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watersheds above them plus water that i Dumped at a maximum rate
of 5.5 million gallons per day (mgd) from the Allegheny River
to augment needs during relatively dry periods. Although there
is some natural flow from uncontrolled streams above Butler, Pennsylvania,
the bulk of Butler's water needs is satisfied from regulated releases
during the summer-fall seasons, The. stream below Butler normally
contains at least 50 percent wastewater with little additional
dilution water available from other tributary streams» It is
not until Slippery Rock Creek enters Connoquenessing Creek at
Ellwood City that base flows are increased significantly.
Low flow frequency data for Connoquenessing Creek near Zelienople,
Pennsylvania, are presented below!
Magnitudeand Frequency of Annual Low Flow (Period 1920-59)
Consecutive Discharge (cfs) for Indicated
Days
7
14
30
60
120
2 years
15
19
24
35
71
5 years
11
12
14
19
31
10 years
9.8
11
13
16
22
Recurrence
20 years
8.8
9.8
11
13
17
Interval-
40 years
8.0
8.8
10
12
14
Source: Water Resources Bulletin No. 1, Pennsylvania Streamflow
Characteristics} Low-Flow Frequency and Flow Duration,
Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters, and
U. S. Geological Survey, April, 1966.
The Beaver River atrearaflows are, of course, much greater in
volume than Connoquenessing Creek. Since there are several existing
IV-4
-------
reservoirs which provide storage for low flow augmentation in the
Beaver River system, the dry-season flows are relatively high and
are expected to exceed 600 cfs at all times if scheduled releases
are maintained.
Water Use
With the exception of the Butler area, Connoquenessing Creek
is not used as a source of municipal and industrial water supply.
The municipalities and industries located along Connoquenessing
Creek obtain water from wells or tributary streams of suitable
quality a
The Butler Water Company withdraws water directly from
Connoquenessing Creek at a point upstream from Butler. As previously
mentioned, the stream is augmented by reservoir releases and
interbasin transfer from the Allegheny River.
Several large industrial establishments use the Beaver River
as the primary source of water supply. Some of the municipalities
also withdraw water directly from the Beaver River.
Existing. Water Quality
The Upper Ohio Basin Office, FWPCA, Wheeling, West Virginia,
collected water quality samples at a fevr locations in the
Connoquenessing Creek drainage during general surveys in the
Beaver River basin in 19&6. Comprehensive water quality investigations
were conducted during 1968, along the entire length of Connoquenessing
Creek* The study was done ,c-s a cooperative effort with the
TV-5
-------
Pennsylvania State Fish Commission and the Pennsylvania Department
of Health. Municipal and industrial effluent samples were collected
in addition to water quality samples from various stream locations.
Examination of samples included chemical, bacteriological and
plankton analysis. Benthic and fish studies were conducted by
State personnel at a few key locations on Connoquenessing Creek and
at the two potential reservoir locations on Little Connoquenessing
Creek and Glade Run.
Analysis of the available data reveals that there are
pollution problems in many sections of Connoquenessing Creek and
some of its tributaries caused by excessive residual organic and
nutrient waste discharges from municipalities and industries in
the area. The major contributor of such wastes is the Butler
municipal and industrial, complex.
Connoquenessing Creek, upstream from Butler, is relatively free
of organic pollution but at times has been known to show effects
of mining activities during periods of low runoff and drainage.
However, the stream did not contain excessive amounts of acidity
at the time samples were colleeted•
Bonnie Brooke, which enters Connoquenessing Creek just upstream
of Butler, Pennsylvania, at times is polluted by organic wastes
introduced to the stream in its lower reaches* Dissolved solids
concentrations were above normal during low flow conditions. Specific
conductivity was observed in excess of 900 mieroinhos.
IV-6
-------
Connoquenessing Creek, downstream from the Butler complex, is
degraded by residual municipal and industrial wastes. The stream
contains high nutrient loads which are continuously contributed
from municipal sources and intermittently from industrial sources.
Dissolved solids are usually above normal levels and excessive
amounts of organic wastes are discharged to the stream as a residual
load from the Butler sewage treatment facilities, from lagoon
discharges of the Armco Steel Corporation and from the many untreated
sanitary waste discharges in the area,
A most significant pollution problem in Connoquenessing
Creek below Butler, is the excessive growth of rooted and floating
aquatic plants. The abundance of these plants causes fluctuations
in the dissolved oxygen levels of the stream,, impairs the
recreational value by congestion of the stream, and increases the
oxygen demanding load when die-off and decay occur. It is believed
that carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus are the nutritional elements
most utilized by green plants* Since phosphorus is recognized by
many researchers as the element which is easiest to control in
streams and lakes, an important objective of recent water quality
studies has been to determine the sources and amounts of phosphorus
being introduced to Connoquenessing Creek.
The most recent water quality studies show that a major portion
of the total phosphorus load found in the stream is contributed
by the Butler Area Joint Sewage Authority system and at times the
IV-7
-------
Armco Steel Corporation. Concentrations of total phosphorus ranged
between 0.04 and 7.3 mg/1 In the creek just downstream from the
Butler complex. Most nutrients introduced into the stream at
Butler are available immediately for biological uptake, while some
are absorbed by the bottom deposits. A substantial portion of this
load remains in the stream at Zelienople. Additional nutrients
are added to the stream at Zelienople and produce algal problems
from this point to the mouth of Connoquenessing Greek, Inspection
of Figure 2 reveals the relative magnitude of the phosphorus
contributions from the Butler area. Although the phosphorus levels
decrease rapidly below Butler, sufficient quantities are available
to cause the nutrient-associated problems throughout the remainder
of Connoquenessing Greek. This is evidenced by the high plankton
counts, at times reaching proportions considered as algae blooms,
in the stream below Butler (see Table 3).
A summary of the total phosphorus levels found during the
recent surveys is presented in Table 4.
The large residual organic load which enters Connoquenessing
Creek at Butler, Pennsylvania, cannot be adequately assimilated
under existing low flow conditions. The limited field investigations
conducted by the Upper Ohio Basin Office, Wheeling, during the
summer of 1968 revealed that the average twenty-day Biochemical
Oxygen Demand (BOB20) load from the effluent of the Butler Area Joint
Sewage Authority treatment facilities plus the effluent of the
IV-8
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IV-12
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Armco Steel Corporations' lagoons is 1275 pounds per day» Stream-
flow and water temperatures encountered during the most recent
surveys were representative of average late summer conditions which
normally reflect the worst organic pollution problems. Industrial
and municipal discharge volumes also represented average summer
conditions* High nutrient contributions stimulate an excessive
and undesirable growth of aquatic plants. Dissolved oxygen depletions,
normally encountered as organic waste materials are assimilated
in the receiving streams, are disguised, particularly during day-
light hours, because of the oxygen generated by the aquatic plants.
This is probably why the dissolved oxygen levels in the stream
below Butler were found to be near saturation during regular
daytime sampling. If nutrient loads were minimized to a level
which would practically eliminate excessive aquatic plant growth,
dissolved oxygen levels could approach 4.4 mg/1 during average
summer conditions. Maximum oxygen depletion probably would occur
in Connoquenessing Creek near the mouth of Glade Run. Oxygen
depletions of less than 4.4 mg/1 could be expected during periods
of extremely low flows.
Other types of wastes are discharged to the stream in the
vicinity of Butler, Zelienople and Ellwood City. Some waste
materials common to the steel and metal fabricating industries are
found throughout the entire length of Connoquenessing Creek below
Butler. The effects of coal mining activities are also present.
IV-13
-------
An analysis of water quality data reveals that most locations
sampled on Connoquenessing Creek displayed concentrations of
dissolved solids, including aluminum, manganese, sulfate and
iron, and conductivity and hardness values above desirable levels.
(See Table 5).
Toxic materials were found in Connoquenessing Creek in the
vicinity of the steel mills at Butler, Pennsylvania. Hexavalent
chromium concentrations of as high as 1.29 rog/1 were detected
in the stream; but, the recent installation of process waste
treatment facilities at the steel mills is expected to eliminate
the discharge of these wastes to the stream.
The water quality of Glade Run near the location of the
proposed reservoir is generally acceptable for intended reservoir
uses. There are some organic wastes from individual homes and
farms in the area as evidenced by slightly high bacterial counts.
Key water quality characteristics found during 1966 and 1968
are shown in Table 6.
Water quality data from two locations on Little Connoquenessing
Creek, near the mouth and at the dam site, indicates the water is
relatively free from pollutants. Intermittent mine drainage
problems have occurred on some tributaries to the Creek, particularly
Yellow Creek. However, it appears that such problems are insignifi-
cant at the proposed reservoir. The limited amount of bacterio-
logical data reveals some problems which are caused by raw waste
IV-14
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IV-15
-------
TABLE 6
SUMMARY OF PERTINENT WATER QUALITY DATA
GLADE RUN AND LITTLE CONNOQUENESSXNG CREEK
Little Gonnoquenessing
Number Glade Run at Dam Site Creek at Dam Site
Constituent
pH
Specific
Conductivity
Hardness
Total
Coliform
Fecal
Coliform
Fecal
Streptococci
Dissolved
Oxygen
Total
Phosphorus
(as P)
Units
units
micromhos
mg/1
organisms/
100 ml
organisms/
100 ml
organisms/
100 ml
mg/1
ing/1
Samples
7-5
7-5
4-2
4-1
4-1
4-1
7-5
5-5
Maximum
7.7
405
114
25,000
1,500
4,000
9,8
0.19
Minimum
6»7
340
96
610
100
80
7.2
0.03
Maximum
7.4
875
190
26,000
630
730
8.5
0.12
Minimum
6.3
480
163
-
-
-
6.5
0.04
IV-16
-------
discharges from individual rural homes and farms located in the
watershed. Pertinent water quality characteristics found at the
dam site during the summer of 1968 are shown in Table 6.
Water quality studies were not conducted on Thorn Creek at
the proposed reservoi.r site. A limited amount of water quality
data from samples collected near the mouth of Thorn Creek indicates
that there is slight organic pollution, at tiroes, which is probably
caused by inadequate}y treated sanitary wastes from individual
homes and the community of Saxonburg, Pennsylvania.
The lower Beaver River is degraded by inadequately treated
municipal and industrial wastes, most of which originate from the
tributary areas and river reaches outside of the study area.
Inspection of a tabulation of pertinent water quality data (see
Table 7) reveals the fact that undesirable levels of specific
conductance, dissolved oxygen, hardness, sulfates, total iron,
fecal coliform, phenols and cyanide occurred occasionally during
the 1966 and 1968 surveys.
The results of benthic biology studies conducted in the study
area during 1965 indicate that polluted conditions prevail in
Connoquenessing Greek downstream of Butler, and near the mouth
below Ellwood City. Similar conditions were found in the Beaver
River between its mouth and the junction with Gonnoqtsenessing Creek.
Connoquenessing Creek upstream of Butler, supported a variety of
forms, but of low densities- The benthic fauna downstream of Butler
IV-17
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was predominated by large numbers of pollution tolerant snails,
midge larva and very tolerant sludgeworma. The stream did show
gradual recovery through to Ellwood City. The substrate of the Beaver
River at the sampling stations appeared to be conducive to
benthic development; however, the benthos consisted of sludgeworms,
snails, midge larva, and fingernail clams. No pollution sensitive
forms were collected in the Beaver River.
Biological investigations conducted by the Pennsylvania
Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Fish Commission in 1968
also indicate that pollution problems exist in certain sections
of Connoquenessing Greek. At each of nine stations in the
Connoquenessing Creek watershed, benthic organisms, fishes, and
periphyton scrapings were collected and the number and type
categorized by pollution tolerance classifications. A report
of these investigations appears in Appendix A. An adequate and
diverse community of aquatic life, indicative of clean to relatively
clean stream conditions, was found at stations located on
Connoquenessing Creek above Butler and upstream from Ellwood City
and on Glade Run and the Little Connoquenessing Creek in the
vicinity of the dam sites. Stations located below Butler and above
and below Zelienople yielded benthic and aquatic life tolerant to
polluted conditions. The most severely degraded condition existed
at the station on Connoquenessing Creak below Butler, where a low
number of pollution tolerant benthic fauna was found. Pollution
tolerant fish species dominated the total population and the periphyton
IV-
-------
community reflected organic and nutrient input to the stream.
Although slightly less pollution was indicated in the Zelienople
area, the predominant benthic fauna and fish population were
tolerant of polluted conditions.
IV-20
-------
V. THE ECONOMY
Population
The principal population centers of the study area are located
along the main stem of Connoquenessing Creek and the Beaver River.
They include the municipalities of Butler, Zelienople, Ellwood City,
Beaver Falls, and New Brighton which had a combined 1960 population
of over 60,000. Butler is the largest city in the study area.
Other smaller communities are located along the network of highways
which connect the major municipalities with Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
A sizable suburban population is encountered In a few areas close
to Pittsburgh.
The total population of the four-county economic study area
(Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, and Mercer Counties) increased from
442,260 in 1940 to 562,071 in 1960, an average annual growth rate
of 1.35 percent. Although this growth rate was substantially
larger than that experienced by the State of Pennsylvania (0.7%),
it fell slightly behind the national average of 1.78 percent. The
average population density of the economic area was 277 people
per square mile in 1960.
Industry
The majority of the manufacturing establishments are located
in or near the major communities along Connoquenessing Creek and
the Beaver River. Several industries are also found on Breakneck
Creek, a small tributary to Connoquenessing Creek.
V-l
-------
Industrial establishments engaged in the manufacture of
primary metals,, fabricated metal products, stone} clay, and glass
dominate the types found in the study area. Most of the large
factories which have an employment of more than 500 are engaged
in the steel-making and metal fabrication businesses. Several
basic steel mills are located along the Beaver River and in the
City of Butler. Table 8 presents a summary of the size and type
of manufacturing establishments found in the Counties of Beaver,
Butler and Lawrence,
Transportation
The Connoquenessing Greek area is served by three interstate
highways: I-80S traverses Beaver and Lawrence Counties in a north-
west to south-east direction; 1-79 runs north-south through
Butler, Lawrence, and Mercer Counties; and 1-80 runs east-west
through Mercer County.
Five railroads provide both freight and passenger service
in the economic study area*
Three small airports provide limited air service, but no
commercial air lines serve the area*
Agriculture
Agriculture has been an important enterprise in the study
area, but the impact of urban and suburban development has created
a steady decline in farming operations. The area is an important
producer of dairy products, beef., hogs, field crops, poultry and
V-2
-------
TABLE 8
NUMBER AND EMPLOYMENT SIZE OF
MANUFACTURING PIANTS
(BEAVER, BUTLER, AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES)
SIC Manufacturing Industry
Number of Plants with Employment of
1- 20- 50- 100- 250- 500-
19 49 99 249 499 or more
20 Food and Kindred Products
22 Textile Mill Products
23 Apparel
24 Lumber and Wood Products
25 Furniture and Fixtures
26 Paper and Allied Products
27 Printing and Publishing
28 Chemicals
29 Petroleum Refining
30 Rubber and Misc. Plastics
31 Leather
32 Stone, Clay, and Glass
33 Primary Metal
34 Fabricated Metal Products
35 Machinery, except Electrical
36 Electrical Machinery
37 Transportation Equipment
38 Professional, Scientific
Instruments
39 Miscellaneous
Totals
Source: Location of Manufacturing Plants by County,
Industry, and Employment Size, Census of
Manufacturing, 1963, U. S „ Dept. of Commerce.
Total
62
0
1
27
6
3
31
14
8
5
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44
8
31
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V-3
-------
nursery stock. Most of these farming operations are now part-time,
with the operator holding full or part-time employment elsewhere.
About one-third of the area is suitable for agriculture
production. Although the southern half of the Cormoquenessing
Creek drainage cents ns the best farmland, scattered agricultural
developments are also found in the north central region.
A few highly developed, irrigated farms are found in the
mid-section of the Connoquenessang Creek drainage* These operations
usually obtain their water supply from surface sources for
supplemental irrigation during the occasional dry periods experienced
in the summer and early fall seasons*
A few conifer plantations are being managed for Christmas
tree production. Only five percent of the forested area is being
utilized for the commercial tree enterprises. Approximately one-
third of the Connoquenessing Creek drainage is forest land.
Future Growth
A major portion of the study area has experienced a steady
economic growth at a rate close to the rest of the nation. Its
ideal location—in the center of western Pennsylvania between
the Pittsburgh-Youngstown-Cleveland metropolitan complex---is
partly responsible for the rapid growth. Other factors which
have contributed to the favorable climate for growth include the
abundance of natural resources, adequate transportation facilities
and a progressive populace* Economic growth is expected to
-------
continue at an accelerated rats.
Several local and regional planning commissions have studied
the economic trends and they have formulated population and
industrial projections for the area* This information, plus the
Appalachia Developmental Benchmark Projections developed by
the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District, were
utilized in establishing the economic projections for the study
area. The "developmental benchmarks" were conceived by the
Office of Appalachian Studies, Corps of Engineers to describe the
*
population, employment, and income growth required to meet the
goals of the Appalachian Act, Public Law 89-4. To achieve these
goals, it was assumed that the rate of economic growth in the
Appalachian area would be accelerated over that of the national norm.
The economic projections for the Gonnoquenessing Greek study reflect
the accelerated growth concept of the Appalachian Study.
The economic projections were formulated under the basic
assumption that water quantities would not limit potential economic
developments in the Connoquenessing Creek portion of the study area.
The total population of the economic area is projected to
increase 3.6 percent annually from 562,071 in I960 to 1,793,000 in
2020. Butler County is projected to have an annual increase of
5.1 percent for the period 1960 to 2020.
County population projections were disaggregated to the
municipality level to reflect the anticipated growth at each source
V-5
-------
of waste. Tables 9 and 10 summarize the predicted population
growth for the years i960, 2000, and 2020.
Employment in the Connoquenessing Greek econoroic area is pro-
jected to increase at a faster rate than occurred between 1940
and I960* Total employment is expected to increase from 191,079
in 1960 to 671,000 in 2020, an average increase of 4.2 percent
per year. Projected employment for the major industrial groups is
presented in Table 9»
The manufacturing group will remain the largest employer in
the area, although its share of tots.} employment is projected
to decline from 40 percent (1960) to 25 percent in 2020. Employment
in manufacturing will increase from 85S218 in 1960 to 186,640 in
2020.
Industrial gross output projections were determined for the
manufacturing industries which normally utilize significant
quantities of water. These indices were applied to the existing
industrial waste loads to arrive at the industrial waste contribu-
tions under projected conditions. Industrial gross output indices
are presented in Table 11.
V-6
-------
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TABLE 11
PROJECTED INDUSTRIAL GROSS OUTPUT FOR STUDY AREA
(1960-100)
SIC
Code
20
22,23
24,25
27
28
33
34
35
37
. Industry
Index of Gross Output
1980 2000 2020
Food and Kindred Products
Textiles and Apparel
Lumber and Wood Products including
Furniture
Printing and Publishing
Chemicals and Allied Products
Primary Metals
Fabricated Metal Products, except
Ordnance j Machinery and
Transportation Equipment
Machinery, except Electrical.
Transportation Equipment
230
150
155
200
470
190
290
525
220
315
380
2655
320
1040
1280
360
475
750
7450
550
2575
255 885 1895
170 230 250
V-10
-------
VI. WATER QIK.LII1- CONTROL
Sources of. Pollution
The major sources of pollution found in Connoquenessing Creek
are Inadequately treated municipal and Industrial wastes.
Several industries located in the study area are not providing
a sufficient level of waste treatment to -meet the existing
regulations of the Pennsylvania Sanitary Water Board. Table 12
summarizes the current status of individual waste treatment
facilities for the industrial waste permitees in the. study area.
There are several municipalities which discharge significant
quantities of organic wastes to the streams in the study area (see
Figure 3). The existing sewerage facilities and estimates of
their untreated load contributions under present and projected
conditions are summarized in Table 13.
In the Butler, Pennsylvania area the most significant
contributors of wastes include the large Armco Steel Corporation
complex and the Butler Area Joint Sewage Authority* Although many
of the individual homes located in the vicinity of Butler are
discharging untreated x«tstes to the stream, the large residual
organic loads from the sewage treatment facilities and the lagoon
discharge of the steel manufacturing plant account for the bulk
of the oxygen demanding wastes found in Connoquenessing Creek below
Butler,
The Armco complex is curtently engaged in an expansion program
VI-1
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to modernize their overall steel-making capabilities and Increase
the productive capacity at the Sutler Works. During the 1968
field surveys, the old open hearth melting furnaces and rolling
mills, with their many process waste discharges, were in operation.
Several new electric, furnaces and a large, continuous slab casting
unit are being installed^ and should be in operation in 1970.
Although some of the older rolling mills and stainless steel
production facilities will continue operations recently added waste
treatment facilities will eventually eliminate most of the process
waste outfalls that are discharging water with high concentrations
of various dissolved solids and toxic materials. The lagoons,
which receive large quantities of neutralized pickle liquor and
wash water wastes, will continue to be operated as in the past.
The lagoon discharge was found to contain significant quantities
of oxygen consuming wastes when sampled in 1963. An average BODon
load of 657 Ibs/day wag measured during the three-day sampling period
in late August, 1968. ^OD^n concentrations ranged from 44 to 67
mg/1 in the estimated 2.2 cfs lagoon discharge. The source of
these oxygen consuming wastes is unknown•
Although the existing effluent BOD load from the Butler
Sewage treatment plant was found to be slightly lower than that
from the Armco lagoon discharge, Butler's raw load was much greater
than the estimated Armco raw load* For the purpose of evaluating
the pollution abatement requirements in this study, it was assumed
that the existing Armco effluent load approximates their raw
VI ~6
-------
contribution.
Most of the large pnosphorus load found in the stream at the
Butler complex is contributed by the Butler Sewage Authority system.
Analysis of several composite samples of Butler's effluent indicated
that the average contribution, was 10 Ibs/day total phosphorus (as P)
for every 100G population served. During one of the field surveys,
the Armco process effluents contained large quantities of
phosphorus that were apparently being discharged in batches. It
is believed that the use of phosphate addarives for the control
of scaling in the water distribution system at Armco was responsible
for the intermittently high loads. Since the: Armco phosphorus
contributions are quite irregular in frequency and magnitude, the
overall average contribution was quite small as compared to the
municipal sources• The Armco phosphorus contribution to
Connoquenessing Creek is expected to be, significantly reduced when
the current expansion program is completed.
Using the predicted economic growth patterns for the Butler
area, future untreated wastes generated in the Butler complex
would approach the following!
Source Haste. IMS., 2000. 2020
Butler Sanitary
Systems
Armco Lagoon
Totals
Butler Sanitary
Systems Phosphorus as
P (ibs/day)
VI -7
(Population
Equivalents)
BOD20
(Population
Equivalents)
Tota 1
69,000
4,000
73,000
690
125,000
5,000
130,000
13230
151,000
9,000
160,000
1,500
-------
Breakneck Creek introduces significant residual wastes to
Connoquenessing Creek. Several industries and small municipalities
located on this Greek do not have sufficient waste treatment to
provide the desired protection to stream quality. The residual
wastes from Breakneck Creek plus the municipal discharges of
Zelienople and Harmony further degrade Connoquenessing Creek just
as it is recovering from degradation caused by wastes Introduced
from the Butler complex, cwenty stream miles upstream.
Connoquenessing Greek begins to recover only to be subjected
to a similar pattern of degradation in Che Ellwood City area.
Residual municipal wastes entering via Brush Creek and the
industrial and municipal contributions in the Eilwood City area
combine to once more alter the water quality conditions of
Connoquenessing Creek before it enters c'he Beaver River. Dissolved
oxygen deficiency and nutrient associated problems are not as
severe in this reach because of che vast increase in the waste
assimilative capacity of the Creek. The extremely high natural
reaeration capacity along with the introduction of additional
dilution water from Slippery Rock Creek influence the stream's
ability to assimilate residual organic wastes.
Water Quality Criteria
Pennsylvania's first comprehensive Clean Streams Law was adopted
in 1937. The law provides for the establishment of water quality
criteria for all streams in the State. The Pennsylvania Sanitary
VI-8
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-------
Water Board has adopted water quality criteria for interstate
streams in conformance with the Federal Water Quality Act of
1965 as amended. The proposed standards for the Beaver River have
been approved by the Secretary of the Interior and are presented
in Table 14.
The State of Pennsylvania has been actively engaged in the
process of establishing water quality criteria for intrastate
waters* Gonnoquenessing Creek is one of the few intrastate streams
where specific criteria has not yet been developed» In the absence
of state standards, water quality criteria commensurate with
current national and state objectives will be utilized in the
assessment of pollution abatement needs. The water quality
objectives proposed in this report for the Connoquenessing Creek
drainage will provide protection for all legitimate water uses to
meet both existing and anticipated needs. The standard water
uses established by the Pennsylvania Water Board for most waters
of the Commonwealth include the following:
1.0 - Aquatic Life
1.2 Warm Water Pish
2.0 - Water Supply
2.1 Domestic
2.2 Industrial
2.3 Livestock
2.4 Wildlife
2.5 Irrigation
VI -9
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TABLE 14
WATER QUALITY CRITESIA-BEAVER RIVER
Parameter
PH
Dissolved
Oxygen
Iron
Temperature
Dissolved Solids
Bacteria
(Coliforms/100 ml)
Threshold Odor
Number
Not less than 6,0; not to exceed 8.5.
Minimum daily average 5.0 mg/1; no
value less than 4.0 mg/1.
Total iron - not to exceed 1.5 tng/l«
Not to exceed 5°F rise above ambient
temperature or a maximum of 87°F,
whichever Is less; not to be changed
by mere than 2^F during any one hour
p£rl oda
Not to exceed 500 mg/1 as a monthly
average value; not to exceed 750 mg/1
at any time*
For the period 5/15 - 9/15 of any year;
not tc exceed 1000/100 ml as an arithmetic
average value" not to exceed 1000/100 ml
in store than two consecutive samples;
not to exceed 2400/100 ml In more than
one sample„
For the period 9/16 - 5/14 of any year;
not to exceed 5000/100 ml as a monthly
average value, nor to exceed this
number in more than 20% of the samples
collected during any month; nor to exceed
20,000/100 ml in more than 5% of the
samples„
Not to exceed 24 at 60* Ca
VI -10
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3.0 - Recreation
3.2 Fishing
3.3 Water Contact Sports
3.4 Natural Area
3.5 Cons er va t i on Area
4.0 - Other
4.1 Power
4.3 Treated waste assimilation
The water quality criteria established for the Beaver River
were designed for the protection of the above water uses, and
are also applicable to Connoquertessing Creek.
Pollution Abatement Alternatives
Several pollution abatement alternatives were considered
in the evaluation conducted to determine the most favorable plan
for meeting the water quality objectives in Connoquenessing Creek,
The principal alternatives included the use of low flow
augmentation, through reservoir releases, in combination with
various levels of advanced waste treatment at the municipal and
industrial sources; the use of a pipeline to transport treated
wastes from the Butler and Zelienople areas to the Beaver River;
and expansion of the existing inter-basin water transfer system
to facilitate low flow augmentation needs in lieu of reservoir
releases for water quality control.
It was assumed that all x-?astes would receive at least the
Vl-ll
-------
-------
degree of treatment set forth below as the definition of secondary
waste treatment or its equivalent:
Substantially complete removal of all floatable and settleable
materials, a minimum removal of 85 percent of the 5-day BOD
and suspended solids based on design flow, disinfection or
other methods that result in substantial reduction of
microorganisms and such additional treatment as may be
necessary to meet applicable water quality standards, and
to tneet recommendations of the Secretary of the Interior or
orders of a court pursuant to Section 10 of the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act.
With regard to the alternatives involving low flow augmentation,
an evaluation of the total streamflow requirements needed to
maintain 5.0 mg/1 dissolved oxygen throughout Connoquenessing Creek
indicated that solution of the problem at Butler would provide
protection to the entire stream. That is, if additional streamflow
were provided to Connoquenessing Creek in the immediate vicinity
of Butler, the 5.0 mg/1 dissolved oxygen level would be maintained
throughout the remainder of the Creek. The hydraulic and
hydrologic characteristics of the receiving stream, the relative
spacing of significant, organic waste discharges and the fact that
the present and projected raw waste loads from the Butler area
are much greater in magnitude than other sources influenced the
selection of the primary area of streamflow augmentation need.
VI-
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-------
Utilizing the basic Streeter-Phelps equations for dissolved
oxygen dynamics in streams, the total streamflow requirements were
computed for Connoquenessing Creek under varying degrees of
twenty-day Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD2g) removal efficiencies
of wastes originating from the Butler municipal and industrial
complex. The results of this analysis are presented in Table 15.
TABLE 15
TOTAL FLOW REQUIREMENTS IN CFS AT BUTLER,
PENNSYLVANIA, NEEDED TO MAINTAIN 5,0 MG/L DISSOLVED OXYGEN
(JUNE THROUGH OCTOBER)
Ultimate Biochemical Oxygen Demand
Year
1968
1980
2000
2020
Waste Flow
cfs I/
9
15
24
32
(BOD20)
85%
36
56
100
124
Removal Efficiencies
90% 95%
24
37
68
84
12
19
33
41
I/ Estimated total waste flow discharged by municipal and industrial
water users in the Butler area.
It was assumed that all communities and industries which discharge
organic wastes to tributary streams would provide sufficient
treatment to meet the water quality objectives for all streams in
the area. Since many of these tributary streams are virtually dry
during the summer and fall seasons, the minimum waste treatment
requirements were assumed to be above the conventional secondary
level. It is, however, not the purpose of this study to determine
the precise minimum treatment requirements for the small communities
whose residual wastes have little influence on the water quality
VI-13
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of Gonnoquenessing Creek.
In order to insure that water quality enhancement is achieved
throughout the entire length of Connoquenessing Creek, it is
essential that augmented flows be introduced to the stream in
the immediate vicinity of the Butler municipal and industrial complex.
This eliminates consideration of the proposed Little Connoquenessing
Creek Reservoir and certainly reduces the desirability of
utilizing the proposed Glade Run Reservoir for water quality control
storage. The most favorable locations for such storage appear
to be in the tributaries immediately above and below Butler. The
potential Thorn Creek site is in an ideal location for meeting
the flow augmentation needs* In analyzing the pollution control
options involving reservoir storage, the Thorn Creek site was
given prime consideration while the Glade Run site was considered
as a supplementary source of storage when quantities above Thorn
Creek's maximum available potential were required.
Estimates of reservoir storage requirements to meet the net
flow augmentation needs were obtained through extrapolation of a
curve which relates storage amounts to streamflow demands with a
failure frequency of one-in-ten years. This relationship was
developed by the Hydrology Branch of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Pittsburgh District Office, The storage-strearaflow relationship
was developed under the assumption that the future water supply
needs of the Butler municipal and industrial complex could be
VI -14
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-------
supplied by potential developments in upstream areas. This appears
to be the most rational approach since the Soil Conservation
Service has identified preliminary sites upstream from Butler with
potential water supply storage and there is the possibility that
the existing inter-basin water transfer system from the Allegheny
River could be expanded to satisfy projected needs.
An assessment of the existing assimilative capacity of the
Beaver River indicates that a minimum of secondary treatment (as
previously defined) of all municipal and industrial wastes in
the study reach is required to meet the 5.0 mg/1 dissolved oxygen
level under present and projected to the year 2020 conditions.
In arriving at this conclusion, it was assumed that sufficient
treatment will be provided to the upstream waste sources in
order that the existing water quality objectives will be achieved.
The 5.0 mg/1 dissolved oxygen objective may be obtained
throughout the study area without the use of additional streamflow
to increase the assimilative capacity of the streams. Table 16
summarizes the minimum treatment requirements of significant organic
wastes for achievement of the water quality objectives.
TABLE 16
SUMMARY OP MINIMUM WASTE TREATMENT
REQUIREMENTS NEEDED TO MAINTAIN 5.0 mg/1
DISSOLVED OXYGEN WITHOUT LOW FLOW AUGMENTATION
Area Percent BOD20 Removal
. 1980 2000 2020
Connoquenessing Creek
Butler 96% 96% 96%
Zelienople & Harmony 92% 92% 92%
Ellwood City & Vicinity 85% 85% 85%
Beaver River
All communities }j 85% 85% 85%
I/ Those organic waste sources which discharge to the Beaver River
within Beaver County, Pennsylvania.
VT-15
-------
-------
Another alternative considered in this study is the use of
a pipeline to transport the residual wastes after secondary
treatment, from the Butler and Zelienople areas to the Beaver River.
The pipeline would be designed to carry the volume of wastes
expected by the year 2020. Since there are existing nutrient-
associated problems in the Beaver River, it was assumed that a
high degree of nutrient removal would be required at the waste
sources prior to pipeline transportation,
One of the prime pollution control objectives in Connoquenessing
Creek is to substantially reduce the nuisance growths of aquatic
plants* A review of current literature on the subject indicates
that there is no phosphorus standard applicable to all situations.
It has been suggested by some scientists -id/ that inorganic
phosphorus levels be limited to 0.01 mg/1 (P) to prevent algae
blooms in lakes. Others have concluded that phosphorus levels
below 0.5 mg/1 (PO^) or 0.16 mg/1 (P) would control nuisance
growths and that algae growth would almost stop at levels below
0.05 mg/1 (P04) or 0.016 mg/1 (P).
The Report of the National Technical Advisory Committee on
Water Quality Control -—'recommends, as a guideline, that the
concentration of total phosphorus should not be increased to levels
exceeding 0.1 mg/1 (P) in flowing streams for control of nuisance
algae growths. The Report also recommends that the addition of all
organic wastes containing nutrients, vitamins, trace elements, and
VI-16
-------
growth stimulants should be carefully controlled and that a
biological monitoring system should be utilized to determine the
effectiveness of the control measures put into operation.
Since excessive nutrients are partly responsible for the
pollution problems in Connoquenessing Creek, an attempt was made
to analyze the effectiveness of each pollution abatement
alternative in terms of residual nutrient levels in the stream.
In addition to the principal plans, consideration was given to
the use of reservoir releases for low flow augmentation to provide
dilution of the residual phosphorus to a level which would meet the
Committee's criteria. This abatement method was, however, found
to be highly unreliable since the potential dilution water was
found to contain, at times, quantities of nutrients significantly
above the desired phosphorus concentration in the stream.
Another water quality characteristic which required attention
in this study was the high level of dissolved solids found in
Connoquenessing Creek in the vicinity of Butler, Pennsylvania.
The source of the pollutant appears to be a combination of several
industrial waste discharges in and above Butler. It is speculated
that part of the problem stems from the discharges from abandoned
coal mines located on tributaries to Connoquenessing Creek upstream
from Butler. Most of the problem, however, appeared to be caused
by inadequately treated industrial waste discharges. Although
reservoir releases designed to provide dilution of these dissolved
VI-17
-------
solids could be utilized in solving this particular problem, it
is believed that installation of the minimum required industrial
treatment facilities set forth by the Pennsylvania Sanitary
Water Board will provide adequate protection to the stream.
VI-18
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VEX. COST AM) BENEFIT ANALYSIS
Selection of A Pollution Abatement,Plan
The basis for selecting the most favorable alternative means
of maintaining the water quality objectives over the project design
life is that the plan should achieve these goals at a mininsum total
coat and be consistent with the minimum treatment requirements. The
least costly alternative is independent of the distribution of cost
between the local, State and Federal Governments.
Each of the pollution abatement alternatives was evaluated for
the 100-year study period. All costs for waste treatment facilities,
reservoir storage, and pipelines include estimates of annual operation
and maintenance and are in July 1968 dollars. The 4-7/8 percent inter-
est rate was utilized in estimating the average annual cost of each
facility.
Treatment levels of 85, 90, 95, and 98 percent BOD20 removal
were selected as points to determine the conparative cost of combina-
tions of reservoir storage for low flow augmentation and waste treat-
ment. The treatment methods used as a basis for the comparative costs
in this analysis are as follows:
1. 85 percent treatment consists of a secondary plant utilizing
the trickling filter process.
2. 90 percent treatment consists of a secondary plant utilizing
the activated-sludge process.
Vtl-l
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3. 95 percent treatment consists of activated sludge plus
coagulation and sedimentation with lime and rapid sand
filtration.
4. 98 percent treatment consists of activated sludge plus
coagulation and sedimentation with lime, nitrogen removal
rapid sand filtration and granular carbon adsorption.
It was assumed that each waste treatment facility would have a
fully effective life of 25 years. Although the advanced waste
treatment processes may not necessarily be operated throughout
the entire year, for the purpose of this cost analysis, cost
estimates of operation and maintenance were based on continuous
operation.
Estimates of the cost of providing the required reservoir
storage for low flow augmentation to meet the total stream flow
requirements were taken from preliminary cost data supplied
by the Planning Division of the Pittsburgh District, U. S. Army
Corps of Engineers. Figure 4 presents a graphical representation
of the average annual cost per acre foot of storage for the
Thorn Creek and Glade Run sites. These costs represent the
total annual cost of a single-purpose reservoir designed to
provide the flow schedule for downstream water quality control
needs *
A comparison of the alternative total costs (see Table 17)
reveals that the least costly combination occurs at the 95 per-
cent BOD20 level.
VII -2
-------
-------
.K-i.-ij,]-:.,:!. 7
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VII-3
Q.COQ
-------
TABLE 17
COST COMPARISON OF LOW FLOW
AUGMENTATION AND WASTE TREATMENT SYSTEMS
REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN 5.0 mg/1 DISSOLVED OXYGEN
Degree of Treatment (% BOD2Q removal)
85 90 95 98
Annual Cost of
waste treatment
Butler area
Zelienople area
Totals
Estimated storage
requirements (acre
feet)
Annual cost of
storage
Total annual cost
of water quality
control
$480,000
$130,000
$610,000
(52,000)
$1,220,000
$1,830,000
$690,000
$170,000
$860,000
(13,000)
$740,000
$1,600,000
$950,000
$260,000
$X, 210,000
(1,500)
$140,000
$1,350,000
$1,700,000
$ 260,000^
$1,960,000
(0)
0
$1,960,000
I/ The maximum treatment needs at Zelienople are 92% BOD2Q removal;
therefore, the cost for 95% SOD was considered for this alternative,
Since there are two potential sources of water which could
be used to satisfy the net streamflow requirements for water quality
control, the respective cost estimates were compared so that the
most favorable method could be identified. In lieu of reservoir
storage, the low flow augmentation needs could be satisfied by
transporting additional flows from the Allegheny River to the headwaters
VII-4
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of Connoquenessing Creek. Such a system would require a permit
from the State of Pennsylvania to increase the existing withdrawal
rate from the Allegheny River. These types of permits are normally
granted if it can be shown that the withdrawal will have an
insignificant effect on downstream water users. It is doubtful
that a permit would be granted for a. large increase in the
withdrawal rate because of the fact that existing low flows in
the Allegheny River are augmented by releases from the Allegheny
River Reservoir for water quality control in the Pittsburgh area.
Without knowing the probable limitation on potential withdrawal
increases, it was assumed, for the purpose of the alternative
cost analysis, that the required flows could be transferred to
Connoquenessing Creek.
Estimates of the total annual cost for this alternative
included the initial construction cost of an eleven-mile pipeline
with appurtenant pumping facilities, and the annual operation
and maintenance. The annual cost of existing augmentation in the
Allegheny River was not considered. The pipeline was designed
to supply the low flow augmentation needs through to the year
2020. Table 18 presents a. summary of the comparative costs for the
two sources of low flow augmentation water.
VII-5
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TABLE 18
COST COMPARISON OF THE TWO
SOURCES OF LOW FLOW AUGMENTATION WATER
Net Flow Annual Cost - Dollars
Required Reservoir Inter-basin
(c.fs)...._. .Relea3es_ Transfer
9 $140,OOQ~/ $300,000
52 $740,OOO^/ $1,200,000
92 $1,220,0002/ $2,100,000
I/ Thorn Creek site. 2/ Thorn Creek and Glade Run sites.
Inspection of the comparative costs reveals that reservoir storage
is the least costly source of water for low flow augmentation to
Connoquenessing Creek.
Another pollution abatement method given consideration in
this study is the transportation of treated wastes to the
Beaver River. Such a pipeline would convey the waste effluent
from treatment facilities in the Butler and Zelienople areas to
the Beaver River, a total distance of approximately 44 miles.
The pipeline was designed to carry the projected waste flows
to the year 2020. Table 19 summarizes the comparative costs of
these alternatives. The effluent pipeline alternative would be
more costly than the plan utilizing reservoir storage for low
flow augmentation. In addition to being costlier, the effluent
pipeline is less favorable because it would substantially reduce
VTI-6
-------
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TABLE 19
COST COMPARISON OF LOW FLOW
AUGMENTATION AND EFFLUENT PIPELINE
Annual cost of treatment
Butler Area
Zelienople Area
Totals
Annual cost of effluent pipe
Annual cost of reservoir
storage
Total annual cost of
water quality control
Annual Cost - Dollars
Low Flow
Pipeline Augment at i on-=/
$690,000
$170,000
$860,000
$820,000
$950,000
$260,000
$1,210,000
$ 0
$ o
$1,680,000
$ 140,000
$1,350,000
I/ 1500 Acre Feet in Thorn Creek Site.
VII-7
-------
the dry season stream flows in Coimoquenessing Creek to the
point where other recreational type benefits would be minimized
in the 44 miles of stream.
Since excessive nutrients are partly responsible for the
pollution problems in Connoquenessing Creek, an attempt was made
to analyze the effectiveness of each pollution abatement alternative
in terms of residual nutrient levels in the stream.
One of the water quality objectives in Gonnoquenessing Greek
is to control the excessive algal growths through limitation
of phosphorus levels. Of the three alternative abatement plans,
the effluent pipeline would proxrlde the most reduction in stream
phosphorus concentrations. Since this plan is undesirable because
of cost considerations and its detrimental affect on dry weather
stream flowss the residual phosphorus levels were computed for
each of the waste treatment-low flow augmentation combinations
considered in the study* In this analysis it was assumed that
all potential dilution water contained insignificant amounts of
phosphorus. Table 20 summarizes the results of this analysis.
The least costly combination of water quality control measures
(1500 acre feet reservoir storage plus 95% BOE^Q treatment at Butler)
displayed the most efficient means of providing maximum reduction
of stream phosphorus levels. The advanced waste treatment processes
of Coagulation and Sedimentation with Lime and Rapid Sand Filtration
were considered the most favorable combination for maximizing
VII-8
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TABLE 20
ESTIMATED RESIDUAL PHOSPHORUS IN
CONNOQUENESSING CREEK
Pollution Abatement Combinations
2020
Reservoir
Storage
(acre, ft ...)..
52,000
13,000
1,500
Waste Treatment Process
Trickling Filter
Activated Sludge
Activated Sludge,
Coagulation & Sedimentation
with Lime and Rapid Sand
Filtration.
Activated Sludge,
Coagulation and Sedimentation
with Lime, Nitrogen
Removal, Rapid Sand
Filtration and Granular
Carbon Adsorption.
Residual Stream
Phosphorus-P I/
(nvg/1)
1.8
2.8
0.35
0.40
I/ Assuming all potential reservoir releases
contained insignificant amounts of phosphorus.
VII-9
-------
phosphorus reductions of municipal wastes. These processes,
plus the low flow augmentation constitute the most favorable
plan for maintaining the water quality objectives through the
year 2020.
The analysis of the various pollution abatement alternatives
utilized specific advanced waste treatment processes without
consideration of the practicability of application to existing
facilities in the Butler and Sellenople areas. One reason for
this rationale is the fact that these areas are expected to
experience such rapid growth that existing treatment facilities
would most likely become unable to manage the higher flow volumes
in the near future. If existing facilities were replaced, the
processes used in the analysis are considered to be the most
practical available under current technology. Also, it is not
the intent of this study to design the most desirable treatment
facilities at each individual source of organic type wastes.
The recommended pollution abatement plan should not necessarily
stipulate the application of specific waste treatment processes,
but rather it should provide limitations on the chemical and
biological characteristics of projected waste effluents to
Connoquenessing Creek.
The formulation of a pollution abatement plan was influenced by
the fact that the combined municipal and industrial waste discharges
from the Butler complex constitute the bulk of the streamflow in
VXI-1Q
-------
Connoquenessirig Creek under low natural flow conditions. Since the
streamflow will contain such a high proportion of waste water even
with the implementation of low flow augmentation, the pollution
abatement plan should contain limitations on the concentration of
waste effluents as well as minimum treatment requirements. It
is therefore suggested that the recommended waste treatment
requirements and effluent limitations presented in Table 21 be
established for the study area.
VII-11
-------
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The recommended pollution abatement measures will require the
installation of advanced waste treatment facilities in the Butler
and Zelienople areas. As previously discussed in this report,
there are many unsewered areas in the vicinity of these communities.
There are also a few small sanitary waste treatment systems which
cannot provide the high degree of treatment recommended. In view
of .these conditions, it is highly desirable that consideration be
given to the use of a regional waste collection system which would
transport the wastes to a central treatment plant at Butler and
Zelienople. Such a system normally minimizes per capita treatment
costs.
Although the raw oxygen consuming waste load from the Armco
lagoon is relatively small when compared to the other sources in
the Butler complex, this load must be substantially reduced to
meet the recommended water quality objectives in Connoquenessing
Creek. Isolation of the oxygen consuming wastes may simplify
their treatment at either an in-house treatment facility or a
regional sanitary-industrial waste treatment system. Also, all
measures should be taken by Armco to insure that the intermittent
phosphate wastes are collected and treated.
In summary, the most favorable pollution abatement plan in-
cludes the use of reservoir storage in the proposed Thorn Greek
site for water quality control in combination* with the specified
degree of advanced waste treatment for all organic wastes dis-
charged to Connoquenessing Creek in the Butler and Zelienople
VII-13
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-------
areas. Potential releases should be scheduled so that the minimum
flow requirements presented in Table 22 are met, during the period
June through October.
TABLE 22
RECOMMENDED PLOW AUGMENTATION
FOR MATER QUALITY CONTROL, CONNOQUSNESSING GREEK
BELOW BUTER, PENNSYLVANIA
(JUKE THROUGH OCTOBER)
..198_0_.... 2000 2020
Total Flow Required (cfs) 19 33 41
Estimated Return Flow (cfs) I/ 15 24 32
Net Flow Requirement (cfs) 499
Estimated Storage Required 1000 1500 1500
(Acre Feet)
I/ Total waste flow discharged by municipal and industrial
water users in the Butler area*
Experience has shown that the physical and chemical character-
istics of water vary with depth in many of the deeper reservoirs*
During periods of thermal stratification, which normally occur
during the summer months, the bottom layers of the reservoir may
contain water low in dissolved oxygen, high in iron and manganese
content, and of objectionable taste and odor. In order to insure
that downstream water quality is not adversely affected by release
of poor quality water, it is recommended that all deep reservoirs
constructed in the study area be provided with multi-level outlet
VII-14
-------
structures capable of providing for adequate water quality control
and facilities for monitoring such releases.
Benefits.,
Benefits associated with implementation of the recommended
water quality enhancement plan would accrue throughout the length
of Connoquenessing Greek below Butler, Pennsylvania* The
achievement of the water quality objectives would enhance
recreational activities in and along the Creek and increase the
potential for sport fishing which is quite limited at the present
time. Water quality enhancement would also increase the value
of property adjacent to the stream.
The provision of low flow augmentation would enhance and
protect the water quality of Connoquenessing Creek in a 44 mile
reach thereby benefiting many communities and private property
owners along the Creek. Since the recreation potential of the
stream will be substantially increased, other more distant communities
located outside of the immediate study area will benefit from the
enhancement of stream water quality. The effects of the provision
of storage for water quality control are therefore considered
to be widespread in nature.
Since these benefits are quite difficult to evaluate quantitatively,
the cost of providing the same effects of water quality improvement
by the most likely alternative will be utilized as an approximation
of benefits. The least costly alternative means of achieving
water quality objectives is the use of a single-purpose reservoir,
VII-15
-------
located on Thorn Creek, designed to meet the flow requirements as
previously outlined. From preliminary cost data supplied by the
Pittsburgh District, U, S. Army Corps of Ehgineers, it is estimated
that the average annual cost of providing the comparable storage is
$140,000. This may be considered as the minimum benefit.
Since additional water quality control benefits are not readily
identifiable, the maximum benefit attributable to water quality con-
trol storage is actually the difference of the total annual cost of
water quality control between the least costly alternative and the
cost- of the highest degree of waste treatment required to meet the
water quality objectives without additional storage. From Table 17,
a maximum average annual benefit of $610,000 could be credited to
the proposed Thorn Creek Reservoir.
Probably the recommended low flow augmentation levels will
not necessarily provide maximum recreation and fishing benefits
in Connoquenessing Creek. Although water quality conditions are
expected to be favorable for such stream uses, guaranteed addi-
tional streamflows would certainly further enhance the recreation
potential of Connoquenessing Creek. Consideration should be given to
the use of potential reservoir storage for this purpose.
VI1-16
-------
VIII, BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Butler County Planning Commission, "Butler County 1980",
Report 5 of The Comprehensive Plan for Butlar County, Butler,
Pennsylvania, November 5, 1965.
2. Butler County Planning Commission, "Strip Mines Butler County",
Butler, Pennsylvania5 January 1968.
3. Butler County Planning CoEsaission, "Population and Housing",
Report 1 of the Comprehensive Plan for Butler County, Butler,
Pennsylvania, December 1964,
4» Butler County Planning Commission, "Land Use and Physical
Features", Report 2 of the Comprehensive Plan For Butler County,
Butler, Pennsylvania, February 1965.
5. Beaver County Planning and Zoning Commission, "Twentieth Annual
Report", Beaver, Pennsylvania, 1965.
6. Beaver County Planning Coasaission, "Industrial Directory,
Beaver County, Pennsylvania", Beavers Pennsylvania, 1967.
7. Beaver County Planning Commission, Economic Projections,
Beaver County, Pennsylvanias June 1968.
8. W. F. Busch and L. C. Shaw, "Pennsylvania Strearoflow Characteristics
Low-Flow Frequency and Flow Duration", Pennsylvania Department
of Forests and Waters, Water Resources Bulletin No. 1, April 1966.
9. U» S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service,
"Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Investigation Report", Appalachian
VIII-1
-------
Water Resource Survey, Butler and Allegheny Counties, Pennsylvania,
August 1967.
10. Smith, Robert, "Cost of Conventional and Advanced Treatment of
Wastewater", Journal,Water Pollution Control Federati.an,, Vol. 40,
September 1968, pp. 1546-1574.
11. Smith, Robert and McMichael, Walter F.s "Cost of Performance
Estimates for Tertiary Wastewater Treating Processes",
U. S. Department of the Interior, Federal Water Pollution Control
Administration, Cincinnati, Ohio, June 1969.
12. Keup, Lowell E., "Phosphorus in Flowing Waters", Wa t er Res earch.
Pergamon Press, Vol. 2, 1968, pp. 373-386, Great Britain.
13. Nesbitt, John B,, "Phosphorus Removal - The State of the Art",
Journal Water Pollution_CQntrol Federation, Vol. 41, pp. 701-713,
May 1969.
14. National Technical Advisory Committee to the Secretary of the
Interior, "Water Quality Criteria", Government Printing Office,
Washington, D. C., April 1, 1968.
15. Pennsylvania Sanitary Water Board Rules and Regulations,
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
VIII-2
-------
LEGEND
USG5 GAGING STATIC
FWPCA WATEF* QUALITY
CONNOQU£N£SSING CREEK WATERSHED
LOCATION MAP
-------
CONNOQUENESSING CREEK STUDY
APPENDIX A
AQUATIC BIOLOGY INVESTIGATION
LETTER REPORT
Prepared by
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Division of Water Quality
-------
COMMONWEALTH Of PENNSYLVANIA
January 3, 1969
Aquatic Biology Investigation
Connoquenessing Creek Survey
Butler and Beaver Counties
July 29-30, 1968
Wayne C. Bellaman Through: Water Pollution Biologist fy
Regional Sanitary Engineer Division of Water Quality1)
Human Services Region VI
/_l. ^ Director, Division
Edward R. Bresin&v*; £) Water Quality
Aquatic Biologist
Division of Water Quality
An intensive eherrdcal and biological investigation of Connoquenessing
Creek was carried out on Ju3»y 29-30, 1968, in cooperation with the FWPCA
(Ohio River Basin Project) of Wheeling, West Virginiaj Pennsylvania Fish
CoKimission; and. the Keadville Regional Health Department office. The
Wheeling Field Station of the FWCA was requested by the U.S. Arniy Corps
of Engineers to detenidne the need for, and value of, two potential
multiple-purpose reservoirs to be located on tributaries of Connoquenessing
Creek. Analysis of existing water quality conditions revealed that pollution
problems (mainly high organic and nutrient loads and poor low flow character-
istics) existed along sorce sections of Connoquenessing Creek. In order to
better define the extent a.nd magnitude of the problems, the present field
investigations v;ere conducted.
This report sunrnariaes the results of the biological investigations. The
biological investigation was conducted by E. R. Breaina and R. Bushick of
the Pennsylvania Department of Health end R. Hessor of the Pennsylvania Fish
Commission. During a two day reconns.issa.nce on July 18 and 19, 1968, nine
biological sampling stations v;ere selected as representative of existing
stream conditions (Table I arid Figure 1). .Benthic organisms were collected
quantitatively using a 1 sq. foot Surber stream bottom sampler. Fishes were
collected with a portable stream electro-shocker apparatus. Periphyton was
qualitatively sampled by scraping deposits from the surface of several rocks
at each location.
jmd Piscus^sion% A sumn'ary of the biological data is presented in
Tables II, III, and TV, From analysis and interpretation of the data, the
following conclusions were drawn:
Station 1:
Clean strean conditions; relatively low standing crop of benthic
fauna and fishes reflect physiographic, conditions and productivity
of streaiaj benthic and fish populations dominated by pollution
sensitive organises j some evidence of iron precipitates on
strear. bottom resulting from litrdted acid mine drainage inflow.
-------
Wayne C.
January 8, 1969
Station 2: Connoquenessing .Creek, below Butler.
Moderate to severe stream degradation; benthic fauna represented
by three taxa, all pollution tolerant; presence of tolerant
species resulting from organic input from Butler sewage treat-
ment plant; relatively low numbers of tolerant organisms
indicates some toxic chemical or waste discharge, possibly
pickling liquor or metal ions from ASICO Steel Company.
Periphyton community reflects organic and nutrient input to
stream. Fish population poorly represented in numbers and
species and dominated by pollution tolerant individuals.
Station 3: Below Proposed
Site on Glade Run
Clean stream conditions; good diversity of benthic and fish
fauna; abundance of caddis fly, Kj^rogsy^ie, suggests nutrient
and organic enrichment; complete absence of periphyton possibly
related to abundance of needle-like crystalline structures
(possibly calcium carbonate or some other mineral) and/or
physical (habitat) conditions.
Station
Connoquenes^sing; Creek
upstream, from Zelienople
Ihtenaediate stream conditions j dominance of pollution tolerant
organisms (benthic fauna) vdth moderate abundance of Simuliuja
and Tendipedidae suggest organic and nutrient enrichment. Fish
populations represented by 15 species with more than 50$ (by
species) tolerant of polluted conditions.
Station 5- Boj^strearn from. Zglienpple
Moderately polluted conditions; dominance (both species and
numbers) of pollutional tolerant benthic invertebrates and
fishes. Attached alga, Cladojshora, very abundant; this alga
responds to increased organics and nutrients. Ideal habitat
conditions for benthic populations somewhat lacking due to
abundance of Gladophora occupying available suitable substrate.
Station 6: At i Hag en and upstream, ,f .rorn. SllvrQod City
Relatively clean stream conditions; large abundance of caddis
fly, Hydr op • sy^cjie , suggest organic enrichment; broad diversity
of fish life.
Station ?: Direct Ij
^ Creek
Clean stream conditions; adequate species diversity, yet low
number of individuals possibly due to low flow, siltation, and
a heavy diatom coating on rocks. Excellent species diversity
in relation to fish populations. Low numbers of fishes possibly
reflect on the low standing crop of benthic fauna.
-------
-------
Wayne C. Bellaman «-3«- January 8, 1969
Statical 8: Above^gr ogosed dam ja it & „ o.n,t.Glade. Run
Relatively clean stream conditions; very large numbers of caddis
suggest organic input from surrounding farm-
land. Low number of species of bent hie fauna and fishes reflects
on lack of suitable and diverse habitats associated with head-
water areas.
Station 9? Ugsl^em^fr^
Relatively clean stream conditions^ some abundance of Spirogyra
fc^d G Xadojphora . Low numbers of individuals associated with a
headwater habitat displaying characteristics of low productivity.
Summary; From the preceding discussion three major areas can be distinguished
receiving moderate to severe pollution along the 41 miles of stream surveyed.
These three areas are:
Station 2: Downstream from Butler
Station 4* At Eidenauj upstream from Zelienople
Station 5s Directly downstream from Zelienople
At the above three stations, the major pollutional problems stem fron an
excessive amount of organics and nutrients. There also appears to be sotae
toxic waste entering the stream directly below Butler.
At all other stations surveyed, there existed an adequate and diverse
community of aquatic life indicating relatively clean streaa conditions.
In relation to the proposed reservoir sites on little Connoquenessing Creek
and Glade Run, the data indicates that moderate organic and nutrient loads
enter Glade Run, Construction of the mutiple-purpose reservoir on Glade Bun
will retard the nutrients and eutrophic conditions aiay proceed at
accelerated rates. To inhibit or retard eutrophication, the following
conditions should be taken into consideration:
1. That the reservoir should not have large areas less than five feet
deep.
2» That complete retention time be relatively short so as not to allow
for accumulation of nutrients. Should the reservoir be shallow and
clear with a relatively long detention time, eutrophication v/ould
probably result with a change in species composition and a shifting
of population density to an unbalanced state. The result of
accelerated eutrophication slight possibly be the development of
-nuisance algae and, aquatic vegetation,
Little Connoquenessing Creek Appears to be &n excellent site for the con-
struction of a multiple-purpose reservoir from the standpoint of aquatic
life diversity.
One important factor to consider in relation to the proposed reservoir sites
is the very poor low flow characteristics of Connoquenessing Creek. What
effect the construction of dams on tvo of the major tributaries to the
-------
-------
Wayne C. Bellaman -4- January 8, 1969
Connoguenessing Creek will have on the flow characteristics cannot be
established from available data. However, it might be hypothesised that
reducing the inflow of water to Connoquenessing Creek, especially during
summer months when poor flow conditions normally, exist, might increase the
effect of high organic and nutrients loads on the aquatic life of the
stream, unless flow release is regulated to reduce the nutrient concentration
through dilution.
Recosmaendations; It is recommended that:
1. A more intensive biological and chemical survey be conducted within
each of the three problem areas listed above.
2. Detailed information on the location of waste treatment facilities,
type of waste and discharge points for all facilities located in
the drainage basin surrounding the three problem areas should be
gathered and a copy forwarded to the Aquatic Biology Unit so that
the proposed survey can be conducted next spring.
-------
T
_i, >
<3—
us
*
-------
-------
2AELB I
COHNOQUENESSB3& CREEK
7/29/68 - 7/30/68
Biological
Sailing Station Locations
Station No.
1
2
U
5
6
7
8
9
Butler
Butler
Butler
Butler
Beaver
Beaver
Butler
Butler
Butler
Location
Bridge at 10119 - 3 miles N of
Butler off Highway 38.
Bridge at 10151 - West of Rt.
N.E. of Renfrew.
0.6 miles below bridge at T«
and below proposed, dam site -
I.E. of Evans City.
10042 at Eidenau - 1/8 mile N of
Rt. 68.
Bridge at 588 - 1/2 mile west of
junction of 288.
040?8 at bridge aad junction with
C&055.
Bridge at HX&l - on Little
Conaoqueaessing below data site.
Bridge at T-38k - Jet with T-382
on Glade Run.
Bridge at 10015 &ad T-410 - South
of Rt. k22 on Little Connoqutenessing.
All fishes, benthos, and algae were sampled at above locations.
Distance of stream worked with electro fishing gear.
Station
Distance
1
2
3
if
5
6
7
8
9
35 feet
250 feet
kO feet
100 feet
100 feet
30 feet
100 feet
50 feet
100 feet
-------
TABLE II
COHNOqUEJESSHC- CRSEK
7/29/68 - 7/30/68
Algae
Qualitative—Scrapings off Rocks
Station 1 -
1,
2.
Station 2 -
1« Pot omoggt on cripus
2» Vorticella
3. iteylcula
U. Cladophora
5. TO^tSIx r
6. Rhizoclonitjja
6. Ueedle-lUce, crystalline structure - very abundant.
Station 3 -
1. Needle-like crystalline structure - very abundant.
Station k -
1% Cledoghora
2. jgavicula
3. Fragellaria
k. Bhizoclonium
5. Ulothrix
Station 5 -
1* Cladoghora
2. Haylcitla
3* Unknown diatm
Station 6 -
1. Fragellaria
2. BHi'zoclonium
3.
Station 7 -
1.
Station 9 -
1. Sgirogyra
2. Gladoghora
3. RhTzoclonTum
5. Kavicula
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-------
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