as typhoid fever, dysentery and diarrhea. Infectious
hepatitis, a virus disease, can also be caused by ingesting sewage-
polluted water. Eye, ear, nose, throat or skin infections may result
from bodily contact with such water. As the densities of pathogenic
bacteria are reduced by sewage treatment or forces of natural purifi-
cation, the hazards of contacting disease are proportionately reduced.
Sewage also contains readily detectable coliform bacteria,
which typically occur in excreta or feces and are always present in
sewage-polluted water. Though generally harmless in themselves, coli-
form bacteria have been.considered indicators of the presence of path-
ogenic bacteria. The coliform group includes several types of bacteria
which may come from sources other than excreta.
Testing for fecal coliform bacteria is becoming more popular
as an indicator of bacterial pollution because fecal coliform bac-
teria specifically inhabit the intestinal tract of man and warm-blooded
animals. The presence of these organisms in water is positive proof
51
-------
of fecal contamination which may contain associated, disease pro-
ducing organisms.
Coliform Bacteria
Presently, the States of Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio
use the total coliform group as an indicator of bacterial pollution.
The State of Ohio is in the process of changing its recreational
criterion for bacteria to the fecal coliform group. Specific bac-
terial criteria by State are listed in Table 1, on page 2*4-.
The survey by the University of Pittsburgh in 196^-65 in-
cluded analyses for bacterial indicators. Table 10 lists the
monthly average of the total coliform densities found in the Ohio,
Allegheny, and Monongahela Rivers. Both the Ohio River at Rochester
and the Mbnongahela River at Pittsburgh exceeded Pennsylvania's
present recreational criterion of 1,000 total collforms per 100 ml
in all five months that were designated as recreational. In addi-
tion, both rivers exceeded the municipal water supply criterion of
5,000 total coliforms per 100 ml in seven of 12 months.
Pollution Surveillance of the U. S. Environmental Protection
Agency has taken monthly samples at five stations in this area since
June, 1968. Table 11 is a tabulation of the total coliform densities
found in the monthly samples at these stations. To date, the Mononga-
hela River at Pittsburgh has exceeded the bacterial criterion for rec-
reation in 10 of 13 recreational months; the water supply criterion
was exceeded in 10 of 23 months. Data were similar at the Ohio River
52
-------
TABLE 10
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH STUDY
MONTHLY AVERAGE TOTAL COLIFORM DENSITY
(Number per 100 ml)
River Ohio Monongahela Allegheny
River Mile 25.2 0.8 0.5
October, 19 6 ^ 15,600 8',700 2,900
November 9,900 77,800 56,000
December 3,300 16,500 1,500
January, 1965 ^,800 2,300 2,100
February 3,900 320 570
March 2,^00 1,300 8l8
April 2,000 1,300 iH9
May 25,300 3,100 5,300
June 15,100 15,700 8,500
July 13,800 26,600 7,600
August 15,200 17,100 U,800
September 7,^00 1^,000 33,^00
Total Number of Samples 77 76 76
53
-------
BIBLE 11
U. 8. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY POLLUTION SURVEILLANCE
Total Coliform Density - Monthly Sample
(Number pep 100 ml)
River Mile
Date
Jtme, 1968
July
August
September
October
November
December
January 1969
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
January 1970
February
March
April
May
June
July
October
November
December
January 1971
March
April
May
June
July
Allegheny
River
0.5
610
15,000
7,1*00
1*0,000
1*2,000
20,000
3,200
1,800
2,300
790
1,800
6,1*00
1*2,000
13,000
500
23,000
21,000
22,000
22,000
7,300
1,300
690
-
30,000
25,000
2,l»00
5,500
5,200
l*,100
370
H.600
5,600
I*,UOO
33,000
7,200
Monongahela
River
0.8
520
2,800
50
26,800
270,000
100
50
^,300
3,100
160
2l*,000
6,000
31,000
1*00
7,600
28,000
23,000
390
1*1,000
2,700
760
780
-
U7.000
2,900
25,000
16,000
13,000
12,000
1,500
1,300
100
6,200
13,000
71,000
Ohio
River
16.0
33,000
7,800
320
33,000
37,000
1*0,000
3,500
1*,1*00
3,000
1*0,000
53,000
28,000
3>*,000
17,000
63,000
11,000
3U,000
53,000
63,000
3,700
3,200
790
-
96,000
25,000
5,200
77,000
68,000
13,000
2,600
1,200
5,700
69,000
31,000
-
Beaver
River
3.0
26,000
1*8,000
-
23,000
62,000
18,000
1,500
8,000
1*7,000
2,900
8,000
1,500
1,800
1*,100
26,000
1*H,000
6,100
19,000
11,000
7,800
7,800
22,000
9,500
22,000
160,000
61*,000
18,100
26,000
2,900
16,000
80,000
-
Ohio
River
1*0.2
2,200
2,200
6,000
3,300
18,000
85,000
15,000
1*0,000
5,1*00
»*,700
6,300
11,750
1,500
18,000
39,000
2,200
3,200
l*,100
10,800
3,6oo
U.100
3,500
1,
-------
station at river mile 16. The Ohio River at this point exceeded
Pennsylvania's bacterial criterion for recreation in 11 of 12 months;
the water supply criterion was exceeded in 13 of 21 months The
bacterial pollution of the Ohio River persists to the Pennsylvania-
Ohio -West Virginia State boundary. The Ohio River at the State line
exceeded West Virginia's bacterial criterion in all samples; Ohio's
recreational criterion in all recreational months; and Ohio's bac-
terial criterion for water supply in more than 50 percent of the
samples.
In the study of the Ohio River in May and June, 1970, total
coliform densities of the Ohio River in Pennsylvania exceeded the
5,000 per 100 ml bacterial criterion for water supply in ^3 of kk
samples (97.7 percent). In the recreatt«mal period, the river's
total coliform density exceeded 1,000 per 100 ml in 179 of 180
samples (99 ^ percent). Figure 3 shows the average total coliform
densities as plotted against river mile of the Ohio River. The bar
graph shows that every sampling station downstream from the Allegheny
County Sanitation Authority treatment plant to river mile 16 had
average coliform densities in excess of 100,000 per ml. These den
sities exceed Pennsylvania's water supply criterion by twenty-fold
and the recreational criterion by a hundredfold. The river at one
station (river mile 6.7), had an average total coliform density of
over 600,000 per 100 ml or 600 times the approved bacterial criterion
for recreation in Pennsylvania.
55
-------
H3AV39 311111
»3AI« AN3H3311V
-------
The bacterial pollution of the Ohio River in Pennsylvania per-
sisted to the State line. The river at this point had total coli-
form densities that exceeded West Virginia's bacterial criterion in
all samples, Ohio's bacterial criterion for water supply in 11 of 15
samples, and Ohio's bacterial criterion for recreation in all samples.
Salmonella Bacteria
To emphasize the sanitary significance of the indicator bacteria,
a pathogen study was made at selected sampling points during the 1970
survey. While coliform densities indicate the magnitude of fecal pol-
lution which may contain disease-producing organisms, detection of
pathogenic Salmonella bacteria in water is positive proof that these
disease-producing bacteria are actually present.
Modified Moore swab samples were studied for Salmonella at the
following stations:
River Mile Description
0.5 Allegheny River at Sixth Street Bridge
0.8 Monongahela River at Smithfield Street Bridge
3.0 Beaver River at Route 18 Bridge
b.2 Ohio River at Bellevue, Pennsylvania
16.0 Ohio River at South Heights, Pennsylvania
Uo.2 Ohio River at Pennsylvania State line
Salmonella, an enteric pathogen, was isolated from all these
sampling stations, proving the existence of a health hazard.
57
-------
OXYGEN DEMAND AND DISSOLVED OXYGEN
Domestic sewage and industrial wastes contain organic matter
that decomposes and exerts an oxygen demand on receiving waters; this
demand subsequently reduces the dissolved oxygen content of receiving
streams unless replenished by the atmosphere or photosynthesis. When
the oxygen demand exceeds the natural re-oxygenation rate of a stream,
the dissolved oxygen content of the stream can be depleted below the
level necessary to support fish and other aquatic organisms.
ORSANCO's continuous monitoring of the Ohio River water at
South Heights, Pennsylvania, provides an hourly analysis of the dis-
solved oxygen content in the river for 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969.
ORSANCO reported for these years the percent of days when the daily
minimum dissolved oxygen (i. e., hourly value) did not go below
k.O mg/1 as 83.5 percent, 91-0 percent, 92.0 percent and 95 percent,
respectively. In essence, this means that for 60 days in 1966, 33
days in 1967, 29 days in 1968 and 18 days in 1969, the minimum hourly
dissolved oxygen content of the Ohio River was below k.O mg/1, Penn-
sylvania's dissolved oxygen criterion. The data for 1966 are not com-
plete in that the monitor was inoperative for most of the time during
the critical months of July, September and October. ORSANCO's October
report for 1969 indicates that the dissolved oxygen content of the river
at South Heights had a minimum of 2.2 mg/1 and a minimum daily average
of 2.6 mg/1. The ORSANCO report also states that the criterion waa met
only 68 percent of the month.
-------
ORSANCO has developed a D.O.-BOD mathematical model for the
Ohio River in the Pittsburgh area.-1--* The model projects a dissolved
oxygen content of 2.7 mg/1 at river mile 5k.k, based upon ALOOSAN's
present loading of 1^*0,000 Ib/day of BOD,-, a river temperature of
87° F*, and a critical flow of 5,000 cfs.(Figure k). If it were
assumed that the BODc at river mile 0 were 1.5 mg/1, a figure that
approximates the average BOD in the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers,
then the dissolved oxygen content at river mile 5^.^ would drop to
1.6 mg/1. These projections neglect all other municipal and indus-
trial organic loads to the Ohio River in Pennsylvania.
r
The State of Pennsylvania has restricted ALCOSAN's total load
to the Ohio River at 60,000 Ib/day of BOD^ (i.e., 70 percent reduc-
tion of present raw waste load) upon completion of secondary treatment.
According to the D.O.-BOD model, this load would reduce the dissolved
oxygen of the river at river mile 5ktk to k.3 ng/1, when the loads of
the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers are included, but other sources
are neglected. It may be deduced from the ORSANOO model that the load-
ings from municipal and industrial sources will reduce the dissolved
oxygen content of the river at river mile 5^.^ below acceptable cri-
teria with ALOOSAN discharging 60,000 Ib/day of BOD^.
PHENOLS
Phenolic materials have plagued municipal water users of the
Ohio River for years. Chlorination of finished water containing ex-
cessive phenols imparts a medicinal taste and odor to the water. Ex-
perience has shown that phenolic concentrations in the Ohio and Monon-
gahela Rivers are at a maximum in the winter months when the biological
59
-------
CM
GO ao
= CO
~
CO
CM
CM
aim dHAiu iv (I/DW! -Q-
CM
60
-------
degradation is retarded by cold water temperatures. The following
data, from the University of Pittsburgh study in 196^-1965, illus-
trates the phenolic problem in this area, especially during the
winter months:
River
Monongahela
Youghiogheny
Monongahela
Allegheny
Ohio
River
Mile
1*3.3
35.5
0.8
0.6
25.2
Phenolic
Minimum
0
0
0
0
0
Concentration (part
Maximum
10
9
127
16
46
Average
2
2
23
2
10
;s per billion)
Average (Dec-Apr)
1
2
H5
3
21
The data shows that phenolic concentrations were minimal at river mile
1*3.3 on the Monongahela River and river mile 35.5 on the Youghiogheny
River but greatly increased as the Monongahela River approached the
Point in Pittsburgh. The data also showed that the average phenolic
concentrations during the winter months were about double the yearly
average for the Monongahela River station at river mile 0.8 and the
Ohio River at river mile 25.2. Although the University of Pittsburgh
study was carried out several years ago, the data serves to show the
changes of phenolic concentrations in the river systems in the Pitts-
burgh area.
More recent data gathered by the U. S. Environmental Protection
Agency's Pollution Surveillance, as shown in Table 12, illustrates
the violations of Pennsylvania's phenolic criterion of 0.005 rag/1
for the Ohio and Monongahela Rivers. The Monongahela River at river
61
-------
TABLE 12
U. S. ENVIRONMENTAL HROTECTION AOENCT
Fhenol Concentration - Monthly Sample
River Mil*
Date
June, 1968
July
August
September
October
November
December
January, 1969
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
January, 1970
February
Iferch
April
»y
June
July
October
November
December
January, 1971
March
April
May
June
July
Average
Average
(Dec.Wlpril)
Allegheny
River
0.5
.002
.000
.000
.001*
.003
.003
.000
.056
.027
.063
.013
.010
.001
.000
.003
.000
.003
.016
.030
.oc*
.010
.005
.003
.001
.010
.000
.001
.00*
.005
.005
.005
.002
.005
.000
.009
.021
Monongahela
River
0.8
.002
.000
.003
.001
.0*
.01*6
.045
.056
.027
.063
.013
.010
.001
.000
.003
.000
.003
.016
.030
.0*9
.056
.001*
.Oil*
.000
.009
.000
.001*
.007
.013
.020
.009
.022
.006
-
.016
.031*
Ohio
River
16.0
.001-
.000
.001
.003
.000
.006
.009
.009
.026
.02>*
.010
.000
.002
.003
.OOH
.000
.003
.003
0.13
.026
.026
.000
.001*
.001
.001
.000
.000
.005
.003
.022
.003
.009
.005
.003
.007
.013
Beaver
River
3.0
-
-
-
.001
.005
-
.007
.009
.026
.021*
.010
.000
.002
.003
.001*
.000
.003
.003
0.13
.026
.026
.000
.001*
.001
.001
.000
.000
.009
.Oil*
.008
.029
.001*
.006
.003
.008
.Oil*
Ohio
River
1*0.2
.003
,000
.001*
.ook
.001
.006
.006
.010
.021
.007
-
.010
.001*
.OOi*
.009
.003
.003
.003
.005
.060
.013
.009
.006
.000
.000
.009
.005
.009
.011
.017
.016
.007
.007
-
.008
.016
62
-------
mile 0.8 had a maximum phenolic concentration of 0.063 mg/1 and an
average winter concentration of phenols of 0.03^ mg/1 for the period
of record. The Ohio River at the State line had a maximum concentra-
tion of 0.060 mg/1 of phenols and an average winter concentration of
0.016 mg/1 of phenols. The Ohio River at this point consistently ex-
ceeded the phenolic criteria of the States of West Virginia and Ohio
(i.e., 0.001 and 0.005 mg/1 respectively), especially in the winter
months. The special study in the warm months of May and June, 1970
showed low phenolic concentrations at most sampling stations.
OIL POLLUTION
Oil pollution is the most visible form of pollution in the Ohio
and Mbnongahela Rivers in this area. Surface oil destroys the aes-
thetic value of the river and restricts its use for recreation. Most
of the complaints lodged by citizens to the U. S. Environmental Pro-
tection Agency about this area are in reference to floating surface
oils. Oils also coalesce with natural sediment and other suspended
material to form bottom deposits that are toxic to bottom animals,
thus restricting the use of the river for aquatic life.
During the special study in May and June, 1970, biologists re-
ported that masses of oil were being discharged from the Jones and
Laughlin Steel Corporation plant at Aliquippa (river mile 16.9) and
from the Crucible Steel Corporation plant at Midland (river mile 36.3).
These oils were traced to the State line and were still evident three
miles downstream from the State line. Comparison of surface oils, at
63
-------
the State line to the oil below the Jones and Laughlin plant by
infra-red spectroscopy showed the oils to be almost identical. Oil
from the Crucible Steel plant, which discharges a water-oil emulsion,
was not detected below the State line on the surface.
The biologists also collected sediment samples which were ana-
lyzed for oil. Sediment oil concentrations (Table 13) ranged from
1 to 12 times greater than concentrations reported in the literature
to be toxic to bottom animals. Only pollution-tolerant sludgeworms
were found living in the sediments, and their low number indicated
toxic conditions. Oil concentrations in the sediment were as high as
21,200 parts per million. Comparison of sediment oils near the Cru-
cible Steel plant (river mile 36.5) and at the State line (river mile
1»Q.2) to the water-oil emulsions present at the surface near the Cru-
cible plant's outfall by infra-red spectroscopy showed that "all three
samples may have originated from the same source. '
HEAT POLLUTION AND TEMPERATURE
Heated discharges to a river are a form of pollution when in-
creased river temperatures adversely affect aquatic life and the
ability of a stream to assimilate treated organic wastes. High water
temperatures reduce the oxygen content of a stream by reducing the
dissolved oxygen saturation concentration and by increasing the rate
of biochemical oxidation of organic waste.
-------
Chemical Analyses of Bottom Sediments
of Ohio River,, May 1970
River
Mile
4.0
7.0
9.0**
10.8
13.0
18.9
22.5
28.0
31.0
33.0
36.5
37.5
40.2
43.5
Tributaries
Monongahela R,
(M-0.9)
Cbartiers Creelv
(2.4-0.3)
Beaver R.
(25.5-0.5)
Little Beaver R.
(39.5-0.2)
Left
Carbon
mg/gm
Sediment*
59.0
12.0
80.0
90.0
-
69.0
80.0
96.0
82.0
-
51.0
-
123.0
51.0
74.0
44.0
69.0
45.0
Shore Samples
Nitrogen
mg/gm
Sediment*
1.6
0.6
2.5
2.5
-
3.1
2.7
2.9
2.8
-
1.2
-
1.9
1.6
2.1
3.1
2.3
3.1
Oil
mg/gm
Sediment*
6.3
0.8
3.1
7.7
-
10.1
10.3
6.6
20. 4
-
1.9
-
4.2
5.1
10.0
7.7
13.5
1.9
Right
Carbon
mg/gm
Sediment*
-
-
-
89.0
76.0
-
-
17.0
-
10.0
99.0
94.0
59.0
71.0
66.0
Shore Samples
Nitrogen
mg/gm
Sediment *
-
«•
-
2.5
3.6
-
-
0.6
-
0.5
3.8
2.8
2.5
1.8
2.5
Oil
mg/gm
Sediment
-
-
-
6.2
12.5
-
-
1.4
-
0.8
21.2
10.3
8.1
4.7
10,5
* Dry Weight
** Back channel of Revr.lle Island
- No Sample, Bottori Secured of Sedimentz
65
-------
Total industrial water use of the Ohio and Monongahela Rivers
in this area exceeds 6.3 billion gallons per day, of which approxi-
mately three-fourths is used for once-through cooling water for
thermal electric power generation. Cooling water for three major
iron and steel producers could account for an additional 15 percent
of the total water use. Present projections show that thermal elec-
tric power capacity will double every 10 years on the national average.
In this reach of the Ohio River in Pennsylvania, this duplication of
ift
capacity is expected to occur in the next five years. ° This alarming
increase of thermal power capacity poses a threat to water quality in
the Ohio River. These waters cannot accept heated waste waters with-
out quality degradation and sacrifices of beneficial uses.
Although current detailed temperature data for these reaches of
the Ohio and Monongahela Rivers are limited to a few sources, they
indicate that a problem exists now. The University of Pittsburgh
study reported a 5.U° F rise in the annual mean temperature of the
Ohio River at Ambridge in water year 1965 as compared to U. 8. Geo-
logical Survey records for 19Ulf-1951. The study also revealed that
the Monongahela River at Belle Vernon had an average temperature of
78.0° F during August, 1965, and a maximum temperature of 82.U° F.
During this same month, the Monongahela River station at Pittsburgh
had an average temperature of 87*8° F and a maximum temperature of
91.U° F. EPA's Pollution Surveillance data also shows the Monongahela
River at Pittsburgh reached a temperature of 91.^° F during the same
month.
66
-------
ORSANOO's continuous monitor at South Heights has detepted a
maximum temperature of 85*8° F in August, 1968; EX&'s data shows a
maximum of 86.0° F at this station during the same month. Another
monitor at Stratton, Ohio showed the highest temperature recorded
(87.9° F) in the entire Ohio River in 1968. The monitor is located
ill miles downstream from the Pennsylvania State line, and there are
no major heat sources in this reach.
IRON
Iron is relatively insoluble in the presence of oxygen at the
pH ranges common to these sections of the Ohio and Mbnongahela Rivers.
Dissolved iron discharged into the river would tend to flocculate as
ferric hydroxide. Eventually, the ferric hydroxide will settle to
coat exposed surfaces and to form sludge deposits that destroy aqua-
tic life. During high flows, scouring action will re-suspend much
of the iron from the bottom.
In addition to ferric hydroxide, many steel plants and metal
processing plants discharge insoluble iron oxides in their wastewaters.
These oxides usually settle to form sludge deposits near the discharge
point. Iron oxides, however, are also re-suspended by high river ve-
locities and are subsequently deposited far from the original point
of discharge.
For many years, it was thought that high iron concentrations in
the upper Ohio River were the result of acid mine drainage in the Al-
legheny and Monongahela River basins. A study sponsored by ORSANOO
on the upper Ohio River during and immediately after the extended
67
-------
steel shut-down in 1959 showed that "dissolved iron concentrations
at most stations during the shut-down averaged 0.1 ppm (parts per
million); after start-up of the niills, concentrations were two to
seven times that value."-^ Therefore, iron in the upper Ohio River
Basin is not solely due to acid nine drainage.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has set a total iron criterion
for the Ohio and Monongahela Rivers of 1.5 mg/1. Figure 5 is a plot
of the average monthly total iron concentrations and river flows for
the Ohio River at Rochester in the 196^-65 period. Pennsylvania's
criterion was violated on the average for all months from December
through April. The correlation between iron concentration and river
flows is probably due to the re-suspension of deposited iron from the
river bed.
EPA's Pollution Surveillance data on iron concentration showed
the following since June, 1968:
Total Iron Concentration (ng/l)
River
Monongahela
Allegheny
Ohio
Ohio
River Mile
0.8
0.5
16.0
Uo.o
Minimum
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.2
Maximum
2.6
2.7
3.7
5.8
Average
1.1
1.0
0.9
1.3
Of particular importance is the fact that the maximum and average
total iron concentrations actually increase rather than decrease as
the river approaches the State line. This increase results from the
addition of large amounts of iron to the Ohio River in this area.
68
-------
70
60
50
-" 40
* 30
20
10
I I
FIGURE 5
OHIO RIVER AT ROCHESTER. PENNSYLVANIA
I I I I I I I I I I I I
)EC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR
1 L 1 J
I
OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT.
1964 • «• 1965
6.0
5.0
4.0 *
3.0
2.0
1.0
69
-------
SLUDGE DEPOSITS
Sludge deposits on a stream bottom are Indicative of either
inadequately treated municipal or industrial wastes or a combination
of both. Sludge deposits, apart from aesthetic considerations, re-
strict the development of a desirable fauna in a stream.
The biological study of the Ohio River in May and June, 1970
showed that bottom sediments in this area contained toxic concentra-
tions of oil and concentrations of organic carbon and nitrogen typ-
ical of organic sludge originating from inadequately treated sewage
waste water (Figure 6). The reported concentrations of organic car-
bon and nitrogen in the sediments and the absence of strong odors of
decomposition indicated that these sludges were not undergoing active
decomposition. Toxic concentrations of oil in the sediment inhibited
the development of a benthic fauna conducive to the biological decom-
position of nitrogenous wastes. Specific effects of sludge deposits
are included in the discussion of BOTTOM SEDIMENTS AND ORGANISMS
section of this report titled EFFECTS OF POLLUTION OH AQUATIC LIFE.
70
-------
125
100
75
mg/gm SEDIMENT
iv> yi
D 01 O
—
—
—
1 1
. 1
0
00
cc
o
o
\
1 1 1 1 1
•••CARBON 5
'/////, NITROGEN ^
* SCOURED BOTTOM ^
^
LEFT BANK ^
!
I
5 10
5 10
SI * * 1
1
I
\.
N
1.
|
1
i
<*
^
<*
^ -
i
—
—
1 I
i h
15 20 25 30 35 40 45
RIVER MILE
15 20 25 30 35 40 45
| 1 *' * ' I ' | '
1
i i'
25
*:O
50
75
IOO
—
—
_
SI * * 1
l
\ \
I
I
§ RIGHT BANK
|
^
1 \ \ 1 1
I
5
«
1
^
%:
Uj
^
o
£
o
j
1 :
—
_
1
FIGURE 6 • ORGANIC CARBON AND NITROGEN CONTENT OF SEDIMENT SAMPLES FROM OHIO RIVER,
PITTSBURGH, PA. DOWNSTREAM TO E. LIVERPOOL OHIO, MAY 1970.
71
-------
EFFECTS OF BDLLUCTOH ON AQUATIC UFE
EB&. conducted a biological survey of the Ohio River in Pennsyl-
vania in May and June 1970 to identify the effects of pollutants on
aquatic life. Six major areas of concern were investigated: algae,
attached growths, nutrients, bottom organisms and substrate, fish
life and fish flesh tainting. Analysis of each of these areas can
reflect the impact of pollution on the aquatic environment. The
suspended algae, or phytoplankton, are important because they are
part of the basis of the food-chain that ends with fish) they add
oxygen to the water through the process of photosynthesis; they re-
move oxygen from the water through the process of respiration; and
if super-abundant, they may create nuisances and impart objectionable
taste and odors to water supplies. The attached growths of micro-
organisms perform the same environmental roles as the suspended algae,
but they "monitor" the continuing changes in quality of the over-
passing water. Nutrients in water are important when they support
super-abundant plant life, so it is necessary to study the avail-
ability of nutrients. The community of bottom organisms is part of
the vital link between algae and fish in the food chain. The compo-
sition of these communities is an excellent indicator of water qual-
ity conditions. The composition of the substrate strongly affects
these communities. The substrate is also the place where fishes de-
posit their delicate eggs to incubate. Fish are the top of the food
pyramid in the aquatic ecosystem. The species, number and quality
73
-------
of fishes that inhabit a stream reflect the water quality of that
body of water. Waste water effluents have been known to taint
flavors of fish flesh. To identify such waste sources, fish with
acceptable flavor were exposed upstream and downstream from sus-
pected sources. Such a test procedure shows the direct influence
of pollution.
SUSFEIDED ALGAE
According to historical data, the upper Ohio River does not
support algae populations typical of rivers with similar character-
istics. Pollution sensitive algae occurred rarely; the populations
were predominantly pollution-tolerant. Occasionally samples had no
algae, indicating toxic conditions.
Samples collected in May 1970 contained very low numbers of
algae, ranging from 162 to 6^3 cells per milliliter. The number of
algal cells and the quantity of chlorophyll both increased downstream,
indicating an increase in the viability and photosynthesis potential
of the algae.
Water samples collected in May 1970 were bio-assayed to deter-
mine their potential for algal growth. Only five of 22 samples sus-
tained algal growth for the duration of the 17-day test.20 Eleven
samples supported short term growth, but growth was stimulated and
sustained by addition (at seventh day) of nitrogen and phosphorus.
Six of the samples were toxic to the inoculated algae. ResultSi of
the assays are summarized in Figure 7. Waters from the Allegheny
and Monongahela Rivers were toxic to the test algae. Toxicity to
-------
CO
cs
75
-------
algae persisted in the Ohio River downstream of the confluence.
Downstream from the Allegheny Sanitary Authority discharge, the
waters were not toxic to the the test algae, and contained suffi-
cient nutrients to stimulate the growth of algae for the 17-day
test period. Downstream from Dashields Dam, the river waters were
short of nutrients for algal growth with the exception of the water
sample from the West Virginia-Pennsylvania State line which was
toxic to the test algae. This sample contained large quantities of
oil and emulsifiers which can be toxic to aquatic life.
ATTACHED GROWTHS
Attached growths collected during this study reflected condi-
tions from mid-May to mid-June. These growths were predominantly
the more pollution-tolerant blue-green algae at most of the sampling
stations (Figure 8).
Downstream of the ALCOSAN waste effluent, there was a reduction
in both the number of cells and number of kinds of attached growths.
Protozoa, which thrive where there is an abundance of bacteria and
microscopic sewage particles, made up a significant part of the popu-
lation.
As the decomposing organic material released nutrients, the
attached forms responded with an increase in numbers and chlorophyll
content (Figures 9 and 10). Further downstream, the data are similar
to those observed upstream of the organic source. This indicated
that the effects of the organic discharge were no longer manifested
76
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79
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or were masked by other discharges.
HOTRIENTS
According to historical data, excessive quantities of iron in
and added to the upper Ohio River may be reducing the availability
of phosphorus for algal growths. Iron tends to precipitate at the
f{ '
confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers. The precipi-
tating iron can either react with or absorb phosphate ions or phos-
phorus. The reactions are the cause for the shortage of nutrients
observed in the algal bio-assays. Nitrogen would not be a limiting
nutrient'since there is usually an abundance of inorganic nitrogenous
compounds.
BOTTOM SEDIMENTS AHD ORGANISMS
Bottom sediments in the study area contained toxic concentra-
tions of oil. Concentrations of organic carbon and nitrogen in the
sludge were typical of organic sludge originating from inadequately-
treated sewage wastewater. Concentrations of organic carbon and ni-
trogen in bottom sediments increased from river mile 3*1- downstream
to at least river mile 1+3.0 (Figure 6 on page ?l).
The reported concentrations of organic carbon and nitrogen in
the sediments and the absence of strong odors of decomposition indi-
cate that these sludges were not undergoing active decomposition.
Toxic concentrations of oil in the sediment inhibited the develop-
ment of a benthic fauna conducive to the biological decomposition of
nitrogenous wastes. Only pollution-tolerant aludgeworms were found
living in the sediments, and their low numbers indicated conditions
80
-------
of toxicity. Figure 11 illustrates the locations of the benthic
sampling points,and Table Ik lists the bottom fauna composition.
In addition to the direct quantitative bottom sampling,
artificial rock substrates21 were installed for a four-week period
in May and June. These artificial substrates were suspended off
the bottom and provided a habitat for colonization by bottom ani-
mals that was not affected by variations in sediment or bottom
materials. Figure 12 and Table 15 summarize the populations of animals
found inhabiting these baskets. With the exception of sludgworms,
the samples generally contained few organisms. Pollution-sensitive
animals were only rarely found. The low number of kinds and the low
populations at most sampling points suggest the presence of toxic
materials. Though ALCOSAN discharges organic materials at mile point
3«2, animals that would increase their population because of the in-
creased food supply were found in low numbers indicating the presence
of toxic materials. At three points, the baskets contained large num-
bers of organisms (Figure 12); these were primarily worms. Each of
these areas are below significant sources of iron-bearing waste waters.
Precipitation of iron on the rocks or the growth of filamentous iron
bacteria would provide soft materials on the rocks and in the crevices.
These soft materials provided a more suitable substrate than rocks for
the burrowing pollution-tolerant worms.
FISH BDRJIATJONS
The number of kinds of fish inhabiting waters are an indication
81
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River Mile -
ORGANISM:
Diptera (True Plies)
Chironcraidae (Midges) pqpae
Chironcmidae larvae
Ablabesmyia malloohi
Conchapelopla
Psectrocladius sp. 3 Rob.
P. sp. It- Rob.
P. flavus gr.
Criootopus bicinctus gr.
C. junus
C. trifasciatus gr.
Diplocladius sp. 1
Polypedilum sp.
P. scalaervum
Parachironomus abortivus ?
P. pectinatellae
Dicrotendipes nervosus
D. neonodestus
D. incurvus gr.
Ephemeroptera (Mayflies)
Stenonema integrum
Pleooptera (Stoneflles)
Perlesta placida
Odonata
Zygoptera (Damselflies)
Enallagpia exsulans
Crustacea
Isopoda (Sowbugs)
Asellus sp.
Amphipoda (Scuds)
Crangonyx sp.
Decapoda (Crayfish)
Orconectes sanborui
Oligochaeta (Segmented Worms)
Table 15. Stmmary of Bottoo Animals Collected fron
Basket Samplers-dipper Ohio River
Hay-June, 1970
No. /Basket
6-2 9.1 9-1 16.7 22.3 26.0 51-7
3
12
26
6
2
6
2
8
12
2
2
6
5
1
23
2
1
37.0 kQ.2
16
88
Naididae - 5
Nematoda (Roundvorms)
Mollusca
Gastropoda (Snails)
Physa sp.
Bryozoa (Moss Animals)
Fredericella sp. -
Flumatella sp. -
Coelecterata (Hydras)
Hydra sp. -
Hydracarina (Water Mites) 1
1 IX) 11 35 75 35^ 670
3 - 1
1
X
.
X
10
-
-
X
X
-
-
81
2
-
X
X
-
-
16 1000 21
.
.
X
X
X
.
Total Individuals 5 8
Total Taxa 1* 3
3 16 20 & 82 '" 39^ 709
3 5 7 11 5 6 9
37
12
122
10
32 11X& 37
<* 3 5
*A - Allegheny River; M - Monongahela River.
X - present
86
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of the water quality. Since 1957, a number of fish studies have been
12 22 23
conducted in this reach of the Ohio River. >&t>c-> These have in-
volved sampling the populations in the lock chambers at the Emsworth,
Dashield, and Montgomery Dams*
A July 1959 study at Montgomery Locks and Dam produced 21 fish
species, which is the greatest number collected in the lock chamber
samples in this section of the river. This study was conducted fol-
lowing closure of the steel industries by strike, Krumholz and
MLnckley^ compared the 1959 studies (before and after the strike)
and concluded that after the industry shutdown, there was an improve-
ment in water quality accompanied by an increase in the variety and
abundance of fishes. Further, they showed the principal difference
in species composition was the occurrence of pollution sensitive
fishes that invaded the previously polluted area, presumably from
nearby unpolluted waters. Six of these species, collected in the
study after the industry closure, were not collected previously in
the lock chambers, nor have they been collected since.
There was a marked increase in the total weights and total num-
ber of individuals in the sample results during the 1967-69 study
over the 1957-59 study. Fish production was greater in this section
of the Ohio River in the late sixties than in the late fifties.
The species composition of the 1967-69 studies is dominated
by carp and bullheads. This condition indicates that the water
quality favors the more pollution-tolerant fish. A few pollution-
87
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sensitive fishes, notably the longperch darter and the walleye, were
collected in the 1967-69 study. The important sport and commercial
fishes such as channel catfish, the sunfishes and walleyes have
never comprised over 10 percent of the fish population.
FISH TAIHTING
Channel catfish of acceptable flavor were placed in the Alleg-
heny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers at various points. After three
days exposure, the fish were retrieved and subjected to a panel
taste test. The panel scored the flavor of each sample on a 7-point
scale ranging from 7, no unnatural flavor, to 1, very extreme, unnaccept-
able flavor. Fish flesh having scores of 5 to 7 were considered to have
acceptable flavors.
The flavors of catfish exposed one mile upstream from the Ohio
River confluence in the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers were unac-
ceptable. Excepting at two exposure points (river mile U.9 and
lU.5), all catfish exposed along the left bank of the Ohio River in
the study reach acquired unacceptable flavors. Along the left bank
of the Ohio River, particularly bad unacceptable flavors were ac-
quired by exposed catfish at the following points: (l) downstream
from the waste outfall of Shenango, Inc., at river mile 5.8 (score
3.8); (2) dowstream from waste outfalls of the Jones and Laughlin
Steel Company at river miles 17.9 (score 3.2), 19.3 (toxic), and 22.2
to 2k.2 (scores 3.8 to 3.9); (3) downstream from waste outfalls of
the Pittsburgh Tube Company and Monaca sewage treatment plant at
-------
mile 28.b (score 3*2); and (k) downstream from waste outfalls of
the Sinclair-Kbppers Company at river miles 29.8 (score 3.6) and
30.0 (score 3.0).
All test fish exposed along the right bank of the Ohio River
in the study reach acquired flavors that were not acceptable. Along
the right bank of the Ohio River, particularly bad unacceptable
flavors were acquired by exposed catfish at the following points:
(l) downstream from the point of discharge from the Allegheny County
Sanitary Authority sewage treatment plant at river mile 3.2 (score
3.6); (2) downstream from the mouth of tributary Legionville Run at
river mile 18.8 (score 3.9); (3) downstream from waste outfalls of
the Penn-Central Railroad Company at river mile 2I.k (score 3.8);
(U) downstream from the waste discharge of the Borough sewage treat-
ment plant at river mile 28.2 (score 3.7); (5) downstream from waste
discharges from the Midland sewage treatment plant and Crucible Steel
Company at river miles 36.6 (score 2.8) and 39.3 (score 3.8). Ohio
River waters at the State boundary lines (river mile 40.0) imparted
unacceptable flavors to exposed catfish.
89
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. U. S. Bureau of the Census, "U. S. Census of Population, 1970.
Number of Inhabitants, Pennsylvania." Final Report PC(l)-UOA.
U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. 1971.
2. Shroyer, Edward. Personal interview with George Brinsko, Plant
Superintendent, Allegheny County Sanitary Authority of inventory
municipal wastes. Federal Water Quality Administration, Wheeling,
West Virginia. May 2, 1970.
3. U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. "Municipal
Water Facilities, 1963 Inventory." Public Health Service
Publication Ho. 775 (revised), Vols. 2, 3, and 5. U. S. Govern-
ment Printing Office, Washington, D. C. 196>.
U. U. S. Government memorandum from G. V. Bryant to J. W. Ferguson.
Federal Water Quality Administration, Wheeling, West Virginia.
August k, 1970.
5. U. S. Army Engineer Division, Ohio River. "Ohio River and
Tributaries - Small Boat Harbors, Ramps, landings, etc."
Corps of Engineers, Cincinnati, Ohio. April 1970.
6. U. S. Department of the Interior, Federal Water Pollution
Control Administration. The Cost of Clean Water. Vol. Ill,
FWPCA Publication No. I.W.P.-l. U. S. Government Printing
Office, Washington, D. C. September 1967.
7. U. S. Army Engineer Division, Ohio River. "River Teiminals,
Ohio River and Tributaries." Corps of Engineers, Cincinnati,
Ohio. April 1970.
8. U. S. Army Engineer Division, Ohio River. Unpublished data.
Corps of Engineers, Cincinnati, Ohio.
9. U, S. Army Engineer Division, Ohio River, 'fthio River Basin
Comprehensive Survey." Appendix F, Agriculture,, Corps of
Engineers, Cincinnati, Ohio. 1966.
91
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10. Official file of the Pennsylvania Department of Health,
Region V, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
11. U. S. Department of the Interior, Federal Water Quality
Administration. "Effects of Waste Water Discharges on
Aquatic Life of the Ohio River (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
to Pennsylvania State boundary). FWQA, Cincinnati, Ohio.
1970.
12. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Unpublished data.
13. Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission. Yearbooks.
ORSAHCO, Cincinnati, Ohio. 1965-1969.
Ik. Shapiro, M. A., Audelman, J. B., and Morgan, P. V.
"Intensive Study of the Water at Critical Points on the
Monongahela, Allegheny, and Ohio Rivers in the Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania Area." Report to the Federal Water Pollution
Control Administration, Project No. PH-86-6U-124. Uni-
versity of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 1966.
15. Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission.
"DO-BOD Model Study for the Pittsburgh Area." ORSANCO,
Cincinnati, Ohio. 1970
16. McCauley, R. N. "The Biological Effects of Oil Pollution
in a River." Limnology and Oceanography, Vol. 11, p. ^75-
486. Amer. Soc. of Lim. & Ocean., Inc., Lawrence, Kansas.
1966.
17. U. S. Government memorandum from F. K. Kawahara to
I. L. Dickstein. Federal Water Quality Administration,
Cincinnati, Ohio. June 15, 1970.
18. National Coal Association. "Steam Electric Plant Factors."
National Coal Association, Washington, D. C. 1969.
19. Anonymous. "River-quality Conditions During a 16-week
Shutdown of Upper Ohio Valley Steel Mills." ORSANCO,
Cincinnati, Ohio. 1961.
20. Anonymous. "Provisional Algal Assay Procedure." Joint
Industry/Government Task Force on Eutrophication. 1969.
92
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21. Anderson, J. B. and Mason, W. T., Jr. "A Comparison of Benthic
Macroinvertebrates Collected by Dredge and Basket Sampler."
Journal Water Pollution Control Federation, Vol. kt p. 252-
259. JWPCF, Washington, D. C. 1969.
22. Kranholz, L. A., Charles, J. R., and Minckley, W. L. "The
Fish Populations of the Ohio River. In: Aquatic Life Resources
of the Ohio River." ORSANCO, Cincinnati, Ohio. 1962.
23. Krumholz, L. A. and Minckley, W. L. "Changes in Fish Population
in the Ohio River Following Temporary Pollution Abatement."
Transaction American Fisheries Society, Vol 93» P« 1-5.
Amer. Fish. Soc., Lawrence, Kansas,
93
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