PUBLIC HEALTH Bt|LLETIN
No. 276 "
A STUDY OF THE POLLUTION
AND NATURAL PURIFICATION
OF THE SCIOTO RIVER
FEDERAL SECURITY AGENCY
U. S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
WASHINGTON, D. ft
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FEDERAL SECURITY AGENCY
U. S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
Public Health Bulletin No. 276
A STUDY OF THE POLLUTION
AND NATURAL PURIFICATION
OF THE SCIOTO RIVER
By
ROBERT W. KEHR, Passed Assistant Sanitary Engineer
W. C. PURDY, Special Expert
JAMES B. LACKEY, Cytologist
OLIVER R. PLACAK, Assistant Chemist
WILLIAM E. BURNS, Assistant Bacteriologist
United States Public Health Service
From Stream Pollution Investigations
Division of Public Health Methods
National Institute of Health
PREPARED BY DIRECTION OF THE SURGEON GENERAL
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON : 1941
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C. - - - - Price 20 cents
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I
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ORGANIZATION
of the
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH
THOMAS PARKAN, Surgeon General, United States Public Health Service
L. R. THOMPSON, Director, National Institute of Health
DIVISION OF BIOLOGICS CONTROL.—Chief, Senior Surgeon M. V. VELDEE
DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY.—Chief, Professor C. S. HUDSON
DIVISION OF CHEMOTHERAPY.—Chief, Surgeon W. H. SEBRELL, JH.
DIVISION OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE.—Chief, Medical Director J. G. TOWNSEND
DIVISION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES.— Chief, Senior Surgeon R. E. DYER
DIVISION OF PATHOLOGY.—Chief, Senior Surgeon R. D. LILLIE
DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH METHODS.—Chief, G. ST. J. FERROTT
DIVISION OF ZOOLOGY.—Chief, Professor W. H. WRIGHT
NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE.—Chief, Pharmacologist Director CARL VOEGTLIN
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Submitted for publication May 1941
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CONTENTS
Page
Abstract xt
Introduction 1
Description of the river and its watershed 3
Watershed 3
Character of the river 3
Tributaries 6
Distribution of population and sources of pollution 9
Rural population 9
Urban population and industrial wastes 9
Hydrometric studios 12
Estimates of daily discharge at sampling points 12
Time of flow studies 15
Survey to determine mean cross-sectional areas 15
Field work 15
Computing the mean section areas 16
Gage height correlations 18
Sampling methods and laboratory procedures 22
Sampling 22
Chemical analyses 23
Bacteriological analyses 25
Preparation of glassware and sterilization 25
Culture media 25
Plate count 25
Determination of coliform index 26
Presentation of chemical and bacteriological results 28
Temperatures 39
Bacteriological results 42
Corrections for tributary inflow 49
Comparison of bacterial changes with those of previous surveys- - 49
Results of chemical analyses 51
Hydrogen ion concentration 52
Alkalinity 52
Suspended solids 52
Biochemical oxygen demand 55
Inverse correlation of temperature and B. O. D. reduction 59
(1) Progressive second stage oxidation in the B. O. D. test 59
(2) Sedimentation 62
(3) Other possibilities 63
Dissolved oxygen studies 64
Reaeration 68
Effect of changes in sewage treatment at Columbus upon the Scioto as
indicated by chemical and bacteriological tests 75
Columbus sewage treatment 75
Comparison of river conditions during the three periods 76
Dissolved oxygen 78
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VI
Page
Plankton studies 80
Technique 80
Status of certain plankton organisms as indicators 85
Possible effects of different treatment of Columbus sewage ._ 90
The volume of plankton _ 91
Plankton volume relative to river conditions 96
Discussion 96
St udies of bottom organisms and sediments, _ 1 100
Character of a stream, its channel and sediments . 100
Physical factors _ _ 100
Sources of sediments 101
Changes in character of a stream due to the advent of man 103
Significance of the bottom sediments. _. 105
Outstanding studies of bottom sediments 107
Sludge worms.. 109
Other bottom forms and their apparent reaction relative to
sewage pollution 111
Scioto river study 114
Sampling 114
Laboratory methods and examinations 116
Apparent grouping of worms in the Scioto River 118
Tabulated data 121
Presentation of data station by stat ion 123
Columbus 124
Shadeville 127
Commercial Point 128
South Bloomfield 130
Kellenberger Bridge 131
Chillicothe 133
Lucasville 134
Discussion 137
Tubificid worms as indicators of sewage pollution 141
Summary of bottom sediment studies 143
Bibliography 144
Appendix I 147
LIST OF FIGURES
Nd Page
1. Map of Scioto watershed showing principal tributaries and sampling
points 4
2. Profile of Scioto River from Columbus south to the mouth 5
3. Scioto River upstream from Circleville 6
4. Scioto River south of South Bloomfield Bridge 6
5. Mean cross section of river channel between Columbus and Red Bridge- 7
6. Darby Creek 8
7. Rural and urban pollution on the Scioto watershed 9
8. Scioto River downstream from Circleville sampling point (33) 10
9. Scioto upstream from Shadeville 14
10. Plan of two typical sections of Scioto River showing methods of survey-
ing 17
11. Velocity at varying discharge in the Shadeville to Red Bridge stretch. 19
12. Comparison of methods of computing gage height correlations 21
13. Asst. Chemist O. R. Placak making D. 0. determinations in the B. 0. D.
test 22
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VII
No. Page
14. Asst. Bacteriologist Wm. E. Burns making the 37° plate count 23
15. Sampling procedure 24
16. Distribution of daily river temperatures at Shadeville 40
17. Comparison of daily river temperatures at Shadeville with running
averages of the preceding 5 and 7 day mean air temperatures at
Columbus - 41
18. Profile showing the rates of decrease of the arithmetic averages of
coliform bacteria at 9.9° C. and below in the .078-0.216 c. f. s. per
square mile discharge range 43
19. Profile showing the rates of decrease of the geometric averages of
coliform bacteria at 9.9° C. and below in the 0.078-0.216 c. f. s. per
square mile discharge range 44
20. Profile showing the rates of decrease of the arithmetic averages of 37° C.
count bacteria at 20° C. and above in the 0.217-0.431 c. f. s. per
square mile discharge range 45
21. Profile showing the rates of decrease of the arithmetic averages of
coliform bacteria at 10° C.-19.90 C. in the 0.432-1.234 c. f. s. per
square mile discharge range 46
22. Rates of decrease of bacteria in the Scioto River between Shadeville and
Red Bridge compared with those in the Ohio and Illinois Rivers 50
23. Relation between alkalinity and flow in the Scioto River below
Chillicothe 53
24. Relation between suspended solids and flow in the Scioto River 54
25. Plot of arithmetic averages of B. O. D. results in thousands of pounds
of 5-day B. O. D. per day. Including all temperature ranges in the
0.078-0.216 c. f. s. per square mile discharge range 56
26. Illustration of method of compositing long time B. O. D. results to
obtain deoxygenation constants 61
27. Dissolved oxygen profiles on the Scioto River. All temperatures in
the discharge range 0.078-0.216 c. f. s. per sq. mile 65
28. Dissolved oxygen profiles on the Scioto River. All temperatures in the
discharge range 0.217-0.431 c. f. s. per sq. mile 66
29. Dissolved oxygen profiles on the Scioto River. All temperatures in the
discharge range 0.432-1.234 c. f. s. per sq. mile 67
30. Calculated maximum reaeration rates (r0) in the Scioto River between
Shadeville and Commercial Point 70
31. Calculated maximum reaeration rates (r0) in the Scioto River between
Commercial Point and South Bloomfield 71
32. Calculated maximum reaeration rates (r0) in the Scioto River between
South Bloomfield and Red Bridge 72
33. The average numbers of Cryptomonas at each station during the three
periods of sewage treatment 88
34. The average numbers of Chrysococcus at each station during the three
periods of sewage treatment 89
35. Zooplankton in parts pec million by volume at each station during low
flows for the three temperature ranges 97
36. Phytoplankton in parts per million by volume at each station during
low flows for the three temperature ranges 98
37. Strainer used in the washing of bottom sediment samples 116
38. Average weekly discharge in c. f. s. at Chillicothe throughout the
survey 140
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VIII
LIST OF TABLES
No. Page
I. Principal tributaries of the Scioto 8
II. Equivalent populations tributary to the stream above
sampling points 10
III. Location of sampling points, gages and tributaries 13
IV. Mean discharges, by months, at sampling points for days on
which samples were collected 14
V. Equivalent discharges at several sampling stations 29
SUMMARY OP ANALYSES TABLES
VI. Upstream stations, period 1, discharge 0-0.077 e. f. s. per sq.
mile 29
VII. Upstream stations, period 1, discharge 0.078-0.216 c. f. s. per
sq. mile 30
VIII. Upstream stations, period 1, discharge 0.217-0.431 c. f. s. per
sq. mile 31
IX. Upstream stations, period 1, discharge 0.432-1.234 c. f. s. per
sq. mile 31
X. Upstream stations, period 1, discharge 1.235 and above c. f. s.
per sq. mile 32
XI. Upstream stations, period 2, discharge 0-0.077 c. f. s. per sq.
mile 32
XII. Upstream stations, period 2, discharge 0.078-0.216 c. f. s. per
sq. mile 33
XIII. Upstream stations, period 2, discharge 0.217-0.431 c. f. s. per
sq. mile 33
XIV. Upstream stations, period 2, discharge 0.432-1.234 c. f. s. per
sq. mile 34
XV. Upstream stations, period 2, discharge 1.235 and above c. f. s.
per sq. mile 34
XVI. Upstream stations, period 3, discharge 0-0.077 c. f. s. per sq,
mile 35
XVII. Upstream stations, period 3, discharge 0.078-0.216 c. f. s. per
sq. mile 35
XVIII. Upstream stations, period 3, discharge 0.217-0.431 c. f. s. per
sq. mile 36
XIX. Upstream stations, period 3, discharge 0.432-1.234 c. f. s. per
sq. mile 36
XX. Upstream stations, period 3, discharge 1.235 and above c. f. s.
per sq. mile 37
XXI. Downstream stations, discharge 0.078-0.216 and 0.217-0.431
c. f. s. per sq. mile 37
XXII. Downstream stations, discharge 0.432-1.234 and 1.235 and
above c. f. s. per sq. mile 38
XXIII. K values defining the rates of bacterial decrease for the stretch,
Shadeville to Red Bridge 47
XXIV. Least square determination of "K" values defining the rate
of decrease of biochemical oxygen demand in the Scioto
River 57
XXV. Values of K for river water samples at four stations as de-
rived from long time B. O. D. determinations 60
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No. Page
XXVI. B. O. D. at stations between Columbus and Shadeville for
two periods in November; 1938 63
XXVII. Calculated maximum reaeration rates (r0) in three stretches
of the upper Scioto River based on three assumed rates of
satisfaction of the mean biochemical oxygen demand
present 69
XXVIII. Adjusted "K" values based on actual B. O. D. decreases in
the Shadeville to Red Bridge stretch 73
XXIX. Percentage of bacteria and B. O. D. present in the Shadeville
to Red Bridge stretch in the second and third periods com-
pared to the first period 77
XXX. The numbers of samples taken from the Seioto River and cer-
tain tributaries during each period of operation of the
Columbus sewage treatment plant, the spatial distribution
of 51 groups, genera or species of plankton and the number
of samples in which they occurred 81
XXXI. The averaged volume, in p. p. m., of plankton at Commercial
Point for three temperature and five flow ranges 94
XXXII. Location of averaged maximum volumes of zooplankton and
phytoplarikton according to three temperature and five
flow ranges 95
XXXIII. Sludge worms per liter of bottom sediment at three stations
in the polluted portion of the Scioto River 118
XXXIV. Bottom sediments of the Scioto River and average content of
organisms per liter of sample 121
XXXV. Collecting stations for bottom sediment samples, Scioto
River 122
XXXVI. Summary of Scioto River bottom sediments, Columbus (3)_- 124
XXXVII. Summary of Scioto River bottom sediments, Shadeville (13)- 126
XXXVIII. Summary of Scioto River bottom sediments, Commercial
Point (17) 128
XXXIX. Summary of Scioto River bottom sediments, South Bloom-
field (23) 129
XL. Summary of Scioto River bottom sediments, Kellenberger
Bridge (46) 130
XLI. Summary of Scioto River bottom sediments, Chillicothe (61) _ 132
XLII. Summary of Scioto River bottom sediments, Lucasville (115). 134
XLIII. Number of samples showing index organisms 137
APPENDIX I
Page
1. Nitrogen determinations on monthly composites, Columbus 148
2. Nitrogen determinations on monthly composites, Shadeville 149
3. Nitrogen determinations on monthly composites, Red Bridge 149
4. Nitrogen determinations on monthly composites, Chillicothe 150
5. Nitrogen determinations on monthly composites, Lucasville 151
6. Mean quantity units of nitrogen present for each period of Columbus
Sewage Treatment Plant operation 152
7. Percent nitrogen oxides 152
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ABSTRACT
Hydrometric, bacteriological, chemical, plankton, and bottom sedi-
ment studies were made of the Scioto River for 115 river miles below
Columbus, Ohio, during a period of 30 months, involving three types
of sewage treatment at Columbus, the point of heaviest pollution of
the Scioto. These periods were: first, 10 months' treatment, over-
loaded trickling filter; second, 8 months' treatment, plain sedimenta-
tion; and third, 12 months' treatment, activated sludge.
Times of flow were determined for the stretch of river between
Shadeville and Red Bridge 8 and 25 miles, respectively, below the
point of entrance of Columbus sewage effluent. Cross sections of
the river channel, with soundings at low water, were made and the
mean velocity determined from the discharge and mean river cross
sectional area.
The bacteriological and chemical data were grouped according to
three temperature and five discharge ranges and in addition, for the
upper half of the river, the three periods of varying pollution at
Columbus. Rates of decrease of bacteria in the river were linear
when plotted on semilog paper in the Shadeville-Red Bridge stretch
and, roughly so, at low stages downstream. At progressively higher
discharges, rates of bacterial decrease were less in the relatively less
polluted, lower half of the stream. Rates of bacterial decrease were
greater at higher temperatures and were in the approximate range of
previously observed rates on the Ohio and Illinois rivers.
Rates of biochemical oxygen demand decrease in the Shadeville to
Red Bridge stretch were greater at low than at high temperatures and
a number of factors which may have contributed to this unusual result
are discussed. Dissolved oxygen profiles at the different temperature
and flow ranges, and periods of varying pollution, form a nicely gradu-
ated set of oxygen sag curves. An extensive series of reaeration
calculations are presented but the computed values for maximum
atmospheric reaeration rates were quite variable.
Both the chemical and bacteriological data indicated that pollu-
tion in the Shadeville to Red Bridge stretch during the second period
(of sewage treatment at Columbus) was much greater than would
be expected considering the relative amounts of biochemical oxygen
demand discharged at Columbus during the first and second periods.
Pollution in this stretch during the third period was relatively about
the same as during the first as indicated roughly by the data available.
Neither the plankton nor bottom sediments reflected conclusively the
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changes in amount of pollution at Columbus resulting from changes
in type of sewage treatment.
The Scioto proved to be highly productive of plankton algae and
protozoa, exceeding both in the variety of species and in total plank-
ton volume that of previously reported streams. The use of entire
groups of organisms as indicators of pollution was found to be falla-
cious but certain individual species were sufficiently selective of
environment to enable their use as indicators of the presence or
absence of pollution.
Bottom sediments form a stable record of the average quality of
water in the stream during the period of their formation. A careful
examination of the physical properties and biological content of such
sediments gives a reasonably accurate picture of average stream con-
ditions. The composite picture obtained from such an examination
must be used, however, inasmuch as certain factors, such as the trans-
portation of egg capsules downstream, will result in the temporary
presence of small numbers of foul water organisms in a clean water
environment.
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A STUDY OF THE POLLUTION AND NATURAL PURIFICA-
TION OF THE SCIOTO RIVER
INTRODUCTION
This survey of the Scioto River is the fifth of a series of extensive
investigations made by the Stream Pollution Investigations Station
of the processes of natural purification in polluted waters, previous
surveys having been made of the Ohio, Illinois, and upper Missis-
sippi Rivers and of southern Lake Michigan. The survey was under-
taken to obtain definite measurements of the transformations occur-
ring in a stream following major changes in the intensity of pollution
and to obtain data on the rates of natural purification in a smaller
stream.
The section of the Scioto studied was 115 stream miles beginning at
Columbus, Ohio, at the junction of the Scioto and Olentangy Rivers
and extending down to Lucasville, Ohio, 16 miles above the point
where the Scioto empties into the Ohio River. This is roughly the
lower two-thirds of the Scioto River.
As originally planned, the river was to be observed for a year
prior to and a year following the change in sewage treatment from an
overloaded trickling filter to activated sludge at Columbus, Ohio, the
point of heaviest pollution received by the Scioto. The survey was
started in February 1937, and 10 months' observations were obtained
before the first change in sewage treatment at Columbus. During
the following 8 months Columbus sewage was treated in a newly
constructed plant by plain sedimentation only, resulting in a more
intense pollution than during the first period. A year's observations
ending in July 1939, were obtained after activated sludge treatment
was started at Columbus but on numerous occasions during this year
difficulties with the sludge concentrating mechanism at the Columbus
plant necessitated the discharge of sludge into the river. If possible,
it is planned later to study the river below Columbus during a period
when the Columbus plant is operating efficiently.
In analyzing the large mass of data accumulated during the 30
months of the survey, the results have, in general, been summarized
according to stream discharge and temperature ranges rather than by
monthly averages.
The biological examinations made during this survey are somewhat
more extensive than in the previous surveys made at this station, a
complete set of samples usually being examined weekly.
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The United States Geological Survey District offices at Columbus,
Ohio, under District Engineer C. V. Youngquist, furnished the dis-
charge measurements used in the hydrometric studies.
The survey is also greatly indebted to the city of Chillicothe and
to Mr. C. S. Houser, Superintendent of the Chillicothe Sewage Treat-
ment Plant, for their generous cooperation in furnishing laboratory
space and facilities.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE RIVER AND ITS WATERSHED
WATERSHED
The Scioto River, a tributary of the Ohio River, drains an area
of 6,510 square miles, roughly rectangular in shape, located in the
south central part of the State of Ohio. As seen in figure 1, the water-
shed extends in a narrow band about 50 miles wide for a distance
of 130 miles north from the Ohio River. It is bounded principally
by the Miami and Little Miami watersheds on the west, the Muskin-
gum and Hocking watersheds on the cast, all of which are tributary
to the Ohio River, and on the north by the Sandusky watershed
which drains into Lake Erie.
The area north of Chillicothe is glaciated and generally level to
gently rolling in character forming an extensive agricultural region.
The southern part of the basin is unglaciated and rugged in character
with steep slopes of shale and soft sandstone which give rapid rates of
run-off.
In the extreme northern part of the watershed above Prospect
the slope of the rock underlying the glacial drift is toward the north
so that an indetermininate portion of the ground water in this region
drains northward toward Lake Erie.
The valley proper averages about 12 miles in width below Columbus
and forms a very fertile and rich agricultural region. It is subject
to floods and is protected in many places by systems of levees which
have not in general been maintained since the extensive damage
suffered during the 1913 flood. Remains of the old Ohio and Lake
Erie Canal are visible throughout the length of the valley, but they
do not affect the river except to form minor channels during floods.
The river below Chillicothe lies in a preglacial valley which has been
filled with glacial outwash to a depth of 100-250 feet, forming an
extensive reservoir for underground water.
CHARACTER OF THE RIVER
In common with most streams of its size or smaller, the Scioto
is characterized by flashy rises, but flood levels are generally mini-
mized by the long narrow shape of the watershed.
The profile of the Scioto is rather erratic in that it has a fairly low
slope in its upper reaches, averaging slightly under 2 feet per mile
for the first 60 miles. For the next 40 miles, the stretch immediately
above Columbus, the river flows through a limestone gorge with a
(3)
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U5 Public Health Service
Stream Pollution Investigations Sfe
FIGURE K MAP OF SCIOTO WATERSHED SHOWING PRINCIPAL. TRIBUTARIES AND
SAMPLING POINTS. THE LATTER ARE NUMBERED ACCORDING TO MIUEAGE
BELOW JUNCTION OF SCIOTO AND OLENTANGY RIVERS.
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FIGURE 2. PROFILE OF SCIOTO RIVER FROM COLUMBUS SOUTH TO THE MOUTH.
DATA DOWNSTREAM FROM CIRCLEVILLE OBTAINED FROM ALVORD AND BUR-
DICK'S REPORT OF FLOOD RELIEF TO THE FRANKLIN COUNTY CONSERVANCY
DISTRICT.
200664—il-
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drop of about 5 feel per mile. Below Columbus, as can be seen in
figure 2, the slope is rather uniform and averages about 1.6 feet per
mile. From Columbus to Chillicothe, the Scioto at low water forms
a series of pools and riffles (figures 3 and 4) usually with gravel
bottoms except in a few of the larger pools where occasionally a mud
bottom is encountered. Below Chillicothe there is a general tendency
for the river bottom and alluvial deposits to become more sandy in
character. In addition, there are, during the period of this survey,
sewage sludge deposits immediately below the points of heaviest *
pollution. *
Figure 5 is a mean cross section of the river between Columbus and
Red Bridge, sampling point (30). The average width of the Scioto at
low water is 178 feet, the average cross sectional area 513 square feet,
thus giving a mean depth of 2.9 feet. Banks along the main channel
of the river as observed during a survey of this section average from
6-12 feet in height and are in general covered with a growth of under-
brush and trees. Low water in the channel as illustrated in figure
5 corresponds to a discharge of 90 c. f. s. below Columbus, of which
60 c. f. s. is Columbus sewage effluent or a dilution of %: 1 for Columbus
effluent. A 7-foot rise in the river, approximately filling the channel
as shown, would correspond roughly to discharges of about 7,000
c. f. s. below Columbus, giving a dilution of over 100 : 1 for Columbus
effluent.
River flows are altered below Columbus by Griggs and O'Shaugh-
nessy Dams, built by the City of Columbus to provide storage for
water supply purposes. These dams are located 10 and 17 miles
above the city and impound 1.5 and 5.4 billion gallons respectively.
Sufficient water is released into the river from these reservoirs to
maintain an adequate water supply in the waterworks intake pool
cieated by a low water dam located in the city of Columbus. Return
of this water to the stream in the form of sewage effluent provides a
minimum flow in the river of about 60 c. f. s. with very little dilution "*
during prolonged dry periods, the only dilution being flow from the
Olentangy River. This condition is general during the late summer
and fall and extends over longer periods during prolonged drought. 1
The reservoirs also tend to reduce river discharges at downstream
points during the periods when they are filling.
TRIBUTARIES
In the vicinity of Columbus the Scioto receives the discharge from
two tributaries, the Olentangy and Big Walnut, which approximately
double its watershed area of 1,076 square miles above Columbus. Both
of these tributaries enter from the east and both drain areas north of
Columbus. Between Columbus and Chillicothe, excepting Big Walnut
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FIGURE 3.—Scioto Eiver upstream from Circleville. Picture taken from the Circle\ illc (33) sampling point
at low water (estimated discharge 381 c f. s.).
FiGtKi 4.—Scioto River south of South Bloomfleld Bridge. This photograph, taken at low water (esti-
mated dischaigc 223 c. f. s.) shows one of the fmiuent islands covered with underbrush
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FIGURE 5. MEAN CROSS SECTION OF THE RIVER CHANNEL BETWEEN COLUMBUS
AND RED BRIDGE.
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and Walnut Creeks, the latter having a drainage area of 281 square
miles, no major tributaries enter from the east as the Scioto swings to
the eastern side of its watershed. Two major tributaries, Darby
Creek and Deer Creek, enter from the west, however, and the largest
tributary, Paint Creek, with a drainage area of 1,143 square miles,
enters just below Chillicothe. Salt Creek, which enters the Scioto
from the east 16 miles below Chillicothe, is the only other tributary of
note. A lis* of tributaries of the Scioto is given in table I.
Table I.—Principal tributaries of the Scioto River
Tributary
Big Walnut Creek .--
Walnut Creek
Salt Creek
Mile'
0
15
26
32
47
68
80
103
120
Drainage
area
1 076
536
B57
281
557
408
1 143
553
145
273
Percent of
total Scioto
watershed
16 5
8 2
8 6
4 3
8 6
6 3
17 6
8 5
2 2
4 2
Enters
Scioto
from —
East
East
East
West
West
West
East
West.
West
1 River miles below junction of Scioto and Olentangy.
Figure 6 is a photograph of Darby Creek showing the general nature
of the tributaries, rapidly flowing clear streams with gravel bottoms.
Excepting Paint Creek, all tributaries below Columbus are relatively
unpolluted at their point of discharge into the Scioto.
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FKHHE (i -Dai by Circk
rhotupiaph of Daiby deck upstiram horn its sampling point, a covered
\\oodrn hi idffo (in ()!no liotite Xo. 101
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DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION AND SOURCES OF POLLUTION
BUBAL POPULATION
In studying the distribution of population on the Scioto watershed,
the population as of April 1, 1938, approximately the midpoint of the
survey, was computed by applying an arithmetic rate of increase or
decrease to the 1930 census based on the changes occurring between
the 1920 and 1930 censuses. Populations were divided into urban or
rural depending on the existence of a central sewer system. In
allocating the rural population of a county which lies in more than one
drainage basin, a uniform distribution of population was assumed to
exist and the percentage of the area, or population, within the water-
shed was determined by planimcter. The average rural populations,
expressed as persons per square mile, are given in figure 7 for the
major tributaries and for the remaining sections of the watershed trib-
utary to the river between sampling points. These average popu-
lations per square mile are shown in parentheses immediately below
the designation of each tributary, or below numbers indicating the
areas directly tributary to the river between the sampling points
represented by those numbers. Sampling point numbers represent
river mileage below the junction of the Scioto and Olentangy Rivers.
The rural areas most densely populated lie immediately below Co-
lumbus with a small area tributary to Shadeville sampling station (13)
having 95 persons per square mile and another, tributary to Com-
mercial Point sampling station (17), having 73.4 persons per square
mile. Big Walnut and Walnut Creek basins have 57.2 and 53.3
persons respectively per square mile. The remainder of the Scioto
watershed varies from 30.3 per square mile for the Salt Creek Basin
to 40.8 on Darby Creek Basin, with the areas directly tributary to the
river all having about 40 pez'sons per square mile.
URBAN POPULATION AND INDUSTRIAL WASTES
The concentrated sources of pollution on the Scioto watershed,
sewage and industrial wastes, are also shown on figure 7. These
sources are indicated by circles, the area of the circle being propor-
tional to the estimated pollution load, in population equivalents of
biochemical oxygen demand (B. 0. D.), at that point. In deriving
the population equivalents for sewage and industrial wastes, most of
the data were obtained from the joint survey of the Ohio River Basin
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being made at present by the U. S. Public Health Service and U. S.
Army Corps of Engineers, and the constant used in these figures was
0.167 Ibs. of 5-day B. O. D. per person per d&y. Sewered populations,
or the estimated population equivalents of the raw sewage or indus-
trial wastes are shown by the larger circles in figure 7 and the popula-
tion equivalents of wastes polluting the stream arc shown in black,
sectors of circles indicating the percentage of time which intermittent
or seasonal wastes, usually from canneries, are discharged to the stream.
No distinction was made between domestic sewage and industrial
wastes in computing the pollutional loads on the Scioto and its
tributaries.
Both the rural population and the population equivalents of pollut-
ing substances arc given in table II, which summarizes the data shown
Table II.—Equivalent populations tributary to the stream between
sampling points
Sampling point and
its mileage below
junction of Scioto
and Olentangy
(3) Qreenlawn Ave.
Columbus.
(13) Shadeville
(17) Commercial Pt-
(23) South Bloom-
field.
(30) Ked Bridge
(33) Circleville
(35) Pennsylvania
E. K. bridge.
(46) Kellenberger
Bridge.
(61) Bridge St. Chil-
licothe.
(67) Kilgore Bridge..
(76) Higby
(92) Waverly
(115) Lucasville
Tributary designation
Scioto River, Above Mile 3
Scioto River, Miles 3-13
Scioto River, Miles 13-17
Big Walnut Creek
Scioto River, Miles 17-23
Scioto River, Miles 23-30
Walnut Creek
Scioto River. Miles 30-33 ...
Darby Creek
Scioto River, Miles 33-35 . „ .
Scioto River, Miles 35-46
Scioto River, Miles 46-61
Scioto River, Miles 61-67
Scioto River. Miles 67-76
Paint Creek..
Scioto Kiver, Miles 76-92
Salt Creek _. .
Scioto River, Miles 92-115
Sunfish Creek
Rural population
Total
62,500
7.200
1,400
31,900
1.600
1,690
15, 000
923
22, 700
161
5,300
3,600
13,600
600
5,000
37, 000
2,280
16, 450
11,000
4, 650
Per
square
mile
89
95
73
57
40
39
53
40
41
40
41
40
33
40
40
32
34
30
39
32
Population
equiva-
lents urban
sewage
12, 200
i(37
540
1,140
1,330
4,600
5,300
270
8,900
6,810
2,690
Population
equiva-
lents indus-
trial wastes
1,000
000)
875
16, 100
12,500
100, 000
200
42, 100
1,100
1 Based on complete treatment (90% removal at Columbus).
on figure 7 into areas tributary to the various river sampling points,
the major tributary basins, however, being carried separately from
that directly tributary to the Scioto, itself. In computing the amounts
removed by treatment, where actual figures were not available, plain
sedimentation was assumed to remove 40 percent of the 5-day B. O. D.,
complete treatment with trickling filters 85 percent, and complete
treatment with activated sludge or sand filters 90 percent of the
5-day B. O. D. Pollution at Columbus, in both figure 7 and table II,
was based on complete treatment with activated sludge, although the
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FIGURE 8.—Scioto Kiver downstioam from Circloville sampling point (33). Pollution from cannery wnstes
is visible as a light-colored patch between the two piers on the right. The smokestack and water tower
are at the strawboard plant, also a heavy contributor of pollution At the extreme right of the picture is
located the new sewage and industrial waste-treatment plant of Circleville, under construction at the
time of this photograph.
-------
-------
11
actual amount of pollution discharged at this point varied widely
during the survey.
The three major sources of pollution on the Scioto are the Columbus,
Circleville, and Chillicothe areas. Chemical treatment has been
provided in the Circleville area for both sewage and industrial wastes,
but treatment of the industrial wastes, which constitute by far the
major portion of the pollution load at that point, had not been started
by July 1939.
Figure 8 shows the pollution of the Scioto from Circleville wastes.
This picture was taken downstream from sampling point 33 on August
12, 1938. Domestic sewage is treated at Chillicothe, but there is still
a heavy industrial waste load discharged, untreated, into Paint Creek.
-------
HYDROMETRIC STUDIES
As in previous surveys on the Ohio (1) (#)/ Illinois (3), and Mis-
sissippi (4) Rivers, the hydrometric studies were made along two lines:
(a) An estimate of the daily discharge at each sampling point and,
from these, the average discharge at that point during a month or
other period being studied. These are necessary to obtain quanti-
tative estimates with respect to the river as a whole.
(b) Estimates of the times of flow with varying gage heights in
that section of river between the Columbus main sewer outlet and Red
Bridge, this being the section where the pollution is most intense and
where the greater part of natural purification occurs. Estimates of
the time of flow are necessary since these previous surveys and other
studies have shown natural purification processes to be dependent
upon time of flow rather than river distances.
As in the Ohio, Illinois, and Mississippi River studies, sampling
points, tributaries, and gaging stations were designated by their
distance in miles from a given point, in this case the distance below
the junction of the Scioto and Olentangy Rivers in the City of Colum-
bus. Mileages were determined by scaling along the axis of the river
channel as shown on the U. S. Geological Survey maps, which had a
scale of 1:62,500. Sampling station designations indicate the nearest
unit of mileage. In table III are given the mileages of each of the
sampling points, the sampling point designations, the locations of the
various gaging stations, and the points of confluence and drainage areas
of the principal tributaries.
In the determination of the drainage areas, those shown in table III
as drainage areas above influent tributaries and the drainage areas
of the tributaries were taken from a bulletin by C. E. Sherman (5).
The drainage areas at sampling points and at other points not given
in Mr. Sherman's bulletin were obtained by tracing out the drainage
divides and planimetering the residual drainage areas on U. S. Geologi-
cal Survey topographic maps, which was also the method used by
Mr. Sherman. The drainage areas thus obtained were checked by
summation downstream.
ESTIMATES OF DAILY DISCHARGES AT SAMPLING POINTS
The U. S. Geological Survey maintains three of the four main river
gaging stations. These are the recording gages at Columbus, Chilli-
cothe and Higby. A fourth recording gage, located at Red Bridge,
1 Numbers in italics in parentheses refer to titles in Bibliography on pp. 144-146.
(12)
-------
.13
2.3 miles above Circleville, was maintained partly by tlie U. S. Geologi-
cal Survey and, for a period, by the U. S. Public Health Service. This
latter was also true of the gage on Big Walnut Creek at Rees while
gages on Deer Creek, Darby Creek, Paint Creek, and Salt Creek were
maintained during the latter part of the survey by the U. S. Geological
Survey with funds made available by the U. S. Army, Corps of
Engineers, but records are not complete during the period of the survey
for the tributary gages.
Table III.—Location of sampling points, gages, and tributaries
Basis of com-
puting daily
discharge
0 9975 a
1 044 a
a+0 291 b
a+0 309 b
a+0. 455 b
a+0.716 b
a+0.717 b
a+0 776 b
e
1 004 e
d
1 121 d
1.201 d
Mile-
age
0
3 0
5. 1
5 1
5.4
12 5
15 3
17. 1
23 1
26 4
30 3
31 6
32 6
32 8
34 6
45 9
47 3
61 4
61 5
6-4 4
67 2
6S 1
75 7
80 0
92 0
115. 4
130 6
Point
Junction Scioto and Olentangy
New Columbus sewer outfall
Shadeville Bridge
Big Walnut Creek
South Bloomfield Bridge
Walnut Creek
Red Bridge Gage
Bridge Street, Chillicothe
ChillicothoGago..
Chillicothe Sewer outlet
Hi<"by Bridge Gage
Silt Creek
Surfish'Creek
Sampling
station
designation
3
13
17
23
30
33
35
46
61
67
76
92
115
Drainage
area above
point,
square
miles
1,613
1 620
1,624
1,696
1,708
2,271
2 311
2,323
2,635
2,636
3,215
3,219
3, 34»
3, 351
3 847
3,847
3, 862
3, 864
5 129
5 133
5, 749
5, 933
fi, 175
6 510
Drainage
area of
tributary,
square
miles
557
281
S57
408
t, M3
553
145
Elevation
zero of
gage
680.4
644.4
594. 02
567 635
a = Discharge at Columbus gage.
b = Discharge at Chillicothp gage less discharge at Columbus gage.
c —Discharge at Cbilhcothe gage.
d = Discharge at Higby gage.
The basis for estimates of daily discharge at the various main river
sampling points are given in table III. Daily discharges at Columbus
(3) and Shadeville (13) sampling points are based on the discharge at
Columbus assuming a uniform run-off per square mile drainage area.
From Commercial Point (17) downstream to Kellenberger Bridge (46)
the increase in discharge between the Columbus and Chillicothe gages
was distributed according to the increase in drainage area at the
sampling points. The discharge at Kilgore Bridge (67) was based on
the Chillicothe gage and that at Waverly (92) and Lucasville (115) on
the Higby gage, assuming a uniform run-off per square mile. The
Higby gage did not go into operation until March 15, 1937, so for the
first 1% months of the survey the discharges at all stations below
Chillicothe were based on the Chillicothe gage.
-------
(14
Table IV gives the monthly average of daily discharges at all sam-
pling points for the days on which samples were collected. These have
been divided into three periods according to the method of treatment
of Columbus sewage as follows:
Table IV.—Mean discharges, by months, at sampling points for days on
which samples were collected
PERIOD I. FEBRUARY 3 TO NOVEMBER 30, 1937
Month
Sampling point
3 .
13
17_ _ ..
23
30
33
35
46
61
67
76
92
115
Feb.
Mar.
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Mean Discharge— c. f. s.
1,760
1,840
2,670
3,140
3, 670
3,820
4,850
8, C70
8,690
1,040
1,090
1,440
1,660
2,010
2,010
2,480
2,530
3,500
3,850
4,130
2,100
2,200
2,760
3,940
3,120
3,720
3,720
4,480
4,490
5,590
6,270
6,730
676
707
1,080
1,100
1,500
1,910
1,880
2,040
2,160
2,170
3,130
3,510
3,7/0
3,490
3,660
4,130
4,180
4,490
5,060
4,010
5,280
7,280
9,460
9,740
10,900
11, 700
1,930
2,020
2,760
2,810
3,220
3, 960
3,960
3,440
4,300
3,100
4,850
5,430
5,840
391
409
549
559
638
779
779
920
1,320
1,320
2,070
2,320
2,490
144
151
254
281
346
414
415
537
485
487
931
1,040
1,120
2S4
266
322
343
376
420
420
382
515
516
822
920
989
107
112
183
187
225
293
293
309
368
369
510
571
614
PERIOD II. DECEMBER 1, 1937, TO JULY 16, 1938
Month
Sampling point
3
13, .. .
17
23
30
33
35 .
46
61
67
76 .
92
115
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
April
May
June
July
Mean Discharge— c. f. s.
1,150
1,210
1, 550
1,580
1,830
2,130
2, 050
2,280
2,920
2,920
3,820
4, 280
4,600
588
615
927
948
1,120
1,420
1,420
1,590
1, 530
1,530
2,340
2, 620
2,820
2,650
2,770
3,720
4,080
4,500
5,750
5,940
6, 570
7,380
7,420
9,320
10, 400
11, 200
4,430
4,620
3,970
6,320
9,210
7,970
8,810
10,800
11,900
11,900
17, 300
19, 400
20, 900
4,390
4, 590
1,320
6,010
4,510
4,430
8,150
6,560
4,760
4,770
6,720
7,540
8,100
771
809
1,390
1, 550
1,920
2,570
2,580
2,630
3,830
3,860
7,600
8,620
9,140
582
609
999
1,020
1,230
1,600
1,600
1,610
1,360
1,720
1,990
2,760
2,960
951
994
1,260
1,280
1,440
1,720
1,720
1,780
1,440
2,160
PERIOD III. JULY IB, 1938, TO JULY 24, 1939
Month
Sampling
point
3
13
17.. .. .
23
30
33 . .
35 .
46
61
67
76 .
92
115
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
April
May
June
July
Mean Discharge— c. f. s.
191
199
381
393
488
658
659
668
816
820
1, 74C
1,960
2,100
660
691
1,000
1,020
1,200
1, 500
1,510
1,360
2,450
2, 460
4,030
4,530
4,860
220
231
485
502
634
871
872
846
1,100
1,100
1,430
1,600
1,720
105
110
190
195
237
313
313
333
391
393
519
582
624
145
152
271
278
342
454
454
505
547
548
770
863
926
233
243
376
385
457
585
586
622
697
699
996
1,120
1,200
646
677
845
858
957
1,130
1,130
1.460
2,770
2,780
4,180
4, 690
5,040
3,060
3,190
4,640
4, 750
5,53C
6,960
6,970
7,790
12, 900
13,0(10
19, 4CO
21, 700
23, SCO
5,090
5,330
6,100
6,160
6,660
7, 560
7,560
8, SCO
9,540
9,580
11,800
13, SCO
14, 200
3,480
3, 650
5,480
5,590
6, S80
8,360
8, 370
6,860
10, 2CO
10, 200
15, 2CO
11,200
12,000
392
410
663
680
816
1,060
1,060
1,180
1,430
1,440
2,37C
2,660
2,860
2,680
2,800
3,370
3,410
3, 74C
4,360
4,360
3,170
6,160
6,190
6,970
7,820
8,390
931
974
1,290
1,310
1,490
1,810
1,810
1,510
2,240
2,250
2, 570
2,880
3,090
-------
FIGURE 9.—Scioto upstteam from Shadeville. Pie-lines taken upstieam lioni the Shadeville Budsie, above.
Apnl 10, 1M38, when the ri\ ei was in flood with a dischai^e of about Hi,000 second-teet, and helow, at low-
water on >.ugust 20, 1()3^, with an estimated disehaitu' ol H)s second-(cet. TIio island viMblo in the Itm er
picture is entirely ra\e'ed hvfloo 1 watci in the uppi'i
-------
-------
115
Period I.—February 1937 to November 30, 1937—treatment in the
old Columbus plant—overloaded trickling filters.
Period II.—December 1,1937, to July 15,1938-—primary sedimenta-
tion in new Columbus plant.
Period III.—July 16, 1938, to July 24, 1939—activated sludge
treatment at Columbus, but with periodic discharge of sludge to the
river.
In Figure 9 comparative views are shown of the Scioto upstream
from Shadeville Bridge in flood stage, with an estimated discharge of
16,000 c. f. s., and at low water, with an estimated discharge of 108
c. f. s.
TIME OF FLOW STUDIES
As the decrease in biochemical oxygen demand and bacterial
purification rates have been shown to be a function of time, it is
essential that a reasonably accurate estimate be made of the time
of flow between sampling points at various stages of the river in order
to be able to determine the rates at which natural purification is being
accomplished and in order to properly compare the rates obtained with
those obtained in other surveys.
As in the previously mentioned surveys on the Ohio, Illinois, and
Mississippi Rivers, the time of flow was determined by first computing
the mean velocity in a sriven section of the river by means of the
• rr Q
equation V=—
where Q=the mean discharge in cubic feet per second,
V— the velocity in leet per second,
.4 = the mean cross sectional area of the stream in square feet.
In these previous surveys there have been available contour maps of
the river with soundings at low water prepared by the U. S. Engineers
office of the War Department. As these maps were not available for
the Scioto River, it was necessary to survey the river to determine the
mean cross sectional area for the sections between sampling points.
Survey to. determine mean cross sectional areas.—The funds available
did not permit a survey of the complete length of river being studied
and the upper portion, between Columbus Sewage Treatment Plant
and Red Bridge, above Circleville, a section 25.2 river miles in length,
was chosen as being the section where a survey was most desirable.
The survey was also limited by time and funds to the channels which
would be utilized by a rise of about 10 feet in the river, it being con-
sidered that the additional time required to cross section the entire
valley was unwarranted in view of the decreasing importance of pollu-
tion of the river at higher stages.
Field work.—A line of levels was run up the river from the U. S.
Geological Survey bench mark at Circleville to the U. S. Geological
-------
16
Survey river gage at Columbus. At each point where a cross section
was desired temporary bench marks, usually consisting of a nail in a
tree, and a stake, were set. Sixty-six such points were chosen, each
representing fairly average conditions for a short stretch of the river.
A compass and stadia traverse was then run down the river, locating
the river channel, the cross section points and sampling points. A
total of 67 cross sections were made in the 25 miles distance. At
each cross section point, the river banks and additional channels were
cross sectioned by stadia at right angles to the axis of the stream and
soundings were made of the stream bed with a sounding line from a
boat. In making the soundings, stadia shots were taken at the water's
edge on each side of the stream, thus giving the stream width and the
soundings taken at estimated tenths of ths stream's width. Measure-
ment of the distance of these soundings by stadia or tape hardly
seemed justified and it is believed that estimating the distances by
tenths of the known river width was more accurate than an estimate of
the distance in feet. For soundings quite close to the river bank
actual measurement, or an accurate estimate of the distance in feet
was desirable and presented no difficulty. It was necessary in a few
instances to sound by wading.
In carrying the traverse down river, the surveying party consisted
of three men, an instrumentman, rodman and boatman. Work was
facilitated by keeping the instrument on one bank of the river and
making diagonal shots to the stadia rod on the other side. This
usually gave clear shots and avoided the necessity of cutting paths
through the high weeds and brush which covered much of the river
banks. This method also gave a good definition of the river channel.
In order to avoid transferring the instrument across the stream
repeatedly, it was necessary to use compass bearings, which were
sufficiently accurate for this sort of survey. One short stretch of
the river was surveyed by azimuth and stadia and in Figure 10 a
plan is shown of two sections of the river, one surveyed by each of
these methods.
Computing the mean section areas.—In determining the mean
section areas, the stadia traverse was first plotted and a plan of the
river channel drawn. The centerline of the river was next drawn
in and the distances down river scaled, locating sampling points and
cross sections along this centerline. The cross sections were then
plotted and a low water profile established from the water surface
elevations at the cross sections, beginning and ending at the correlated
gage heights at Columbus and Red Bridge respectively. Water
surface elevations at a number of stations had been taken while run-
ning the level line upstream and as the field work was done during
late summer and fall while river flows were low excepting one small
rise, the establishment of a low water profile presented no difficulties.
-------
17
FIGURE 10. PLAN OF Two TYPICAL SECTIONS OF THE SCIOTO SHOWING METHODS
OF SURVEYING.
-------
18
The low water profile as thus established formed a series of short
reaches of varying slope which, over the whole stretch from Columbus
to Red Bridge, did not greatly deviate from the average slope of the
river between these two gages. In the absence of intermediate
gages and any other practical means of determining the water surface
curve at higher stages a uniform slope between the two gages was
assumed at an arbitrarily high stage and, at intermediate stages, the
rise between low water and the assumed uniform slope at high stage
was taken as proportional to the rise at the gages.
In determining the mean section areas, the cross sections were
plotted and the low water section areas determined by planimetering.
For each 2 feet above low water, the additional section area was then
determined by scaling the mean river width and adding this to the
lower section area, a process of graphical integration. The average
section areas for these various stages were then determined for each
reach, or river section of uniform low water gradient, and plotted
against the elevations of the mid point of that reach, the individual
section areas being weighted by the river distance each section
covered. From the curves thus constructed, the average section
areas were obtained at the estimated rise at this mid point, under
the assumed conditions for intermediate stages. The river discharges
at these stages were then estimated and a mean velocity for each
reach was obtained, from which the time of flow was determined.
Figure 11 is a curve showing the mean velocity in miles per hour
between Columbus and Red Bridge as determined by the survey.
This chart is for varying discharge in cubic feet per second per square
mile of drainage area.
GAGE HEIGHT CORRELATIONS
In the previous studies on the Ohio, Illinois, and Mississippi Rivers
gage height correlations were obtained by plotting the gage height
at a station against the gage height for that same date at the station
to be correlated, a mean curve being drawn through the series of
points thus obtained. A method involving less work, though more
limited in its application, is given by Thomas (6). In this method a
uniform run-off per square mile is assumed throughout the drainage
area. On this basis a series of equivalent discharges can be computed
for the two gages under consideration and their corresponding stages
taken directly from the rating table. However, being based on a
uniform run-off throughout the drainage area, the method would be
of questionable application on large rivers with widely varying
rainfall and run-off characteristics or on rivers where there was appre-
ciable regulation of the stream flow by storage or diversion. Figure
12 shows, as dots, the corresponding daily gage heights at the Red
-------
19
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4
•3}
§
Ci-
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I
<6
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6
-SE
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-------
20
Bridge and Columbus gages and a plot of the gage height correla-
tions as determined from their respective rating tables assuming a uni-
form run-off per square mile of drainage area. It will be noted that
either method gives substantially the same curve.
Where the mean annual run-off per square mile at different gaging
stations varies appreciably, a gage height correlation curve could be
obtained by computing equivalent discharges at each gaging station
weighted by the mean annual run-off for that station.
-------
21
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-------
SAMPLING METHODS AND LABORATORY PROCEDURES
The laboratory for the study of the Scioto River was established,
through the courtesy of the city of Chillicothe, in the sewage treat-
ment plant of that city. This arrangement had several advantages;
the plant is located about midway between the extreme sampling
points, it is near Paint Creek, a tributary receiving the wastes from
two paper mills located in the city of Chillicothe, it was an ideal
situation for measuring the pollution contributed by the city of
Chillicothe and in addition was the nearest feasible site to the main
laboratory at Cincinnati.
The control laboratory room of the Chillicothe sewage treatment
plant was utilized for making the chemical tests on the survey, while
the bacteriological equipment was set up on a balcony over the
pump room. A portion of these laboratories can be seen in figures
13 and 14.
SAMPLING
There were 13 regular sampling points on the Scioto River and 1
on Paint Creek, covering a 115-mile stretch of the river from Columbus
to Lucasville. Additional points were included or deleted as the need
was indicated, but the 14 original points were sampled with regularity
throughout the survey. These points were selected for the purpose
of including the major sources of pollution and of dilution. Samples
were collected daily, except Sundays. All regular samples were
collected from conveniently located highway or railway bridges, in
midchannel. Originally the sample collector made alternate up and
down stream trips. When it became apparent that the upstream
samples were of much greater significance, sampling downstream was
decreased to 1 or 2 days a week. The tributaries were sampled at
regular intervals, though less frequently. In addition to the stream
samples, 24-hour composite samples from the Chillicothe plant were
analyzed every other day. Intermittent samples were analyzed from
the sewage treatment plant at Columbus, from the United States
Industrial Reformatory, equipped with a septic tank, and the two
paper mills located at Chillicothe and from the straw board plant
and the sewage treatment plant at Circleville.
Sampling methods were checked by changing the time of collection,
by cross sectioning the stream at a given sampling point both laterally
and vertically and by sampling hourly throughout a 24-hour period
at one sampling point. When a particular stretch of the stream seemed
(22)
-------
13.—Asst Chemist O R. Plarak making IX 0. determinations in the B 0 D. test.
-------
FIGURE 14.—Asst. Bacteriologist William E. Burns making the 37° plate count.
-------
23
to be of especial interest, a period of intensive sampling was instituted
at that section, samples being taken by wading, if necessary.
Automobile transportation was used in the collection of samples.
The average time between collection and delivery at the laboratory
was about 2 hours. During warm weather the samples were iced
while being transported. At the time of collection, the sample col-
lector recorded the date, place, time, and water temperature on a
standard form. Space was also provided on this form for any remarks
which might seem pertinent, such as the appearance of the river,
whether it was in pool, etc. Sample collection is illustrated in
figure 15, a photograph of the sampling equipment used.
All samples were collected with a standard sampling can, tho
construction and use of which is described in Public Health Bulletin
No. 171 (3), page 58. Using this sampling can, two D. O. bottles of
300 ml. capacity and a bacteriological sample bottle were filled, the
sample in the D. O. bottles having been displaced several times
through tubes extending to the bottom of the bottle. The contents
of the sampling can were placed in a gallon jug for chemical analysis.
Samples of water and of mud were collected for biological exami-
nation, the latter through the use of a mud dredge. These samples
were cither examined at Chillicothe or were preserved with formal-
dehyde and shipped to the Cincinnati laboratory for examination.
CHEMICAL ANALYSES
The chemical methods used in tho study of the Scioto River were
those described in Standard Methods, unless otherwise stated. Daily
determinations were made on all samples for hydrogen ion concentra-
tion (pH), methyl orange alkalinity, suspended solids, dissolved oxygen
and 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (B. O. D.). A B. O. D. series
was also incubated on one sample, in rotation, to study the course
of the deoxygenation curve. This series consisted of samples to be
analyzed after 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 20, and 25 days incubation.
pH.—pH was determined colorimetrically using the Sanitary
District of Chicago's (S. D. C.) portable kit.
Dissolved oxygen.—As nitrites were always present in the Scioto River,
the Rideal-Stcwart modification of the Winkler procedure was adopted
as routine practice. This procedure gave good results except in the
presence of suspensions of river muds (7) and on certain samples from
Paint Creek. Tho samples from Paint Creek contained not only an
appreciable nitrite content, but also considerable organic material
from the wastes of two paper mills. On these samples a "Short
Winkler" treatment gave better results. The "Short Winkler"
method consists of the addition of 2 ml. of each of the Winkler reagents,
shaking for 20 seconds, acidification of the sample without waiting
for the precipitate to settle followed by immediate titration. During
-------
24
the latter part of the survey, the sodium azide modification (8) for
the destruction of nitrites was also used in dissolved oxygen determi-
nations. Results obtained by this method were in close agreement
with those obtained by the Rideal-Stewart modification (9). The
azide method, also, gave more nearly correct results than the Rideal-
Stewart modification on Paint Creek samples. While these two mod-
ifications were compared on duplicate samples, only the figures
obtained by the Rideal-Stewart procedure were used for statistical
purposes
Biochemical oxygen demand.—Procedures for determining 5-day
B. O. D. were essentially the same as Standard Methods. Occasion-
ally the samples were found to be supersaturated with respect to
oxygen due to low temperatures or to heavy algae growths. In such
instances, the samples were warmed slightly if necessary to 25°-30° C.,
shaken vigorously to remove the excess oxygen and cooled to 20° C.
Due to the high organic content of the river, dilutions were often
necessary, usually 50 percent but occasionally as low as 10 percent.
Where dilutions were made a synthetic phosphate buffer dilution
water containing small amounts of CaCl2, MgSO4 and FeCl3 was used.
A complete description of this one-quarter strength "Formula C"
dilution water may be found in Supplement No. 90 to the Public
Health Reports (1931).
Nitrogen determinations.—Samples, by stations, were composited for
a period of 1 month and were preserved with 2,000 p. p. m. of H2SO4,
the total amount of acid being added in the beginning. These com-
posite samples were shipped to the laboratory at Cincinnati where
determinations were made for ammonia, nitrates, and organic nitro-
gen. Free ammonia was determined by direct nesslerization. In the
analysis of nitrites and nitrates Standard Methods was followed with
the exception that the acid preserved sample was neutralized to a
pH of 8-9 and clarified with alumina. The Kjeldahl nitrogen was de-
termined and the organic nitrogen obtained by difference. When it
seemed that these determinations were of special significance, am-
monia, nitrite, and nitrate determinations were made on fresh samples
at the Chillicothe laboratory.
Various other determinations were made intermittently, using
standard proceduies. Occasional tests were made for iron and for free
CO2. The possibility of sulphites in Paint Creek was investigated but
none were found. Chloride determinations were made several times
at Shadeville in an effort to check the stream time of flow data but it
was found that the concentration present in the stream was insuf-
ficient to give well defined maximum points.
-------
FIOOKE 15.—Sampling procedure. Mud dredge at extreme left, gallon bottle for B. O. D. and chemical
samples. Sample Collector T. A. Fcatherslon taking temperature of water in sampling can after having
first removed D. O. and bacteriological sample bottles (visible on running board of car) from the sampling
can. "
-------
-------
25
ANALYSES
Bacteriological examinations made consisted of: (1) Determination
of the total number of bacteria which developed on nutrient agar in
24 hours at 37° C., (2) Determination of the coliform index as shown
by the results of fermentation tests, using lactose broth for the pre-
sumptive test and brilliant green bile lactose broth for partial con-
firmation, (3) The completed test as given in Standard Methods (1936)
was made on one sample from each series of samples collected, rotating
the station selected for the completed test in progressive order, to
serve as a check on the routine partial confirmation made on all
samples, and (4) A special study was made to compare the results
obtained with the Standard Methods procedure for the determination
of the coliform index with the direct count of the coliform organisms
using brilliant green lactose bile agar as the plating medium,
Preparation of glassware and sterilization. — Wide-mouthed ground-
glass stoppered bottles of 250 ml. capacity were used in collecting the
bacteriological samples. A strip of paper was placed under the stopper
to prevent binding and the stopper and bottle neck covered with lead
foil. The entire bottle was protected with wrapping paper and steril-
ized. Pipettes were plugged and placed in cans, then sterilized. Petri
dishes were sterilized in special containers. Sterilization was carried
out by baking in hot air for 2 hours after the temperature had reached
170° C. Sterilization of dilution water and all media was in the
autoclave at 121° C. (15 Ibs.) for 15 minutes.
Culture media. — For routine examination, four kinds of culture
media were used — nutrient agar, En do's agar, lactose broth, and bril-
liant green bile broth. Brilliant green lactose bile agar was used in
the special investigation. All media used were from dehydrated stock
and careful checks for sterility were maintained throughout the survey.
Phosphate buffer dilution water was used, each bottle containing
99ml.
Plate count. — The method as outlined in Standard Methods, 8th
Edition (1936) was essentially the one used in the survey. Two
plates were planted with sufficient amount of the sample to give
between 25 and 400 colonies per plate. An effort was made to use
dilutions which would approximate 200 colonies. A third plate was
used in which one-tenth or ten times the amount of the sample uti-
lized in the duplicate was included. In those instances when the
conditions of the stream were in doubt both dilutions, viz., one on
either side of the duplicate plates, were used. The samples were
planted by using 1.0 or 0.1 ml. portions of the sample direct or by
making the necessary dilution. One ml. pipettes graduated to 0.1 ml.
were used and dilutions for smaller amounts of the sample were made
by adding 1 ml. of the previous dilution to 99 ml. of sterile dilution
-------
26
water. Incubation was in the inverted position at 37° C. for 24 hours.
The colonies which developed were counted over a special illumi-
nated counting device and the standard reading lens used. In re-
cording the results, the following rules were adopted:
1. When the duplicate plates in a series of three gave more than
25, and less than 400 colonies per plate, the third plate was omitted
from the average unless it fell between the other two.
2. Where the duplicate plates both showed too many or too few
colonies, only the third plate was considered in the average result.
3. Where one of the duplicate plates showed spreaders, clumping,
etc., thus giving an obviously erroneous count it was disregarded in
recording the average result.
4. When one of the duplicate plates came within the prescribed
limits and the other showed too many or too few colonies, both plates
were either included in or excluded from the average as follows, except
as indicated under 3: (a) where the average of the two duplicate
plates fell within the limits, both were included in the average; and
(b) when the average of the two fell outside the limits, both were
excluded.
5. When more than one set of duplicate plates was made, equal
authority was given to each set, providing the number of colonies on
the plate fell within the prescribed limits.
In recording results only the first three figures were considered as
significant.
Determination of coliform index.—The partially confirmed test as
obtained with brilliant green bile broth was employed in the determi-
nation of the coliform index of the samples. For the presumptive
test, lactose broth, in Durham fermentation tubes, was used as speci-
fied in Standard Methods, 8th Edition (1936). Three portions of each
dilution of the sample were planted in lactose broth tubes in three or
more decimal dilutions. These dilutions were selected, if possible, so
that the lowest dilution would show gas production hi all portions,
and the highest no gas production.
At the end of 24 hours incubation at 37° C. the tubes were exam-
ined and transfers made to brilliant green bile lactose broth of all
tubes from the highest dilution which showed gas in any amount.
At the same time a transfer was also made to brilliant green bile
lactose broth from any other tube of the lower dilutions of the series
in which gas production of less than 10 percent was noted. A stand-
ard 3 mm. fused platinum loop was used in making these transfers.
At the end of 48 hours incubation the presumptive tubes were reex-
amined and transfers made to brilliant green bile lactose broth from
any gas containing tubes which had failed to show gas at the 24 hour
period. Gas production, in any amount, in brilliant green bile
lactose broth after 24 or 48 hours incubation was considered as evi-
-------
27
dence of the presence of coliform organisms. The tables as compiled
by Hoskins (10) were used for the estimation of the most probable
numbers of coliform organisms present in the sample.
The completed test as outlined in Standard Methods was used as
a check on the routine partially confirmed results. In progressive
rotation one sample from each set collected was carried through the
completed test and the same presumptive tubes which were partially
confirmed were completed. A small amount of material from the
presumptive tube to be tested was streaked on an Endo plate with
a platinum needle. After incubation at 37° C. for 24 hours, a positive
or suspicious colony was fished to lactose broth and incubated for
24 or 48 hours and if gas was produced a second Endo plate was
streaked and the plate incubated. Typical and atypical colonies
were fished to agar slants and after incubation a smear made from
the growth and stained by Gram's method. The stained smear
was then examined for Gram's reaction, purity, and spores.
-------
PRESENTATION OF CHEMICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL RESULTS
Previous studies of the natural purification processes in streams
have shown that the two major factors in stream purification are: (1)
time of flow, and (2) temperature. In summarizing the data for
this study, it was decided, therefore, to group all laboratory results
at each station on the main river into three temperature classifica-
tions, 9.9° C. and below, 10° C. to 19.9° C., and 20° C. and above.
To obtain uniformity of stream data with regard to times of flow, the
data at each station were further separated into arbitrary groups of
stream flow based on a uniform discharge per square mile of drainage
area tributary to the sampling station. Results from sampling
stations above Chillicothe were further subdivided into three periods
according to the varying pollution loads introduced at Columbus as
follows: Period 1, February 1937 through November 1937, Columbus
sewage treated by overloaded trickling filters; Period 2, December
1937 to July 15, 1938, treatment by plain sedimentation only, at
Columbus; and Period 3, July 16, 1938 to the end of the survey,
July 24, 1939, Columbus sewage treated by activated sludge process
but with the occasional discharge of some excess sludge into the
river. The results from the Chillicothe sampling station (61) and
from all other stations downstream were summarized according to
temperature and time of flow for the entire period of the survey.
This was justifiable because no changes occurred in the contributed
wastes or in the methods of their disposal in this section and the effect
of Columbus sewage on this stretch of the river was very slight in
comparison with the increments of pollution at both Chillicothe and
Circleville. Moreover, there were too few sets of downstream samples
analyzed to obtain satisfactory averages had they been divided
further into the three periods of varying pollution at Columbus.
The concept to be obtained, therefore, from this arrangement of
the data is the average condition of the river, according to the
various analyses, at constant temperature and at uniform, steady
flow throughout its length. The arbitrary limits chosen for the
divisions in the times of flow were selected to provide for a uniform
distribution of samples into each of the various groups. Some idea of
the ranges can be obtained from the following table, No. V, which
gives the equivalent discharge at several stations for the various
range limits.
(28)
-------
29
Table V.—Equivalent discharges at several sampling stations
[c. f. s. per square mile
Columbus (3)
Cireleville (33)
Chillicothe (61)
Lucasville (115)
0.077
c.f.s.
125
248
297
470
0.216
C.f.s.
350
694
832
1,330
0.431
c. f. 8.
700
1,380
1,660
2,660
1.234
c.f.s.
2 000
3 960
4 750
7,620
Analyses at Columbus (3) taken when the estimated discharge at
that sampling point was between 700 and 2,000 c. f. s. would, therefore,
be placed in the same group as samples taken at Lucasville when the
river had an estimated discharge of 2,660 to 7,620 c. f. s., or between
0.431 and 1.234 c. f. s. per square mile. Due to progressively higher
minimum flows in the river as you go downstream, the number of
samples included in the group 0.0 to 0.077 c. f. s. per square mile
tended to decrease progressively, there being 110 recorded discharges
in this range below Cireleville.
The highest discharge range, 1.234 c. f. s. and above per square
mile includes all flood discharges. Inclusion of flood discharges tends
to limit the usefulness of this group and to make the averages much
more variable than those in the lower ranges. However, as 1.234
c. f. s. per square mile represents flows of about 20 times normal low
water, those higher flows are of relatively little importance in con-
sidering conditions of pollution. The discharge range limit of 1.234
c. f. s. per square mile represents a rise in the Scioto River of about
3 to 4 feet above normal low water.
In the following 17 tables, tables VI to XXII, the arithmetic
averages of all observations made on the Scioto River are presented,
grouped according to discharge and temperature for the 1st, 2d, and
3d periods for upstream stations and for the entire survey for stations
below Chillicothe.
Table VI.—Summary of analyses, upstream stations, period 1: discharge
0-0.077 c. f. s. per square mile. Arithmetic averages
Station temperature
range °C.
Columbus:
9.9 and below
10-19.9
20 and over
Shadeville:
°.9 and below
10-199
20 and over
Commercial Point:
9.9 and below
10-19.9 .,
20 and over
Num-
ber of
sam-
ples
17
25
1
16
26
1
4
12
»
Dis-
charge
c. f. s.
per
square
mile
0.063
.061
.064
.062
.062
.064
.075
.073
.073
Tem-
pera-
ture
C.
5.8
15.4
20.0
7.0
15.0
20.5
6.0
16.4
21. S
Sus-
pended
solids
p.p.m.
17.3
24.0
2fi.O
1C. 3
8.3
8.0
17.8
10.0
11.0
Alka-
linity
p. p. m.
189
178
178
230
230
236
237
240
244
pH
7.9
7.9
7.5
7.4
7.5
7.5
7 5
7.7
7 7
D. O.
p.p.m.
10.21
5.72
5.13
.88
.39
.00
2.20
1.31
.66
5-day
B.O.D.
p.p.m.
3.07
4.00
4.69
21.30
16.29
14 96
12.57
7 68
6.11
Bacteria/ml.
37° C.
count
10, 100
291, 000
278,000
583, 000
1, 870, 000
2, 190, 000
122, 000
635, 000
656. 000
Coli-
form
852
1,240
430
41, 700
30, 000
15, 000
14, 600
7,120
2.270
-------
30
Table VI.—Summary of analyses, upstream stations, period 1: discharge
0-0.077 c. f. s. per square mile. Arithmetic averages—Continued
Station temperature
range "C.
South Bloomfield:
9.9 and below
10-19.9
20 and over
Eed Bridge:
09 and below
lfl-19.9 -
20 and over
Circleville:
10-19.9
Pennsylvania Railroad
bridge:
9 9 and below -
10-18 9
20 and over
Kcllenbereer:
10-19.9
20 and over
Num-
ber of
sam-
ples
3
7
5
0
4
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Dis-
charge
e. f. s.
per
square
mile
.076
.0(57
.074
.078
.077
Tem-
pera-
ture
C.
4.8
15.4
21.5
12 6
20.0
Sus-
pended
solids
p. p. in.
10.7
8.3
5.8
20.2
20.0
Alka-
linity
p. p.m.
244
245
267
254
258
PH
7.6
7.7
7.8
7.8
7.9
D. 0.
p. p.m.
3.25
2.35
1.85
4.54
3.38
5-day
B. O.D
p. p.m.
6.23
4.62
5.50
3 74
3.40
Bacteria/ml.
37° C.
count
1.750
107, 000
101, 000
44, 100
52, 700
Coli-
form
199
119
35
313
93
Table VII.—Summary of analyses, upstream stations, period 1: Discharge
0.078-0.216 c. f. s. per sguare mile. Arithmetic averages
Station temperature
range °C.
Columbus:
9.9 and below
IO-I9.9
20 and over
Shadevillc-
9.9 and below
10-19.9
20 and over
Commerchl Point:
9.9 and below
10-19.9
South Bloomfield:
9.9 and below
10-19.9
20 and over
Red Bridge.
9.9 and below
10-19.9
20 and over
Circlevillc:
9.9 and below
10-199
20 and over
Pennsylvania Railroad
bridge:
9.9 and below
10-19.9.
Kellenberger:
9.9 and below
10-19.9
20 and over
Num-
ber of
sam-
ples
2
7
21
2
7
20
6
19
16
8
18
15
14
24
17
14
36
17
16
34
16
10
15
11
Dis-
charge
c. f. s.
per
square
mile
0.090
.137
.140
.127
.124
.143
.086
.099
.132
.085
.100
.136
.084
.098
.134
.087
.096
.140
.093
.096
.142
.092
.100
.149
Tem-
pera-
ture
C.
9 0
11 9
22.7
9 5
12.9
23.9
7.8
13.3
25.4
8.1
13.8
25.4
6.5
13.2
24.2
6.3
14.1
24.2
6.3
14.3
24.4
6.2
13.7
24.6
Sus-
oended
solids
p. p.m.
36.5
53.8
23. 0
14.5
13. G
15.2
15.8
8.7
10.7
12.3
8.5
10.5
8.3
20 0
43.0
9.8
34.8
51.9
13.9
30 8
47.8
9.0
28.0
34.0
Alka-
linity
p. p.m.
200
200
165
212
223
206
2S7
236
212
241
233
211
255
242
222
258
247
226
260
252
233
268
255
229
pH
8.3
8.1
8.2
7.7
7 5
7.6
7 fi
7.7
7.7
7.7
7.7
7.8
7 7
7.8
7.8
7.7
7.9
7.9
7.7
7.8
7.0
7.7
7.8
7.8
D. 0.
p. p.m.
9.69
9.21
6.32
4.02
1.73
.42
2.09
4.34
1.80
2.17
2.94
2.16
4.76
4.70
3.93
6 32
5.85
5.10
5.89
4.19
3.30
4.47
4.22
2.66
5-day
B.O.D.
p. p.m.
2.55
4.12
3.24
6.53
13 28
8.67
12 78
8.78
4.79
9.95
6.15
4.04
4.82
5.09
4.17
3.47
4.72
4.41
9 91
11.40
8.95
7.59
6.09
4.38
Bacteria/ml.
37" C.
count
8.580
280, 000
132,000
256, 000
2, 070. 000
3, 660, 000
103,000
322. 000
997, 000
104,000
299. 000
192,000
52, 400
69, 600
71, 400
28,200
38, 200
50, 700
180, 400
2, ISO, 000
2, 060, 000
29, 100
245, 000
193, 000
Coli-
form
167
3,800
371
5,120
23,100
21, 200
9,570
19, 500
3,430
23, 100
10,900
85
5,320
1,190
116
1,090
407
92
2,763
14,500
1,720
528
2,640
92
-------
31
Table VIII.—Summary of analyses, upstream stations, period 1: Discharge
0.217-0.431 c. f. s. per square mile. Arithmetic averages
Station temperature
range, °C.
Columbus.
9.9 and below
10-199
Shadevjlle.
99 and below
10-19.9
20 and over _„
Commercial Point:
9.9 and below
10-199,
20 and over__. ..
South Blonmfield:
10-19.9
20 and over
Red Bridge:
9.9 and below
10-19.9 _
20 and over
Circlcvillo:
9 9 and below
10-199.
20 and over .
Pennsylvania Railroad
bridge:
9 9 and below.
10-19.9
20 and over...
Kellenbersrer:
9 9 and below
10-19.9
20 and over . .
Num-
ber of
sam-
ples
7
7
13
7
7
13
5
4
18
0
4
18
3
5
10
3
4
10
3
4
17
0
0
12
Dis-
charge,
c. f. s.
per
square
mile
0. 338
.375
.298
.337
.370
.298
.380
.405
.312
.404
.314
.378
.389
.315
.384
.350
.331
.377
. 355
.333
.355
Tem-
pera-
ture,
"C.
50
15 2
24.9
5 4
14.8
23 8
0.7
14.9
24.0
14.8
24 0
0.7
13.9
24.3
6.2
11.9
24 1
6 2
32 0
24.3
23.7
Sus-
pended
solids
p. p.m.
48.4
25.0
20 5
45.4
24.0
30 0
18.4
31.8
33.5
20.8
38.8
9 3
28.0
58.0
13 3
29 8
73 3
22.0
27 3
90.0
55.0
Alka-
linity
p. p.m.
149
158
151
167
173
174
179
178
181
isi
181
188
196
184
204
203
198
200
214
202
203
pH
8,1
8 1
8.3
7 6
7 6
7.6
7.7
7.7
7.7
7.7
7.7
7.8
7.8
7.7
7.9
7.9
7.8
8.0
7.9
7.9
7.9
D. 0.
p. p. in.
12. 68
9. 68
7.15
7.82
2.78
1.05
7.96
3.52
2.22
3.94
2.31
8.32
4.97
2.81
9.10
5.18
3. 87
8 49
5.68
3.49
3.80
5-rtay
B.O.D.
p.p. m.
2.79
2 30
2.52
12.48
7.61
0 04
C 74
7.84
3.78
0 82
3.38
5.45
4.16
3.20
3.25
5. 50
3.58
6 76
7.29
8.08
4.26
Bacteria/ml.
37° C.
count
12, 800
7,480
38, 300
57, 000
90, 500
2, 140, 000
25, SCO
508, 000
553, 000
68. 200
210,000
11,900
42, 000
125, 000
8,380
48, 200
113, 000
39, 200
539. 000
520, 000
226, 000
Coli-
form
22
48.1
169
5, 050
3.320
13, 800
1,760
13, 900
915
718
323
;43o
244
218
417
394
189
MO
1,370
1,000
127
Table IX.—Summary of analyses, upstream stations, period 1: Discharge
0.432-1.234 c. f. s. per square mile. Arithmetic averages
Station temperature
range, °C.
Columbus:
9 9 and below
10-19.9
20 and over
Snadeville
9 9 and below.
10-19.9
20 and over -
Commercial Point:
9 9 and below.
10-199.
South Bloomfleld:
9.9 and below
10-19.9.
Red Bridge-
9.9 and below.
. 10-1!) 9
Cirdevjlle:
9 9 and below.
10-19 9
20 and over
Pennsylvania Railroad
bridge:
9 9 and below
10-19.9.
20 and over
Kcllenberger:
9 9 and below
10-19.9
20 and over
Num-
ber of
sam-
ples
10
9
9
10
9
10
13
12
12
0
10
12
14
12
14
16
12
15
14
13
14
0
8
10
Dis-
charge,
c. f. s.
per
square
mile
0. 705
. 073
.756
.703
.672
.723
. 767
.559
.779
.558
.782
.735
.555
.745
.718
502
.777
.705
.587
.799
.600
.738
Tem-
pera-
lure,
°C.
5.1
12.5
23.2
5.4
12.2
22.6
5.9
13 0
22.7
14.1
22.6
0.0
14.0
22.8
6.5
15.0
22.8
6.5
14.6
22.8
10.8
23.6
Sus-
pended
solids
p. p.m.
73.0
59.0
58.1
73.3
02 0
60 8
70 5
44 8
95.2
48 3
154.0
91.0
48.0
35.2
80.8
45.5
302.0
73 0
52.8
351 0
41.0
170.0
Alkd-
Imi.y
p. p.m.
140
154
128
151
101
153
159
102
146
165
151
166
169
154
181
183
169
184
184
107
189
210
pH
8.0
8.3
7.9
7.7
7.7
7.5
7.7
7.7
7 6
7.8
7.6
7.8
7.7
7.6
7.9
7.8
7.8
7.9
7.9
7.8
7.8
7 R
D. O.
p. p.m.
12.68
10.11
7.55
10.07
5.40
2.26
9.77
5.42
3.25
5. OS
3 02
9.20
5.48
3.60
9.53
0.14
4.30
9.45
0.45
4.27
5.61
4.98
5-day
B.O.D.
p. p.m.
2.94
2.29
1.86
8.55
10 28
6.29
6. 60
6 70
4.00
4.31
3.76
4.25
3.57
3.52
3.49
3.53
3.59
5.11
5.28
4.89
4.25
4.38
Bacteria/ml.
37° C.
count
IB, 700
12, 400
29, 100
45. 300
422. 000
1, 940, 000
31,000
72, 100
S97, 000
54, 100
942, 000
30, 800
60, 500
366, 000
21.700
17,400
236, 000
22, 400
35, 900
358, 000
29, 400
240. 000
Coli-
form
15.6
23.4
147
3,590
6, 890
7,370
3.120
1,2'iO
2,920
H84
2,090
1, 070
276
1,320
515
198
811
648
234
970
174
685
-------
32
Table X.—Summary of analyses, upstream stations, period 1: Discharge
1.235 c. f. s. per square mile and above. Arithmetic averages
Station temperature
range °C.
Columbus:
9.9 and below. _
10-19.9
20 and over .
Shadeville:
9.9 and below
10-19.9
20 and over
Commercial Point:
9.9 and below
10-19.9
20 and over
South Bloomfleld:
9.9 and below
10-199
20 and over
Red Bridge:
9.9 and below .
10-19.9
20 and over _
Circloville:
9.9 and below
10-19.9
20 and over_ _
Pennsylvania Rail-
road bridsre:
9.9 and below
10-19.9
20 and over
Kellenbergcr:
9 9 and below
10-19.9
20 and over _ . __
Num-
ber of
sam-
ples
4
3
10
4
3
10
2
3
9
0
3
9
3
4
9
3
4
8
3
4
7
0
1
8
Dis-
charge
c. f. s.
per
square
mile
1.51
2.93
4.22
1 51
2.94
4.23
1.57
2 80
3.93
2.79
3.90
1.43
2.39
3.71
1.40
2.36
3.79
1 40
2.36
3.50
1.34
3.10
Tem-
pera-
ture
°C.
5 6
13 8
23.0
5 5
13.5
22.9
3 3
13.7
23 2
14.0
23.1
3 0
14.2
23.5
4.0
14 0
23.4
4.2
13 1
23.6
15.0
23.5
Sus-
pended
solids
p. p.m.
78
150
245
108
165
308
158
166
234
168
282
149
180
276
160
191
297
168
204
393
146
477
Alka-
linity
p. p.m.
144
103
111
151
136
119
140
121
115
121
113
141
122
116
150
132
115
154
135
125
144
130
PH
8.0
8 0
7.8
7.9
7.9
7.7
7.8
7 8
7.6
7.9
7.6
7.7
7.8
7.6
7.7
7.8
7.7
7.7
7.8
7. 7
7.8
7.7
D. O.
p. p. m.
12.72
10 12
7.22
11 19
9.01
4 90
11 95
8 81
4.84
8 40
4 42
11.34
7.41
4.35
11.09
7.80
4.89
11.27
7.88
4.77
7.58
4.50
5-day
B.O.D.
p. p.m.
1.88
2 97
2.73
6 65
5.89
5.09
5 84
4 99
3.97
5 23
3.68
6 03
4.04
3.51
5 38
4.65
3.43
5.65
4.98
3.86
3.76
4.20
Bacteria/ml.
37° C.
count
13,400
12, 800
70, SOO
62,700
41,100
422, 000
68, 700
50, 900
346, 000
4!>, 300
414,000
46, 600
51, 100
227, 000
35, 300
60, 200
284, 000
38. 900
56. 000
309, 000
28. 000
236. 000
Coli-
form
61.3
204
724
3,820
1, 930
1,660
1.170
1,810
1,560
1,380
2,760
1,870
830
2,010
1,750
1,860
1,330
1,320
1, 730
1,640
2,400
830
Table XI.—Summary of analyses, upstream stations, period 2: Discharge
0-0.077 c. f. s. per square mile. Arithmetic averages
Station temperature
range °C.
Columbus:
9 9 and below
10-19 9
Shadovillc:
9 9 and below
10-19 9
Commercial Point:
9.9 and below
10-19 9
South Bloomfleld:
9 9 and below
10-19 9
Red Biidge-
9 9 and below
10-199
Circleville:
9.9 and below
10-19 9
Pennsylvania Rail-
road bridge:
9.9 and below
10 19 9
Kellenbergcr
9 9 and below
10-199
Num-
ber of
sam-
ples
6
0
0
6
0
0
4
0
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Dis-
charge
c. f. s.
per
square
mile
0. 055
.055
.073
.074
Tem-
pera-
tiu c
°C.
0 6
1.3
2.5
1 5
Sus-
pended
solids
p. p. m.
6.5
30.8
23.5
17.5
Alka-
linity
p. p.m.
201
238
252
253
pn
7.8
7.4
7.5
7.5
D. O.
p.p. m.
12.27
0.00
0.10
1.11
5-day
B.O.D.
p.p. m.
2 43
63. 88
25.50
22.04
Bacteria/ml.
37° C,
count
1,520
504, 000
184, 000
179, 000
Con-
form
106
52, 700
56, 500
42, 400
-------
33
Table XII.—Summary of analyses, upstream stations, period 2: Discharge
0.078-0.216 c. f. s. per square mile. Arithmetic average
Station temperature
range °C.
Columbus:
10-199
20 and over.. _ ..
Siiadeville:
1()-19 9
20 and over
Commercial Point:
9.9 and below
10-19 9
20 and o\or
South Bloomfliild:
9.9 and below
10-19 9
20 and over _
Eed Bridge:
9 9 and below
10-19.9 __
20 and over.
CirclevjJle:
9 9 and below
10-199
20 and over
Pennsylvania Rail-
road 'bridge
9.9 and below
10-19 9
Kellenbeiger
10-19.9
20 and over
Num-
ber of
sam-
ples
16
7
16
9
5
15
6
2
15
S
3
17
2
15
3
2
15
3
2
8
1
2
Dis-
charge
c. f. s.
pei-
squarc
mile
0.139
.141
.164
.139
. 150
.158
.144
.183
.161
. 145
.182
.177
.128
. 199
.179
.122
.212
. 197
. 122
.212
.197
.117
.210
.200
Tem-
pera-
ture
°C.
2 3
16 4
22.1
3.9
16.6
21.6
4.7
17.7
24.5
4.7
17.fi
23.0
2.8
17.2
23.8
2.2
15 5
23 8
2 0
16,2
24.3
]. I
16 0
21 0
Sus
pended
solids
p.p. m.
12 0
19 7
22.8
20.8
27.0
23.0
14.2
17.2
11 5
10 2
14 4
18.3
14 0
16 2
43.0
8 6
23.0
48.5
13 3
30 0
38.5
]5 9
21 0
22.0
Alka-
linity
p. p.m.
181
1K1
174
208
219
207
225
223
203
1
215
248
210
220
?57
241
261
253
228
270
254
232
pH
7 9
8.1
8.2
7.5
7 5
7. 5
7. 5
7 6
7.7
7.5
:;
77
?:?
7.8
;•!
"
7.9
7 7
D. O.
p. p.m.
12 29
8 91
7.73
3 04
0.00
. 22
3.14
.20
.80
2.84
1.09
.92
4.44
2.65
2 49
5 71
4 79
3 84
5 64
R. 02
3.00
5 89
4 97
1.03
5-day
B.O.D.
p.p. in.
2 40
2 97
2.44
29.40
23.33
17.87
17.67
11 09
fl. 82
13. 67
8 65
7.64
9 02
4.52
3.87
7. 65
3.80
3.41
12.22
8 61
8.31
9. 17
5 45
6.43
Bacteria/ml.
37° C.
count
8,660
1,840
6,100
209 000
2, 050, 000
2, 520, 000
132, 000
1,330,000
1, 095, 000
132. 000
833, 000
1, 260, 000
79, 500
186, 000
59, 100
69, 200
181,000
33, 600
97, 500
180,000
309, 000
47, 600
124,000
90, 800
Coli-
form
306
44.5
83.7
16, 700
73, 800
41, 700
22, 400
16, 400
5,400
14, 800
12, 400
12, 800
19, 800
4,300
93
15, 100
4, 060
68
7,650
1,820
796
3,030
1,500
43
Table XIII.—Summary of analyses, upstream stations, period 2: Discharge
0.217-0.431 c. f. s. per square mile. Arithmetic average
Station temperature
range °C.
Colnmbut:
9,9 and below
10-19 9
20 and over... _
Shadeville.
9 9 and below
10-19.9
Commercial Point:
9.9 and below
10 19 9
Sou'h BloomfieM:
9 9 and below
10-19.9
Red Bridge.
9.9 and below
10-19.9
20 and over .
Cireleville:
9 9 and below
10-199
2o and over
Pennsylvania Rail-
road bridge:
99 and below
10-19.9
Kellenberger:
9.9 and below
10-19 9
20 and over
Xum-
ber of
sam-
ples
7
7
4
7
8
3
8
8
8
8
8
8
9
8
8
11
11
8
11
10
9
7
6
7
Dis-
charge
c. f s.
per
square
"ille
0 336
.307
.257
.336
.298
.262
.310
.316
.288
.311
.318
.291
.284
.334
.310
.280
.327
.316
.280
.325
.319
.270
.310
.339
Tem-
pera-
ture
2.4
16.5
21.8
3 1
15 9
21.0
4.3
16,9
21 5
4.3
17.3
21.7
3 6
16.6
21.2
3.5
17,1
21,1
3.5
17.2
21.2
3.9
17.3
21.5
Sus-
pended
solids
P p. in
56.9
23.7
18.0
61 6
16.2
23. 7
26.5
17 3
15.5
21.8
13.7
16.5
25 0
19 1
18.7
15.2
22.7
47.3
16.4
22.6
32.4
7.0
26.0
25 0
Alka-
linity
p. p. in.
143
164
176
167
190
204
193
205
210
197
204
212
209
213
213
221
226
221
226
231
226
231
234
233
pH
7.8
8 2
8 0
7.5
7.4
7.4
7.6
7 6
7.6
7.6
7 6
7.6
7.7
7.6
7.7
7.7
7.7
.7.7
7.7
7.7
7.8
7.7
7.7
7.8
D. O.
p. p. m.
13. 02
9.30
7.73
8 35
.85
.12
6.87
2 88
I. 84.
6.48
2.93
1.82
7.89
3 93
3.36
8.05
4 73
4.15
8.16
5.02
4.69
7.68
5.30
4.89
a-'iay
B.O.D
p. p.m.
n is
1.83
1.94
30.85
10. 35
13.80
16 16
6.12
7.10
11.85
5.07
6.42
5 46
5.55
4.70
4 41
4.20
3.67
8.43
5.68
5.57
6.49
5.38
4.69
Bacter
37° C.
count
20, 900
3, 080
7,840
134 000
305, 000
1, 860, 000
87, 700
136, 000
?06, 000
55, 900
67, 900
541,000
15,500
27.700
224, 000
11, 100
60,300
425, 000
33, 600
99, 500
110, 000
11,400
82, 000
110, 000
a/ml.
Coli-
form
840
32. 2
124
12 100
13, 000
23, 400
14, 500
5, 580
13, 400
5,670
1,560
18,600
955
1,850
689
1,130
2,220
3, 220
1,222
1,640
797
445
287
44.7
-------
Table XIV.—Summary of analyses, upstream stations, period 2: Discharge
0.432-1.234 c. f. s. per square mile. Arithmetic average
Station temperature
range °C.
Columbus:
9.9 find bplow__ ..
10-19 9
?0 and over -
Shadeville:
9.9 find below
] 0-19.9
20 and nver
Commercial Point:
9.9 and below
IO-I'J.9
South Bloomfield:
9.9 ami belo\v__
10-19.9
20 and over.-.
Red Bridge:
9.9 and below.. ..
10-19.9
20 and over - -
Circleville:
9.9 and below
10-19.9
20 nml over -
Pennsylvania Railroad
bridge:
9.9 and below
10-19.9
Kellenbcrger:
9 9 and below _
10-19.9
20 and ovcr-_
Num-
ber of
sam-
ples
26
11
12
25
14
11
18
5
10
25
10
10
IB
2
11
IB
3
JO
25
8
11
11
2
7
Dis-
charge
c. f. s.
per
square
mile
0. 808
.808
.712
.800
.778
.745
.807
. 857
.735
.825
.857
.741
.745
. B63
.788
.749
.872
.802
.849
.840
.838
.845
.818
.821
Tem-
pera-
ture
°C.
3.1
15 0
22.2
3 2
14 7
21.5
3 4
15.7
22.1
3.4
15 4
22 1
3 7
10.5
22.1
3 0
10 8
22.1
3.9
15.4
21.9
3.7
15 5
22.3
Sus-
pended
solids
p. p.m.
58
84
31.0
00
80
42.4
09.8
54
33.1
63
53 0
28.3
09
09
55. 5
07.0
124
79.2
59.3
80
90 0
74
04
93
Alka-
linity
p. p.m.
147
130
108
155
180
150
150
179
152
lf>3
179
157
183
178
108
187
184
175
iao
187
174
190
189
pH
7.8
7.7
8 1
7 0
7.5
7.0
7 0
7.5
7.0
7 0
7 5
7.0
7 0
7.5
7.0
7 0
7 0
7.0
7.7
7.7
7.7
7.0
7.7
7.7
D. O.
p. p.m.
13 00
9 45
7.85
11.02
5 41
2.74
11.12
5 02
2. 53
10 70
5 22
2 09
10 70
5.94
3.05
10 90
0.01
4.45
10.90
7 02
4 71
10.43
0.84
4.42
5-da.v
B.O.D.
p.p. in.
2 10
2 05
2 02
10 37
8 47
8.97
8.90
4 88
0.18
8 20
4 31
4 75
0.21
2 95
3.59
5 02
2.84
2.48
4.87
2 54
4.06
5.53
3.75
4.05
Bacteria/ml.
37° C.
count
0,000
9, H70
0,020
4B, 500
225, 000
489, 000
30, 400
71,100
409, 000
30. 700
44, 000
79, 000
23, 800
9, 800
41,800
24, 400
12,700
27, {,00
25, 900
14,800
03, 100
24,400
13,400
30, 800
Con-
form
211
908
74
2,990
0, 330
12, 200
3,150
1.700
14, 700
2,120
2,340
1,780
1,180
233
772
1, 300
880
221
1,220
285
307
523
200
320
Table XV.—Summary of analyses, upstream stations, period 2: Discharge
1.235 c. f. s. per square miles and above. Arithmetic average
Station temperature
range °C.
Columbus:
99 and below
10-19.9
Shadcville:
9.9 and below
10-19.9
Commercial Point:
9.9 and below _ __
10-19.9
20 and over
South Bloomficld:
9.9 and below
10-19.9 .
20 and over
Hed Bridge:
8.9 and below _ ._
10-19.9
20 and over-_
Circleville:
9.9 and below
10-19.9
20 and over
Pennsylvania Railroad
bridge:
9.9 and below
10-19.9
20 and over
Kellenberger:
9.9 and below
10-1U.9
20 and over
Num-
ber of
sam-
ples
20
8
0
20
8
0
10
3
2
29
11
2
14
4
2
12
6
2
30
12
2
9
2
2
Dis-
charge
e. f. s.
per
square
mile
4.00
2.41
4 59
2.42
2 37
2.84
1.43
4.01
2.43
1.45
3.00
2.88
1.53
2 73
2.77
1.64
3.76
2.58
1.65
3.64
3.28
1.64
Tem-
pera-
lure
°C.
4.5
12.5
4.8
14.2
3.3
10.2
20.5
5.0
12.9
20.5
4.0
15.2
20.5
3.4
14.0
.20.5
5.1
13.4
21.0
4.5
15.2
20.2
Sus-
pended
solids
p. p. in.
199
140
200
158
271
1C4
64
227
158
56
334
143
91.5
403
141
98
317
205
HO
318
197
188
Alka-
linity
t>. p. in.
125
126
125
134
129
129
161
119
129
157
122
124
153
130
140
154
129
146
104
131
133
155
pH
7.0
7.6
7.6
7.5
7.7
7.5
7.6
7.5
7.5
7.6
7.5
7.5
7.0
7.5
7.5
7.6
7.5
7.6
7.6
7.6
7.6
7.7
D. O.
p. p. in.
12.04
10.18
11.08
8.99
11.21
7.14
3.48
10 86
7.94
3.12
11.10
6. 78
3.78
11.48
7.95
4.27
10.94
8.10
4.47
11.31
7.19
4.60
5-flay
B.O.D.
p. p.m.
2. -m
2.32
7.72
4.33
13.50
4.93
8.12
0.48
4.39
5.58
6.42
4.13
3.80
7.02
3.02
3.09
4.55
3.86
4.64
4.21
3.23
4.53
Bacteria/ml.
37° C.
count
12, 100
7,540
41.500
34, 300
59, 000
69, 000
174, 000
34. COO
40, 500
47, 500
41.400
47, 300
39, 900
43, 200
30, 400
40, 000
34, 000
47,000
61, 800
24,800
32, 100
60,200
Coli-
lorm
222
193
1,620
1,280
3.820
1 250
1,060
1,330
1,630
2,680
1,220
1,680
580
1,270
600
670
1,500
722
670
428
445
460
-------
35
Table XVI.—Summary of analyses, upstream stations, period 3: Discharge
0-0.077 c. f. s. per square mile. Arithmetic average
Station temperature
range °C.
Columbus:
10-1'J.9
20 and over
Shadeville.
9.9 and below
10-19 9
20 and over
Commercial Point:
10-199
South Bloomfield:
9 9 and below
10-19.9 - _
Red Bridge-
10-199
Circieville
10-19.9
Pennsylvania Railroad
bridge:
10-19.9
Kellenberger:
10-19.9
20 and over _
Num-
ber of
sam-
ples
5
24
10
2
27
11
0
8
5
0
6
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Dis-
charge
0 f. S.
per
square
mile
0.052
.000
.058
.045
.080
.056
.073
.075
.073
.075
.077
Tem-
pera-
ture
°C.
8 4
14 8
25.0
8 5
15 0
24.1
15 0
25.6
12.7
23.0
8.5
Sus-
pended
solids
p. p.m.
21
26
30
5.0
6
15
10
17
6.5
13
10
Alka-
linity
p. p.m.
210
181
175
200
220
225
234
234
225
231
246
pH
7.8
7.C
7.7
7.5
7.5
7.7
7.6
7.7
7 fi
7.6
7.7
D. 0.
p. p.m.
7.43
5. 54
4.52
5.50
2 61
5.01
5 40
4.80
4.65
4.05
7.24
5-day
B.O D.
p. p. in.
6.17
5.09
3.64
5 96
3 14
4.66
3. 66
4.84
2.88
4.66
2.02
Bacteria/ml.
37° C.
count
108, 400
88, 800
64,400
11,000
262, 000
289, 000
44, 400
199, 000
7,700
69, 500
7,500
Coli-
form
1.910
10, 700
262
24
1,490
117
72
6.0
18.7
8.6
4.3
Table XVII.—Summary of analyses, upstream stations, periods: Discharge
0.078-0.216 c. f. s. per square mile. Arithmetic average
range °C.
Columbus:
9. 9 and below
10-19.9
Shadeville.
9. 9 and below
10 199
20 and over - .
Commercial Point:
9. 9 and below
10-19 9
20 and over
South Bloomfield:
9.9 and below
10-19.9
Red Bridge:
9 9 and below
10-19 9
20 and over
Circle viUe'
9. 9 and below
10-199
20 and over
Pennsylvania Railroad
bridge:
9. 9 and below
10-19.9
20 and over
Kellenberger:
9. 9 and below
10-19 9
Num-
sam-
ples
24
9
34
23
10
34
21
18
45
20
26
41
19
33
39
19
31
34
19
30
35
9
17
21
Dis-
charge
per
square
mile
0.130
.122
.134
.129
.124
.134
.153
.107
.137
.154
.104
.140
.149
.105
.148
.151
.107
.150
.152
.107
.149
.147
.108
.150
Tem-
turc
°C.
3.6
16.9
25 0
4.8
16 2
24.0
6.0
17.0
25.1
5.8
16.5
25.2
5.0
15.6
24.9
4.7
15.2
24.7
5.2
15.4
24.8
• 5.6
15 6
24.9
Sus-
solids
p. p.m.
12
36
28
19
8 6
16
18
18
17
15
15
17
12
27
40
12
39
45
14
33
50
16
21
28
Alka-
linity
p. p.m.
178
159
157
206
206
183
211
227
207
211
222
207
219
236
213
229
242
223
233
253
231
236
257
236
PH
8.1
7 q
7.9
7.5
7.5
7.6
7.6
7.6
7.6
7.6
7 6
7.7
7.6
7.7
7 8
7.7
7.7
7 I
7.7
7 7
7 8
7.7
7.7
7.8
p.p.m.
12.53
7.28
6 42
4.85
2 31
2.35
5.80
4.16
3.65
5.93
3.64
4.19
7.67
5.77
6.16
8.93
6 68
6.88
8.62
4.46
4.41
7.12
3 35
4 66
5-day
B.O.D
p.p.m
1 68
2.39
2 41
13.91
5 46
5.06
6 95
3 88
4.65
4.59
3 64
3 89
2.82
3 08
4.32
2.17
2 81
3.58
8.98
14.08
9 18
4.94
4 52
4 70
Bactei
37° C.
count
1,820
8,950
33 800
129, 000
454 000
1, 100, 000
48, 800
156, 000
78, 300
11, 100
34, 800
42, 700
5,070
18, 600
22, 800
4,620
17, 800
17, 000
99, 200
338,000
1, 160, 000
7,410
144, 000
112, 000
a/ml.
Coli-
form
65
78
162
13,100
5 270
2 930
3,340
860
258
1,270
68
147
392
67
162
355
102
120
1,850
1,750
3 380
840
430
284
-------
36
Table XVIII.—Summary of analyses, upstream stations, period 3:
Discharge 0.217-0.431 c. f. s. per square mile. Arithmetic average
Station temperature
range °C.
Columbus:
9.9 and below
10-19 9
20 and over .
Shadeville:
9.9 and below
10-19 9
Commercial Point:
10-19 9
20 and over ,
South Bloomfleld:
9 9 and below
10-199 .
Red Bridge.
10-19 9
20 and over .
Circlevillc:
10-19 9
20 and over
Pennsj Ivania Railroad
bridge-
9.9 and below
10-199 .
Kellenborger:
9.9 and below
10-199
20 and over
Num-
ber of
sam-
ples
4
4
8
4
4
8
5
4
12
5
4
13
8
5
12
9
6
16
9
5
18
2
4
10
Dis-
charge
c. f. s.
per
square
mile
0.311
.301
.307
.311
.301
.307
.296
.311
.298
.298
.314
.294
.281
.311
.302
.279
.303
.285
.279
.318
.290
.257
32fi
.264
Tem-
pera-
ture
°C.
2.9
16 0
26.0
3.4
15 1
24 8
3.6
15 1
24.7
3 7
15 4
25 0
3 2
14.5
24.7
3.3
15 7
24.3
4 2
16 3
24 7
3 5
15 0
21 0
Sus-
pended
solids
p. p.m.
18
25
49
70
10 5
33
20
21
31
20
14
30
34
60
55
34
47
215
33
63
160
50
33
30
Alka-
linity
p. p.m.
176
159
151
197
193
173
195
196
179
194
200
182
197
201
185
205
213
199
205
215
207
220
20fl
217
pn
8 1
8.3
7.8
7.6
7.6
7.6
7.7
7.6
7.6
7 7
7.6
7.6
7.6
7. 7
7. 7
71
7.7
77:7
7. 7
l:i
r>. o.
p.p. m.
13 05
10.30
6.75
7.92
2 89
2.44
9.57
5 07
3.26
9 60
5 02
3.21
8 79
6 48
4.14
8.96
6 50
4.88
9.14
6.60
4 14
8.08
6 54
4 18
5-day
B.O.D.
p.p. m.
1.89
2.06
2 02
19.02
5 50
4.11
6.89
4.07
3.19
6.51
4.65
3.13
4 53
4 10
3.06
3 37
2 04
2.72
6 12
7.20
0.47
2 11
4.20
4.05
Bacteria/ml.
37° C.
count
482
1,110
28, 000
106,000
43, 100
301, 000
37, 900
16, 600
336, 000
23, 900
12, 400
56, 500
25, 100
29, 700
34, 800
27, 900
13, 200
92, 900
46, 900
89, 000
328, 000
13, 000
65, 800
155, 000
Coli-
form
16.2
9.7
181
5,680
2,770
1,320
3,470
738
1,110
1,420
249
228
1,120
671
155
1,040
216
766
2,900
451
554
305
320
285
Table XIX.—Summary of analyses, upstream stations, period 3: Discharge
0.432-1.234 c. F. s. per square mile. Arithmetic average
Station temperature
range °O.
Columbus:
9.9 and below
10-19 9
20 and over
Shadeville:
9.9 and below
10-199 , ...
20 and over ... _
Commercial Pomt:
9. 9 and below
10-19.9
20 and over
South Bloomfleld:
9.9 and below
10-199- . ...
20 and over __. -
Red Bridge:
9 9 and below
10-199 . ..
20 and over - -_-
Circleville:
9. 9 and below
10-19.9-.-
20 and over
Pennsylvania Railroad
bridge-
9.9 and below
10-19.9. _.
Kellenberger:
9.9 and below
10-19.9 . --
Num-
ber of
sam-
ples
18
6
16
17
7
16
10
7
21
10
7
21
8
8
21
8
7
23
7
8
22
3
3
17
Dis-
charge
c. f s.
pei-
square
mile
0 942
.6:57
.757
.958
.610
.760
.948
.672
.738
. 955
.677
.738
.935
.710
.725
.797
.776
.722
.828
.748
.749
.684
.730
.674
Tem-
pera-
ture
°C.
5 6
14.6
24.8
5.5
13 7
24.5
5 8
13 7
25.2
5.8
13.4
25.0
5 4
14 5
25 3
5.1
14 1
24 9
5.1
14.8
25.2
3.3
13.8
25.1
Sus-
pended
solids
p.p. m.
96
103
100
102
78
158
86
55
142
89
03
128
111
132
291
85
131
228
79
118
233
92
72
120
Alka-
limtv
p.p. in.
120
142
134
138
153
143
146
162
145
150
166
149
156
172
146
170
179
150
176
184
156
177
189
160
PH
7 7
7 8
7 6
7.5
7.5
7.6
7 6
7. 6
7 6
7 6
7.6
7.6
7 7
7.6
7 7
7.7
7.6
7.7
7.7
7.7
7.7
7.7
7 6
D. 0
p.p. m.
12. 86
9 65
6.92
11 47
6.47
3.23
10. 56
7 13
3.68
10 24
7.28
3.47
10 44
7.22
3 80
10 63
7.16
4.23
10 89
7.46
4.16
10.69
7.63
4.00
6-day
B.O.D.
p. p. m.
1.91
5.26
3 10
5 27
4 94
4 80
5. 80
4 00
3.62
5.57
3.42
3.69
3.50
3 28
2.71
3.07
2.42
2.67
4.50
4.48
4.14
5.23
3.93
2.67
Bacteria/ml.
37° C.
count
6,840
227, 000
118, 000
21, 900
107, 000
407, 000
23, 400
34, 500
260, 000
15, 500
17, 100
242, 000
12,400
50, 000
161, 000
13, 700
43, 500
105, 000
16, 200
43,800
179, 000
20,300
11, 100
162, 000
Coil-
form
184
1,800
2,050
1,600
3,170
2,700
780
2,260
1,930
1,690
1,050
1,120
302
792
1,120
133
472
446
406
579
872
313
545
296
-------
37
Table XX.—Summary of analyses, upstream stations, period 3: Discharge
1.235 c. f. s. per square mile and above. Arithmetic average
Station temperature
range °C.
Columbus:
9.9 and below
10-19.9
Shadevillo:
10-19.9
Commercial Point:
9.9 and below
10-19.9
20 and over
South Bloomfield:
9 9 and below
10-199 .
20 and over
Red Bridge
9.9 and below
10-19.9
20 and over
Circlevillc:
9.9 and below
10-19.9
Pennsylvania Rail-
road bridge-
9.9 and below
10-19 9 .
20 and over
Kcllenberger:
9.9 and below
10-19.9
20 and over,_
Num-
ber of
sam-
ples
27
2
8
28
3
8
35
2
7
34
3
7
35
4
7
39
2
6
37
4
6
19
2
Dis-
charge
c. f s.
per
square
mile
3.60
3.48
3.50
3 62
3.33
3.50
2 89
4 19
3 36
2 89
3 82
3.34
2.80
3 14
3.23
2. 03
4 70
3.40
2 67
3 30
3 39
2 58
3.43
3.31
Tem-
pera-
ture
°C.
5.6
11 2
24.3
5.6
10 7
24.4
5.7
12.0
23.7
5 6
10 3
23.7
5.6
11.2
24.0
5 2
12 5
23.9
5 8
11 4
24.0
6 2
32 5
24 0
Sus-
pended
solids
p. p.m.
189
111
159
251
536
156
219
109
181
228
127
180
276
140
228
221
163
252
231
119
235
237
97
144
Alka-
linity
p. p. in.
114
117
126
320
124
128
120
122
128
121
123
129
241
131
129
135
123
128
141
141
132
147
161
141
pH
7 6
7.7
7.7
7.6
7 7
7.6
7 6
7.7
7.7
7.6
7.6
7.6
7 6
7.6
7.6
7 6
7.6
7.6
7 7
7.6
7 6
7.6
7. 7
7.6
D. O.
p. p.m.
12.75
11.42
7.28
11.70
10 20
5.80
11.25
9 92
5.52
11.41
9 79
5.00
11 24
9.92
4.64
11.24
9 66
4.16
11.20
9 94
4.80
10 83
9. 60
2.91
5-dav
B.O.D.
p.p. m.
2.24
3.04
1.76
4 60
4.64
3.07
4.36
3 44
2 64
4 54
3. 60
2.92
4.04
2 88
2 77
3 17
2.68
3.10
4.19
3 42
3.37
3 38
2 82
2. 99
Bacteria/ml.
37° C.
count
12, 100
8,100
37,000
35, 100
29, 600
98, 600
27, 700
11,300
122, 000
22, 200
8,810
147, 000
23, 100
10, 800
238, 000
21, 700
16, 300
281,000
22, 500
10, 100
210, 000
24, 900
6, 320
128, 000
Coli-
form
127
29
294
2,800
993
2,000
808
251
829
690
1,190
1,550
790
492
930
542
1,220
672
903
342
845
446
93
497
Table XXI.—Summary of analyses, downstream stations: Discharge 0.078-
0.216 and 0.217-0.431 c. f. s. per square mile. Arithmetic average
Station temperature
range °C.
Num-
ber of
sam-
ples
Dis-
charge
c. f. s.
per
square
mile
Tem-
pera-
ture
°C
Bus
pcndcd
solids
p. p.m.
Alka-
limtv
p p.m.
pll
P. O.
p. p.m.
5-dav
B.O.D.
p. p. in.
Ilacter
37° C.
count
a/ml.
Coli-
form
DISCHARGE 0.078-0,216 C. F. S. PER SQ. MILE
Chillicothe:
9.9 and below
10-19.9
20 and over
Kilgore:
9.9 and below
10-19.9
20 and over.
Higby:
9.9 and below
10-19.9
20 and over, __ ,
Waverly:
9.9 and below
10-19.9
20 and over.
Luoasville:
9.9 and below . _,
10-19.9
20 and over
15
37
17
1.5
17
15
11
17
11
13
15
10
13
14
10
0.148
.105
.155
.144
.109
.150
.131
.116
.160
.126
.120
.155
.126
.113
.155
4.1
14.6
24.6
3.7
14.3
24.8
4.0
14.5
24.0
4.5
14.9
23.9
3.8
14.9
24.2
13.1
18.5
34.5
13.0
16 0
37.0
11.0
37.0
46 0
9.8
18 0
32.0
9.3
16.0
35.0
236
247
238
242
250
236
252
260
241
246
247
239
239
244
232
7.7
7.9
8.1
7 7
8.0
8.1
7. 7
8 0
8.1
7.8
8.1
8.2
7.9
8.2
8.2
9. 34
8 23
7.92
9 70
8.50
7.94
9.21
6 13
5.78
9.69
8.50
6.88
11.31
9.20
7.02
4 22
4.35
4.58
3.55
4.01
4.07
5.97
6.04
5.35
3 63
4.08
3.92
2.68
3.30
3 56
6,270
18, 600
24, 500
9,560
28, 800
34, 400
4,460
284,000
425, 000
18, 600
26, 300
72, 800
3,010
19, 100
16, 800
281
330
278
379
477
711
312
301
323
125
25.2
47
10.3
6.8
8.5
200664—41-
-------
38
Table XXI.—Summary of analyses, downstream stations: Discharge 0.078-
0.216 and 0.217-0.431 c. f. s. per sq. mile. Arithmetic average—Con.
Station temperature
range "C.
Num-
ber of
sam-
ples
Dis-
charge
c. f. s.
per
square
mile
Tem-
pera-
ture
°C.
Sus-
pended
solids
p.p. m.
Alka-
linity
p. p m.
pH
D. 0.
p. p.m.
5-dav
B. O.D
p. p. m.
Bacteria/ml.
37°C.
count
Coli-
form
DISCHARGE 0.217-0.431 C. F. S. PER SQ. MILE
Chill icothe:
10-19 9
20 and over
Kilgore:
9.9 and below
10-19.9. .
Higby:
10-19.9
Waverly:
10-1!) 9
Lucasvillo:
9 9 and below
10-19 9
9
6
27
9
6
1C
9
4
23
9
4
17
9
5
17
.324
.292
.329
.323
.291
.310
.282
.293
.327
.282
.301
.323
.282
.284
.323
4 6
15.4
23.3
4 9
15.8
23.3
fl 4
15.5
23.5
5.2
15.2
23.8
4 9
14.6
23.8
20 1
17 7
81.0
22.0
20.0
100.0
22.0
22.0
46 2
22 0
23 0
77.0
20.0
24.0
81 0
216
22!)
212
219
232
211
231
244
210
209
225
206
198
231
205
7 8
7 9
7.9
7.7
8.0
8.1
7.8
8.1
8 0
7 0
8 1
8.1
7.8
8.1
8 1
9 46
8 49
6.07
9.87
9 35
6 97
9.87
8 90
5 86
10 21
9 86
6 74
11 07
9.99
7 43
4 21
4 32
3.65
3 96
4 07
3.49
4 89
5 21
3 92
3 14
3 77
2 98
2.37
3 23
2 89
5 670
5 6
-------
39
Table XXII.—Summary of analyses, downstream stations: Discharge 0.432-
1.234 and 1.235 and above c. f. s. per square mile. Arithmetic average—•
Continued
Station temperature
range °C.
Num-
ber of
sam-
ples
Dis-
charge
c. f s.
per
square
mile
Tem-
pera-
ture
°C.
Sus-
pended
solids
p. p. m.
Alka-
linity
p.p. m.
pH
D. 0.
p. p.m.
5-dav
B. O. D
p. p.m
Bacteria/ml.
37° C.
count
Ooli-
lbrm
DISCHARGE 1.235 AND ABOVE C. F. S. PER SQ. MILE
Chillicothp-
10-199
20 and over.. -_ ._
Kilgore:
10-199
20 and over >_
Higby:
10-199
20 and over _
Waverly:
10-19.9 -
Lucasville:
10-19 9
22
13
14
19
13
13
18
15
11
22
14
11
24
12
11
3 27
2 99
3.30
3 55
2 87
3 30
3 01
3 83
2 98
2 76
3 38
2.98
2 92
3 15
2.97
4 8
13 5
23.8
5 0
13 2
23 0
4 8
12.8
23.7
4.5
13 0
23.9
4 9
13 0
24.0
377
341
436
394
317
478
459
429
517
413
488
630
468
315
797
132
142
131
133
146
133
139
143
125
132
139
120
128
119
139
7 6
7 7
7.6
7 6
7.7
7.7
7 7
7 6
7 7
7 6
7.7
7.7
7.6
7.7
7.7
11.41
8 55
4 59
11 36
8.63
4 75
11.44
8.84
4.78
11 37
8 75
4.72
11 25
8 41
4.80
3 75
3 94
3 60
3 76
3 42
3.59
3 63
3 41
3.32
3 18
3 02
3.23
2 80
2 72
3.03
22. 000
26, 300
191,000
29 000
31, 200
142, 000
30. 900
33. 500
166, 000
20,700
23,800
159. 000
30. fiOO
15. 700
166, 400
804
452
569
459
457
520
502
481
492
309
222
452
217
129
309
TEMPERATURES
The temperature groupings used in summarizing the results of
this survey follow roughly those used in previous studies of the Ohio
and Illinois Rivers, although in these previous surveys the results
were summarized by months and were separated into winter, summer,
and transitional periods.
This is illustrated in figure 16 which is a plot of the daily variation
in river water temperatures at Shadeville (13) during the period of
the survey showing their distribution throughout the calendar year.
There are also shown on the chart the temperature groupings obtained
by using seasonal divisions as on the Ohio and Illinois River surveys.
The river temperatures shown on this chart were read as a rule
fairly early in the morning, usually about 9:00 a. m., especially during
the summer months. They probably represent approximately the
minimum temperatures of a diurnal v.ariation which is small in winter
but amounts to several degrees during summer and fall low flows as
shown by an intensive 24-hour sampling carried out at Chillicothe
(61) on July 25, 1939. This sampling gave a variation of 4.5° C.
from 22.5° C. at 6 and 7 a. m. to 27° C. at 6:00 p. m.
River temperatures on the Scioto, as might be expected in a small
stream, follow rather closely a running average of the mean daily
air temperatures of the several preceding days. Figure 17 shows river
temperatures throughout the year 1938 at Shadeville, 13 river miles
-------
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south of Columbus, plotted together with the running average of the
preceding 5 and 7 days Columbus, Ohio, mean air temperature as
reported by the U. S. Weather Bureau. It will be noted that the
greatest deviations occur when the running averages of the mean daily
air temperatures drop below freezing, 32° F. Otherwise the corre-
spondence between river temperatures and either the 5 or 7 day running
average is generally quite good, especially in view of the large diurnal
variations which must occur at times. Eriksen and Townsend (11)
have reported upon a similar study of harbor water temperatures
where the water temperatures were consistently higher than the 3 and
7 day mean air temperatures and cited prior work by Miller, Ramage
and Lazier (12) who found water temperatures in San Francisco
Bay to be consistently higher than air temperatures. These latter
investigators attributed their findings to intense solar radiation
upon extensive isolated shoal areas. Some such effect would probably
be indicated in the Scioto had mean water temperatures been used
instead of temperatures taken during the early forenoon. In this
connection, the two periods during warm weather when water tem-
peratures exceeded mean air temperatures by 6°-8° F. occurred in
mid-May and late August and both occurrences were preceded by
constantly dropping river stages, which reached new low stages for
the season.
BACTERIOLOGICAL RESULTS
The summation of the analyses of river-water samples grouped
according to temperature and discharge per square mile gives a series
of pictures of pollution in the river under these various conditions.
Omitting the lowest discharge range (0.00-0.077 c. f. s. per square
mile) because of the paucity of observation, and the highest discharge
range because of the inclusion of flood flows, there are nine complete
sets of averages of river conditions with three discharge ranges in
each of three temperature groups.
In figures 18-21 inclusive, plots are shown of the changes occurring,
expressed in average quantity unitsl, for four sets of conditions
throughout the length of river studied. Although erratic, it will be
observed that there is a general tendency for bacterial numbers to
decrease at a linear rate when plotted on semilogarithmic paper
against times of flow. In order to summarize these rates with varying
temperatures, least square fittings (IS) of the logarithms of the quan-
tity units of coliform bacteria and of 37° C. counts plotted against
times of flow have been made for the four stations, Shadeville, Com-
mercial Point, South Bloomfield, and Red Bridge. The slope of the
line best fitting the logarithms of the quantity units of bacteria when
plotted against times of flow would define a constant k in the formula
' 1 quantity unit (q. u.) = Bacteria per ml. X thousands of c. f. s. discharge.
-------
43
U.S. Public HeaUh Service
Stream Pol/iffiorr Investigations Ste.
Cincinnati, Ohio.
FIGURE IS. PROFILE SHOWING THE RATES OF DECREASE OF ARITHMETIC AVER-
AGES OF COLIFORM BACTERIA AT 9.9 C. AND BELOW IN THE .078-.216 c. F. s.
PER SQUARE MIL.E DISCHARGE RANGE-
-------
44
so no
Tims of Flow in Hour^
180 ZIO
Colurnbus
U3. Public Hea//h Service
irejm Pollution Investigation-) Sia
FIGURE 19. PROFILE SHOWING THE RATES OF DECREASE OF THE GEOMETRIC
AVERAGES OF COLIFORM BACTERIA AT 9.9 C. AND BELOW IN THE .078-.21 6 C. F. S.
PER SQUARE MILE DISCHARGE RANGE.
-------
45
0 K&iOOO
c
3
0
O
1,006
36 £4 72. 90 ICS 126
Hours 77me of Flow Below Columbus
US. Public Health Service
Stream Pollution Investigations 9ia
dncmntih, Ohio
FIGURE 20. PROFILE SHOWING THE RATES OF DECREASE OF THE ARITHMETIC
AVERAGES OF 37° C. COUNT BACTERIA AT 20° C. AND ABOVE IN THE .217-.431
C. F. S. PER SQUARE MILE DISCHARGE RANGE.
-------
46
Houi~3 Tune of riotv Below Oo/L/mb
108 1ZO
Lf-3 Public HeoHh Service.
Si ream Pollution Investigations Sta
Cincinnati , Ohio
FIGURE 21. PROFILE SHOWING THE RATES OF DECREASE OF THE ARITHMETIC
AVERAGES OF COLIFORM BACTERIA AT 10°-I9.9° C. IN THE .432-1.234 c. F. s.
PER SQUARE MILE DISCHARGE RANGE.
-------
y=b 10kt, where y=the quantity units of bacteria present, t = the
time of flow in days, and b= quantity units of bacteria present at
zero time. These constants are given in table XXIII, for the arith-
Table XXIII.—k values defining the rates of bacterial decrease for the
stretch, Shadeville to Red Bridge
Discharge range
c. f. s./sq. mi.
9.9° C. and below
10°-19.9° C.
20° C. and above
ARITHMETIC AVERAGE QUANTITY UNITS OF COLIFORM
0078 to 0216
0.217 to 0431
0.432 to 1.234.
1st
period
+0.044
-739
-606
2d
period
+0. 074
-. 923
-.388
-0. 467
3d
period
-0. 683
— . 532
-,552
1st
period
-0. 652
-1.120
-1.62
2d
period
-0 460
-. 595
-1.585
—0. 889
3d
period
-1.014
-.389
-.560
1st
period
-1.23
-1.30
-.709
2d
period
-1.144
-1.014
-1.614
-0. 957
3d
period
-0. 492
-.770
-.345
ARITHMETIC AVERAGE QUANTITY UNITS OF 37° C. PLATE COUNTS
0.078 to 0.216 .. .
0.217 to 0.431
0.432 to 1 234
Mean
-0 318
-.355
+ 064
-0 129
-.711
—.151
-0. 316
-0 C64
-.401
-.174
-0. 665
-.387
—.875
-0 400
-.706
-1.612
-0. 607
-0.715
+.043
—.144
-0 885
-.887
- 627
-0 092
-.540
-1.350
-0 755
-0. 710
-.807
-.293
GEOMETRIC AVERAGE COLIFORMS IN QUANTITY UNITS
0.078 to 0.216
0.217 to 0.431
0.432 to 1 234
Mean
—0. 662
-.662
- 617
-0 191
-1 07
— 347
—0. 593
-0. 733
-.478
—.576
-1.09
-.897
—1 45
-0 660
-.743
—1 77
-0. 980
-0. 802
-.658
—.752
— 1 08
-.814
— 820
-1.05
-.976
— 1 27
-0.858
-0. 326
— . 769
—.617
metic averages of the quantity units of coliform bacteria and 37°C.
counts respectively and for the geometric averages of coliforms, also
expressed in quantity units.
In figures 18 to 21 the least square fittings of the observations
between Shadeville and Red Bridge are plotted and the averages of
the various k values obtained for each temperature range are
fitted to the observations as noted on each of the charts.
Between Circleville and Higby these same k values are used and
are fitted, visually, to the observed results. Below Higby, the
observed values are connected by a series of straight lines.
The only times of flow computed from field measurements are
those for the stretch between Columbus and Red Bridge. Below
Red Bridge, the times of flow used wore obtained by assuming that
the mean velocity obtained in the Columbus and Red Bridge stretch
would hold constant throughout the stream for a given unit discharge
per square mile. In general, this probably holds true for the lowest
discharge range, 0.078-0.216 c. f. s. per square mile, as in this range
-------
48
the rate of decrease of bacteria appears to be about the same down-
stream as it is in the upper reaches where times of flow were computed.
The two higher discharge ranges, 0.217 to 0.431 and 0.432 to 1.234
however, show progressively a much lower rate of decrease of bacteria
below Higby than was observed in the upper reaches when using
velocities derived from Shadeville to Red Bridge for a given discharge
range, a fact which could be partially accounted for by higher veloci-
ties in the lower roaches of the river in the same discharge range.
In the highest discharge range (fig. 21), however, decreases below
Higby were quite small and some factor such as intermediate incre-
ments of pollution, a more or less uniform loading, is indicated.
Lower rates of decrease in both bacteria and B. O. D., as the dis-
tance from an intense source of pollution increases, have been con-
sistently reported in the literature and are a well established fact.
The causes of such decreases are not completely understood but
recent work in the field of sewage purification has stressed the high
rates of purification obtained with activated sludge where an intense
concentration of bacteria working in a favorable environment provides
extremely rapid purification. A series of measurements made in the
stretch of the Scioto between Columbus and Shadeville during the
third period gave extremely rapid rates of B. O. D. removal and the
average rates of decrease for both bacteria and B. O. D. in this stretch
are probably greater than in the stretch from Shadeville down to
Red Bridge. The decreasing rates of purification observed below
Higby, at higher discharges, however, presents a different picture
than that which would be obtained with a decreasing rate which
was due to a lower biological content in the stream. It, therefore,
seems probable that something in the nature of a uniform loading
must be responsible for the lower rates of decrease observed at higher
river stages. Such a uniform loading could conceivably be derived
from either pick up of organic matter from the stream bed due to
higher stream velocities, or to material washed into the river by the
rains which were a necessary accompaniment of the higher discharges.
The geometric averages of coliform bacteria as shown in figure
19 were computed in order to lessen the effect of occasional high
concentrations of bacteria which tend to make the arithmetic average
appear erratic. Figures 18 and 19 are the arithmetic and geometric
averages respectively of the same base data. Comparison of these
figures indicates that the geometric average tends to be lower and
somewhat less variable than the arithmetic averages. The average k
values obtained by these two methods of averaging as shown in table
XXIII do not differ greatly and the differences obtained are quite
probably within the limits of variation of the base data.
The increments of pollution at Columbus, Circleville, Chillicothe,
and Paint Creek are shown in figures 18 to 21 as immediate increases
-------
49
to a point which corresponds to a backward extrapolation of the
average rate of decrease. In an analysis of the Ohio River bacterial
curves, Streeter (14) has shown that the maximum concentration of
bacteria occurs some distance below the point of pollution, so that the
extrapolated maximum concentration as indicated at the point of
pollution on these figures is probably never reached. This is illus-
trated by figure 18, where the results of eight sets of samples taken at
intermediate points between Circleville and Chillicothe during the
month of December 1938, a period of relatively constant low water,
are plotted. This series shows a maximum occurring at sampling
station Mile 37, approximately 4 river miles below the point of
pollution, but in general checks quite well with the average observa-
tions during the third period in this stretch of the river. The purpose
of this intensive sampling was to check discrepancies observed in the
Chillicothe sampling station (61). This and later studies have
indicated that the Chillicothe (61) sampling station gave consistently
high values for B. O. D. and bacteria largely because of the unsus-
pected discharge of a small amount of slaughterhouse waste above
this sampling point during the period when samples were ordinarily
taken.
Corrections Jor tributary inflow.—When calculations of bacterial
content are based on total quantities, such as "quantity units,"
corrections applied for tributary inflow must also be based on the total
quantities contributed to the stream by the tributary. In the upper
part of the Scioto, the pollution is so heavy that tributary corrections
run much less than 1 percent for the bacteriological data. A plot of
the data from tributaries indicates that the corrections for coliform
bacteria in discharge ranges below 0.5 c. f. s. per square mile for Big
Walnut, Darby, and Deer Creeks would be less than one quantity
unit. Above 0.5 c. f. s. per square mile discharge, the correction
increases rapidly amounting, at 1 c. f. s. per square mile, to approxi-
mately 18 quantity units for coliform bacteria foi Big Walnut Creek, 12
quantity units for Darby Creek, and 10 for Deer Creek. On account
of shortened times of flow in the Scioto at these higher discharge
ranges, however, bacterial decreases were much less, resulting in higher
quantities of bacteria being carried by the stream at downstream
stations. Thus, although tributary corrections were much higher
than at lower discharge ranges, they were still negligible and it was not
necessary to apply corrections for these inflows.
Comparison of bacterial changes with those of previous surveys.—In
figure 22 comparative rates of decrease for coliform bacteria and
for the 37° C. plate counts for.the Ohio, upper Illinois, and Scioto
Rivers are given. Rlotted on semilog paper, these show the decreases
-------
50
to
D .
< U)
I K
0) tj
W
-------
51
in the Scioto to be linear for 60 hours, the approximate limit of mea-
surement on the upper Scioto.
Based on a study of the 37°C. plate counts, the rates of bacterial
decrease in the upper Illinois River during the first few hours were
higher in both the summer and winter periods than those observed
in the Scioto River, even when comparable summer rates in the
Scioto were considered. However, in the upper Illinois both the
summer and the, winter rates of bacterial decrease slackened after
the first few hours and after about 40 hours they were less than the
winter rate in the Scioto. There was also considerably less diver-
gence between winter and summer rates of decrease on the upper
Illinois than there was between comparable rates on the Scioto.
Rates of decrease shown by 37°C. counts on the Ohio were nearly
linear on semilog paper within the 60-hour period during which
comparisons ca,n be made and the divergence between summer and
winter rates was approximately that found in the Scioto, both winter
and summer rates in the Ohio being very roughly about half those
observed in the Scioto.
Based on a study of coliform bacteria the rates of decrease in the
Ohio River when plotted on semilog paper were approximately the
same, both winter and summer, as the winter rate in the Scioto. In
the upper Illinois, the summer rate was greater than that in the Scioto
during the first few hours, but decreased rapidly and was much less
after 30 hours than that in the Scioto. The winter rates of decrease
of coliform bacteria in the upper Illinois were more nearly linear
than summer rates in the same stream but were considerably lower
than the winter rates observed in the Scioto.
RESULTS OF CHEMICAL ANALYSES
The average results of chemical analyses are given in tables
VI-XXII, along with bacteriological and other data, it being more
convenient to express the results in this form than to present separate
tables for the different sections. The techniques of the various tests
made on individual samples; pH, alkalinity, suspended solids, dis-
solved oxygen and biochemical oxygen demand are discussed in the
section on sampling methods and laboratory technique. Discussion
in this section will therefore be limited largely to variations in the
means of the determinations made with changes in other factors such
as pollution and physical conditions.
• In addition to the above mentioned chemical analyses, monthly
composites of the daily samples were made at several stations and
analyzed in the Cincinnati laboratory for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates,
and organic nitrogen. The results of these analyses are reported
in appendix I.
-------
52
Hydrogen ion concentration.—The pH of the Scioto varied gener-
ally between 7.5 and 8.0. At Columbus (3) the pH averaged about
8.0 at low and intermediate stages. This dropped to about 7.5
following the addition of Columbus sewage after which the pH rose
slowly throughout the length of river studied until at the lowest
station, Lucasville (115) the pH averaged about the same as at
Columbus (3). At highest stages, 1.235 c.f.s. per square mile and
above, the pH varied little throughout the length of river studied,
averaging about 7.6. A slight but consistent tendency was observed
for the average pH to rise 0.1-0.2 at low stages with increasing tem-
peratures, probably due to the increased algal activity occasionally
producing normal carbonates in the stream. One of the tributaries,
Salt Creek, had an average pH of about 7.2-7.3 but the other tribu-
taries were slightly higher in pH than the main stream. The pH
in the Scioto was always maintained well within the range of normal
biological activity and consequently the pH variations which occurred
are considered to be of little sanitary significance.
Alkalinity.—Alkalinities in the Scioto show little, if any, tendency
to vary with temperature and only a very slight tendency to increase
at the lower stations compared to the upper ones. There is a con-
siderable decrease in alkalinity as river stages rise, however as can
be seen in figure 23, a plot of alkalinities, at stations downstream
from Chillicothe, against river discharges in c.f.s. per square mile.
The plotted points represent station averages of all observations
within a certain temperature and discharge range. At lowest stages,
the mean of these plotted points is an alkalinity of about 240 p.p.m.
with roughly 20 p.p.m. deviation from the mean. At highest stages,
the mean of the plotted points is about 130 p.p.m. alkalinity with
somewhat less deviation from the mean than occurred at low stages.
Tributary alkalinities were generally about the same as those in the
main stream except for Salt Creek whore alkalinities usually ran
about one-third those of the Scioto itself.
Alkalinities, being basically a measure of a water's resistance to the
effect of acids, have little sanitary significance unless pollution by
acid is involved, or unless concurrent studies are being made of stream
forms requiring large amounts of calcium for their life processes.
Carbonate alkalinities may be useful as an indicator of intense ac-
tivity of photosynthetic organisms, which may produce such alkalinity
by abstracting carbon dioxide from bicarbonates. It seems doubtful,
however, if the routine determination of alkalinities for stream
pollution surveys is justified.
Suspended solids.—The suspended solids content of Scioto River
water varied greatly at each sampling station. The average of large
numbers of observations indicates a trend which is roughly linear
' when suspended solids are plotted against river discharges as can be
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seen in figure 24. In figure 24 are included all observations made
during the survey, separated into upper and lower river stations and
grouped according to discharge range. At low river stages there is no
significant difference in the average values for suspended solids, but
at higher stages the upstream stations average about 75 percent of
the suspended solids content of the downstream stations.
BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND
The oxygen demand of the flowing water of a stream, as measured
by the biochemical oxygen demand test (B. O. D.), has been exhaus-
tively studied by Streeter (16) in his excellent report upon this sub-
ject. The practical application of this test in following, quantita-
tively, the changes occurring in a polluted stream is modified by a
member of factors which Streeter (15) lists as (1) intermediate inflow,
(2) sedimentation and absorption, (3) channel scouring, (4) "imme-
diate" or "enzymic" oxygen demand and (5) a transition from first
(carbonaceous) to second (nitrogenous) stage oxidation in the stream
proper.
In this present study of the Scioto, an effort has been made to
follow, quantitatively, the changes occurring in the total B. O. D.
carried by the stream at various river stages and temperatures.
This was done by computing the total amount of 5-day B. O. D. in
the river from the station averages of discharge and 5-day B. O. D.
and, in some cases, by computing the total oxygen demand in the
river by applying factors to the 5-day biochemical oxygen demand
test to obtain an estimated total oxygen demand. In addition to
the factors which Streeter (IS) mentioned, such calculations in the
present study were complicated by the absence of routine determina-
tions in the stretch of river between Columbus and Shadeville, the 8-
mile stretch of river immediately below the Columbus sewer outlet.
It is known that purification rates were high within this stretch of
river, but the data available are insufficient to accurately estimate
•variations in purification rates under varying river conditions for this
stretch.
A distinction should be made at this point between the rate of
deoxygenation in bottles in the B. 0. D. test and the rate of natural
purification, as measured by B. O. D. reduction in streams. Streeter
^15) has shown that the two may be approximately equal in the
flowing water of some larger rivers with regard to first stage (carbona-
ceous) oxygen demand but that the second stage (nitrogenous) demand
in these rivers may approximate one third of the normal rates of first
stage oxidation in the B. O. D. test. It is, therefore, not to be ex-
pected that such purification rates in a river will necessarily follow
the oxidation rates in the B. O. D. test.
-------
56
ISO
Columbus
US. Public Health Service
51 re am Pollution Inveshgohons Sfe
FIGURE 25. PLOT OF ARITHMETIC AVERAGES OF B. o. D. RESULTS IN THOUSANDS
OF POUNDS OF 5-DAY B. O. D. PER DAY. INCLUDING ALU TEMPERATURE RANGES
IN THE .078-.216 C. F. S. PER SQUARE MILE DISCHARGE RANGE.
-------
57
The determination of rates of natural purification as measured by
the biochemical oxygen demand test is based on the assumption that
the rate of decrease in biochemical oxygen demand is proportional to
the amount of remaining biochemical oxygen demand after time t or
dL=_R,L
~dt
where L is the first stage (carbonaceous) oxygen demand left in the
river after time t, in days, which integrated gives
L=L0 W-Kt where
K
i0=initial B. O. D.
Plotted on semilogarithmic paper against time, t on the linear
scale, the total 5-day B. O. D. values observed in the river in thou-
sands of pounds per day, corrected for inflow, should give a linear
plot with the slope of the line defining "K." Figure 25 shows such
plots of the 5-day B. O. D. obtained in the discharge range 0.078-
0.216 c. f. s. per square mile. Similarly, a plot of the logarithms of
the computed L values would also give a linear rate of decrease with
the slope of this line defining "K." In order to obtain a direct com-
parison between the rates of decrease of B. O. D. in the Scioto at
various temperatures and discharges, least square fittings have been
made of the logarithms of the average B. O. D. figures for the four
sampling stations Shadeville, Commercial Point, South Bloomfield,
and Red Bridge, the only stretch of river for which time of flow data
were available. The slopes of the lines thus derived are given in
table XXIV. For comparative purposes a series of comparable "K"
values have been computed in order that the effect of certain factors
upon these "K" values may be more readily discussed.
Table XXIV.—Least squares determination of "K" values defining the
rate of decrease of biochemical oxygen demand in the Scioto River—
Shadeville to Red Bridge. Mean values for 3 periods of varying pollution
Conditions
(1) Arithmetic average, thousand Ibs. per
day— 5-day B, O. D . .
(2) Arithmetic average, thousand Ibs. per
day— 5-day B. O. D., with "K" values
weighted according to average number
(3) Arithmetic average (1) corrected for
tributary inflow
(4) Geometric average, thousand Ibs. per
day— 5-day B. O. D
(5) Total carbonaceous demand based on
long-time B. 0. D. tests, thousand Ibs.
per day
0.078-0.216 c. f. s. per square
mile
9.9° C.
and
below
-0. 178
-.201
-.183
-.205
-.113
10-19.9° C.
-0. 152
-.129
-.160
-.220
-.090
20° C.
and
above
-0.063
+.017
-.067
-.155
-.037
0.217-0.431 c. f. s. per square
mile
9.9° C.
and
below
-0.326
-.364
-.333
-.454
-.223
10-19.9° C.
-0.010
-.018
-.020
-.172
+.100
20° C.
and
above
-0.049'
-.035
— .070
-.235
+.050
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58
Table XXIV.—Least squares determination of "K" values defining the
rate of decrease of biochemical oxygen demand in the Scioto River—-
Shadeville to Red Bridge. Mean values for 3 periods of varying pollu-
tion—Continued
Conditions
(1) Arithmetic average, thousand Ibs. per
day— 5-day B. O. D
(2) Arithmetic average, thousand Ibs. per
day — 5-day B. O. D., with "K" values
weighted according to average number
of samples ------
(3) Arithmetic average (1) corrected for
tributary inflow.
(4) Geometric average, thousand Ibs. per
day— 5-day B. O. D
(5) Total carbonaceous demand based on
long-time B. O. D. tests, thousand Ibs.
per day
0.432-1.234 c. f. s. per square
mile
9.9° C.
and
below
-0. 094
-.092
-.113
-.350
+.057
10-19.9° C.
-0. 292
-.323
-.327
-.419
-.147
20° O.
and
above
-0. 140
-.126
-.170
-.291
+.010
Average
9.9° C.
and
below
-0. 199
-.219
-.210
-.336
-.093
10-19.9° C.
-0. 151
-.157
-.169
-.270
-.046
20° O.
and
above
-0.084
-.048
-.102
-.227
+.007
All of the "K" values in table XXIV are based on thousands of
pounds of B. O. D. per day thus making the corrections for inflowing
B. O. D. between stations a matter of adding in the tributary con-
tributions in thousands of pounds per day. Each of the "K" values
in this table is the average of 3 values, from the three periods of varying
pollution at Columbus.
In the first horizontal line of figures in table XXIV are shown
the "K" values determined for the arithmetic averages, by temperature
and discharge ranges, of the total 5-day B. O. D. in this stretch of
river. The last three figures in each of the horizontal lines are the
average values of the three discharge ranges for the temperature shown.
Because of the relatively few sets of observations in some of the
temperature and discharge groups, weighted averages were computed
for the individual "K" values based on the assumption that the more
observations in each group, 'the more accurate would be the final
"K" value. These weighted averages of "K" values derived from the
arithmetic average of 5-day B. O. D. at each station, are given in the
second horizontal line in table XXIV. It will be observed that, while
fairly large deviations occur between comparative "K" values, the
net result is a slight increase in the temperature effect as shown in the
last three figures on this line.
Corrections for inflowing B. O. D., made only in the Shadeville and
Red Bridge stretch, were small as can be seen by referring to the third
line of table XXIV. The net effect of such corrections is a slight uni-
form increase in all "K" values in line 3 compared to line 1. Tribu-
tary corrections were made by deducting from stations below tribu-
taries, the estimated residual B. O. D. of that contributed, applying
the normal rates of decrease of B. O. D. in bottles for the given tempera-
ture and time of flow.
-------
59
Because of the presence of occasional "slugs" of pollution as indi-
cated by individual B. O. D. values greatly in excess of the average,
it was thought desirable to determine the effect of such "slugs" of
pollution by using geometric averages of the individual analyses at
each station instead of arithmetic averages as the former would tend
to minimize the effects of such occasional high figures on the averages.
The "K" values derived from these geometric averages are shown in
horizontal line 4 of table XXIV. In general, the "K" values thus
determined are higher than those in line 1 indicating the greater
frequency of unusually high values at the lower stations. The temper-
ature effect, although lessened, still retains its downward trend with
increasing temperatures.
INVERSE CORRELATION OF TEMPERATURE AND B. 0. D. REDUCTION
The temperature effect as can be noted in all of these calculations is
perhaps the most striking factor to be observed in table XXIV. Its
meaning is quite clear, i. e., under the various methods of calculation
employed, in the particular stretch of Scioto River used and as meas-
ured by 5-day results of the biochemical oxygen demand test, an ex-
tensive series of observations indicate that the B. O. D. decreases more
rapidly at low temperatures than at higher ones. The same tendency
is indicated between Higby and Lucasville as shown in figure 25. This
temperature effect observed is in contrast to the bacteriological results
on the same stretch and to the usually observed effect of greater
purification at higher temperature. The responsible factors seem
logically to fall into three classifications, (1) progressive second stage
oxidation in the B. O. D. test, (2) sedimentation and (3) other
possibilities.
(1) Progressive second stage oxidation in the B. 0. D. test.—One of
the most troublesome factors in application of the B. O. D. test has
always been the progressive oxidation of nitrogen from ammonia to
nitrate. This tends to give a secondary rise in the curve of oxidation
and the time and conditions under which this rise occurs are not com-
pletely understood. Any tendency to include a greater percentage
of nitrogenous oxidation in the 5-day B. O. D. determination at lower
stations over that in the B. 0. D. test at higher stations during warm
weather as compared to a decrease or absence of such effect at these
lower stations during cold weather would tend to reverse the normal
temperature effect of increasing purification rates with increasing
temperatures.
Recent work by Butterfield, Ruchhoft and McNamee (16) and
later work by Butterfield and Wattie (17) have shown that rates of
oxidation are dependent upon the numbers and character of bacteria
present, and the food supply as well as temperature. With this in
mind a comparative set of "K" values is included in table XXIV,
-------
60
horizontal line 5, based on a calculation of the total biochemical
oxygen demand using factors derived from 25 day B. O. D. tests made
daily on a single sample from each of the river stations in rotation.
It will be observed that the "K" values for decrease in river B. O. D.
in table XXIV, line 5, based on the long time B. O. D. tests are very
much less than other comparable values in the same table, although
still retaining a tendency for purification rates to be highest in the
winter. These calculations of "K" values in the river based on long
time B. O. D. tests, however, do indicate the tremendous effect of
assumptions as to the ratio of 5-day B. O. D. to total B. O. D. in
bottles on the derived rates of natural purification based upon the
5-day B. O. D. test.
In the determination of factors to be applied to the 5-day B. O. D.
to get the estimated total first stage B. O. D. in parts per million o*f a
given sample, a formulation of the deoxygenation curve of the sample
similar to that used in the analysis of rates of decrease of B. O. D.
in the river has been used. If y be taken as the B. O. D. of the sample
during time t, L the ultimate B. O. D., kl the reaction velocity con-
stant, then
2/=£(l-10-st) where &=.4343 ¥
Values of k (the deoxygenation constant) obtained from Scioto
River samples at the four sampling stations directly below Columbus
are presented in table XXV. As the number.of observations involved
Table XXV.— Values of k for river water samples at four stations as derived
from long time B. O. D. determinations
1st period:
May-August 1937 -..
September-November 1937.
2d period:
December 1937-April 1938
May-July 1938
Mean (weighted) .. _ . __
3d period:
August-December 1938
January- April 1939 .
May-August 1939
Mean (weighted)
Shade ville
0 143
.0473
.1155
0913
.138
.139
.139
.0432
.0892
.0742
.0654
Commercial
Point
0 1005
.0682
.1520
0972
.1488
.0406
.1041
.0222
.1036
.0812
.0544
South
Bloomfleld
0 0913
.0685
.0348
.0557
.1259
.0651
.1077
.0301
.1002
.0353
.0570
Red
Ridge
0 0978
.0344
.0515
.0574
.0714
.0364
.0603
.0443
.0688
.0375
.0522
was large some method of compositing seemed advisable. Accord-
ingly the samples were grouped as nearly as possible into seasonal
periods. This roughly divides them into temperature classifications
though it should be remembered that all samples were incubated at
20° C. throughout. That compositing of data is feasible is illustrated
in figure 26. Four individual sets of data are evaluated for k. The
-------
01
-------
62
mean of these is then found to be .1439. When the data are averaged
beforehand a k value of .1427 is obtained for the composite data'
The constant k was determined by the Thomas slope-method (18).
To simplify the calculations the data, observed at unequal time inter-
vals, were plotted and data at one day intervals obtained by interpola-
tion. In general, data up to and including the llth day were used in
computing k. When a second or nitrification stage obviously occurred
before the llth day the number of observations used was reduced to
eliminate this factor as much as possible. Such selection was not
always possible as some data did not follow the form of the usually
observed B. O. D. curve, with two distinct stages, but rather assumed
the appearance of a second or nitrification stage immediately.
This phenomenon was most frequently observed in the fall of the
year at higher temperatures and lower river stages. It was always
accompanied by a sudden rise in nitrites in the river. It appeared
more especially at South Bloomfield and Red Bridge. It is obviously
difficult and possibly misleading to set arbitrary limits as to which
data shall be included and which shall not, consequently, as it was
felt that all data carried the same statistical weight, no figures were
excluded. The effect of including these samples was to lower the
deoxygenation constants on the long time oxygen demand tests.
When factors derived from these long time tests are used to determine
total B. O. D. in the river, the rates of decrease of B. O. D. in the river
are very much lower as is clearly shown in line 5 of table XXIV.
An inspection of k values in table XXV reveals some definite trends.
The second (plain sedimentation) periods shows the highest k values,
the first (trickling filter) is lower and the third period (activated
sludge) is lowest of all. On the average, k values are lower during
the seasonal periods when the temperatures are highest. There is
also a definite indication that k values decrease at the downstream
stations. This suggests that these lower k values are due to the
purification having been carried into the nitrification stage during
these periods. The inclusion of a progressively greater proportion
of nitrogenous oxidation in the 5-day B. O. D. test at downstream
stations would tend to decrease the derived purification rates during
warm weather and low flows. This effect undoubtedly contributes
to the inverse correlation between temperature and purification.
On the whole, the evidence indicates that nitrification in bottles
during the 5-day B. O. D. test and also probably some variation in
the rate of oxidation of carbonaceous material made it very difficult
to estimate accurately, or follow closely, the total B. O. D. carried
by the Scioto.
(2) Sedimentation.—Sedimentation would, in general, be expected
to increase the "K" values in table XXIV with increasing tempera-
ture, an effect opposite to that found. However, the uppermost
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63
station, Shadeville, of those in the section of river under consideration,
Shadeville to Red Bridge, was eight river miles below the point of
pollution and a great deal of purification was accomplished in this
eight mile stretch immediately above Shadeville especially in warm
weather. It is, therefore, possible that sedimentation in the whiter
months was retarded and more occurred in the river below Shade-
ville than occurred in this stretch during warmer weather because
of the more rapid settling and purification which had taken
place above Shadeville during the warm months. Two sets of
observations were made in this section between Columbus and Shade-
ville which indicate very rapid rates of decrease of B. O. D. These
are shown in table XXVI. The figure given for mile 5.4, the Colum-
bus outfall, was estimated from the volume and B. O. D. of com-
posited effluent which was diluted about 25 percent by flow in the
river. The river at that time was receiving large quantities of waste
activated sludge from the Columbus sewage treatment plant. The
high purification between mile 5.4 and 6 was caused largely by
sedimentation in a river pool into which the Columbus plant effluent
discharged and in which the waste activated sludge settled rapidly.
Table XXVI.—B. O. D. at stations between Columbus and Shadeville for
two periods in November-December 1938
1938
Nov. 3-17
Dec 20-27
Tem-
pera-
ture °C.
13
3
Mile (5.4)
outfall
48.4 (est.)
5-daj
Mile 6
11.42
B. 0. D. p
MileS
6.09
36.61
p. m.
Mile 10
3.46
25.12
Shade-fille
(13)
3.40
21.30
(3) Other possibilities.—During warm weather and low stream flows
dissolved oxygen was frequently absent from Shadeville and as far
down as the mouth of Big Walnut Creek, where the volume of diluting
water from this tributary was usually sufficient to establish aerobic
conditions. In contrast, during winter, oxygen was present much
more frequently. It is difficult to estimate the extent to which anaero-
bic conditions retarded the actual purification rate in summer com-
pared to that in winter but it seems likely that there was such an effect.
The effect of warm weather upon the rate of decomposition of
sludge deposits which had formed during previous cold weather is
also very difficult to estimate but it seems likely that this effect was
minimized by high water in the late winter and spring which usually
scoured out the river bed rather thoroughly.
Another possible effect about which little is known, quantitatively,
is the production of B. 0. D. photosynthetically by plankton. This
would be evident in two ways: (a) the oxygen demand of these
-------
64
organisms during the night and at other times when they were not
producing oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis, and (6) the
release of carbohydrates and other synthesized products upon the
death of these organisms. Either of those sources might give an
appreciable oxygen demand, derived in the river, which would be
unaccounted for by ordinary methods of summarizing the total
oxygen demand in a river. Its effect would probably be greater in
the lower than in the upper part of the Shadeville to Red Bridge
stretch and would be evidenced by lower derived rates of purification
in this stretch during the period when photosynthetic plankton were
most abundant, i. e., during periods of high temperature and low
water. That plankton were most abundant at such times is shown
by figure 36, which gives the volumetric distribution of phytoplankton
at low stages in the Scioto.
DISSOLVED OXYGEN STUDIES
The dissolved oxygen content of the Scioto River under the varia-
tions of temperature, stream discharge and intensity of pollution at
Columbus forms a nicely graduated series of oxygen sag curves which
are shown in figures 27, 28, and 29. Only the lowest discharge range,
below 0.077 c. f. s. per square mile, and the highest discharge range,
above 1.235 c. f. s. per square mile are omitted from this series of
curves. Although there is always some decrease in dissolved oxygen
in the upper river, between Columbus and Circleville, it is small in
amount at low temperatures and high river stages (0.432-1.234 c. f. s.
per square mile). With progressively increasing temperatures and
decreasing river discharges the percentage of oxygen sag below
saturation values for atmospheric oxygen at those temperatures
becomes progressively greater. At highest temperatures dissolved
oxygen values become quite low at Shadeville regardless of river
stages (below 1.234 c. f. s. per square mile) during the second period.
Similarly, at lowest stages, 0.078 to 0.216 c. f. s. per square mile, oxygen
depletions occur at Shadeville at all temperatures except the lowest
temperature range, 9.9° C. and below. It can be safely stated that
the point of minimum dissolved oxygen concentration always occurs
above Shadeville, which is eight miles below the source of pollution
at Columbus, during warm weather and low flows, even though
observations in this stretch were quite limited. Higher discharges
and lower temperatures move the point of minimum dissolved oxygen
concentration downstream, probably below Shadeville, although
insufficient data are available above Shadeville to establish this
definitely. Midway between Shadeville and Commercial Point a
tributary, Big Walnut Creek, provides a large volume of high oxygen-
content diluting-water, necessitating a considerable correction to the
unmodified oxygen sag curve. Below the point of entrance of Big
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65
-------
66
-------
-------
68
Walnut Creek depletions of dissolved oxygen in the stream are rela-
tively infrequent and the progressive recovery in dissolved oxygen is
quite rapid.
There are relatively small decreases in dissolved oxygen at low
and intermediate stages below Circleville and Chillicothe (Paint
Creek) due to the added pollution received by the Scioto at these two
points. Saturation values for dissolved oxygen at stream tempera-
tures, based on the average of grouped results, were not observed at
Lucasville, the lowest station downstream. The dissolved oxygen at
Lucasville averages 76 percent to 97 percent of saturation tending to
be lower at high temperatures and high river stages. There is, at
times, considerable diurnal variation in D. O. as discussed later,
however, and the foregoing results must be interpreted in this light.
The effect of variations in the intensity and nature of pollution
received by the Scioto at Columbus is clearly shown in figures 27,
28, and 29, where the three periods of pollution are indicated by
different lines in the same temperature and discharge range for the
stretch of river from Columbus to Kellenberger Bridge. This effect
is covered more fully in the general discussion of the effect of changes
in sewage treatment at Columbus upon the river.
The corrections made at Commercial Point to compensate for dis-
solved oxygen contributed by Big Walnut are carried as a flat p. p. m.
correction down to Circleville and then eliminated. This is not strictly
accurate because the correction should be increased by additional
dilution and decreased by an indeterminate amount due to a pre-
sumably greater rate of oxygen absorption at the computed lower
oxygen saturation values.
Beaeration.—The calculation of reaeration rates from both experi-
mental data and from stream survey data has been intensively studied
by Streeter (19} (20) who has expressed the rate of atmospheric
reaeration, r0, as a maximum rate of absorption of oxygen in pounds
of oxygen per 1,000 square feet of stream surface per day. From these
studies by Streeter, the calculation of reaeration rates has been found
to be based largely on the following three factors:
(1) The replacement of dissolved oxygen used in satisfying the
biochemical oxygen demand of the stream between the points where
the rate of reaeration is to be calculated.
(2) The net changes in dissolved oxygen in the stream, corrected
for inflow and applied as an addition or subtraction to the amounts
obtained under (1).
(3) Revision of the rates so obtained to a standard basis (r0), the
maximum rate when no dissolved oxygen is present. This is done
by dividing the rates obtained under (1) and (2) by the average per-
centage of saturation deficiency. The above calculations have been
made for the three river stretches, Shadeville to Commercial Point,
-------
69
Commercial Point to South Bloomfield, and South Bloomfield to Red
Bridge for all temperature ranges and three discharge ranges as shown
in table XXVII and plotted in figures 30, 31 and 32.
Table XXVII.— Calculated maximum reaeration rates (r0) ire three stretches
of the Upper Scioto River based on three assumed rates of satisfaction
of the mean biochemical oxygen demand present
[(r0) in pounds per 1,000 square feet per day]
"K" value used
Low discharge:
2d period .. _
Average _
Intermediate
2d period.
Average
High discharge:
1st period
2d period
3d period
Low discharge'
1st period
3d period
Average
Intermediate:
1st period
3d period .
Average
High discharge'
1st period
3d period . . -
Average
Low discharge:
3d period
Average
Intermediate:
2d period - - _
Average
High discharge.
2d period
3d period
Average--. .-
9.9° C. and below
Shadeville-Commercial Point
Low
Negative
Negative
1 07
.36
4 1
Negative
7.2
3.8
16.4
37.6
21.6
25.2
High
Negative
0 37
1.41
.59
5.0
Negative
8.1
4.4
17.5
40.2
24 0
27.2
Actual
Negative '
1.7
2 18
1 3
9.5
2 5
9 9
7.3
22 2
52.6
32 0
35.6
Commercial Point-South
Bloomfleld
Low
0.26
.61
.58
.48
2.4
.7
1 9
1.7
2 3
4 8
Negative
1.7
High
0.45
1.30
.98
.91
2 8
1 9
3.1
2.6
3.5
7.6
1.1
4.1
Actual
0 82
2 45
1.63
1.63
5.1
3.9
5.3
4.8
6 8
18.2
7.1
10.7
South Bloomfleld-Red
Bridge
Low !
0.99
1.37
2.1
1.49
2.4
3.3
.8
2.2
2.3
4 7
13.5
6.8
High 3
1 19
1 92
2 5
1.87
2 8
4.5
1 7
3 0
3.5
7 6
15.7
8.9
Actual*
1.44
2.80
2 98
2.41
5.1
5.8
3.0
4.6
6.8
15 0
18.7
13.5
10° C.-19.90 C.
0.86
.68
.39
.64
.3
.6
2 4
1.1
Negative
.6
8.9
3 2
1.41
1.65
.71
1.26
1 1
1 2
2.9
1.7
Negative
1.4
9.6
3.7
1.32
1.45
.64
1.14
.97
1.1
2.8
1.62
.3
2
10 3
4 2
Negative
1 16
.015
.39
1.5
.7
.7
.97
.4
1 7
1.9
1.3
0.56
2.0
.30
.95
2.4
1.3
1.3
1.7
1.1
2.5
3.4
2 3
0 40
1.76
.23
.80
2 2
1.2
1.2
1 53
1 6
3 1
4.0
2.9
1.21
1.75
1.43
1.46
2.9
2.1
3 6
2.9
2.5
.9
5 6
3.0
1.56
2 38
1 67
1.87
3.7
2.7
3.8
3.4
3.2
1.7
6 5
3.8
1.51
2.24
1.64
1.80
3.6
2.6
4 1
3.4
3.6
1.9
6.9
4.1
20° C. and above
0 32
.78
.8
.63
.05
.7
.3
.35
1.1
Negative
.1
.40
0.94
1.97
1 58
1.50
.6
1.6
.8
1.03
1.9
Negative
.9
.93
0 17
.50
.66
.44
Negative
.5
.17
.22
1.1
Negative
.13
.41
0.73
.94
1.11
.93
.7
.9
.5
.70
.5
.2
.4
.37
1.26
1.84
1.76
1.62
1 2
1 8
1.0
1.33
1.4
1 3
1.1
1.23
0.55
72
.90
.72
.50
.7
.36
.52
.6
.5
.5
.53
1.49
1.69
3.08
2.09
1.2
2 6
2.0
1.9
2 4
4.8
2.1
3.1
1.84
2 26
3.62
2.57
1.6
3.3
2.4
2.4
3.0
5.5
2.7
3.7
1.38
1.50
2.92
1 93
1.1
2.4
1.9
1.8
2 5
4.7
2 2
3 1
1 Negative values obtained.
a "K" of 0.1 temperature coefficient Kr^Kw (1.047"°).
' "K" of 0.2 temperature coefficient KT=KX (1 MlT~2a).
* Measured rate of B. 0. D. adjusted for variations with temperature and discharge.
200664—41-
-------
70
100
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Stream Pollux/on Invesiigdlions 3/3.
CirKtnn&ri t Ohio
FIGURE30. CALCULATED MAXIMUM REAERATION RATES (R0) IN THE SCIOTO RIVER
BETWEEN SHADEVILLE AND COMMERCIAL. POINT
-------
71
100
^ so
3:
10
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Commercial Pninf- -fa 3o Bloomfiek
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Velocity in Miles per Hour
U.5 Public Health Service
itregrn Pollution Investigations Sh.
Cincinri&fy : Ohio
FIGURE 31. CALCULATED MAXIMUM REAERATION RATES (R0) IN THESCIOTO RIVER
BETWEEN COMMERCIAL POINT AND SOUTH BLOOMFIELD.
-------
72
SO
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Velocity in Miles per Hour
(7^ Public Heslth Service
Stream Pollution Investigations dta.
Cincmnatr ! Ohio
FIGURE 32. CALCULATED MAXIMUM REAERATION RATES (R0) IN THE SCIOTO RIVER
BETWEEN SOUTH BLOOMFIELD AND RED BRIDGE.
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73
As might be expected from a study of the rates of B. O. D. decrease
in the Scioto, part 1 of the calculation of rates of reaeration proved
to be the most difficult and unsatisfactory section of these calculations.
The rates of B. O. D. satisfaction, or the actual rate of oxygen demand
upon the stream, differs from the rate of B. O. D. decrease by such
factors as sedimentation, oxidation of bottom deposits, and oxidation
of B. O. D. derived from photosynthetic activity of plankton within
the river stretch, all of which are unmeasured factors. Under these
conditions it was decided to compute the reaeration rates from the
mean 2 B. O. D. for a given period, temperature range, and discharge
range using 3 bases of assumed rates of satisfaction of biochemical
oxygen demand. The three rates of satisfaction in B. 0. D. were
used in order that the effect of these three assumptions upon the com-
puted rates of reaeration could be evaluated. The first of these
three assumed rates of satisfaction of oxygen demand was based
on a "K" value of .100 at 20° C. with a temperature variation Kr—
KW (1.047r~20) giving for the three average temperatures 5.0° C.,
15.2° C., 23.7° C., lvalues of 0.0502, O.C8C2 rxd 0.1184, respectively.
This is the normal range of oxidation rates for river water and sewage
in bottles and these rates have also been observed in larger streams.
The second assumption was a "K" value of 0.200 at 20° C., with the
same temperature relationship, which gave rates of B. O. D. satis-
faction double those under the first assumption or "K" values of
0.1004, 0.1604 and 0.2368 at temperatures of 5.0° C., 15.2° C. and
23.7° C., respectively. Inasmuch as higher rates of purification have
generally been observed in smaller streams, it was thought possible
that a deoxygenation constant of 0.2 at 20° C. might serve as an upper
limit for oxidation in the Scioto under stream flow conditions, a
supposition which now seems questionable. The third set of assumed
rates of B. O. D. satisfaction are based on the adjusted "K" values
obtained in the stream for rates of B. O. D. decrease based on arith-
metic averages of the B. O. D. in each of the temperature and dis-
charge ranges as shown in table XXIV, line 3. Adjustment was made
for the change in mean values with both temperature and discharge,
the adjusted values used being given in table XXVIII.
Table XXVIII.—Adjusted "K" values based on actual B. O. D. decreases in
the Shadeville to Red Bridge stretch
Discharge range c. f. s. per sq. mile
0 078-0 216 ,
0.217-0.431 .-
0 432-1 234
Temperature range
9.9° C. and
below
0.180
.185
.266
10° C.-19.9"
C.
0.144
.148
.214
20° C. and
above
0.087
.090
.129
! The geometric mean of the four station arithmetic averages of individual analyses in each group.
-------
74
The effect of assumptions regarding rate of satisfaction of bio-
chemical oxygen demand are readily observed in figures 30 to 32 as
roughly parallel lines defining rates of reaeration (r0). Semilog paper
was used in plotting figures 30 to 32 largely to enable the inclusion of
all points on a single sheet of reasonable size.
In computing the net change in amount of oxygen carried by the
stream a correction was made for inflow of Big Walnut Creek in the
Shadeville to Commercial Point stretch and it seems likely that the
high values for r0 obtained at low temperatures in this stretch were
due at times to the application of low values for this correction. The
frequency, in the Shadeville to Commercial Point stretch, of r0
values listed as "negative" where the increase in dissolved oxygen in
the stream was greater than the computed oxygen utilization for that
stretch would indicate that the correction applied for Big Walnut
inflow was too great at other times.
Where the percentage saturation deficiency was quite high, the
r0 value obtained was only slightly affected by slight changes in the
dissolved oxygen and, as might be expected, much more stable and
uniform values were obtained, this being the case at high and inter-
mediate temperature ranges in all of the river stretches. The unusu-
ally high values obtained for r0 at low temperatures may be largely
due to the application of a high multiplication factor which would,
especially at low temperatures, increase several-fold the calculated
rates of oxygen absorption, -thus magnifying any slight errors in
oxygen measurement.
Although the computed rates of reaeration in general vary quite
widely, they show a tendency to increase with increasing velocity of
flow except in the highest temperature range where the values obtained
at low velocity in general tend to be somewhat larger than those at
higher velocities. In the conditions under which it occurs, this would
correspond to the frequently observed effect of photosynthetic
plankton in providing reaeration by biological means.
-------
EFFECT OF CHANGES IN SEWAGE TREATMENT AT COLUMBUS UPON
THE SCIOTO, AS INDICATED BY CHEMICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL
TESTS
COLUMBUS SEWAGE TREATMENT
As has been previously pointed out, the primary purpose of this
survey was to measure, quantitatively, the changes occurring in the
Scioto River, following changes in sewage treatment at Columbus.
A detailed description of the operation of the Columbus plant during
the three periods of varying operation seems therefore advisable.
Plant operation during these three periods was not by any means
constant. Frequent interruption and changes, the breaking in of
the new plant and the by-passing of raw sewage made impractical a
consideration of these minor changes other than their use in estimating
the average loading on the river during the three periods. Although
a variety of information regarding Columbus plant operation was
available and a large number of analyses were made of Columbus
sewage, both at Columbus and at the Chillicothe laboratory, the most
accurate method of estimating the load on the river was by deducting
from the total estimated raw sewage load in the Columbus area the
average amount removed by the treatment process then in operation,
taking into account the period of time during which the treatment
plant was by-passed.
The total carbonaceous B. 0. D. of the raw sewage at Columbus
was estimated at approximately 115,000 pounds per day, or 0.38 Ib.
per capita per day, derived from a 5-doy B. O. D. of 79,000 pounds.
It is estimated that during the first period, February 11, 1937-
November 30, 1937, an average of roughly half of the sewage originat-
ing in the Columbus area was passed through the overloaded trickling
niters of the old Columbus plant, and the average load on the river
was estimated at about 45,000 pounds per day of 5-day B. 0. D. or
66,000 pounds total carbonaceous B. 0. D.
During the second period, which extended from December 1, 1937
to July 15, 1938, most of the sewage was given primary treatment
only in the new plant with approximately 35 percent removal of
B. 0. D. Some raw sewage was also by-passed during this period
and it is estimated that the sewage load on the river was 55,000 Ibs.
of 5-day B. 0. D. per day or 80,000 Ibs. of total carbonaceous demand.
This gives the B. 0. D. loading during the second period as about 120
percent of that during the first period. While the total B. O. D.
load of raw sewage of 115,000 Ibs. per day may be somewhat in error,
(75)
-------
76
the estimate of relative loading during the first and second period
was based upon the same total raw sewage load and should, it is
believed, be less in error.
During the third period, it was not possible to obtain what could
be regarded as an.accurate estimate of the average B. O. D. loading
upon the stream. This was due to the great variations in loading
which occurred and to the lack of samples during certain critical
periods. River conditions were good when the plant was operating
properly and the stations below Shadeville were, in general, much
less affected by pollution occurring during the third period than by
that occurring during the first and second periods. This may, how--
ever, have been partly due to the character of the polluting substances
discharged during the third period, these being largely activated sludge
particles which, during low stream flows, settled in the pool into which
they were discharged. Conditions in this pool which, in effect, acted
as a large septic tank, were quite bad at times but the river showed
little effect from the pollution beyond the first two or three miles
below this pool.
COMPARISON OF RIVER CONDITIONS DURING THE THREE PERIODS
While there are a number of ways of comparing the quality of
stream water in the river below Columbus during the three periods
of pollution, it is highly desirable that such methods should be as
stable as possible in order to eliminate many of the variations which
occur in the base data. One of the most stable of these is a-comparison
of the geometric means of the averages (arithmetic) of observations
at the four stations, Shadeville, Commercial Point, South Bloomfield,
and Red Bridge, for each temperature and discharge range group.
This method eliminates many of the large variations in the base
data as it measures the percentage difference between the three
periods under comparable conditions of flow and temperature. Such
a calculation is a general measure of conditions during the three
periods in the stretch, Shadeville to Red Bridge, the stretch in which
the most intensive sampling was conducted.
In table XXIX are shown the comparative conditions in the stretch
of river between Shadeville and Red Bridge as observed during the
three periods of varying pollution at Columbus. The figures given
in table XXIX express the ratio, in percent, of the B. O. D. and
bacteria, in the second and third periods to that in the first period.
They are derived from the arithmetic averages of thousands of
pounds of total B. O. D. per day and the arithmetic average of
quantity units for bacteria.
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77
Table XXIX.—Percentage of bacteria and B. O. D. present in the Shadeville
to Red Bridge stretch in the second and third periods compared to the
first period
PERCENTAGE OF FIRST PERIOD
Temperature range
Period
Discharge range c. f. s. per sq. mile
0.078-0.216
0.217-0.431 .
0.432-1 234^. ..
0.078-0.216
0.217-0.431 -
0.432-1 234 ..
0.078-0.216
0.217-0.431
0.432-1.234
9.9° C. and
below
2d
3d
10°-19.9° C.
2d
3d
20° C. and
above
2d
3d
Average
2d
3d
Total B. O. D.
300
155
144
116
89
99
223
81
114
51
55
77
190
175
130
89
81
82
238
137
129
85
75
86
37° Count
174
187
98
35
147
68
398
70
69
25
17
48
178
140
18
21
33
28
250
132
62
27
65
48
Coliform bacteria
302
295
104
38
142
41
302
181
175
4
36
148
540
762
142
40
48
56
381
413
140
27
75
82
As would be expected, there is a general tendency for the percentage
differences between the three periods to decline rather sharply with
increases in discharge, the ratio of the second to the first period de-
creasing, and the ratio of the third to the first increasing, toward 100
percent. This is due largely to the increased quantities of B. O. D.
and bacteria carried at higher stream flows and the consequent lessen-
ing in effect of the pollution added at Columbus at these higher flows.
Based on the Columbus Treatment Plant data, there was added to
the river an estimated 66,000 Ibs. per day total carbonaceous B. O. D.
during the first period and 80,000 pounds per day during the second,
a ratio of 121 percent, compared to the 238 percent B. O. D. ratio as
indicated for the lowest discharge range in table XXIX. Even allow-
ing for the high variations in the base data and for a considerable error
in the estimate of the average B. O. D. discharge at Columbus, it
seems that conditions in the river during the second period were much
worse than would be expected from the relative amounts of B. O. D.
discharged during the first and second periods. This discrepancy
would seem to be largely due to the nature of the substances discharged,
namely, a partially oxidized sewage during the first period, as against
a sewage receiving only primary sedimentation during the second
period. However, the additional 20 percent of B. O. D. added may
have impaired the processes of natural recovery by creating anaerobic
conditions more frequently during the second period. A comparison
of the individual ratios in the three temperature ranges would indicate
that impairment of natural recovery processes by the occurrence of
-------
78
anaerobic conditions was not the primary cause of this discrepancy.
The individual ratios of second to first period B. O. D. in the lowest
discharge range are 300 percent, 223 percent, and 190 percent for the
low, intermediate, and high temperature ranges, respectively—that is,
a decrease of ratios with increasing temperatures, whereas the fre-
quency of occurrence of anaerobic conditions increases with increasing
temperatures.
The ratios of bacteria and B. O. D. present during the third period
in the river stretch, Shadeville to Red Bridge, compared to that
present in the first period averages, in the lowest discharge range, was
27 percent for both coliforms and bacteria on agar at 37° C. and
85 percent for B. O. D. The increasing trend of the ratios with in-
creasing discharges is not so uniform as was the decreasing trend during
the second period, but variations in the strength of effluent of the
Columbus plant during the third period were much greater than
during either the first or second period and such a result was to be
expected. From the best evidence available, the B. O. D. of Columbus
effluent during the third period averaged somewhat over half that
during the first period, which would be about in line with conditions
found in the river.
DISSOLVED OXYGEN
A study of the dissolved oxygen profiles of the river as shown in
figures 27, 28, and 29 reveals a nicely graduated series of oxygen sag
curves between Columbus and Circleville. In general, these curves
bear out the river conditions as indicated in table XXIX, the second
period showing the worst river conditions, the first period intermediate
conditions and the third period, the bestriver conditions. BelowCircle-
ville, the second sag in dissolved oxygen, being due largely to wastes
discharged at Circleville, would not necessarily follow the same pattern
as was found above Circleville although the same periods were used
in grouping the data. In a number of instances, however, a high or
a low degree of pollution upstream from Circleville carried through
and seemed to materially affect the dissolved oxygen conditions below
Circleville.
In a consideration of the average of a series of dissolved oxygen
figures, an accurate picture of river conditions would, however, fre-
quently not be presented due to the inclusion of some figures where
the dissolved oxygen was zero. This would be especially true where
the average value for dissolved oxygen was less than two or three
parts per million and the variation in oxygen demand loading of the
river was quite high. Another factor tending to make the dissolved
oxygen picture inaccurate is the large diurnal variation in dissolved
oxygen which occurs at low stages in the river through photosynthetic
production of dissolved oxygen by algae. This diurnal variation in
-------
79
dissolved oxygen, when present, would make the D. O. figure obtained
dependent upon the time of day when the sample was collected. In
order to obtain minimum dissolved oxygen values it would be necessary
to collect the samples at about dawn. A sample collected at that
hour would not, however, represent dissolved oxygen levels due to
atmospheric reaeration alone, as the stream would not have become
stabilized before the effect of photosynthesis would again become
apparent.
-------
PLANKTON STUDIES
TECHNIQUE
The Scioto River plankton was studied at weekly intervals, except
that at the beginning the first four samplings were two weeks apart.
There were 13 sampling stations along the river as shown on the map
(figure 1) and, in addition, the tributary creeks were studied after
the work was well under way. Each of the 6 larger creeks was sampled
near its mouth, but sufficiently far back so that no influence of the
river was noticeable.
Samples for examination were taken in the current, 250 ml. being
the quantity used. No net samples were taken, and the studies of
bottom materials are reported in the following section. On alternate
weeks a trip was usually made to the field laboratory at Chillicothe
and the samples were studied in fresh condition with the organisms
alive, but on the intervening weeks the samples were preserved with
formalin and sent to the Cincinnati laboratory for examination. All
organisms were concentrated by centrifuging. Methods of handling
and enumeration have been discussed in another paper (21) and
probably need no mention here. The river was sampled on 107
occasions, but because of loss, turbidity, and various other reasons
the number of samples was not the same for all stations; the total
examined for each station is shown in Table XXX.
(80)
-------
81
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-------
85
All organisms were counted. A few species could not be identified,
even to genus in a very few cases. Some new genera and species
were found; most of them have been described elsewhere (0#) (23).
Those not known were given provisional names so they could be
counted. In some cases e. g., Chlamydomonas, only the genus was
given recognition, because it was impractical to separate species in
the rapidity of counting. A few genera, as the "small colorless"
flagellates were similarly counted, for, except by very careful examina-
tion which precludes counting, it is not feasible to separate Bodo,
Monas, Oicomonas, Pleuromo-ims, etc. at all times.
All groups of Protozoa except the Sporozoa were found. Of the
fungi, Spirillum, Spirochaeta, Chromatium, Blastocaulis, Sphaerotilus,
Beggiatoa and yeasts were counted. No brown or red algae were
found, but blue green algae were abundant, and all groups of the
green algae except the Chloromonadida were found. In all, 448
individual species, genera or groups of organisms were enumerated
from the Scioto plankton alone, a far greater group than has ever
been listed from any other river. Space will not permit consideration
of more than a few of these in this report, but the data nevertheless
comprise a fundamental basis for future river studies. It has been
found that many rivers of the Ohio Basin, from which it has been
possible to get samples, have shown a large number of species and a
vast number of individuals, thus agreeing with, and substantiating
the results of the Scioto studies. Because both the species list for the
rivers examined, and the total numbers of organisms found, are far
in excess of previously studied rivers, it is believed the data herein
presented are of importance. All data are on file in the Cincinnati
laboratory, and available for reference and possible future publication.
STATUS OF CERTAIN PLANKTON ORGANISMS AS INDICATORS
The primary consideration in this study is whether or not the
plankton reflect the sanitary condition of the river, and if so, what
changes in the river are indicated by the plankton during the periods
when the Columbus sewage was being treated by trickling filter, by
primary treatment, and after the complete treatment was begun.
This necessitated a review of the status of certain plankton organisms
as indicator types, because the results obtained were not always in
agreement with the ecologic classification of other workers.
A number of those organisms occurring most abundantly have been
selected and their distribution is given at certain stations in table
XXX. The table is too brief to show fully how their ecologic classifi-
cation was arrived at, but they are therein shown as most abundant
in clean water, in sewage polluted water, or indifferent. It seemed
best to avoid the use of strict classifications as "oligosaprobic" for it
200664—41 7
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86
has been found that plankton organisms may occur to some extent
in almost any water which does not represent an extreme of some sort,
This is more true of a stream than a pool or lake, for plankton organ-
isms in a stream are unable to migrate other than as the current flows.
It is, therefore, their abundance in a stream sector where there is
sufficient time, either because of slow current or still areas, for them
to multiply, which becomes significant.
Many of the 448 species or groups of organisms found in the Scioto
plankton were found only a few times and in small numbers. Table
XXX lists only those which occurred with the greatest frequency
and includes representatives of all the important groups. The
table lists some 53 organisms, or groups of organisms, so only about
20 percent of the microscopic organisms occur with sufficient fre-
quency in the river to be used as indicator organisms. The protozoa
are sometimes spoken of as cosmopolitan in distribution, an idea
which is probably correct in its broad sense, that is, a given species
might occur in a stagnant pool in America, Australia, and Africa.
But the microclimatic factors governing the appearance of a species
in a particular pool are very poorly known for most protozoa and
algae, and as shown by Lackey (#4)> only a few species of protozoa
exhibit such a wide tolerance of environmental fluctuation as to be
frequently found in almost any sample from a natural pool or stream.
Table XXX enables the use of the following organisms or groups
of organisms as thriving best in polluted water:
Sphaerotilus natans. Minute colorless flagellates".
Oscillatoria spp. Anthophysa vegetans.
Euglena pisciformis. Bodo candatus.
Euglena polymorpha. Otcomonas termo.
Euglena viridis. Potcriodendron petiolatum.
Chlamydobotrys spp. All Rhizomastigina.
Spondylomorum sp. Rhizopoda except Nuclearia.
Eudorina elegans. Glaucoma spp.
Colpidium spp. Paramecium spp.
Pandorina morum. Vorticellida generally.
This list, however, does not include many organisms used by
Whipple (25) and others to indicate pollution. Thus the Volvocales
as a whole and the Euglenidae generally are so used by Whipple.
The fallacy of this view is at once apparent when one considers that
Volvox usually attains its great blooms in pools or small lakes mostly
free from sewage pollution, and that Euglena mutabilis is rarely
found except in highly acid waters. Unfortunate for this view,
too, is the fact that the highest concentrations of Euglena polymorpha
that the writer has over seen have not been where sewage was present,
but on ponds. Nevertheless the presence of most of these forms in
abundance in a stream probably indicates sewage. Their maxima
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87
in the Scioto are attained in the Shatleville-South Bloomfield stretch,
and they diminish downstream.
A small group of about 11 genera occur in large numbers both in
the polluted sector and the clean water sector. This includes all
species of Euglena. After formalin preservation, large numbers cannot
be identified to species, and considering the genus Euglena as a whole,
numbers are very high from Shadeville to Kilgour: the highest aver-
age is at Kellenberger, but there are almost as many at Red Bridge.
This sustained average over a long stream stretch for all species of
the genus bears out the contention, herein presented, that the entire
group may not be considered as indicators of pollution. In this
same class of possibly indifferent organisms must be included two
other green Euglenophyceae which have appeared in large numbers:
1 rachelomonas urceolata and T. crebea. Other genera which behaved
likewise are Navicula spp., Cyclidium spp., Plalteria grandinella,
Strombidium gyrans, Heteromastix angulata, Thoracomonas phacotoides
and Collodictyon triciliatum. These last 3 belong to the Volvocales
and still further support the contention advanced above.
The list of forms favoring clean water is much larger, and could
include more of the Chlorophyceae than are shown in table XXX.
Blastocaulis sphaerica, the stalked bacterium, has its high peak far
downstream. Lyngbya contorta, one of the blue green algae, behaves
similarly. Five plankton diatoms are in this category: Asterionella
formosa, Synedra ulna, Nitzschia acicularis, Cyclotella meneghiniana,
and Melosira granulata. Cryptomonas erosa, Chroomonas spp., and
Rhodomonas lacustris the three common Cryptophyceae, usually high
at Columbus, drop in the Shadeville area, then rise to their peak
downstream, as do all of the Chrysophyceae. Four genera of these
last, Chrysococcus, Chromulina, Dinobryon and Mallomonas have
occurred in large numbers, and no species or genus of Chrysophyceae
even in small numbers, has shown a preference for foul water. Figures
33 and 34 show the behavior of the genera Cryptomonas and Chryso-
coccus, treated more fully in the next section. Carteria cordijormis,
Phacotus lenticularis and the colorless Polytoma granulifera are the
only Volvocales whose reaction sharply favors clean water. Desma-
rella moniliformis, Domatomonas cylindrica and Bicoeca lacustris are
bacterium-eating colorless flagellates which prefer clean water. Of
the Sarcodina, Nuclearia simplex has seemed to prefer clean water in
the Scioto despite its occurrence in sewage. The Heliozoa occur
most frequently in the lower river, and the four ciliate genera Codo-
nella, Strobilidium, Tintinnidium and Urotricha are most abundant
either at Columbus or far downstream.
None of the plankton Chlorophyceae have their maximum in the
Shadevillc-Red Bridge area. Several species are shown by table
XXX to have been present in large numbers during the survey. For
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90
the most part their incidence is seasonal. None of those which
occurred in quantity showed a decided drop from Columbus to Shade-
ville. One group, consisting of Golenkinia pavcispina, Lagerheimia
longiseta, Quadrigula closteroides, Tetrastrum punctiformis, T. stauro-
geniforme, Tetraedron trigonum and Tetmllantos lagerheimii showed a
pronounced drop below Columbus, until Kellenberger, but they were
never very abundant. The behavior of the more numerous ones as
well as some other organisms (Blastocaulis sphaerica, Lyngbya contorta,
for example) raises the question of whether it is pollution which is
responsible for their low numbers at Shadeville or age of water which
accounts for their occurrence in large numbers in the lower river.
In other words, they show a steady increase which begins at Columbus
and, despite pollution, continues downstream, the peak being attained
in clean water. Forms behaving in this manner need more investi-
gation before their ecologic status relative to the sanitary condition
of the river can be sharply defined.
POSSIBLE EFFECTS OP DIFFERENT TREATMENT OF COLTJMBTJS SEWAGE
The above comprises a brief report of the plankton content of the
river and the influence of the river on that plankton. It is more
illuminating than the results of the three periods of treatment of the
Columbus sewage on the plankton. Separation of seasonal, and
other factors, such as dilution plus turbidity caused by heavy rainfall
in the late spring and early summer of 1939, from the methods of
sewage disposal which were used, is difficult. During the period when
the trickling filter was being used about 25 sets of samples were
examined: about 28 while the sewage was getting primary treatment
only; and about 52 while complete treatment was given. Figure 33
shows the behavior of Cryptomonas during this time. Two significant
points stand out: (1) The average number at Shadeville was more
than twice as great for the last of these three periods than for the first.
(2) The decrease from numbers present at Columbus was much less
after the trickling filter was discontinued than before. Figure 34
gives a similar comparison for Chrysococcus. The results are almost
the same, as far as Shadeville is concerned. In these two cases, the
immediate rise was largely due to Big Walnut Creek, which contri-
buted a large population of each just below Shadeville. For Chryso-
coccus this rise was only temporary except for the period of primary
treatment alone, and the real rise began at Red Bridge, despite the
effect at Circleville, while for Cryptomonas the Circleville wastes
produced a slight drop in average numbers. Compared to the num-
bers present downstream, the results at Shadeville are disappointing
as showing that the effects of different treatment are not very well
differentiated. These results could be applied to other species.
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91
Thus the pollutional organisms Bodo caudatus and Trepomonas rotans
were most abundant during the period when primary treatment alone
was in use, but at one time after the activated sludge process was in
operation, Trepomonas occurred at Shadeville, Commercial Point
and South Bloomfield, and there is a possibility that the river was
getting much sludge at that time. Phacotus lenticuiaris was most
abundant during the period of primary treatment and least abundant
while the trickling filter was in operation and the same was true of
Bicoeca lacustris, which normally is most abundant in clean water.
Poteriodendron was most abundant after the activated sluge plant
was put into operation, probably because it was a common inhabitant
of the aeration tanks. Domatomonas cylindrica appeared in large
numbers at Shadeville, whereas almost none had been previously
taken there; it seems to be a clean water organism, but if the numbers
above Shadevilie were high, enough could have persisted to account
for the status observed. The green algae Ankistrodesmus, Coel-
astrum, Dictyosphaerium, Micmctinium and Scenedesmus all showed
greater increases at Shadeville during the time of primary sedimenta-
tion in 1938, than while the trickling filter was operating in 1937,
and continued their large numbers, although in lesser degree, in 1939,
•during activated sludge treatment. On the whole the plankton fail
to show sharply the differences in the condition of the river during
the three periods when the Columbus sewage was receiving three
different types of treatment. It is known that some plankton, green
and blue green algae, will thrive in raw sewage, but it has also been
shown (26) that Scenedesmus will diminish and tend to die out in
sewage after two or three days, probably because of the heavy bac-
terial growth. Such increases in phytoplankton as have been found
are undoubted evidence of the decrease of organic matter and bac-
terial numbers. It is disappointing, however, that the three types
of treatment of the Columbus sewage are not more clearly reflected
in the behavior, quantity and quality of the Scioto plankton. It may
be that too sudden changes have been expected, and that a river,
despite floods, enormous sudden changes in silt content, organic
loading, etc., is basically resistant, and changes slowly, and that its
plankton inhabitants too, while bowing before these storms, change
• slowly.
THE VOLTJME OF PLANKTON
As all livmg cells, or those that appeared to be living, were counted
in this study, some rather imposing figures were obtained. Numbers
of organisms per liter can very easily mount to huge figures in the case
of very small organisms. Kofoid (27), counting the filter paper
catch of Cyclotella meneghiniana in the Illionois found as many as
2,888 per ml. at one time, a number comparable to those found in the
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92
Scioto, although four times this number have been recorded on several
occasions.
Quite obviously some of the importance of these populations is
dependent on the size of the individual cells. Kofoid found that when
he encountered one cladoceran ("water flea") he encountered 86,000
algal cells and 18,000 protozoan cells; the whole population represented
to him a more or less balanced biological assemblage. For the pur-
poses of this survey, it has been found desirable to reduce these
species populations to a comparable basis by estimating their volumes
in parts per million. The protoplasmic bodies of these water dwelling
forms are probably between 95 and 99 percent water. One determi-
nation made in the Cincinnati laboratory gave 2 percent as the dry
weight of a mixed but relatively pure plankton population. For each
of the more than 400 species encountered on this survey an average
form has been selected: sphere, double cone, ellipse, etc., and enough
Scioto River specimens measured to give average dimensions to each
of the species. This permitted a computation of its size in cubic mi-
crons, and as 1,000,000 cubic microns per liter is equivalent to 1 part
per million by volume, it is possible to express the population figures
in parts per million by volume. If it is desired to express results in
cubic standard units, as employed by Purdy (28), it is only necessary
to multiply p. p. m. by 125 to obtain the number of cubic standard
units. To those who find a large chance for error in such treatment,
it can only be said that there seems to be no better way of comparing
the relationships between say, 5,000 Chrysococcus rufescens and 2
Euglena viridis per ml.
The species encountered have also been classified as to whether they
are holophytic, holozoic, or saprozoic in their nutrition. Such a
classification presents many difficulties. Possession of chlorophyll—
and this is true of the blue, olive green, brown, yellow, and red forms-
tags an organism as holophytic. But many of the colored flagellates,
as Ochromonas or various dinoflagellates, ingest solid food too. Also,
these photosynthetic forms presumably liberate C02 during darkness.
Separation of the holozoic and saprozoic forms is largely based on
many years of personal observation, but also on the works of Sandon
(29} and von Brand (SO). It is probably not as useful as the former
distinction, and is also subject to exception; for example Euglena
agilis, green, thrives on a dextrose-peptone solution, as well as in river
water, but it also loses its color in some organic media, hence is either
holophytic or saprophytic.
Using these distinctions, the organisms at each station on each sam-
pling date were computed in parts per million by volume. The
greatest holophytic population was 32,933 p. p. m. at Chillicothe on
September 24, 1937; the highest holozoic was 16,040 p. p. m. at Kel-
lenberger Bridge, January 20, 1938; and the highest saprozoic 2,127
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93
p. p. m. at the same station on the same date. This means that at
Chillicothe on September 24, 1937, the river contained over 3 percent
of green cells by volume. Actually, at that time the water had a
green color. These figures do not approach pure cultures; Euglena
agilis in culture is often so dense a single drop is bright green.
The green cells usually make up the larger part of the catch, and
their volumes are three to five times that of the colorless cells. The
implied exceptions are in the low temperature ranges, 9.9° C. and
below, and as illustrated in table XXXI (which is an average of the
volume in parts per million of the three types of plankton at one of
the river stations), the colorless cells are usually more abundant then.
This table serves to show two other points about the volume distribu-
tion of the three plankton groups. One is the effect of temperature on
the volume of plankton and the other the effect of volume of flow.
Three temperature ranges were considered; 9.9° C. and below; 10.0'
to 19.9° C.; and 20° C. plus. Table XXXII shows at what tempera-
ture and what flow range each of the 13 stations had its maximum
(1), intermediate (2), and lowest (3), average volume of zoo- and
phyto-plankton. There was no occurrence of the maximum volume
of phytoplankton in the low temperature range until flood stages in
the river, then the maximum occurred twice in the temperature range
9.9° C. and below. The phytoplankton maximum occurred only five
times in the next temperature range, but at 20° C. or higher it occurred
50 times. This agrees with the warm weather and maximum light
occurrence of green algae. Zooplankton maxima were 17 in the low
temperature range, 13 in the middle and 28 in the high range. Both
zooplankton and phytoplankton favored the low water stages. For
distribution of this sort there are easily recognizable favorable factors;
in addition to those mentioned for phytoplankton they are: age of
water, clarity of water, greater constancy of environment and such.
It does not follow that this concentration of plankton at low flow and
high temperatures means that the stream is at its greatest oxidative
rate, but it certainly has a high oxygen resource at such times, being
frequently supersaturated with oxygen. At low flows there is probably
a greater dependence on phytoplankton as a reoxygenating agent than
at high flows. This is because the stream surface is smaller, tempera-
tures tend to be higher (although extreme low flows have persisted
until the end of December) there is less dilution, and there seems to
be a somewhat greater volume of zooplankton. A close correlation
is found at low flows, and temperatures above 10° C., between the
oxygen content and the phytoplankton content, as can be seen by
comparing figures 27 and 36. Notable discrepancies are the much
greater fall of the former at Shadeville (due probably to the high
B. O. D. of the entering sewage) and the pronounced drop below Circle-
ville, also greater than the drop in phytoplankton. At low flows and
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94
low temperatures, there is not a close correlation, and it is evident that
factors other than phytoplankton (i. e. temperature) materially affect
the oxygen content of the river. Below 10° C. there is a greater per-
cent of dissolved oxygen in the lower river, despite the much smaller
volume of phytoplankton, and a larger volume of zooplankton than
between 10° and 20° C.
Table XXXI.—The averaged volume, in p. p. m., of plankton at Commercial
Point for 3 temperature and 5 flow ranges
Flow range
c. f. s.
0-175
178-490 . ..
491-982
883-2800
2810+
Temperature range
9.9° C. and below -
100-19.9° C ._
20 0° C. and above .
9.9° C. and below
100-199° C
20 0° C. and above -
9.9° C. and below ---
10 0-19.9° C
20.0" C. and above -
9.9° C. and below -
10 0-19 9° C _._ ._ .
20 0° C. and above -
9 9° C. and below
10.0-19.9° C
20.0° C. and above -
Holophytic
plankton
81.6
369.0
2 250 0
270 0
1, 640. 0
5 300 0
175 0
1 100 0
1 860.0
107.0
86.9
1, 700. 0
913 0
40 4
3, 480. 0
Holozoic
plankton
366
166
930
955
178
574
259
315
1,080
683
239
722
544
362
1,350
Saprozoic
plankton
16 0
27.7
37 0
150 0
40 9
128.0
109 0
163 0
82 2
83.3
31.6
121.0
9 93
1 80
159.0
No.
samples
1
4
3
12
5
19
5
2
11
6
6
11
9
1
3
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96
PLANKTON VOLUME RELATIVE TO RIVEE CONDITIONS
Finally, it may be asked if the sanitary condition of the river is
closely reflected in the volume of all phyto- and all zoo-plankton.
The answer is a decided negative. Figures 35 and 36 show the dis-
tribution of the zooplankton and phytoplankton at low flows from
Columbus to Lucasville, the volume being averaged for each of the
three temperature ranges. At low flows and low temperatures there
is actually more zooplankton in the lower river where the B. O. D.
and total bacteria counts are low and where the D. O. is high, than
in the polluted stretch at and below Shadeville. At the middle and
high temperature ranges the zooplankton volume follows an erratic
distribution curve, and the phytoplankton volume increases sharply
according to temperature, but not according to pollution.
Almost the same relationships hold for the middle flow range, but
there is a noticeably larger phytoplankton volume in the lower river.
In this respect, however, the phytoplankton is merely following a
trend apparent in all carefully examined rivers, and departs from that
trend only in not showing a decrease in the lower end of the river.
DISCUSSION
Because the B. O. D. decreases downstream, the D. O. rises, and
the total bacteria and coliforms decrease in the cleaner reaches, it
seems as if only the larger biological agents fail to indicate the sani-
tary condition of the water. Actually this is far from the case. It
has been found and demonstrated for the Scioto that some of the
plankton forms strongly prefer foul water; others exhibit as great a
preference for clean water; and a limited number of species of each
type are readily recognized and their presence in larger numbers is a
categorical classification of the type of water where they were taken.
The studies of the plankton have not been highly successful in show-
ing floral and faunal differences according to whether the river was
getting a relatively large volume of effluent from an overloaded trickling
filter, or treatment by primary sedimentation alone, or complete
treatment by the activated sludge process. This had been hoped
for, because at low water Columbus uses most of the river flow, and if
the effluents during the three types of treatment were markedly
different those differences should have been apparent. Biologically
indicated differences were small.
The study has given some very good results in other ways. It has
undeniably shown that some entire groups of organisms cannot be
used as indicative of the sanitary condition of water, bxit that indi-
vidual species must be considered in this respect.
It also appears that there are certain forms highly characteristic
of running water, almost, if not actually comprising an ecologic
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97
Zooplsnkfon in p, p, m.
FIGURE 35. ZOOPLANKTON IN PARTS PER MILLION BY VOLUME AT EACH STATION
DURING THE Low FLOWS FOR THE THREE TEMPERATURE RANGES.
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98
800:
7000
Temperature
— 9 9'C and Below
10° -to /9.9'C.
£0°C and Above
FIGURE36. PHYTOPL.ANKTON IN PARTS PER MILLION BY VOLUME AT EACH STATION
DURING Low FLOWS FOR THE THREE TEMPERATURE RANGES.
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99
group. The species list is a long one, and the numbers and volume
of the plankton far in excess of those reported for hitherto studied
streams, but some forms have been found in the running waters of
streams more consistently than in other situations.
As usual with such studies, some questions have been answered
but many more have arisen to replace them. The Scioto is a hard
water river, not canalized, with a fairly rapid run off (the slope from
Columbus to the mouth is about 1.6 feet per mile), low in nitrates
and probably low in phosphates, except from the Columbus sewage,
yet has a larger plankton population than heretofore known from any
river. It is, biologically, a highly productive river—but does its
large population come from the fertilizing effect of the Columbus
sewage? And if so, what is the nature of these fertilizing substances?
And how far down the river do they persist? Large plankton popula-
tions have been found within a few miles—5 to 15—of the headwaters
of some of the tributaries. Much of this data is not germane to the
present study, but a partial answer has been obtained to some of the
questions which were asked, and some progress has been made with
regard to others.
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STUDIES OF BOTTOM ORGANISMS AND SEDIMENTS
1HE CHARACTER OP A STREAM, ITS CHANNEL AND SEDIMENTS
The channel through which the stream flows should be examined in
the many-sided problem of a sanitary survey. The stream bottom,.
in particular, seems to offer valuable information.
The carrying power of water for suspended matter such as silt,
increases marvelously with any increase in the speed of current, and,
by the same token, decreases very rapidly in case current speed lessens.
Thus a riffle shows stories or pebbles that are nearly or quite clean of
mud, even after silt-laden flood water has prevailed, but lessened
velocity in the pool below has resulted in a bottom deposit of silt from
this same water. Successive floods add to the deposited material,
and the pool, where current is slack, tends to fill up with matter which
formerly was suspended in the water and was carried along by the
speed of the current. Thus the bottom is in effect a depository of the
suspended matter in such water as has already passed. The bottom
sediments are an accumulation of settleable solids that formerly con-
stituted a part of the water. A pint of such sediment may be the
accumulated solids component of a thousand gallons, more or less, of
slow-flowing water overhead.
Physical factors.—Water in motion will erode banks and channels.
The outstanding results of such motion, the profound canyon, the
extensive and fertile flood plain, the changed course of a river, have
received much more consideration than has the basic fact responsible
for these great changes. Instead of every stream being a law unto<
itself, the stream is actually in a sort of bondage to the set-up imposed
upon it by the degree of slope of its channel, the composition of its
bed and sides, and the amount of water drained from its watershed and
demanding removal. Velocity of current, meantime, is a sort of"
referee impartially deciding not only the amount of erosion but also
the quantity of deposition. The mighty canyon and the small gully,
the thousand acre flood-plain, and the delta at the stream's mouth,.
all are legitimate products of this controlling set-up.
The normal stream-flow, eroding where current is swift, but deposit-
ing portions of this suspended matter when the current slackens speed,
results in a channel on whose pool bottoms there exists a nice condi-
tion of balance where the least disturbance of the bottom water will
send a mass of the scarcely settled fine sediment into suspension again
in the surrounding water. Thus the flip of a fish's tail will roil up the;
(100)
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101
water and obscure the fish, and a crawfish scooting backward is speedily
lost to his pursuer. Even a minor increase in stream velocity may
disturb quantities of bottom material sufficient to produce a heavy
turbidity.
Rapid succession of irregularities in channel, sharp curves, rock
ledges, boulders in the stream bed, deep pools, islands—all these tend
to produce effects in the stream velocity with consequent variations of
the amount and kind of deposition of suspended matter on the stream
bottom. The average stream consists of a bundle of varying situations
with respect to erosion, to character of channel, and to bottom de-
posits as well, and all suspended matter must run the gamut of such of
these factors as, to a greater or less degree, affects the process we call
sedimentation.
Weather conditions may affect bottom sediments profoundly.
Heavy rainfalls with consequent high water means increased velocity
of current that will not only prevent deposition of any but the heavier
suspended matter, but will, in addition, disturb and remove all but the
most stable of the bottom sediments already deposited. Should such
scourings occur quite frequently throughout the year there will be too
little time for the undisturbed maturing of a crop of representative
fauna, except those kinds that are able to weather the frequent high-
water disturbances, and even these may be swept out by the force of
an unusual flood. That this latter is a very real factor is shown by the
observations of Needham (SI) on Six Mile Creek in 1927. A drift
net was run lor 15 minutes in the swift flood waters, in order to ascer-
tain the effects of high waters on such bottom organisms as were of
known importance in the food of trout. The resulting 15-minute
catch showed practically every kind of aquatic organism which had
been collected from this stream during the previous summer. The
great majority were dead, or were badly injured by the violence ol the
flood waters.
In addition to the material suspended in the water, vast quantities
of sand, pebbles, and even large boulders are rolled along the stream
bottom, constituting a natural pebble grinding mill which grinds,
crushes, and disintegrates the heavier bottom materials as witnessed
by the rounded nature of the pebbles and boulders of the stream bed.
Sources of sediments.—It is fully recognized that suspended matter
may be "inorganic" or "organic"—that is, it may be lacking in
putrescible or organic matter, either living or dead, and consist
entirely of stable mineral matter. Such suspended matter is inor-
ganic. Organic suspended matter on the other hand is made up
chiefly of matter (a) in the living condition, such as spores, micro-
scopic plants, and animals or their dormant stages (cysts, eggs, spores,
and the like), or (6) the disintegrating (and usually putrescible) re-
200664—41 8
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mains of once-living matter, such as lifeless organisms of the types
mentioned above, or minute fragments of larger forms, such as molts
from Crustacea, legs, feet, wing, antennae, scales, hairs, etc., from
disintegrating organisms, plant remains in great variety, leaf and stem
fragments, spiral vessels, fibers, chaffy seed-coverings, rootlets, and
the like.
Drainage from areas fertilized by manure may yield chaffy seed-
coats or undigested fragments of oats or corn. Sewage-polluted
waters may contribute seeds of tomato or grape, fibers from celery,
orange, and paper, or other fecal remains.
These visible objects constitute in general the remains of organisms
that were once in the active living condition. Between that first
condition, when each organism was doing work, and this final end-
product stage, there has intervened a period of change which is vastly
important in a consideration of the sanitary status of the water. We
refer to the processes of disintegration, decomposition, putrefaction,
and oxidation by means of which the relatively immense mass of
protoplasm (constituting the bodies of the former living organisms)
has been released into the water.
Most organisms on dying, sink to the bottom. At certain stages of
putrefaction and gas formation, the lighter ones are buoyed up.
Necessarily, however, many of the dead organisms undergo much of
their putrefactive changes on the bottom, the bottom sediments are
thus increased, and the content of organic and putrescible matter is
likewise increased.
A source of much suspended matter is the "dust" of the atmosphere.
Only those who have made actual examinations of the water are aware
of the presence there of a varied assortment of wind-borne spores,
pollen grains, and pollen masses; tiny fragments of various kinds that
are light enough to be carried by air currents; scales from the wings of
insects, particularly butterflies; fibers and delicate parts from the
parachute apparatus of air-borne seeds such as wild lettuce, milkweed,
dandelion, cat-tail, and a host of others. Pollen from pine trees was
frequently found by us in the plankton catches collected in California
rice fields. This pollen, air-borne, had probably originated in moun-
tain forests, 30 miles away, or perhaps had even floated downstream
the 90 miles from the upper Sacramento River—into the river-fed
irrigation ditch, and thus to the rice fields. In our Central States, a
very common object in plankton catches is the pollen of rag-weed.
Even in the upper air-currents far from cultivated areas and from
forests, Meier and Lindbergh (82) found numerous objects in the
atmosphere. Exposing petrolatum-coated glass slides at elevations
of 3,000 to 8,000 feet above Greenland, spores of fungi, pollen grains,
unicellular algae, diatoms, volcanic ash, and other objects were
trapped on the slides and were reported by these investigators.
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Changes in character of a stream due to the advent oj man.—In a
natural stream, prior to the advent of man, there will be seasons of
flood during which the water will be turbid because of eroded banks
or bottom. Such silt-laden water escaping over low banks deposits
repeated layers of mud on adjoining areas, thus building up flood-
plains. Deposited in the stream channel as velocity decreases, this
bottom mud introduces nothing new in the sanitary status of the
water, for it is merely such natural material as has been eroded farther
up and is essentially a part of this natural stream.
Passage of a stream, especially during flood stages, through and over
wooded areas necessarily brings into the waters a vast accumulation
of leaves, stems, fragments of wood, bark, rootlets, etc., much of which
is not seen by the average observer on account of the high turbidity
of the water. The resulting bottom is a somewhat loose aggregation
of sediment, plant fragments, and decaying leaves, these latter
frequently producing a disagreeable odor.
Practically all of the plant detritus shows varying degrees of
decomposition, completely skeletonized leaves, the "veins" and min-
ute, net-like framework only (all of the softer protoplasm formerly
containing clilorophyll having decomposed), worm-eaten bark frag-
ments, and rotted wood. There is also comparatively fresh plant
material of these and various other kinds. The whole assortment
will eventually decompose slowly and remain meantime in the bottom
sediments. It is, after a fashion, an aquatic compost doing its bit to
increase the volume and the variety of the bottom sediments.
After the advent of man, if the natural stream referred to is subjected
to the events that occur when civilization (at least the advent of man)
becomes a factor, certain changes usually affect the stream, somewhat
as follows:
1. Removal of adjacent woodlands, more rapid melting of winter snows, higher
floods.
2. Cultivation of cleared lands, drainage of tilled soil areas, probable increase
in turbidity, and unquestioned increase in dissolved organic matter in water.
3. Industrial wastes from sawmills, coal mines, paper mills, tanneries, dairies,
slaughter houses or stockyards, steel mills, creosote factories, breweries and dis-
tilleries, dye works, beet sugar works, gas and coke producing plants, and a variety
of others. Each contributor hopes only to get rid of his own wastes without
regard to downstream water users.
4. Sewage, frequently untreated, from increasing populations in towns and
cities. The spring thaw releases into drainage streams the frozen accumulation
of numerous outdoor toilets.
It is reasonably safe to say that all of the wastes mentioned affect
the quality of the water, some of them seriously, while all except the
first particularly affect the quality of the bottom sediments. For
example, Moore (S3) calls attention to the special hazards of gas works
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wastes whicli are highly toxic to fish and eventually form a gummy
coating on the stream bottom.
Erosion silt deposited as sediment adds no special sanitary hazard.
There follows no marked evidence of decomposition. There is no odor
except a "clean earthy smell" for such sediment is highly inorganic.
But the bottom environment is thereby altered somewhat, as shown
by Ellis (34)- Light is screened out, the rate of heat radiation being
changed thereby, and stream bottoms are blanketed, retaining there
any deposited organic material.
When sewage is discharged into a stream a portion of sewage settles
out, and comes to rest on the bottom in those places where the velocity
of the moving water is low. Unless swept out by a sudden flood,
these sediments continue to accumulate and a "sludge-bank" is thus
formed, representing uncounted thousands of gallons of sewage which
formerly contaminated the stream. Thus this sedimented matter
provides a reasonable measure of the essential sanitary status of such
water as made up the stream at that point. Some hours later, and
several miles farther down, this same stream, again flowing slowly,
will unload some remaining suspended matter that has been in the
water longer, and is, therefore, more completely decomposed, contains
less organic matter and is relatively free from any danger of septic
nuisance although it may continue to be a physical nuisance by ob-
structing the channel.
Studies in the Illinois River (35) show that the heavy demands on
oxygon by sludge deposits between Peoria and Havana produced a
serious condition of unbalance, the chemical balance-sheet showing
"in the red" chiefly by an estimated 263,000 pounds of oxygen per
day required for tbe B. O. D. situation duo to these sludge-banks in a
42-mile stretch of river immediately below Peoria. This was during
the critical, low-water period of July and August. The total B. O. D.
exerted daily was 526,000 pounds and of this required amount, 263,000
pounds (50 percent) was estimated to be due to the deposited sludge.
Further data relative to the sludge problem are recorded by Eddy
(86) substantially as follows:
(a) When sewage is discharged into a water course it ordinarily separates into
two parts—that which is heavy enough to settle and form a sludge deposit, and
the remainder, which is in solution, or is finely enough divided to be carried
along bv this current.
(6) There are also in this sewage, colloidal and dissolved organic matters.
These are more or less putrescible. Of total impurities in sewage 20 per cent may
be solid? which will settle in quiescent water. These solids may amount to 50
pounds of dry solids per capita per year. For a population of 1,500,000, this
amounts to 37,500 tons—approximately 200,000 cubic yards. Such amounts may
change moderately deep water into shallow flats. As much as 65 percent of this
deposited matter may be decomposable.
(c) Forthwith the living mill begins to grind and the organic matter is
gradually converted into stable mineral substances. Dissolved oxygen is con-
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sumed in the process * * * if dissolved oxygen does not reach zero, putre-
faction will not take place and obnoxious odors will not be developed.
(d) In many cases the portion of the polluting water which is most important
is that which consists of living organisms, first because of the danger of infection
of public water supplies by the pathogenic bacteria and secondly because of the
important part certain nonpathogenic organisms play. Through their life pro-
cesses they transfer the complex dead organic matter into simpler forms, some of
which constitute food for minute plants and animals, which in turn nourish larger
forms such as fish, a food for man. This is, in part, the so-called self-purification
of the stream.
(e) The organic matter in the sludge deposits undergoes changes somewhat
similar to those that take place in the flowing load of impurities. Sludge exerts
-an oxygen demand in the same way and subject to the same limitations as the
flowing load. Settleable solids are deposited at all seasons, in cold weather
decomposing very slowly. Thus, in northern latitudes, there is an accumulation
of potential oxygen demand, and during the warm season the oxygen demand of
this partly decomposed material is added to that exerted by the deposits formed
in that season,
Significance oj the bottom sediments.—The veteran biologist, Pro-
fessor S. A. Forbes, in 1913 (37) called attention to the fact that the
bottom sediments bore testimony as to the character of the water
from which it had sedimented and of which it previously formed a
part as the "suspended matter." "The sediment is an accumulation
of evidence," he said, as he noted the physical characteristics, the
odor, and the population consisting of molluscs, of insect larvae, or
of worms, that found agreeable environment in these sediments. He
further pointed out that there was some degree of agreement as to
the sanitary status of the stream, in the evidence furnished (1) by
physical inspection, (2) by chemical examination, (3) by prevalent
plankton organisms of the water, and (4) by physical and chemical
conditions of the bottom sediments, together with their characteristic
organism content. The classic paper referred to is notable for the
oft-repeated four-part analysis of the polluted Illinois River, at various
points, and for the conservative but definite conclusions based on the
generally agreeing testimony furnished by these four witnesses.
Later work on the same stream by these investigators, and finally
by the junior author, R. E. Richardson, without exception included
due attention to the bottom conditions and the bottom organisms.
No stream in this country, perhaps no stream in existence, has re-
ceived such thorough and repeated study of its bottom conditions
and organisms as has the sewage-polluted Illinois River, in the several
excellent publications by Forbes and Richardson.
It is to be regretted that, in many stream examinations, bottom
conditions have been nearly or quite ignored. Men have thought,
naturally perhaps, that the water itself was the only thing of impor-
tance. Much attention was given to the source of water, and to the
general condition of the watershed. Prevalent opinion was gradually
changed when, after many experiences with high water and flood con-
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ditions, it became apparent to observing students that bottom con-
ditions constituted a very real factor, that this bottom in fact, functions
as a small but continuous watershed, and that originally clean water,
flowing under flood conditions over a polluted stream bottom is quite
as likely to suffer contamination as is clean rain water collected from
a thousand-acre watershed consisting chiefly of fertilized fields or of
pastures where large numbers of hogs and other live stock wade at
will in the tributary brooks. It was realized that an apparently clean
stream which harbored frequent bottom accumulations of soft mud,
or trash of any sort, will at flood time dislodge much of this accumula-
tion, and it would then temporarily be a part of the "water." If the
mud be clean, well and good—but if not, trouble might result to
water users.
From the biological point of view also the suspended matter is
quite capable of producing a series of results with regard to the water,
some of them beneficial, others questionable, or even harmful—depend-
ing on the intended use of this water. Silt in suspension obstructs the
passage of sunlight into the water and thus hinders or stops the
important biological activity, photosynthesis, which provides large
amounts of oxygen, much needed sometimes in a polluted stream.
This same silt, on settling to the bottom, often carries with it certain
organisms of the plankton whose normal activities in the water tend
to maintain a much-needed condition of biological balance. Certain
small Crustacea in particular become weighted with silt on their
numerous appendages, and are thus removed from the upper waters,
where these Crustacea would normally operate to prevent an over-
population of minute algae, some of which, when present in uncon-
trolled numbers, cause serious trouble by producing tastes and odors
in the water.
The bottom of a stream constitutes favorable environments for a
variety of organisms—crawfish, insect larvae, beetles, and "worms"
familiar to every boy (or man) who has waded the shallow stream and
overturned the bottom stones in search of bait or perhaps for other
reasons. The advent of a sawmill, paper mill, or other industrial
plant introduces marked changes in bottom conditions, which may
also bring about distinct changes in the bottom population, or may
even kill off practically all organisms in both water and bottom and
leave the stream an aquatic desert. An aquatic environment, appar-
ently favorable, may in reality be barren because of the destruction
of fish food and small animal life which are vital to the existence of
the fish. It is, says Claassen (38), like a newly burned-over prairie
or pasture field in which grazing animals are expected to find their
food, but the food is absent.
Various investigations have served to demonstrate that, in general,
bottom conditions in a stream constitute a source of valuable informa-
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tion, particularly if the stream is to be utilized mainly for some specific
purpose such as domestic water supply, or such industrial uses as
commercial laundry purposes, pulp mills, for paper manufacture, and
other industries requiring a water whose turbidity is not excessive in
amount, nor of long duration at any time. Bottom deposits of mud
and silt, reintroduced into the curront at times of high water, will
greatly reduce the value of such water tor the industrial purposes
mentioned.
If the water be needed for domestic use, any bottom deposit, if
rewashed into the stream, is capable of producing trouble, particu-
larly if such deposit is caused by sewage pollution farther upstream.
These "sludge banks" constitute one of the chief difficulties encoun-
tered by waterworks men and, indirectly, by municipal health author-
ities as they produce tastes and odors difficult and expensive to remove
and have been suspected as the cause ot epidemics of diarrhea when
flushed out by rising water. The study of the stream bottom thus
becomes a matter of no small importance in order that the health
hazard, if present, may be properly appraised and removed or other-
wise avoided.
Outstanding studies of bottom sediments.—The extensive work on the
Illinois River by Richardson, part of it under the direction of the
veteran biologist of honored memory—Dr. Stephen A. Forbes—
easily takes first place in the studies of stream bottom conditions in
the United States. These studies, chiefly during the interval 1900 to
1925, occupied most of Richardson's time. Moreover, he obtained
his exact information relative to the Illinois River by his own personal
work and observations, much of the time being spent on the river itself,
in a floating laboratory. Richardson's statements, therefore, have the
great advantage and background of extensive first-hand acquaintance
with the many interrelated factors concerned in a typical sewage-
polluted stream.
A late work by Richardson (39) summarizes much of the findings
from his studies. Frequent reference to this classic paper will be made
in this present paper relative to the Scioto River.
After listing some 27 kinds of bottom organisms rather definitely
associated with presence of pollution Richardson says: "The number
of bottom forms having dependable index value is surprisingly small,
and even these must be used with caution" * * * "Of the 27
kinds * * * only two, Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri and Chironomus
plumosus were generally common enough over wide ranges to warrant
confidence in their value as indicators when taken by themselves."
Again, as well stated by the same writer—"Interpretation of degrees
of abundance is most likely a wholly relative matter. Tubificid totals
per square yard varied from 1,000 to 350,000 in certain territory with-
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out our having any reason for supposing conditions better at the one
collecting place than at the other."
Richardson's chief concern is for such sanitary appraisal of the
bottom organisms as is adequate and just—but not over stated mean-
time. Justice, and conservatism as well, are further expressed in his
statement that "sometimes absence, or reduced numbers of formerly-
present clean-water species in a given area may be as important as
presence now of known pollutional forms in determining the extent of
recent pollution." Such a statement carries all the more weight when
it is recalled that it was Richardson's study (40} that demonstrated
in 1921 that not only by abundance of certain pollutional forms form-
erly scarce, but also by scarcity and killing out of cleaner organisms
formerly abundant, there was unmistakably indicated the downstream
encroachment of the "pollution zone" due to Chicago sewage at the
rate of 16 miles per year for the preceding 5 years.
Richardson (89) further cites (page 470) a striking example of the
change wrought by increased pollution on certain of the cleaner bottom
forms—and also on such pollutional forms as might be present during
a period of five years, as follows:
Numbers per sq. yd.
I. Cleaner forms: in Me in mo
Sphaeriidae 1,709 46
Snails 496 20
Numbers per si. yd.
II. Pollutional forms: tnms inim
Sludge worms 16 2,463
Midgelarvae 10 733
Relatively clean streams were studied by Percival and Whitohead
(41) (4%) to ascertain the types of invertebrate fauna present.
It is significant that they report, in essence:
1. Streams were well stocked with fish. Trout and grayling are mentioned.
2. The D. O. content was high.
3. At least 3 of the streams had stony bottoms.
4. The great majority of organisms (chiefly bottom fauna) were those requiring
water well charged with oxygen.
5. Insect larvae in general were abundant (May flies, Stone flies, Caddis and
Chironomids).
6. Tubificid worms were absent from 5 out of 7 types of environment, sparingly
present in two types.
The above summary is in striking contrast to the findings of Ludwig
in his study of a polluted stream, as given in the following data.
In Ludwig's study (48) of the Hocking River, a polluted stream,
undertaken to obtain data as to the effects of domestic pollution,
the results obtained applied in part to the types of bottom organisms
capable of living in a sewage-polluted stream. Results applied also
to the nature of the bottom itself, this being relatively clean mud,
silt, and sand above the pollution, and "black muck and organic
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debris, with a foul privy odor" below the pollution. In the clean
section the dominant bottom organisms were insect larvae, whereas
in the polluted areas sludge worms wore very heavily predominant,
numbering over 300,000 per square meter. The use of such a polluted
stream for domestic water supply would be highly undesirable, not
only because of the condition of the water itself, but also because of the
hazard of wholesale repollution of the water should flood conditions
stir up the vile bottom sediments. Ludwig's study illustrates the
value of knowing the facts, whether pleasing or not, in regard to the
condition of a stream.
Our own study (44) of the Illinois Eiver in 1921-22 included ex-
amination of over 200 samples of the bottom sediments collected
monthly at selected stations over 267 miles of the stream and repre-
senting every season of the year. The more important findings were
as follows:
1. Sediments from the upper sewage-polluted sections of the river had a strong)
unpleasant odor. Organisms in these sediments consisted chiefly of tubificid
worms, which were very numerous, averaging over 2,000 per liter of mud. Certain
sewage-tolerant organisms (Sphaeriidae and larvae of Chironomids) were mod-
erately abundant. Such forms as are normally found in the odorless sediments
of cleaner streams populated by fish were practically absent.
2. Sediments from the lower reaches of the river, apparently a clean stream
were without special odor. Organisms in these sediments showed a large variety
and relative abundance of the gill-breathing insect larvae (May flies, caddis
flies, etc.) and similar forms normally found in the cleaner streams. The pollu-
tional tubificid worms dropped to an average of 13 per liter of mud.
Farrell (45) studying a polluted stream voices his belief that "a
determination of the bottom fauna often gives a more exact index of
the extent of pollution than does a chemical analysis which may have
been taken during a period of either high or low outflow of polluting
substances. * * * These bottom inhabitants give a more accurate
picture of the unfavorable conditions which exist all year round than
any other analysis." Farrell further calls attention to the frequent
finding of inconsistent high oxygen values even in polluted waters
because of the proximity of riffles, falls, and overflow from dams,
whereas the bottom fauna in these same areas consistently showed
that pollution was present.
Similar opinion is stated by Emmeline Moore (31), page 14, essen-
tially as follows: "The biologist * * * adds most impressively to
the data supplied by the chemist. This is especially true because of
the greater stability and permanence of conditions at the bottom.
The deposits of foul sludges and their accompanying foul water
organisms are thus a fruitful * * * aspect of the study of existing
conditions."
Sludge worms.—In bottom samples from a polluted stream it is de-
sired to learn the approximate abundance of the sludge worms, be-
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cause of the apparent significance of this worm and its activity. Half
or two-thirds of its body is underground, and the worm slowly tunnels
about, undermining and ingesting the soft bottom mud. The anal
end of the worm, projecting an inch, more or less up into the water,
waves about rhythmically hi the process of breathing. On the assump-
tion that this activity is a matter of considerable importance, any data
offered should be based on facts relative to the habits of the worm.
In this connection the technique of obtaining the bottom sample, to-
gether with the amount of sample, are important.
One of the most outstanding characteristics of sludge worms is their
tendency to occur in groups, or patches. In a sewage-polluted stream
such as the Scioto River most of those sludge-worm groups which are
visible in the shallow water are near the edge of the stream. Such
groups can also be seen with difficulty in the deeper water—and bottom
samples obtained from such deeper water furnish evidence of their
presence. In the writer's experience collections have been made from
depths varying from 1 or 2 inches up to 35 feet. But it is only at the
slight depths, and in clear water, that the groups and colonies may be
seen to advantage. In the scores of observations made during a period
of over 25 years, these worms have never been found uniformly dis-
tributed in the bottom mud—but always in groups, large or small,
some containing only a few scores of worms, other large groups esti-
mated to contain several thousand. Weston and Turner (46) thus
comment on this same matter: "The worms appear on the muddy
bottom in colonies as red patches which vary from 3 to 12 inches in
diameter and contain countless individuals."
Distance between these groups varies greatly—from 5 or 6 inches
to as many feet. It seems probable, to say the least, that in the deeper
water, whore one is unable to see the groups, the worms nevertheless
occur mainly in this manner. Some evidence on this matter -will be
given later in this paper.
Apparently the method for proper sampling of these sediments
which contain spots of worms consists in taking an increased number
of samples, and then averaging the counts. This is, in effect, com-
positing the samples to some degree. This average will greatly lessen
the probability of significant error as to the actual bottom population
of worms, for it is extremely unlikely that the scoop or dredge will en-
counter the same square foot—or square yard—of bottom each suc-
cessive time. In a prolonged study extending over a year or two, the
relatively large number of single hauls (samples) taken on successive
months will answer essentially the same purpose as would three or four
hauls composited at each visit in a short intensive study. The visible
group or colony of which we speak is an array of waving tails. Color of
the worm is reddish, like that of an earthworm. A group the size of
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one's hand is easily visible in shallow clear water, even if the observer
is 20 feet distant.
The apparent importance of this worm as an indicator of the presence
of pollution makes it all the more necessary that the bottom samples
show, as accurately as possible, the real situation as to the relative
numbers of worms occurring in that particular sampling place. The
usual small dredge or scoop employed to secure a bottom sample by
cutting out a fixed area is likely (1) to encounter bottom between
these groups, (2) to enclose a small group, or (3) a large one, or none
at all. Two samples taken at the same time and place, are thus likely
to yield widely different counts of worms. The only possible remedy
is to reduce this probable inaccuracy by taking two or more samples,
at any given time and place (if a small dredge is used) and compositing
these samples before making the count.
A sampling apparatus of the mushroom-scoop type, shown in figure
15, hauled along on the bottom 8 or 10 feet in taking a sample (the
recommended procedure) is almost certain to encounter one or more
groups of worms if these are present, and will also include mud from
the between-groups area. It is thus reasonably representative—
but is qualitative only. A quantitative sample, as taken in the
exact area enclosed by the jaws of a cutting mud-scoop, such as that
devised by Ekmann, undoubtedly has many advantages that greatly
simplify computation of fish food available in a given area, providing
the quantitative sample thus secured is truly representative of aver-
age conditions. To accomplish this latter a small sampler of the
Ekmann type must necessarily be lowered several times, and the
catches composited. Only then can we be reasonably certain that,
so far as sludge worms, are concerned, we are taking adequate pre-
cautions to minimize or avoid the gross inaccuracies and misrepre-
sentations extremely probable if the count is based on a single sample,
and involving an organism which occurs in scattered groups rather
than being uniformly distributed in the unseen bottom mud.
Other bottom jorms and their apparent reaction relative to sewage
pollution.—Chironomid larvae apparently are second only to the
sludge worms in a polluted stream, but their presence must be inter-
preted with care. There are many species, and, as might be expected,
they tolerate to different degrees, the presence of sewage pollution.
Richardson (40) lists only three as pollutional or tolerant. These are
Chironomus plumosus L., C. maturus Joh., and C. freguens Joh.
He lists as tolerant or indifferent the four species C. decorus Joh.,
C. crassicaudatus Mall., C. lobiferus Say and C. viridicollis and adds
Tanypus dyari Coq. to this list. Then, indicating cleaner water, or
of doubtful position, Richardson further lists six additional chiron-
omids, and seven varieties from closely-related groups. In brief,
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Richardson regards the chironomids as rather severely limited in
their value as indicators of the presence of sewage pollution. Simi-
larly Malloch (47) an authority on the subject of Chironomids,
expresses his belief that these larvae as a group arc much more abun-
dant in relatively clean water than in a foul environment. Personally,
the writer has found them abundant in the unpolluted water of
ricefields in Arkansas and California but cannot vouch for the par-
ticular species. They may have belonged to the long list given by
Richardson as indifferent to pollution, or to those listed as doubtful.
Meantime it may be well to remember that any field capable of pro-
ducing rice is fairly rich in organic matter, though this is not in the
form of sewage.
On the other hand Wcston and Turner (46) comment on the ap-
parent scavenger habits of Chironomus decorus, "greedily devouring
all sorts of detritus," and always to be found in large numbers in that
section of the Coweeset stream which was heavily polluted by sewage
effluent. Their conclusion, in effect, was that C. decorus was abundant
because of its favorable response to heavy pollution by sewage effluent.
Richardson lists this same organism as tolerant or indifferent.
In Richardson's study (40) of the Illinois River in 1915 and 1920,
he noted that most of the mollusks abundant at a given point in 1915
had disappeared in 1920. Specifically, out of sixteen species formerly
present twelve had been killed out, in 1920, by the increasing load of
Chicago sewage.
As with other organisms, the mollusks also differ in respect to
their tolerance of sewage conditions. Some are water-breathers,
obtaining their supply of oxygen from that which is dissolved in
water. In case of long-continued and severe sewage pollution this
oxygen supply may be entirely exhausted. Such snails or other
mollusks as are dependent on this supply will quickly succumb. But
other mollusks are air-breathers, and those secure their oxygen by
coming to the surface for air. These are relatively indifferent to the
amount of water-dissolved oxygen, hence can survive sewage pollu-
tion and attendant oxygen depletion much longer than can the water-
breathing group. This fact was demonstrated by Baker (48) who
found that water-breathing snails (Musculium and Bythinia) suc-
cumbed in five years to the increasing sewage pollution in Big Ver-
milion River but the air-breathers Physa, Planorbis, and Galba were
able to survive for 8 years.
Weston and Turner (46) comment on the great increase in snails
below the point of pollution. While they found only an occasional
specimen (Campeloma) in the nonpolluted stream above the outfall of
the sewage effluent, they found very large numbers below this outfall.
"The aquatic plants near Station 3A were covered with them * * *
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1 day * * * 50 specimens were gathered by one scoop of the two
hands." They report Planorbis trivolvis as the most common but
Physa and Segmentina were also abundant. Now since both Planor-
bis and Physa are air-breathers, it might be that they were abundant
because of the algae in and on which they find their food, rather than
because of the sewage pollution. However, it is also to be remem-
bered that the algae (and especially the slimy growth of protozoa,
diatoms, etc., upon the algae, forming much of the food of snails) are
in themselves a very frequent result of sewage pollution. In 1921-22
the writer (44) found large numbers of snails, chiefly Planorbis, in
and on the great masses of green algae * * * (Cladophora) in
the lower Des Plaines River at Lockport, Illinois, this river having
been polluted some miles upstream by the sewage of Maywood, a
suburb of Chicago. Thus in this case sewage pollution was still one
of the causes, and perhaps the main one, that resulted in the great
content of snails at a point sufficiently distant below the place of
pollution to permit a partial recovery of the stream. It was thus an
indirect and distant effect of the original upstream pollution.
Claassen (38), discussing methods of evaluating the fitness of a
stream for fish life and absence of excessive pollution (in effect, the
normal condition of a stream), mentions (1) superficial observation on
the condition of the stream, (2) chemical analysis of the water, (3)
minnow tests, and (4) examination of the stream for the presence or
absence of biological indicators. Of these, the final one, No. 4, alone
is relatively free from serious limitations and inaccuracies inherent
in the other methods. Claassen says, in effect: Method No. 1 is
subject to gross error. Mere visible discoloration may be harmless,
but presence of actual poisons may be quite invisible. Method No. 2
has severe limitations in that it tells us the condition of the water
only at the moment of examination, and nothing about conditions a
month previous, nor the probable fitness for fish life a month hence.
Method No. 3 also has limitations in that minnows surviving for 5
or 6 hours is not sufficient indication that fish life placed permanently
in this same water will be similarly fortunate. Method No. 4, a
study of the plants and animals which inhabit the stream, is the most
reliable. Any stream capable of maintaining fish life must also main-
tain other living organisms (such as insect larvae), these forming the
normal food supply of the fish. The algae and smaller organisms
present in turn furnish food for the insect larvae. Presence of these
various organisms in a stream indicates not only the condition of the
stream at the time of examination, but tells us also that the stream
has been fit to propagate these items of fish food during such a period
of weeks or months preceding the time of study as was necessary for
these insect forms to develop.
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116
strongly-made "mushroom" scoop, as shown in figure 15. The hoe-
like action of this scoop will secure a qualitative sample of almost any
sort of bottom found in the average stream. Because of its versatility,
this scoop has been used on the variety of bottom presented by the
Potomac, the Ohio, and the Illinois Rivers, and finally in the present
study of the Scioto River.
Having experimented with collected samples of 200 ml., 500 ml.
and 1 liter, it is believed that the bottom sediment sample should be
at least one liter in amount. This is ample to ascertain the odor,
the color, and the consistency or pastiness (degree of firmness or
density). The smaller bottom fauna are usually present in this
amount of sample, though sometimes very few, especially in the cleaner
streams. Probably a 2-liter sample would be better in many in-
stances. On the other hand, the sediments of a sewage-polluted
stream are likely to contain very large numbers of sludge worms and
moderate numbers of insect larvae, particularly those of midge. The
required enumeration and identification of all these is a real task
and this matter in turn becomes a factor in the amount of time
available for this type of work in the study of a given stream.
Laboratory methods and examinations.—In making the laboratory
examination of the sediment samples, ordinary quart Mason jars
were found to be convenient containers. On collecting the sediment
sample in the field, the jar was about 5/6 filled, 70 to 90 ml. of strong
formalin were added, and mixed somewhat by tipping and invert-
ing the jar. A label, written with ordinary soft lead pencil on a slip of
strong paper, was placed inside, on top of the sediment.
On arrival at the laboratory the topmost level of the sediment
was marked with grease pencil, on the outside of the jar. This gave
the amount of sediment sample. Usually it was less than one liter,
perhaps 600 or 800 ml.
For use in preparing the sample for examination, several 7 by 7
inch pieces of 30-mesh brass wire gauze were procured and made into
strainers as shown in figure H7. In making the strainer the gauze
was creased from the mid-point, M. of one side, to the center of the
gauze X. This crease was partly straightened out and a crease made
from Z, about 1 inch to the right of M. to X, but in the reverse
direction, both creases meeting at X. The folding of Z over M then
formed a shallow basin-like container through which the mud suspen-
sion was poured and strained.
In washing out the sample, both sides of the square of wire gauze
previously prepared were wetted.
A portion of the sediment sample—one-fourth, more or less—was
placed in a deep dish with strong handle (a 2-liter "miner's cup"
proved excellent), tap water was added and agitated by shaking until
some of the mud was in suspension, then this fine suspension was
-------
w
Z.M
Strainer used in the washing of bottom sediment samples.
-------
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117
immediately poured through the gauze strainer, holding this over the
sink. More water was added to the cup, the suspension poured through
the strainer, and the process repeated. Masses of mud, not in
suspension, should not be dropped on the gauze.
A large dish, such as a 10-inch moist chamber, was half filled with
clean water and as the strainer accumulated leaves, trash, pebbles,
worms, etc. it was turned upside down over this clean water and
lowered until the water touched every part of the gauze. The
' 'catch" on the gauze was thus transferred to the dish of clean water,
and the gauze was then ready to continue the straining of additional
portions of the suspension.
The above procedure was continued until all the sediment in the
Mason jar sample had been washed through the gauze.
Leaves, trash, large pebbles, and the like were in some cases picked
out of the "miner's cup" by hand—but these were examined for
attached growths, such as algae, Bryozoa (pipe moss), masses of
stalked ciliates, such as Carchesium, and the like. It also proved
advisable to note the approximate proportions of such material
as made up the sample. This may be 75 percent sand and pebbles,
or it may be 25 percent plant detritus such as leaf fragments, bits
of twig, chaff, etc.
With a little practice one should be able to detect a strong or
moderate odor of sewage, even after formalin has been added to the
sample. Some proficiency in the detection of such odors may be
developed by obtaining a sample of sewage-polluted mud, unkilled,
dividing it into two parts, adding formalin to one, but none to the
other, and keeping these portions for a few days, comparing the
respective odors meantime.
With the washing of the sample completed the catch was present
in the large shallow dish. If the water was very turbid, all but a
small amount was poured off. The larger leaves, trash, sticks, etc.,
were picked out and the contents of the dish were well distributed
over the bottom. If the catch proved very heavy, a half, or a quarter
of it, was transferred to another large shallow dish, counted, then
multiplied by the proper factor.
An ordinary reading glass was useful in counting, as it enabled
one to distinguish at once between the smaller tubificid worms, and
the midge larvae. The larger Mayfly larvae, usually found in cleaner
streams, were easily distinguished, unless they were very young.
For identification of genera and species a low-power microscope
proved indispensable.
The visible organisms of the bottom sediments do not vary a
great deal in size—nothing comparable to the plankton for instance
in which one of the larger organisms such as Cyclops might be cquiva-
200664—41 9
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118
lent in volume to about 50,000 of the smaller organisms such as
Oocystis. Beginning in 1923, the author (49} has, for this reason,
consistently recorded his plankton values in terms of cubic standard
units, in order that the various organisms might be comparable,
and readily expressed as parts per million by volume. This is not
so necessary in the case of the bottom sediment organisms, hence
the author's departure from his usual practice in the present study.
In the tables that follow, the organisms were merely counted.
If certain organisms are desired for further study or for future
reference, they are easily preserved in about 5 percent formalin.
Apparent grouping of worms in the Scioto River.—The following
table, XXXIII, shows the number of worms per liter of bottom
Table XXXIII.—Sludge worms per liter of bottom sediment at 3 stations
in the polluted portion of the Scioto River
MONTHLY SAMPLES DURING 23 MONTHS
Month
1937
October
1938
April
Colum-
bus
10, 000
6,200
3,800
300
2,800
13,200
(')
3,200
5, 300
1,900
130
250
2,400
Shade-
ville
36,000
6,700
4.400
31, 900
460
(')
2,300
2,500
14, 100
1,100
270
4 700
9,600
Commer-
cial Point
3,500
(i)
(i)
10, 100
5,500
(')
3, 100
(')
5, 900
1
44, 200
25 000
20,500
Month
1938— Continued
September
October ,
December. -_ -
1939
January _ _
March. „_ _.
April
May.,. . .- _-
June
Average - -
Colum-
bus
8 000
19,300
520
5,100
9,900
0)
(')
7 400
85,600
40 100
11,270
Shade-
ville
6 700
8,400
15 000
15 300
900
(i)
(i)
1 200
26, 900
6 000
9 722
Commer-
cial Point
6 100
4,200
2 800
11,800
1,100
(i)
170
8 900
34, 100
5 500
10 693
1 No sample.
mud at three collecting stations in the polluted portion of the Scioto
River. This is compiled from the several "Summary of Bottom
Sediments" tables given elsewhere * * *, but using three stations
only. Similar findings are in evidence at all stations but are less
striking because of relatively small numbers of the worms. As
sampling technique and the quantity of sediment examined were
constant, there seems to be no adequate reason for the very sudden
and very wide differences in the worm count shown in this table.
Samples were taken at monthly intervals, except when occasional
unusual flood conditions made this impossible, as in February and
March 1939. Flood conditions capable of disturbing and removing
bottom sediments would doubtless remove the younger worms in
part, and the egg capsule also, these latter being unattached—but
the larger worms burrowing at a depth of three to five inches, and
capable of going deeper if disturbed—would certainly be much
more difficult to remove.
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119
Some suggestive inconsistencies are apparent in the above table.
Lowering temperatures, apparently effective at Columbus in decreas-
ing the counts of August, September, October, and November 1937,
suddenly fail when in December the count goes up, and in January
following the worm content is higher even than in August. A similar
story is indicated by Shadeville samples, during about the same time
period, but the sudden increase occurs in November instead of
December. Advent of winter in 1938 shows similar inconsistencies
in the worm counts at these two stations. Moreover, these stations,
only 10 miles apart, show further differences when compared with
each other: In July 1938, the count of 250 at Columbus and the
nearly 20-fold increase at Shadeville might be explained by the sewage
effluent discharge just above Shadeville, but in September and
October, and in January 1939, the count goes the reverse direction,
Columbus showing the higher count. Thus it is also in April, May,
and June 1939.
Various other inconsistencies might be pointed out—the most
incongruous being the counts in successive months of April, May,
and June 1938, at Commercial Point, where a count of 5,900 was
followed by a 1-liter sample in May containing only 1 worm, and the
next month the same amount of bottom mud contained over 44,000
worms. Meantime the June counts at Columbus and Shadeville,
a few miles upstream, were only 130 and 270, respectively.
1 can offer no explanation for such hopelessly divergent values as
are presented in these counts, except the one already suggested,
namely, the habit of the worm to occur in scattered groups and
colonies. The sampling dredge would most certainly contact vary-
ing; members of these groups, and the mud sample thus secured
would reflect, in the number of worms contained, the large element
of chance involved.
Further confirmation as to worm groups is afforded by some labora-
tory cultures in use as this report is written. In a made-up medium
consisting of sifted garden soil and fresh sewage solids, the compo-
nents thoroughly mixed to secure uniformity, a population of 400 worms
persists in arranging themselves in groups, in spite of the fact that the
abundant organic matter available as food is uniformly mixed.
Moreover, these groups change location every day or two, the groups
further change in size and also in number. Occasionally all worms
are in one group, but usually the arrangement is three or four groups.
Only when available food becomes scarce do these groups break up as
the worms go foraging.
Occasional difficulties of interpretation may be better understood,
and partially cleared up, in view of this occurrence of tubificid worms
in groups in a polluted stream. Thus Kichardson's (39) comments
on the tremendous differences in numbers of tubificid worms (see
-------
120
page 13 of the reference cited) may be explained when we know that
such variations are quite possible—in fact, are to be expected in view
of the large element of chance introduced into the numbers of tubificid
worms taken in a single sample.
In the present case of the various samples taken at Columbus, Shade-
ville and Commercial Point, the only means of getting order out of the
inconsistent and chaotic individual counts is to consider the totals
at each station, and to ascertain the average count. On doing this
(table XXXIII) it is at once seen by these averages that the
three stations named are on about the same sanitary basis so far as
sludge worm population over a period of nearly two years can indicate
the presence of pollution. If this be the true verdict, inspection of
the above table item by item, that is, taking each month in turn, and
noting the worm content as found at the three stations, will reveal the
interesting fact that no one set of samples in the twenty sets recorded
(August 1937 to June 1939 inclusive) can be interpreted as showing
this same verdict. In one case only (see data of September 1938) is
there any reasonable agreement as to number of worms in the three
1-liter samples. In other words, individual results, taken by them-
selves, are hopeless and impossible of interpretation. This again is
evidence of the hit-or-miss results traceable in turn to the tendency
of the worms to occur (1) in irregularly spaced groups, (2) of varying
numbers each, and (3) of the consequent probability that the sampling
apparatus may encounter several, few, or even none of these groups in
taking a single sample.
In the absence of the foregoing facts relative to this grouping of the
worms, the table presented would apparently be prima facie evidence
to the effect that the sludge worm is, to say the least, a very poor indi-
cator of organic pollution. Of the 16 complete sets (which are not
lacking in one or more samples because of flood conditions) six sets
indicate Columbus as exceeding in worm population, five sets similarly
indicate Shadeville, and the remaining five sets indicate Commercial
Point. This in itself would not be so much out of line but the two
remaining counts of any given set usually lack any semblance of value
approaching the one first stated, in spite of the geographical proximity
of those three stations and their approximately equal chances of pollu-
lution. A pollutions! organism content of 300, 31,900 and 10,100 (see
November 1937) and of 2,800, 460, and 5,500 at the same stations the
following month is not assuring to a logical thinker—and even more
disastrous to confidence are the successive monthly values, hi the
above table for April, May, June, and July 1938. There must be
some outstanding and constant factor of uncertainty to produce such
erratic counts, in successive and nearby stations, as 1,900, 1,100,
and 1 in May 1938 and 130, 270, and 44,200 at these same stations the
following months. But all these discrepancies are not only possible,
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121
but are probable, because of the lack of uniform distribution of the
worms over the bottom sediment. I believe that, as an organism
indicating the presence of organic pollution, the sludge worm is un-
surpassed. It is quite possible that our methods of taking bottom
samples are chiefly to blame, and that we must amend these methods
in order to counteract the element of chance projected into the situa-
tion by the established habit of the worms to occur in irregular and
temporary groups.
THE TABULATED DATA
In table XXXIV an effort is made to set forth outstanding biological
conditions as found at a selected list of sampling stations—these
stations, in turn representing sections of the river which are, according
to available information (1) somewhat polluted by untreated sewage,
Table XXXIV.—Bottom sediments of the Scioto River and average content
of organisms per liter of sample, (a) for each year, (b) for all collections
Station
Shadeville
South Bloomfield
Kellenberger Bridge
Chillicothe
Lucasville (and Waverly)
Year
1937
1938
1939
1937
1938
1939
1937
1938
1939
1937
1938
1939
1937
1938
1939
1937
1938
1939
1937
1938
1939
Number
of
samples
0
11
4
6
11
4
3
10
5
5
11
6
5
11
4
5
10
4
4
9
4
Pollutional
(chiefly tubiflcid
worms)
(a) (b)
4,775
5,391
1 35, 750 1 11, 270
15, 892
7,270
8, 750 9, 722
6,367
12, SCO
'9,954 « 10, 693
418
589
897 634
147
109
98 116
27—
42
119 64
49-
74
3 34 a 58
Tolerant
(chiefly
Cnironomid
larvae)
(a) (b)
0
0
0
4
1+
6 3
1
5
6 4
13
2
1 4
6-
5
8 6-
42
16
18 23
283
8
21 75
Cleaner feill
breathing
insect
larvae)
(a) (b)
0
0
0 0
0
0
0 0
0
0
0 0
2
0
J4 M
0
.» »
H
2 M
1
3 3
1 In one catch of 86,000, 79 percent were newly hatched.
1 In one catch of 35,000, 47 percent were newly hatched.
8 In one collection of 127,83 percent were newly hatched.
(2) heavily polluted by sewage effluent from the Columbus treatment
plant, (3) recovered to different degrees, from the Columbus pollution.
The accompanying list (table XXXV) further sets forth the details
concerning these seven sampling points.
As indicated in table XXXIV, collection of bottom samples began
in 1937, extended through 1938, and closed in 1939. Specifically,
this began in August 1937, and continued until June, 1939. Samples
were collected monthly. The three periods of varying sewage treat-
ment at the Columbus sewage treatment plant were too short to
afford an adequate and clearly visible reaction on the part of the
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122
bottom organisms because of the longer life cycle of these organisms.
That is, a few months would produce little or no visible change,
whereas 2 or 3 years would be effective.
Table XXXV.—Collecting stations for bottom sediment samples, Scioto
River
Station designation
Shadeville
Commercial Point _-
South Bloomfield
Chillicothe.
Lucasville
Biver miles
below
Columbus
3
13
17
23
46
61
Zone
Above effluent outfall, but
pollution of uncertain
amount is caused by dis-
charge of some untreated
sewage.
Polluted
Polluted
Polluted
vRecovery
Pertinent data
At Greenlawn Avenue bridge just be-
low overflow from the impounding
dam at Columbus.
8 miles above this point, the Columbus
sewage plant effluent is discharged
into the river.
The effluent-polluted water has flowed
12 miles. Time interval since pollu-
tion (29 hours at low water stage).
This is after a flow of 18 miles, and a
time interval of 44 hours at low water.
Time— 101 hours at low water.
Recovery practically complete. Stream
is relatively clean. 275 hours at low
water.
Table XXXIV is constructed on the assumption (to be discussed
later) that we have sufficient warrant to classify tubificid worms as
"pollutional" organisms (that is, when numerous, they are indicative
of an environment containing much putrcscible organic matter), and
further, that chironomid larvae, as a group, are capable of enduring a
considerable degree of pollution (that is, they are "tolerant"), and
finally, that such insect larvae as are found chiefly in relatively clean
waters containing a normal population of fish—these organisms are
briefly and justly classified as "cleaner."
Brief consideration of the several stations in table XXXIY is now
in order. At the Columbus sampling station, 5 collections in 1937
averaged 4,775 worms each; 11 collections in 1938 averaged 5,391
each, and 4 taken in 1939 averaged 35,750 each. (See section marked
"pollutional," and column (a)). The totals of these 20 collections
(stated in table XXXIII, see p. 118) give an average, for all collec-
tions, of 11,270 worms per collection (see column (b) in table XXXIV).
It is to be noted meantime, that at this same station, the bottom
sediments furnished no "tolerant" organisms. The "cleaner" organ-
isms were likewise entirely absent.
Similar inspection of the data given by Shadeville and Commercial
Point shows that these stations yield averages of 9,722 and 10,693
worms, respectively (see column (b)), and that "tolerant" organisms
are present in very small numbers—-averages of 3 and 4, respectively.
Meantime the "cleaner" organisms are entirely absent.
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123
Continuing this inspection of the remaining data given in table
XXXIV we note, in brief:
(1) Beginning with South Bloomfield, the average number of pol-
lutional organisms (column (b) in section "Pollutional") decreases
rapidly, and with reasonable uniformity, ending with an average
content, at Chillicothe and Lucasville, of 58.
(2) Tolerant organisms meantime increase slowly from an average
of 3 and 4 in the polluted portion of the river to an average of 75 hi
the fully-recovered river at the lowermost station, Lucasville.
(3) Cleaner organisms, entirely absent from the uppermost three
stations, increase very slowly, finally showing an average of 3 at the
lowermost station.
The outstanding item of table XXXIV is the heavy decrease of
sludge worms from about 10,000 per liter in the polluted upper river
to about one-half of 1 percent of that number in the recovered rela-
tively clean stream in the Chillicothe-Lucasville section. This net
result is based on all of the bottom samples taken, 138 in all.
A second item of significance is that the three uppermost stations
show approximately equal average numbers (see column (b)) of
pollutional organisms, and apparently are on about the same sanitary
basis, in spite of the fact that the Columbus station is 2 miles upstream
from the sewage effluent outfall. On careful inquiry it is found that,
due largely to difficulties of gradient, a few of Columbus' sewers dis-
charged their untreated contents directly into the river at and near
the city. There was also some discharge of storm water overflow
from combined sewers. This apparently provides bottom deposits
from the limited volume of water below the impounding dam which
are about equal to those caused, a few miles downstream, by the
much larger contribution of effluent from the sewage treatment plant.
This effluent is undoubtedly much less harmful to the stream than
the raw sewage, volume for volume, but apparently bottom deposits
from the smaller volume of the highly potent raw sewage plus storm
water overflows are about evenly pitted against those from the
larger volume of the weaker effluent.
PRESENTATION OF DATA, STATION BY STATION
The tabulated data are stated in more detail in tables XXXVI to
XLII for each station that follows herewith. These tables of labora-
tory findings, together with observations made in the field at the
several stations considered, constitute the chief basic data which
warrant the brief discussion of the prevailing situation and which,
summarized, support the tentative conclusions relative to the sanitary
status of the Scioto River as indicated by a study of the bottom
sediments.
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124
Table XXXVI.—Summary of Scioto River bottom sediments at Columbus
Month
1937
September -- -
October ._
1938
May . -_
July
1939
April
May
Physical condition
Black, gaseous, tarry odor, street washings
present.
Black, bad odor, much plant detritus pres-
ent.
Black, sandy, tarry odor. Plant detritus
and street washings=50 percent.
Black, sand and cinders= 5 percent. Odor of
sewage. Plant detritus.
Black, tarry and fecal odor. Sand and cin-
ders=10 percent.
Black, no special odor _. -,_ _
Black, gaseous, strong sewage odor _
Black, sand and cinders— 20 percent. Odor
of sewage.
Black, no special odor. Cinders and sand=
8 percent. Much plant detritus and
street washings.
Black, has sewage odor. Plant detritus
and cinders present.
Black, granular (8 percent sand). Odor of
sewage.
Black, livery, sewage odor. Detritus of
plants, chad and cinders.
Black, livery, sewage odor. Plant detritus
present.
Black, livery. Strong sewage odor - .
Dark color. Sand, cinders and pebbles=
43 percent. Strong odor of sewage de-
composition.
Nearly black. A little sand present. Strong
sewage odor.
Nearly black. About 30 percent sand and
pebbles. Sew age odor.
Organisms in 1 liter
Pollutional
(worms)
(1) (6) 10,000
(1) (6) 6, 200
(1) 3, 500
(2) 320
(1) 300
(2)21
(1) (7)2,780
(1) 12, 940
(2) (7) 265
(1) 3, 240
(1) 5. 280
(2) 18
(1) 1. 780
(2) 92
(1) 120
(2) (8) 13
(1) 250
(2) (9) 4
(1) 2,370
(2) (10) 37
(1) 7, 640
(2) (9) 347
(1) 17,950
(2) (9) 1,400
(1) 500
(2) 18
(1) 4, 830
(2) 305
(1) 9, 800
(2) 100
(1) 7, 450
(1) (11) 75, 240
(2) 10, 380
(4) (12) 865
(1) (13) 37, 000
(2) 3, 120
(4) 1, 140
(5) (14) 4,830
Tolerant
(chirono-
mid larvae,
etc.)
Cleaner
(gill-
breathers)
(1) Limnodrihts. (2) Tubifel. (3) Multisetosus. (4) Naiad worms'chiefly Dero, (5) Aulophorus. (6) Ma-
jority were malformed. (7) Majority knotted and malformed. (8) Worms normal. (9) A few worms
abnormal. (10) 12 percent abnormal. (11) ?4 newly hatched. (12) Worms comprise 21 percent of mud
sample by volume. (13) H newly hatched. (14) Worms comprised 22 percent of mud sample by volume
(after 30 minutes settling in graduate).
No samples collected February 1938, February and March 1939.
Columbus (Table XXXVI).—The channel at Columbus is about
200 feet from bank to bank'—but only a small part is occupied by
flowing water, this being due chiefly to the fact that an impounding
dam 4 miles above the sampling point (Greenlawn Avenue Bridge)
collects the greater part of the stream flow. This dam provides the
water supply for the city. The greater part of the Scioto River flow
during low water is thus collected in this dam, by-passed through the
water-mains and the service pipes, and later through sewers of the
city to the sewage treatment plant, thence the sewage effluent is
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125
discharged about 2 miles below the city and re-enters the channel of
the Scioto River about 8 miles above the Shadeville Bridge.
Apparently some sewage and street washings find their way directly
into this reduced stream flow above Greenlawn Avenue Bridge. This
is indicated by the persistent physical conditions noted in the bottom
sediments; practically every sample is black, or nearly so. This
color alone is not necessarily indicative of sewage pollution, but when,
in addition, there is a definite sewage or fecal odor in 18 of the 20
samples collected, the evidence of pollution is not to be ignored.
Street washings are indicated in several samples by the presence of
bottle caps, bits of tinfoil, shreds of paper, and chaffy material.
The organism content, necessarily limited to such forms as are able
to endure the physical conditions already mentioned, consists entirely
of tubificid worms. There are no insect larvae, even of the tolerant
chironomids, in any of the 20 samples examined. This is clear-cut
and definite response of such organisms as are known to prefer sewage
pollution; they are present in large numbers. Just as clear-cut, also,
is the response of such organisms as cannot endure extreme sewage
pollution; they are entirely absent.
Further evidence of the general suitability of the environment for
these pollutional tubificid worms is noted in the occasional presence
of large numbers of young worms, as in the samples of May and
June 1939.
. There is, however, some unknown condition unfavorable to the
worms. In at least 8 of the 20 samples, many worms were abnormal
in that they were knotted and malformed. The normal smooth,
uniformly cylindrical body had become a series of humps and con-
tractions usually alternating, and presenting a roughly beaded appear-
ance. Moreover, this beaded portion, always beginning at the anal
end and progressing toward the anterior end, seemed to be in reality
a process of death. Observations on living worms in laboratory
cultures indicated that the alimentary canal in this portion is usually
empty, the blood circulation slow, and the amount of blood abnor-
mally small, the worm body in consequence being somewhat colorless
or whitish. This apparently dying abnormal portion of the body
sloughed off a part of its length from tune to time. Theie seemed to
be no taking of food meantime by the still active and normal anterior
end of the living worm. It is possible that this is the manner of its
normal death—that it "dies by inches" so to speak, and that the dead
and putrescible organic matter of its body is consigned to the environ-
ment a little at a time, thus avoiding, in an environment usually very
low in dissolved oxygen, the sudden and considerable burden that
might be imposed if the entire body of the worm in considerable
numbers became lifeless and therefore putrescible.
-------
126
This condition of tubificid worms was observed in the Columbus
samples much more frequently than at any other station. At most
of the other stations it was noted only once, but at Cbillicothe the
condition appeared in 3 of the 19 samples. It is possible that some
industrial waste may encourage this sloughing-off process in the
Columbus samples. The trouble at this station surely is not due to
lack of food. At Chillicothe, however, the environment is relatively
clean, organic matter is scarce, no odor being noticeable, and worms
are present only in very small numbers, the most reasonable cause
for this latter being the evident lack of food. It is possible that this
same lack is the chief reason for the sloughing-off process—the
gradual death—noted in throe of the Chillicothe samples.
Table XXXVII.—Summary of Scioto River bottom sediments at Shadeville
Month
1937
3938
April
May
Julv
December .
1939
May
June
Physical condition
Chiefly pebbles. Very little mud. Strong
sewage odor. Detritus (and worms) on
pebbles. Some algae also on pebbles.
Black. Strong sewage odor. About 75 per*
eent sample was sand and pebbles.
Black. Strong sewage odor. Sample was
80 percent gravel and sand.
Black, lias sewage odor. Small amount
of sand in sample.
Black. Has tarry odor. Baud and plant
detritus present.
Black. Moderate odor only. Very little
detritus.
Black, sticky. Has sewage odor. Sand
forms 5 percent of sample.
Black, sticky. Has sewage odor and 1 per-
cent sand.
Black and sticky. Sou ago odor. Has 2 per-
cent sand.
Black, rather firm. "Privy odor." Cin-
ders, sand, etc. form 18 percent of sample.
Black, mod. firm. Has odor of sewage.
Sand forms 36 percent of sample.
Black, sandy, has odor of sewage. Small
amount detritus present.
Black, livery. Has odor of sewage. Very
little detritus.
Black, soft. Moderate sewage odor. 20
percent of sample, is leaf fragments and
plant detritus.
Black, soft, gaseous. Strong odor of sewage.
Contains a little sand.
Black, granular. Sewage odor. Total vol-
ume worms (about one-third recently
hatched) 16 percent of mud sample.
Black, soft, livery. Strong sewage odor
Organisms in 1 liter
Pollutional
(worms)
(1)36,000
(1)6, 700
(1)4,400
(1)31,900
(4)2. 700
(1)465
(1)2.300
(0)
(1)2,460
(7)
(1)14,100
(8)
(1)1,050
(2)21
C'J)
(1)220
(2)50
(1)4,700
(2)24, (8)
(1)9,325
(2)265
(1)6,720
(1)8. 375
(1)15,000
(1)14,300
(2)1,000
(4)1,700
(1)900
(3)20, (8)
(1) 1, 200
(2)25
(1)21,800
(2)5,100
(1)5.725
(2)325
Tolerant
(chirono-
mid larvae,
etc.)
(5)24
(10)8
(10)5
(10)25
Cleaner
(gill-
breathing
larvae)
(DLimnodrilus, (2) Tubifex, (S)Miittiselosm, (4) Dero, (5) Sphaenidtie, (fi)Majority knotted and abnormal
(7) Egg capsules present, (8) Many egg capsules, (9) Few egg capsules, (lO)Ohironomid larvae.
No samples collected in January 1938 and February and March 1939.
-------
127
Shadeville (Table XXXVII).—In the Shadeville region the valley
is wide, and consists chiefly of farm lands. The river channel has a
border of trees, mostly deciduous, on either side occupying the fre-
quently flooded lowlands constituting the river banks.
About 8 miles above this point, the effluent of the Columbus sewage
treatment plant enters the stream. A quarter mile or less below the
outfall a few riffles operate to produce more perfect mixture of this
effluent with the river water.
To an observer standing on the bridge at Shadeville the most
noticeable item of this situation is the persistent and moderately
strong odor of sewage. On inspection of the shallow stream, there is
seen, especially near the margins, numerous patches and groups of
reddish, tubificid worms.
The 20 monthly samples of bottom sediment obtained at this station
are in agreement as to color and odor. All are black, and all have a
strong sewage odor, sometimes a "foul piivj odor." Half or more of
the samples show a good proportion of sand or small pebbles, or both.
Leaf fragments, scraps of bark, bits of twigs, most of them black and
partly decomposed, are found in a third of the samples.
Tubifex worms dominated the situatio i, as they did at Columbus,
occurring in every sample in numbers varying from a few hundred to
thirty-six thousand per liter of bottom samples. Other organisms
were present only infrequently and in relatively small numbers—•
Chironomid larvae in four samples and the sewrage-tolerant bivalve
Sphaeriidae in one sample. It was evident that the worms were in
suitable environment, being present in every sample. Moreover,
their egg-capsules were frequently present and sometimes numerous.
With regard to sewage odor, distinction should be made between the
prevalent air odor, perceptible as the observer stands near the
stream—and the odor of the bottom sediments, when these are
removed from the stream and are exposed to the air. It is frequently
the case that such sediments when removed and tested, have a definite
sewage odor, but this same portion of stream as a whole, yields no
odor to the passer-by or to the average visitor. Thus little or no air
odor is observable at Columbus, or at Commercial Point, or at South
Bloomfield, but the bottom sediments at these places when removed
from the stream have a very definite sewage odor. At Shadoville
this odor of the removed sediments is especially bad—a vile "privy
odor." Enough of this odor is imparted to the air (as the water
flows, with frequent overturns and exposures to the air) to give the
atmosphere a sewage odor perceptible to the visitor who crosses the
bridge at this place.
-------
128
Table XXXVIII.-
-Summary of Scioto River bottom sediments at Commer-
cial Point
Month
1937
August
November
December
1938
February
April
May
.Time.
July -
August..
October
November.-
December
1939
January...
March
April
May
r *
June .
Physical conditions
Grayish mud, containing sand and pebbles.
Moderate odor of sewage.
Black and sandy. Has odor of sewage.
Plant detritus present.
Black. Contains sand. Has odor of sew-
age. Detritus present.
Black, sticky. A small amount of sand.
Sewage odor present.
Black, soft. Detritus (plant) 20 percent
and sand 10 percent sample. Sewage odor
present.
Black, gaseous. Has odor of sewage. Some
plant detritus present.
Black, soft. Has marked sewage odor.
Some plant detritus present.
Black, livery, soft. Odor of sewage present--
Black, soft. Has odor of sewage
Dark, nearly black, and soft. Has odor of
sewage.
Black, soft and stinking (odor of sewage).
Plant detritus present.
Black, soft. Sewage odor. Leaf fragments
and plant detritus present.
Black, soft. Has odor of sewage. Leaf
fragments present.
Black and soft. Has odor of sewage. Plant
detritus present.
Black, rather stiff and firm. About 2 per-
cent sand. No sewage odor. Strong
formalin odor. Much plant detritus
present, also pupa cases of Psychoda.
Black, sticky. Has odor of decomposition.
Leaf fragments, etc., present.
Grayish black, soft. Has odor of sewage.
About 50 percent worms newly hatched.
Nearly black, soft. Has a strong sewage
odor.
Organisms in 1 liter
Poltational
(worms)
(1)3,500
(1)8, 820
(2)1,300
(3)420
(1)5,490
(1)3,100
(1)5,100
(2)840
(3)120
(1)1
(8)
(1)38,000
(2)6, 160
(3)280
(1)25,000
(1)20,000
(2)510
(3)530
(l)fi,820
(2)320
(3)320
(1)4, 100
(2)100
(3)575
(1)2,800
(1)11,000
(2)750
(3)500
(1)1,000
(2)100. (3)20
(1)170
(9)
(1) 8,000
(2)900, (10)
(1)33, 800
(2)11,300
(1)5,200
(2)250
Tolerant
(chirono-
mid larvae,
etc.)
(6)8
(7)2
(6)15
(6)25
(6)0
(7)2
(11)30
Cleaner
(Etll-
brea thing
larvae)
(1) Limnodrilus, (2) Tubifex, (3) Multisetosus, (4) ffero, (5) Aulophoms, (6) Chironomid larvae, (7) Leech,
(8) See text page 120, (9) Many worms abnormal, (10) Many egg capsules, (11) Sphaeriidae.
No samples taken in September, October, 1937; January, March, 1938 and February, 1939.
Commercial Point (table XXXVIII).—General topography and
channel conditions are quite similar to those of Shadeville—low
wooded banks, a stream about 200 feet wide, flowing rather slowly.
In one particular, however, this station differs. The odor of sewage
is faint, even lacking at times. Occasionally it may be quite apparent
to a sensitive %Tisitor. Consistent with this change, the tubificid worms
are not so apparent. A few spots or groups can be seen, but fewer of
these are visible, at least in the marginal waters, than at Shadeville.
Most of the bottom samples are black, but a few are grayish. In
this, as in the decreased intensity of odor, there is a little difference, as
compared with the Shadeville samples.
-------
129
Every sample contained tubificid worms. The maximum number
was 44,000, the minimum 1 (a single worm!) per liter of sediment.
Average of the 18 samples, 10,693 (see table XXXIV).
Chironomid larvae were present in rather small numbers, in 4
samples, and the tolerant bivalve, Sphaeriidae, in 1 sample. Thus,
biologically, as well as physically, coiiditions are quite similar to
those of Shadeville.
Table XXXIX.—Summary of Scioto River bottom sediments at South
Bloomfield
Month
1937
October
December
1938
January,
February
March -
June
July
September
October
November
December -
1939
January.
March
April
May ..
June
Physical condition
Dark color. Odor slight. Sample chiefly
sand and gravel. Some detritus.
Dark. About 80 percent sand and gravel.
No special odor.
Dark. 50 percent sand and gravel. Strong
odor of sewage. Plant detritus present.
Black. Has strong sewage odor. Small
amount sand and gravel.
Black, slimy. Tarry odor. Contains chaf-
fy material, like bits of hay.
Dark. Contains small amounts of sand,
also 5 percent leaf fragments.
Black, slimy. Has moderate sewage odor.
Much minute plant detritus.
Black, sticky, gaseous. Strong sewage odor.
Contains plant detritus, from field or
streets.
Dark, granular, with 12 percent sand. Sew-
age odor. Plant detritus.
Black, soft, livery. Has sewage odor. 7
percent sand.
Nearly black, soft. Sewage odor. \A little
sand. Plant detritus.
Black, sticky. Moderate sewage odor. Sand
4 percent.
Black, livery, not granular. Slight sewage
odor.
Black, livery. Has some odor of sewage.
Plant detritus.
Black, soft. Has sewage odor. Plant de-
tritus, and Psychoda molts.
Black, soft. Has strong odor of sewage
Black and gray, soft. Has sewage odor and
much fine detritus.
Dark grayish. Sewage odor. Fine detritus
present.
Grayish, soft, granular. 1/6 of sample is
sand. Sewage odor.
Dark, soft, pasty. Odor of sewage. Plant
detritus present.
Nearly black, sticky. Has sewage odor
Organisms in 1 liter
PoIIutiona]
(worms)
(1)1,050
(1)342
(1)230
(2)88
(3)10
(1)176, (2)24
(3)88, (4)16
(1)66
(2)5, (4)5
(1)156
(2)6, (3)6
(1)64
(1)96
(2)8
(1)280
(2)20
(1)770
(2)34, (3)5
(1)2,100
(3) (12) 25
(1)1,160
(2)50
(1)500
(2)12, (3)12
(1)60
(2)3
(1)560
(2)40
(1)265, (2)13
(3)27, (4)13
(1)100
(3)2(4)3
(1)600
(2)110
(1)500
(1)1,540
(2)6(3)117
(1)1,728
(2)456
(4)112
Tolerant
(chirono-
mid larvae
etc.)
(6)2
(7)2
(8)11
(10)8
(7)52
(6)6
(7)24
(11)5
(7)6
Cleaner
(gill-
breathers)
(9)1
03)2
(1) Limnodrilm, (2) Tubifex), (3) Muttisetosus, (4) Dero, (5) Aulophorus, (6) Leech, (7) Chironomid larvae,
(8) Corethra larvae, (9) Caddis larvae, (10) Asellus aquatints, (11) psycboda larvae, (12) A few egg capsules
present. (13) May-fly nymphs.
No samples April, 1938 and February, 1939.
-------
130
South Bloomfield (table XXXIX).—This station, 6 miles below
Commercial Point, shows no essential departure, as to topography,
from the up-stream station mentioned. The stream is about 200 feet
wide. No worm-groups are visible, and there is no atmospheric odor
of sewage. Submerged water plants (apparently a potamogeton)
are moderately abundant. Below the bridge a riffle shows a heavy
growth of a submerged, grass-like plant (not an alga).
About half of the 21 samples taken show varying amounts of sand
and gravel, twenty have a sewage odor, this being strong in five
samples. Color of bottom samples is usually black, or at least dark,
but an occasional sample is gray. Leaf fragments and decomposing
plant detritus are noted in thirteen samples.
Tubificid worms appear in every sample, but only five yield over
1000 per liter, and the maximum is not quite 2200. Remaining sam-
ples vary fiom 60 to 800 worms per liter of sediment, and these low
values are the chief factor in forcing the station average (see table
XXXIV) down to 634.
Chironomid larvae appear in four samples, and a lessening of pre-
vailing pollutional conditions is foreshadowed by the appearance of
other organisms in three samples—Corethra larvae and one caddis-fly
larva in one sample, and the crustacean Asellus aguaticus in another,
and May-fly nymphs in a third. None of these are found, as a rule,
under conditions of heavy pollution. The caddis- and May-fly
larvae in particular possess external gills, and require oxygen-con-
taining water for the proper functioning of those gills.
Table XL.—Summary of Scioto River bottom sediments at Kellenberger
Bridge
Month
1937
October
1938
'
Physical condition
Brownish, with a little sand. No odor.
(Long pool at this station.)
Brownish, with & little sand. No odor.
Some detritus.
Brownish, soft. About 10 percent sand.
No special odor.
Brownish, sticky. Small amount sand and
detritus. Slight sewage odor.
Brownish, granular. Contains a little
sand. No odor.
Brownish. Traces o{ sand and detritus.
No odor of sewage.
Grayish, sticky. Leaf fragments and a little
sand present.
Organisms in 1 liter
Pollutional
(worms)
(1)20
(1)128
(1)412
(2)24
(1)06
(2)12
(4)30
(1)43
(7)
(1)32
(1)18
(1)16
Tolerant
(chirono-
mid larvae,
etc.)
(6)4
(6)4
(6)1
(6)3
(6)16
(0)8
(6)2
(6)3
Cleaner
(gill-
breathing
larvae)
See footnote at end of table.
-------
131
Table XL.—Summary of Scioto River bottom sediments at Kellenberger
Bridge—Continued
Month
193S
June-
July . ..
September
October
19S9
January. -
Physical condition
Brownish. No special odor. Leaves and
sticks comprise 5 percent of sample.
Grayish. No odor. Moderate amount of
plant detritus.
65 percent sand and pebbles. Mud grayish,
with slight odor. Plant detritus present.
Grayish, soft. No odor. 9 percent of
sample was sand.
Grayish. More than 40 percent sand. No
od'or of sewage. Plant detritus present.
l/i sand and pebbles. Mud brownish. No
odor.
Nearly li sand and pebbles. Mud brown-
ish. Slight odor of sewage.
Dark colored. Has sewage odor. 72 percent
sand and gravel. Fragments of stem,
leaves, bark, etc., present.
Gray-brown. Has slight odor of sewage- .-.
Grayish. Granular. Has slight odor of
sewage. Contains sticks and leaves.
9/10 sand and pebbles. Moderate odor of
sewage.
Nearly black. Firm rather than soft.
Much plant detritus. Moderate odor of
sewage.
Organisms in 1 liter
Pollutional
(worms)
(1)27
(1)116
(2)2
(1)146
(2)4
(4) 140
(1)120
(1)55
(2)7
(1)155
(2) 15
(1)80
(2)23
(1)220
(4)21
(1)36
(») 2 (4)8
(1)40
(2)2
(4)12
(1)26
(2)2
(1)250
(2)12
Tolerant
(chirono
mid larvae.
etc.)
(6)2
(6)9
(6)2
(6)15
(6)4
(6)6
(6)9
(9)4
(6)19
(10)2
Cleaner
(gill-
breathing
larvae)
(814
(1) Limnodrilus, (2) Tnbifrx, (3) Afullisetosus, (4) Den, (5) Aulophorus, (6) Chironomid larvae, (7) Several
worms abnormal, (8) May-fly nymphs (Ephemera.), (9) Ceratopogon larpae, (10) May-fly nymphs (Hexaqenia)
No samples collected in January 1938, and February and March. 1939.
Kellenberger Bridge (table XL).—This station represents an addi-
tional flow of 23 miles. The stream, about 200 feet wide, is apparently
a shallow pool, perhaps 500 yards long, at this point. There is no
odor as the observer stands near the stream, and no external indication
of sewage pollution.
Twenty sediment samples were taken. In 11 the color was brown-
ish, in the others gray, with a single sample (June 1939) almost black.
In one sample, color was not recorded. As to odor, 11 showed no
odor, 7 showed slight odor of sewage, 1 showed definite sewage
odor. As to make-up, all but 3 showed a relatively high propor-
tion of sediment, with very little sand or pebbles. In one case only
(May 1939) did the sample show more than 50 percent sand and
pebbles. Also, there were relatively small or moderate amounts of
leaf fragments, bits of twig, and other plant detritus in the majority
of the samples.
The great predomi?iance of tubificid worms noted in the preceding
up-stream stations here shows a definite chauge. In only one sample
-------
132
(that of October 1937) do the sludge worms exceed 300 per liter of
mud. In 9 samples the worm content is less than 300 but more
than 100. In 7 samples the number of worms present is over 25
but less than 100, and in 3 samples fewer than 25 worms are
present. Every sample shows some worms present, but in such
diminished numbers that the average for this station is 116—about 1
percent of the average content shown in samples from the 3 sta-
tions in the upper polluted section of the river.
Further evidence of definite improvement in the stream bottom is
shown by the increasing frequency of such organisms as are known to
be tolerant of sewage pollution (so long as this is not excessive).
Kefcrence is made to the Chironomid larvae. These occur in 16
of the 20 samples. This is about 8 times as frequent as the
occurrence of Chironomid at the 3 stations in the upper polluted
river (Columbus, Shadeville, and Commercial Point). Moreover,
hi three Kellenberger samples are found a few organisms, chiefly
May-fly larvae, which are important in the natural food supply of
fish, and such larvae are to be found, as a rule, in waters that are clean
enough to sustain fish life.
Summarizing, we may say that sediment samples at Kellenberger
Bridge:—
1. Show much less odor than at up-stream stations.
2. Prevailing color is brownish.
3. Tubificid worms are greatly reduced in number.
4. Pollution-tolerant organisms occur in greater frequency.
5. Insect larvae (chiefly Hexagenia) characteristic of the cleaner,
fish-inhabited waters, are occasionally present.
Table XLI.—Summary of Scioto River bottom sediments at Chillicothe
Month
1937
September
1938
February . -
March .
April
May
July
Physical condition
Practically all pebbles and sand. No odor -
95 percent sand and gravel. No odor
Over 90 percent sand and gravel. No odor.-
Yellowish mud. Sample 50 percent sand.
No odor. Plant detritus.
Brownish, about H sand. No odor. Small
amount of detritus.
Dark. No special odor. About 3-percent
leaves and sand.
Chiefly fine sand. No odor
Brownish. No odor. Cinders and plant
detritus present.
Yellowish. No odor. About 30-percent
sand and gravel.
Qray-brown, granular. Half sand. No
odor. Plant detritus present.
Organisms in 1 liter
Pollutions!
(worms)
Noors
(1)4.
(1)1-
(1)84..^
(2)6, (4)6
(1)32
(1)11
(2)1
(1)28
(1)28
0)27.
(2)7
(1)6
Tolerant
(chirono-
mid larvae,
etc.)
anisms foun
(5)18
(6)4
(5)112
(5)48
(5)30
(5) (7)32 -
(5)6 _
(8)3
(6)18
Cleaner
(gill
breathers)
1
See footnote at end of table.
-------
133
Table XLI.—Summary of Scioto River bottom sediments at Chillicothe—
Continued
Month
• 1938
November
1939
May
Physical condition
Grayish. 60-percent sand and pebbles.
Plant detritus present.
Gray-brown, granular. No odor. ?!i of
sample sand.
Yellowish. 70 percent sand and pebbles.
Leaf fragments and plant detritus. Slight
odor of sewage.
Brownish. 50-percent sand and gravel. No
definite odor of sewage.
Brownish, dark. Has faint odor of sewage.
Much plant detritus.
Grayish, granular. 5-percent sand and grav-
el. Very slight odor. Plant detritus
present.
Grayish, granular. Has slight odor of sew-
age.
Nearly all sand. Slight odor of sewage--
Organisms in 1 liter
Pollutional
(worms)
(1)18
(1)27
(9)
(1)20
(9)
(1)148
(4)18
(1)148 .
(4)16
(1) (11)12
(2)14
(4)70
(1)40
(2)2
mdsiefi
(2)17
1(4)187
(2)2
Tolerant
(chirono-
mid larvae,
etc.)
(5)10
(5) (10)36
(5)16
(5) (10) 36
(5)16
(10)14
(5)13
(6)58
(5)4
(5)35
(14)2
(15)2
Cleaner
(gill-
breathers)
(8)1
(12)1
(8)5.
(1) Llmnodrilus, (2) Tubifex, (3) Multisetosus, (4) Dero and other Naiadidae, (5) Chironomid larvae, (6)
Sphaeriidae, (7) Chiefly C. plumosus, (8) Jlexagenia, (9) Several abnormal and knotted, (10) Chiefly C.
decdrus, (11) Majority newly hatched, (12) Isoperla, (13) Many abnormal, (14) Paychoda larvae, (15)
C'fratopogon.
No samples collected in January and June 1938, or February and March 1939.
Chillicothe (table XLI).—This station is about midway of the 115
mile section of river included in this study. The stream here is about
150 feet wide. There is no odor. To the naked eye this clean-
looking stream offers no suggestion of pollution.
The river bottom consists largely of sand and gravel. Material
sedimented from the passing water is smaller in amount than that at
up-stream stations discussed in the preceding pages. This paucity
of sedimented material may be due in part to the narrower stream
channel with consequent increase in current velocity, this in turn
resulting in greater carrying power affecting the suspended matter
and preventing its settling.
Recorded data show that 19 bottom samples were collected. Of
this number, 12 contained from 50 percent to 100 percent sand and
small gravel. Of the remainder, 4 contained less than 50 percent.
Twelve samples showed no odor. The remaining samples had a
perceptible odor of sewage. Prevailing color of these bottom samples
was brown, or yellowish.
Eighteen samples (all but one) contained tubificid worms. In
only two samples did the worms exceed 100. In nine samples worms
numbered 25 to 100. Tubificid average for the station was 54.
200664—41-
-10
-------
134
Tolerant organisms, chiefly Chironomid larvae, appeared in 13
samples, and cleaner-water forms, chiefly the May-fly larva Hexagenia
were found in 3 samples and the stone-fly larva Isoperla, commonly
found in relatively clean streams, was present in one sample.
In brief, bottom sediments from this half-way station, Chillicothe,
show much the same situation as do sediments from the station at
Kellenberger Bridge, 15 miles up-stream, for:
1. Sewage odor is lacking—or is faintly perceptible in a few samples
only.
2. Tubificid worms are present in small numbers only, the station
average being 54.
3. Pollution-tolerant organisms appear in a majority of the samples
and cleaner-water organisms in small numbers in a few samples.
Lucasville (table XLII).—This station is 112 miles down-stream
from Columbus, and is therefore 110 miles below the point where the
Scioto River is polluted by the discharge of effluent from the Columbus
sewage treatment plant. It is also 54 miles below Chillicothe, at
which place a population of about 20,000 (70 percent served with
sewerage) is responsible for a relatively small secondary pollution
by the discharge, into the river, of about one million gallons per day
of settled sewage. In addition, Paint Creek, a tributary below
Chillicothe, adds some industrial waste from paper mills, and also
a moderate but intermittent contribution of stockyard waste. The
total of all these contributions would seem to be relatively insignificant
in amount as compared with the pollution, in the upper river, by the
effluent from the Columbus sewage treatment plant.
Table XLII.—Summary of Scioto River bottom sediments at Lucasville
Month
1937
September
1938
July
Physical condition
Yellowish mud-and-sand, half and halt. No
odor.
About 90 percent sand and gravel with a
little mud. No odor.
95 percent sand and gravel. No odor _.
Brownish mud. without odor. About 60
percent sand.
Yellowish. 50 percent sand. No odor.
Small amount plant detritus.
Sample is ?4 sand, with a little yellow mud,
without odor.
Brownish. 2 percent sand. Noodor. Small
amount of detritus.
Brownish. Is one-third sand. No odor.
Small amount detritus.
Organisms in 1 liter
Pollutional
(worms)
(1)60
(6)80
(1)10
(DO
(1)24
(2)8
(4)2
(1)2
Noori
(1)36
(2)1
(1)14
(4)2
Tolerant
(cm'rono-
mid larvae,
etc.)
(7)300
(7)44
(7)772
(7)5
(11)9
anisms foun
(14)1
(7)1
(14)2
Cleaner
(gill-
brjjathing
larvae)
(8)2
(»)12
(10) 1
(13)200
(8)8
(12)3
1
See footnote at end of table.
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135
Table XLII.—Summary of Scioto River bottom sediments at Lucasville-
Continued
Month
19S8
September
November. ..
19S9
Physical condition
Brownish, soft. No odor. One-fifth of sam-
ple is coarse sand. Large amount chafly
detritus.
Yellowish, soft. No odor. One-sixth sand
and pebbles. Small amount plant detritus.
Brown, soft. No odor. Small amount detri-
tus.
Brown, soft. No odor. Leaves, etc. in sam-
ple.
Brownish, granular. No odor. Large con-
tent of whitish fibers.
Grayish, compact. Three-fourths gravel
and sand. No odor. Small amount detri-
tus.
Chiefly clean sand and gravel. (70 percent).
A little yellow mud. No odor.
Organisms in 1 liter
Pollutlonal
(worms)
(1)130
(2)2
(1)90
(15)
(1)64
(1)20
(1)280
(3)4 (4)16
(1)3
(4)5
(1)21
(1) (21) 106
Noorg
Tolerant
(chirono-
mid larvae,
etc.)
(7)2
(7)10
(7)29
(7)14
(7)12
(7)13
(?) (19)60
(20)8
(11)4
anisms foun
Cleaner
(gill-
breathers)
(9)2
(16)2
(Mil
(17)4
(10)3
(10)4
(18)4
i
(1) Limnotlrttu8,(2) Tubifex), (3) Multisetoms, (4) Den, (S) Anlvt-horus, (6) Naias, (7) Chironomid larvae,
(8) Ephemerella, (9) Ephemera, (10) Hydropsyctte, (11) Cerotopotion, (12) Caddis larvae, (13) Snails (Amnicola)
(14) Leech, (15) Many worms abnormal, (16) Hexagema, (17) Isoperla, (18) Qomphus, (19) 20 were C. decorus,
(20) Psychoda, (21) Newly hatched.
No samples were collected in December 1937; January, April, June, 1938: or February, March, 1939.
Eight of the seventeen bottom samples taken show a high percent
(50 to 95) of sand and gravel. Five samples show less thaa 50 percent,
and the remaining four show traces only. The color, in all cases
save one, is yellow or brownish—the exception noted showing a
grayish color. As to odor, this was absent in every case. Small
amounts of plant detritus were present in about half the samples, one
of which contained considerable amounts of paper-mill waste.
Thirteen of the seventeen samples contained Uibificid worms.
In 3 samples the worms numbered over 100, in five samples they
numbered 25 to 90, in five other samples fewer than 25 were present.
The Lucasvillo environment apparently is not favorable for tubi-
ficid worms. In several samples the few worms pressnt were badly
broken, with bleached, nearly lifeless posterior of body in a "beaded"
condition, showing deep constrictions, as if the worm were in that
process of sloughing-off and slow death which has been observed
frequently in laboratory cultures. In one sample, only 8 or 9 worms
in a catch of 90 were normal. In another catch of 64, most of the
worms were in fragments. In still another catch of 20, only 2 worms
were normal.
The above refers to adult worms. With regard to young worms,
these were observed to be present in larger relative number than was
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136
the case at any other station. In one catch, of 14, all were small; in
another catch of 127, 83 percent were recently-hatched worms. In
still another case, a catch of 130 showed 47 percent young and 35
percent of moderate size only. Some egg-capsules were found, but
all were empty.
It seems probable that there is a reasonable explanation for each
of the above items ***(!) The adult worms are few in number,
and many are in process of gradual death, because of the persistence
of a relatively clean environment, instead of the foul conditions in
which these worms are known to thrive. No sample examined showed
breeding as indicated by the actual presence of living egg-capsules,
and a reasonable explanation of this fact is that environmental condi-
tions were not sufficiently favorable to maintain the adult worm and
encourage its normal activities, of which breeding is one. (2) Young
worms, however, were relatively numerous, in spite of the apparent
absence of living egg-capsules. This in turn is a probable and natural
result of the fact that these smooth spheroidal capsules, non-gela-
tinous and lying unattached in or on the mud surface of upstream
stations (where they were frequently found in large numbers) are
very easily transported by any moderate water movement such as
might be caused by the frequent floods in the Scioto River. Where-
ever these capsules came to rest in the stream they would eventually
hatch—but the resulting young worms, relatively numerous for a
time, would in all probability gradually succumb to the unfavorable
conditions that seem to be increasingly effective, as the worms in
decreasing numbers attain the condition of crippled maturity pre-
viously discussed.
Subsequent laboratory studies (to be reported in a forthcoming
paper) resulted as follows:
1. Tubificid capsules hatched successfully in (a) distilled water,
(b) clean tap water, (c) sewage-polluted water, (d) clean sand, kept
moist with clean water.
2. About half of the young worms, each about 8 mm. long, were
kept in their native environment, as given in 1. They lived for 2 to
6 weeks, showing very slight growth meantime.
3. The remaining young worms hatched in 1 (above) were trans-
ferred to sewage-polluted mud. In 6 weeks they had attained a
length of about 2 inches.
Consistent with the decreasing numbers of these pollutional worms
is an increase in the frequency and the relative numbers (1) of such
organisms as are tolerant of pollution, and also (2) such organisms
as are normally abundant in the cleaner, fish-containing waters,
notably the water-dwelling stages of insect life such as May flies,
caddis flies, stone flies, and the like.
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137
DISCUSSION
The following tabulation (table XLI1I) shows the essential situa-
tion in this respect at all the stations studied.
Table XLIII.—Number of samples showing index organisms August 1937
to June 1939
Miles
3
13
17
23
46
61
115
Station
Columbus .
Shadeville
South Bloomfield
Chillioothe
Ivueasville-.
Sam-
ples
taken
21
21
18
22
20
19
17
Samples whose population is classified as
Pollutional
Number
21
21
18
22
20
18
13
Percent
100
100
100
100
100
95
76
Tolerant
Number
0
4
6
8
16
15
12
Percent
0
19
33
36
80
79
71
Cleaner
Number
0
0
0
2
3
3
9
Percent
0
0
0
9
15
16
53
It will be observed that, in the upper polluted portion of the river
(the first three stations) the "cleaner" organisms are entirely absent.
They appear hi very small numbers (in 9 percent of the samples—
see final column) at South Bloomfield, and in the lower, well-recovered
river this frequency is much increased—these better organisms being
found in 15 percent, 16 percent, and finally 53 percent of the samples,
respectively, at the lower river collecting stations. Meantime, the
increase hi frequency of occurrence of the "tolerant" organisms
follows a somewhat similar course, averaging about 17 percent of the
samples, hi the upper polluted river as compared with an average of
73 percent in the samples of the lowermost three stations. The
pollutional samples, however, show a different course. They are
decreasing downstream—from 100 percent in the upstream stations
to about 92 percent hi the lowermost three stations or 76 percent
at the lowermost one.
Table XLIII is an example of tabulated data of the type that must
be interpreted with care, and with adequate knowledge of the facts
involved, and further, with due consideration of the limitations of
a "table" such as the one referred to.
Table XLIII is considering data hi the qualitative sense only.
In other words, the column marked "pollutional" records (Fact I)
the mere presence—(not the actual numbers) of pollutional organisms
hi 100 percent of all the samples taken, for instance, at Shadeville,
and in 76 percent of all the samples taken at Lucasville. This does
not necessarily mean that the pollutional condition at Lucasville is
about 76 percent that of Shadeville. The need for adequate knowl-
edge of the facts now becomes impeiative, for when we note (Fact II)
that the average content of these pollutional organisms (see table
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138
XXXVII) at Shadeville is about 10,000, while at Lucasville the aver-
age is only 58, the real difference in sanitary status at the two stations
becomes apparent.
The same general situation is seen in the column headed "cleaner."
It so happens (Fact III) that none at all of the, Shadeville samples
showed the presence of any of the cleaner organisms, notably insect
larvae, but that these were present in 53 per cent of the Lucasville
samples. But again iurther knowledge of the facts in the situation
now reveals (Fact IV) that the average content of "cleaner" organisms
in Lucasville samples is only 3 (see table XXXIV). Although this is
infinitely greater than the zero value at Shadeville, yet we instinctively
compare this apparently low average of 3 cleaner organisms at Lucas-
ville with the previously-mentioned average content of 58 pollutional
organisms in these same samples. The unguarded conclusion is that
Lucasville samples show continued pollution, rather than recovery
from this condition so prevalent in the Shadeville section. But again
a further fact of far greater importance than are mere numbers of
organisms, claims consideration—that is (Fact V) the higher form of
life represented by these insect larvae (though few in number) and
the greatly improved conditions ol environment that must be opera-
tive in order to make possible the continued presence of even one such
organism. In fact, this is an item that condemns the Shadeville
samples: conditions there are so intolerable that, in 21 samples, repre-
senting every season, not even one of these cleaner organisms was
found.
The information sought is this: What is the relative sanitary status
of the stream as indicated by conditions existing in the bottom sedi-
ments? At Shadeville, for instance (1) the pnysically vile, stinking
sediments always present give unanimous assent, so to speak, that
sanitary conditions are bad: (2) The persistent presence, in large
numbers, of such organisms as are known to nourish only in a highly
organic environment, is Iurther evidence,, biological rather than
physical, of the prevalence of pollution. By the same token, (3) the
total absence for nearly two years of any organism of known prefer-
ence for clean environment constitutes further condemnatory testi-
mony. At Lucasville, on the contrary, (1) sediments are odorless
and apparently clean. (2) The pollutional organisms, though actually
present in 77 per cent of the samples, are very greatly decreased in
numbers—about one-hal/ of 1 percent of the high numbers always
present in Shadeville samples. Clearly, some change has occurred
that makes the Lucasville environment a very unfavorable one for
these pollutional forms. (3) Positive evidence relative to this last
statement is furnished by the presence, in small numbers, but in 53
percent of the samples, of such clean-water forms as could not survive
at all under conditions ot pollution, and as a matter of fact were not
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139
found at all in any of the polluted samples taken at Sliadeville. This
is unmistakable evidence of the prevalence and persistence of such
better conditions as make possible the presence of these higher forms
of life—gill-breathing and oxygen-using insect larvae usually abundant
in fish-inhabited waters.
No correlation of worm count with hydrographic conditions.—The
hydrograph presented herewith (figure 38) was compiled from dis-
charge calculations based on the daily gage height readings taken at
Chillicothe, about midway of the length of the Scioto Kiver. The
time included is August 1937 to June 1939, inclusive, this being the
period covered by the bottom samples collected. The computed
mean discharges only are plotted.
The hydrographic conditions shown on the graph may be arranged
in three classes, namely: I. Stable; II. Moderately stable; and III. Dis-
turbed. For convenience, the Roman numerals designating these
classes are entered upon the graph in each month, at the bottom.
Reinspection of the 16 complete worm counts at stations Columbus,
Shadeville, and Commercial Point (see table XXXIII) reveals the
following:
In four counts (April, September, and December 1938 and May
1939) the worm content at the three stations does not fluctuate un-
reasonably. The lowest count in any instance is 30 percent or more
of the highest count. There are no extreme variations, for instance,
in 5,300, 14,100, and 5,900: or in 8,000, 6,700 and 6,100. The four
counts mentioned above may be regarded as reasonable.
The remaining 12 counts show the extreme fluctuations that have
already been discussed in preceding pages, as due chiefly to the occur-
rence of the worm in groups, in the bottom sediment. The lowest
count is always less than 25 percent of the highest (less than 15 per-
cent in all but one case). Inspecting the possible relation of these 12
with the hydrographic conditions given in the graph, we find:
Seven of the erratic counts occurred when hydrographic conditions
were stable. (See counts of August and November 1937, and June,
July, October, and November 1938, and January 1939. Note condi-
tion of hydrograph at these times).
Two occurred when hydrographic conditions were moderately dis-
turbed. (See counts of May and August 1938).
Three of the erratic counts occurred at times of disturbed, or greatly
disturbed hydrograph. (See counts, also hydrograph, of December
1937, and April and June 1939).
It thus appears that of these 12 erratic counts a majority of them
occurred when hydrographic conditions were stable. It is, therefore,
indicated that disturbed hydrographic conditions and floods are a
minor factor, if any, in producing the widely fluctuating counts re-
corded in table XXXIII. It is further indicated that such flood con-
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140
-------
141
ditions as arc encountered in the Scioto River do not materially affect
the resident population of sludge worms. They are not swept out by
even such extreme high water as that of March and April 1938, and
February, March, and April 1939. This is probably due largely to the
extreme susceptibility of this worm to any disturbance. The disturbed
worm instantly withdraws into the mud—and unless this is removed
in relatively large amounts, the chances are that most of the worms,
burrowing deeper, remain in that location until hydrographic dis-
turbance has subsided.
Tubificid worms as indicators oj sewage pollution.—In 1913 Forbes
and Richardson (37) studied the Illinois River, grossly polluted by
the flood of Chicago sewage. Their report emphasizes the "immense
numbers of sludge, worms" found in the foul sludges where practically
no other form of animal life existed. The dissolved oxygen content
of the water ranged from 3.1 to 16.4 percent of saturation.
In this same year the author of this paper studying the Potomac
River found large numbers of tubificid worms just below the Wash-
ington sewer outfall. In sediment samples downstream from this
point the worms decreased rapidly.
Later study of the Ohio River (49) told essentially the same story.
Heavy sewage pollution at Pittsburgh resulted in about 3,000 worms
per liter of sediment, but 460 miles downstream there was less than 1
worm per liter until Cincinnati sewage raised this average to 450
worms per liter. Four hundred and fifty-eight miles below Cincinnati
the worms were not found at all.
In further studies on the sewage-polluted Illinois River, Richardson
(89) records that when pollution increased, certain cleaner animal forms
decreased from 1,709 to 46, but the sludge worms meantime increased
from 16 to 2,463.
In our study of the Illinois River (44); 267 miles of the stream were
included, and all seasons of the year were represented by the monthly
bottom samples (over 200) examined. We found, (1) moderately
large numbers (over 2,000) of worms per liter of sediment in the pol-
luted section of the river at Clullicothe, Illinois, and above, (2)
steadily decreasing numbers, an average of 48 per liter, downstream
(Havana) as the water gradually recovered. (3) Still further decrease
in the lower sections of river, average of 13 per liter, where the sedi-
ments had a clean earthy odor and also showed numerous cleaner
organisms such as insect larvae commonly found in streams which
contain fish.
In 1917 Weston and Turner (46) record finding in the sewage-
polluted Coweeset stream, large numbers of tubificidae below the
point of pollution, and refer to the worm as "a typical pollution
organism."
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142
Richardson (39) justly raises the question why tubificid worms
should be practically absent in the lower end of the Sanitary Canal
which is grossly polluted with Chicago sewage, and is also septic at
times, and infers that if the worms are to be relied on as indicator
organisms, they should be present in such an environment.
In connection with this matter, we offer the following results of our
own study (44) in 1921-22:
1. Bottom samples are very difficult to obtain, in the lower portion
of this canal, on account of the bottom covering of riprap. In six
visits, we secured very small samples, and only four times. One
sample was later lost by breakage.
2. Of the three small samples left, one only contained any worms,
and these were few in number. No other living organism was found
except Leptomitiis, a sewage fungus, and Carchesium, a stalked ciliate
protozoan commonly found in sewage-polluted water.
3. Our own samples were so few, and so small in quantity, that we
attach little importance to the apparent lack, relatively speaking, of
tubificid worms. In view of the habit of the worms to occur in patches
or groups, it would be possible to miss them entirely in so few samples.
Furthermore, an actual experience in our Scioto study may be a partial
explanation, as follows: A small area of stream bottom at the pol-
luted Shadeville section was covered with fist-size pebbles. On these
pebbles there was practically no sediment, but between them, in
the interstices, were accumulations of sediment, and large numbers
of tubificid worms, but these worms were obtained only by obtaining
the pebbles and the attendant sediment wedged between. Such samples
were impossible to obtain in the lower section of the Sanitary Canal
because of the large size of the riprap.
In 1928, Cutler (31) studying the polluted Buffalo Creek, comments
on the bottom conditions of that creek "covered with foul-smelling
sludge and furnishing ideal surroundings for the growth of such foul-
water organisms as tubifex * * *."
In 1930, Farre^l (45) studying the Salmon River, states that the
original fauna grow less and less as the pollution increases until finally,
in the area of greatest pollution * * * the normal forms have
completely disappeared and the sludge worm Tubifex tubifex, biological
indicator of rank pollution, alone is found.
In 1932, Ludwig (43) found insect larvae dominant in the unpolluted
upper Hocking River, but extremely foul conditions, together with
immense numbers of sludge worms, below the point where the city
sewage entered the stream.
The wise words of Cutler (31) furnish a fitting close for this brief
summary relative to sludge worms and sewage pollution. He says,
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143
"Thus the sludge worm Tubijex tubijex is present often in clean water
but it abounds under conditions of severe pollution. It is the relative
abundance of certain foul-water organisms and the scarcity of fresh-
water-loving forms that indicate the degree of pollution."
SUMMARY OF BOTTOM SEDIMENT STUDIES
1. Bottom sediments, formerly the suspended matter (in part) of
the water constitute an accumulation of evidence as to the average
sanitary status of the water that has passed downstream. Sewage-
polluted streams deposit organic solids, forming sludge banlcs. Pu-
trescible sediments do not result from clean suspended matter such
as silt.
2. Organisms thrive or succumb in proportion to the suitability
of the environment, or lack of such suitability. Putrescible bottom
sediments, with low oxygen content, can be tolerated by but few ani-
mal forms, such as are provided with a breathing tube (rat-tail maggot)
or are adapted physiologically to cope successfully with low oxygen
concentration, as arc tubificid worms.
3. Studies of various stream bottoms have shown that sediments
in heavily polluted streams contain a large predominance of tubificid
worms, and few or none of such forms (chiefly insect larvae) as are
common in streams known to be unpolluted. These latter streams,
meantime, contain only a very few of the tubificid worms. More-
over, if the stream becomes more polluted, the tubificid worms in the
sediment increase rapidly, and the cleaner forms decrease. Thus these
organisms that thrive in the bottom sediments constitute a useful
index of the sanitary status of the stream bottom.
4. Because bottom sediments are thus valuable in the sanitary
study of a stream, these sediments must be collected with adequate
care, in sufficient number, and quantity, and with due regard to the
known habits of distribution, under natural conditions, of such organ-
isms as may be present. Because tubificid worms usually occur in
patches or colonies, certain precautions are imperative in collecting
the bottom sample, or these colonies may be missed entirely.
5. The Scioto River, polluted by sewage effluent, is here studied,
in accordance with the principles and methods already given. It is
shown that bottom sediments indicate by physical condition and or-
ganism content, essentially the real sanitaiy condition of the stream,
and that prevalence of tubificid worms, in samples collected with proper
care, is an indication of heavy organic pollution. Tiie worms decrease;
rapidly as the water improves, are not washed out by seasonal floods,
and are stable and reliable generally.
-------
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34. Erosion Silt as a Factor in Aquatic Environments. M. M. Ellis. Ecology,
17, 29 (1936).
35. The Pollution and Natural Purification of the Illinois River below Peoria.
W. H. Wisely and C. W. Klasseu. Sewage Works Journal, 10, 569 (1938).
36. Some Viewpoints on Stream Pollution. H. P. Eddy. The Canadian Engineer
(February 16, 1926).
37. Studies on the Biology of the upper Illinois River. Stephen A. Forbe? and
R. E. Richardson. Bull. Illinois State Lab. of Nat. History, V. 9, Art. 10
(1913).
38. The Biology of Stream Pollution. P. W. Claasseu. Sewage Works Journal,
4, 165 U932).
39. The Bottom Fauna of the Middle Illinois River 1913-1925. R. E. Richardson.
111. Nat. History Survey Bulletin, V. 17, Art. 12 (1928).
40. Changes in the Bottom and Shore Fauna of the Middle Illinois River and its
Connecting Lakes Since 1913-1915 as a Result of the Increase Southward
of Sewage Pollution. R. E. Richardson. Bull. Ill \at. History Survey,
V. 14, Art. 4 (1921).
-------
146
41. A Quantitative Study of the Fauna of some Types of Stream bed. E.
Percivaland H. Whitehead. Journal of Ecology, 17 (1929).
42. Biological Study of the River Wharfe. II. Report on the Invertebrate
Fauna. E. Percival and H. Whitehead. Journal of Ecology, 18, (1930).
43. Bottom Invertebrates of the Hocking River. William B. Ludwig. OhioBiol.
Survey Bull., V. 26, No. 10. (1932).
44. A Study of the Pollution and Natural Purification of the Illinois River.
II. The Plankton and Related Organisms. W. C. Purdy. Public Health
Bulletin No. 198 (1930).
45. A Biological Survey of the St. Lawrence Watershed. IX. Studies of the
Bottom Fauna in Polluted Areas. M. A. Farrell. p. 192, Supplemental
to 20th Ann. Rep. (1930) N. Y. Conservation Dept.
46. Studies on the Digestion of a Sewage-Filter Effluent by a Small and Other-
wise Unpolluted Stream. Weston and Turner. Sewage Experiment
Station Mass. last, of Tech., V. 10 (1917).
47. The Chironomidae, or Midges, of Illinois. Bull. 111. State Lab. Nat. History,
J. R. Malloch. V. 10 (1915).
48. The Molluscan Fauna of the Big Vermilion River, 111. F. C. Baker. 111.
Biol. Monographs, V. 7, No. 2 (1922).
49. A Study of the Pollution and Natural Purification of the Ohio River. I. The
Plankton and Related Organisms. W. C. Purdy. Public Health Bulle-
-------
APPENDIX I
Nitrogen determinations have been made on composite monthly
samples from, live selected sampling points: Columbus, Shadevillc,
Red Bridge, Chillicothe, and Lucasville. The use of these de-
terminations as parameters of pollution is doubtless well understood.
Briefly, there should be no loss of nitrogen regardless of changes in
its state of combination, except as gaseous nitrogen or compounds,
by incorporation into living organisms or by sedimentation. Loss
of nitrogen in a gaseous state is probably negligible and the others
may be regarded as only temporary losses. The total nitrogen
found at any given point must necessarily be the sum of all the nitrogen
added to the stream above that point minus, of course, whatever
losses may have occurred as previously stated. This holds true for
units of quantity.
Concentrations which are the values determined, are affected by
additional inflow of water containing higher or lower concentrations
of nitrogen. Quantity units are obtained by multiplying the con-
centrations (parts per million) by the volume (second-feet). These
units may be converted by using the following factors if the volume
used is expressed in second-feet times one thousand:
. Quantity units=28.317 grams per second,
=2,446,589 grains per day,
=5,393.69 pounds per day.
In addition to this permanence of nitrogen, a progressive and
orderly change from complex organic compounds to ammonia, nitrite,
a,nd finally nitrate should be exhibited as the distance from the source
of pollution increases.
The data obtained are presented in tables 1 to 5 in p. p.m. and as
quantity units. As the sewage of the city of Columbus was the
largest single source of pollution, the type of treatment used at the
Columbus Sewage Treatment Plant is also indicated. All data
collected are included in these tables regardless of discharge rate.
However, the quantity of nitrogen present at any time is intimately
associated with discharges and incidentally with the season as higher
discharge rates normally prevail at definite times of the year. Ref-
erence to the tables will emphasize this point. An increase in stream
How and similar increase in total nitrogen can be expected in February,
March, and April, again in June and frequently in July. The higher
the discharge rate the more total nitrogen to be found in the stream.
It is quite evident that this regular rise in nitrogen with increase in
(147)
-------
148
stream, flow has to be attributed to nitrogen supplied by surface
drainage. With this increase in discharge rate and total nitrogen,
there is a corresponding increase in suspended solids. Similar changes
were noticed on the Ohio River where the correlation between dis-
charge rates, turbidities, and total nitrogen was shown.* In a com-
paratively small stream, such as the Scioto, these changes in discharge
are often sudden and extensive. As it is difficult to distinguish
between nitrogen added from known pollution or tributary sources
and nitrogen due to surface drainage the interpretation of nitrogen
figures presents obstacles. Apparently nitrogen attributable to
surface drainage often exceeds that from other sources.
Table 1.—Nitrogen determinations on monthly composites—Columbus
Month
Dis-
charge
Constituents in p. p. m.
Free
am-
monia
Nitro-
gen
oxides
Organ-
ic ni-
trogen
Total
nitro-
gen
Quantity units p. p. m. X
thousand second-feet
Free
am-
monia
Nitro-
gen
oxides
Organ-
ic ni-
trogen
Total
nitro-
gen
TKICKLING FILTERS
19S7
April
June
July
August
September
1.758
1.043
2.097
.676
3.493
1.933
.391
.144
.254
.107
0.14
.34
.35
.40
.19
.32
.37
.56
.80
.32
0.12
.02
.04
.07
.08
.04
.01
.03
.46
.67
0.24
.20
2.60
.20
.20
.40
1.10
.96
1.32
.17
0.50
.56
2.99
.67
.47
.76
1.48
1.55
2.58
1.06
0.246
.355
.734
.270
.663
.619
.145
.081
.203
.034
0.211
.021
.084
.047
.279
.077
.001
.004
.117
.061
0 422
.209
6.452
.135
.699
773
.430
.138
.335
.018
0 871
.W
6.2T
.45
1.64
1 46
.57
.22
65.
.11
PLAIN SEDIMENTATION
19S8
March -_
April
May
July
1.152
.588
2.650
4.427
4.387
.771
.191
0.48
.30
.22
.70
.30
.26
.32
0 90
1.44
1.20
1.92
2.01
1.50
2.40
0.92
.70
.78
.46
.26
.24
.38
2.30
2.44
2.40
3.08
2.57
2.00
3.10
0.553
.176
.583
3.099
1.316
.200
.061
1.037
.847
3.180
8. SCO
8.818
1.157
.458
1 060
.412
2.067
2.036
1 141
.185
.073
2 66)
1.43
6.361
13.63
11 27
1.54
.69
ACTIVATED SLUDGE
19S9
January _ .
March
A pril
May
June -
July -._
0.660
.220
.105
.145
.233
.646
3.055
5.088
3.484
.392
2.680
.931
0.39
.43
.66
2.03
.40
.38
.29
.44
.34
.23
.65
.30
0.66
.25
.09
.02
.71
1.32
1.68
5.51
.72
.80
1.80
.75
0.74
.82
.60
.77
.90
.74
1.10
.95
1.13
.89
.67
.70
1.79
1.61
1.35
2.82
2.01
2.44
3.07
2.90
2.19
1.91
3.C5
1.80
0.257
.095
.069
.294
.093
.245
.886
2.239
1.185
.090
1.742
.279
0.436
.055
.009
.003
.165
.853
5.132
7.683
2. 5C8
.314
4.824
.698
0 488
.180
.063
.112
.210
.478
3 361
4 834
3.937
.349
1.796
.651
1 181
.332
.142
.408
.468
1. 576
9 379
14 755
10. 104
.749
8.174
1.676
*U. B. Public Health Service. Public Health Bulletin No. 143—A Study of the Natural Purification
ot the Ohio River, u. 180.
-------
149
Table 2.—Nitrogen determinations on monthly composites—Shadeville
Month
Dis-
charge
sands
Constituents in p. p. m.
Free
am-
monia
Nitro-
gen
oxides
Organ-
ic ni-
trogen
Total
nitro-
gen
Quantity units p. p. m. X
thousand second-feet
Free
am-
monia
Nitro-
gen
oxides
Organ-
ic ni-
trogen
Total
nitro-
gen
TRICKLING FILTERS
Iffl
July —
1.840
1. 095
2.195
.707
3.658
2,023
.409
.151
.286
.112
1.00
.70
1.40
1.25
1.60
1.16
3.50
5.60
3.60
3.80
0.12
.05
.03
.06
.03
.04
.01
.01
.46
.15
0.48
.80
2.80
.28
.72
.80
2.40
3.60
5.00
.28
1.60
1.55
4.23
1.69
2.36
2.00
5.91
9.21
9.06
4.23
1.840
.765
3.073
.884
5.853
2.347
1.432
.846
.958
.426
0. 221
.055
.066
.042
.110
.080
.004
.002
.122
.017
0.883
.874
6.146
.198
2.634
1.618
.982
.544
1 330
.031
2.944
1.694
9.285
1.124
8,596
4.046
2.417
1.391
2.410
.474
PLAIN SEDIMENTATION
19S8
February - -_
April , _- . -
July
1.207
.615
2 773
4.624
4.586
.809
.199
5.20
3.00
.78
.90
1.15
3.84
6.20
0.31
1.13
1.36
2.13
1.45
.65
.75
1.47
1.20
.42
1.10
.75
1 95
!so
7.01
5.33
2.56
4.13
3.35
6.45
7.75
6.276
1.845
2.162
4 162
5.274
3.107
1.234
0.410
.695
3.771
9.849
6 650
.526
.149
1.774
.738
1.165
5.086
3.440
1.586
.159
8.460
3.278
7.099
19. 097
15.363
5.218
1.542
ACTIVATED SLUDGE
October
1939
April
July
0.691
.231
.110
.152
.243
.677
3.194
5.326
3.646
.410
2.804
.974
1.23
3.25
5.50
4.30
5.40
4.30
.56
.90
.48
1.34
2.25
.70
0.70
.90
.27
.11
.08
.70
1.18
1 69
1.04
.30
1.40
1.20
0.70
1.03
1.20
.80
2.10
2.45
1.94
1.30
1.32
1.51
.95
.90
2.63
5.18
6.97
5.21
7.68
7.45
3.68
3.89
2.84
3.15
3.60
2.80
0.850
.751
.605
.654
1.312
2.911
1.789
4.793
1.750
.540
6.309
.682
0.484
.208
.030
.017
.Ola
.474
3.769
9.000
3.792
123
3. 926
1.169
0.484
.238
.132
.122
.510
1.659
6.196
6.924
4.813
.619
2.664
.877
1.817
1.197
.767
.792
1.842
6.044
11. 754
20. 718
10. 355
1.292
10.094
2.727
Table 3.—Nitrogen determinations on monthly composites—Red Bridge
Month
Dis-
charge
Constituents in p. p. m.
Free
am-
monia
Nitro-
gen
oxides
Organ-
ic ni-
trogen
Total
nitro-
gen
Quantity units p. p. m. X
thousand second-feet
Free
am-
monia
Nitro-
gen
oxides
Organ-
ic ni-
trogen
Total
nitro-
gen
TRICKLING FILTERS
1937
Apnl - -- --
July „
October ..
November . _ __ _ .
3.136
1.658
3.123
1.502
4.486
3.222
.638
.346
.376
.225
0.32
.60
.70
.75
.78
.50
1.12
1.65
2 20
2.00
0.08
.03
.02
.05
.02
.03
.02
.06
.90
.18
0.64
.60
1.40
.32
.18
.84
1.50
2.00
4.12
1.12
1.04
1.23
2.12
1.12
.98
1.17
2.64
3.71
7 22
3.30
1.004
.995
2.186
1.127
3.499
1.611
.715
.571
.827
.450
0.251
.050
.062
.075
.089
.097
.013
.021
.338
.041
2.007
.995
4.372
.481
.807
2.062
.957
.692
1.549
.252
3.261
2.039
6.621
1.682
4.396
3.770
1.684
1.284
2.715
.743
200684-^41-
-11
-------
150
Table 3.—Nitrogen determinations on monthly composites—Red Bridge-
Continued
Month
Dis-
charge
Constituents in p. p. m.
Free
am-
monia
Nitro-
gen
oxjdcs
Orpaa-
le n i-
trogen
Total
nitro-
gen
Quantity units p. p. ra. X
thousand second-feet
Free
am-
monia
Nitro-
gen
oxides
Organ-
ic ni-
trogen
Total
nitro-
gen
PLAIN SEDIMENTATION
December
1938
February
March ... . _
Apri!-_ . . - , .
July.- . -
1.828
1 117
4.496
9 213
4. 513
1 919
.488
3 00
1 GO
.50
1 20
1. 70
0.70
1 00
1.44
1 00
1.40
1 00
0 90
40
3 40
.30
4 70
3 40
2 34
5 GO
3 40
5 484
1 676
2 248
2 303
830
1 280
1 117
6 474
1 019
683
1 828
1 005
1 798
C 525
146
10 521
1 659
ACTIVATED SLUDGE
August _ -
September- .
October . -
November
December.
1939
January
March. .^ . - . _
April '
May _
June,.- . _
July
1.197
.634
.237
.342
.457
.957
6 534
6. f,62
6.583
.816
3.744
1 492
0.71
.48
1 98
74
2.25
2.10
50
.52
.54
.25
.85
.43
0.60
.48
.13
23
.65
.65
75
1.42
1. R4
.24
1.60
1.40
0.82
1 2')
.62
70
1.35
1 00
2 50
1.48
1 70
.87
1.07
2 13
2 16
2 73
I 72
4 25
3 75
3 75
3.42
4 OS
1 36
3 52
2 60
0 850
304
.469
253
1 028
2 010
2 767
3. 464
3 555
204
3.182
612
0 718
304
031
096
297
022
4 J51
9 460
12 113
196
5 990
2 089
0 982
781
147
239
017
957
13 835
9 860
11 191
710
4 006
1 149
2 550
1 3C9
647
588
1 942
3 589
20 753
22 784
26 859
1 110
13. 179
3 879
Table 4.—Nitrogen determinations on monthly composites—Chillicothe
Month
Dis-
charge
Constituents in p. p. m.
Free
am-
monia
Nitro-
gen
oxides
Organ-
ic ni-
trogen
Total
nitro-
gen
Quantity units p. p. m. X
thousand second-feet
Free
am-
monia
Nitro-
gen
oxides
Organ-
ic ni-
trogen
Total
nitro-
gen
TRICKLING FILTERS
1937
February . _.. _ ..
March __ .
April
July _-- . .-
November
4.819
2.476
4.481
2.160
7 282
4.295
1.319
.485
515
3.68
0.20
.40
.44
.25
22
.40
.48
.36
.76
.76
.009
.04
.03
.06
.08
.05
.03
.14
1 20
.28
0.86
.40
2.40
.20
.28
.48
1.20
1.14
1.00
.64
1.15
.84
2.87
.51
.58
93
1.71
1.64
2 96
1.68
0.970
.990
1. 972
.540
1.602
1.718
.633
.175
.391
.280
0.044
.099
.134
.130
.583
.215
.010
.068
.618
.103
4 170
.990
10. 754
.432
2 040
2 062
1. 583
.553
.515
.236
5.576
2.080
12. 860
! 102
4.224
3 994
2. 255
.795
1.524
.618
PLAIN SEDIMENTATION
December
1938
April '.
July -
2 918
1.528
7 378
11.884
4 762
3.829
.816
1.92
0.70
.32
76
.36
.56
.42
1.40
1.20
1 12
1.50
1.00
1.20
1. SO
0.78
.80
.as
.54
.10
.04
.38
4.10
2.70
2.32
2 80
2.06
1.80
2 60
5 603
1. 070
2.361
9. 032
1.714
2.144
.343
4.085
1. 834
8 2S3
17. 826
7.C19
4.595
1.469
2.276
1.222
6.493
6.417
.478
.153
.310
11.964
4.126
17. 117
33 275
9.810
6.892
2.122
-------
151
Table 4.—Nitrogen determinations on monthly composites—Chillicothe—
Continued
Month
Dis-
charge
sands
Constituents in p. p. m.
Free
am-
monia
Nitro-
gen
oxides
Oigan-
ic ni-
trogen
Total
nitro-
gen
Quantity units p. p. m. X
thousand second-feet
Free
am-
monia
Nitro-
gen
oxides
Organ-
ic ni-
trogen
Total
nitro-
gen
ACTIVATED SLUDGE
January _. -. -_ ._ __
March -- -
April. .
June
July.. -_ -. - -
2.770
12. 920
9.544
10. 174
1. 431
6 163
2.237
1.00
.30
.56
.32
.31
.14
.37
1.22
.84
1.13
.64
.30
1.20
.64
1.16
2.40
1.60
.98
.59
1.26
.80
3.38
3,54
3.29
1.94
1.30
1 60
1.81
2.770
3. 876
5. 345
3.250
.444
.863
.828
3 379
10. 853
10. 785
6.511
.515
7.396
1.432
3.213
31 008
15 270
9.971
.844
7. 765
1.790
9.363
45, 737
31. 400
19, 738
1.946
9.861
4.050
Table 5. — Nitrogen determination on monthly composites — Lucasville
Month
Dis-
charge
thou-
sands
of
c. f. s.
Constituents in p. p. m.
Free
am-
monia
Nitro-
gen
oxides
Organ-
ic ni-
trogen
Total
nitro-
gen
Quantity units p. p. m. X
thousand second-feet
Free
am-
monia
Nitro-
gen
oxides
Organ-
ic ni-
trogen
Total
nitro-
gen
TRICKLING FILTERS
1937
February
March _ ,_
May -_ „
July
August — _ -
October
8.687
4,134
0 731
3.772
11.728
5.840
2.490
1.120
.989
.014
0.40
0 14
1 20
0.15
0.14
0.36
0.48
0 40
0 28
0.26
0 21
0 07
0 01
0 03
0 07
0 07
0 03
0.28
0.70
0.35
0 77
0.20
2 00
0.12
0.32
0 24
1.10
1 10
0.67
0 14
1.38
0.41
3 21
0 30
0 53
0 67
1 01
1.78
1 65
0.75
3.474
. 579
8.077
566
1. 042
2.102
1. 195
.448
.278
.100
1.824
.289
.067
.in
.821
.409
.747
.314
.f;92
.215
6.689
.827
13. 462
.453
.375
1.402
2.739
1.232
.663
.080
o»-^
11,988
1.093
21. 007
1.132
6 216
3.913
4 009
1.994
1.632
.461
PLAIN SEDIMENTATION
December . „ _
1938
January
March _ __
April. -_,
July _
4.598
2.818
11 215
20. 858
8.102
9.145
2.105
0.74
0 42
0.20
0.44
0.24
0.42
0.12
0.68
0 96
1.44
1 BO
1.29
0.75
1.60
O.C1
0.78
1.00
fl. 25
0 29
1.98
0.41
2.03
2. IS
2.64
2.29
1.82
3.15
2.13
3.403
1.184
2.213
9.178
- 1.944
3.841
.253
3.127
2 705
16 150
33. ,173
10. 452
6. 859
3.368
2.805
2.198
11.215
5.215
2. 350
18. 107
.863
9.334
6.087
29. 008
47. 765
14. 746
28. 807
4.484
ACTIVATED SLUDGE
August
September _ -
October __ _-
November
December
1939
January
February _ -_ _
March
April
June
July ..
4.865
1.721
.624
1.199
5.037
23 343
14. 244
12. 043
2. 858
8.390
3 092
0 34
0.37
0.68
0 68
0 68
0.23
0 50
0 34
0 14
0. 15
0 30
0.70
0 24
0.12
0.82
0.21
1.11
0 90
0 64
0 22
1.33
0 80
1.07
0 76
0.62
0.97
1.08
2.59
2 38
0.90
0 70
1 09
0 70
2 11
1 37
1 42
2 47
1 87
3 93
3 84
1 88
1 06
2 50
1 80
1 054
.58.5
424
815
3 425
5 369
7 122
4 095
400
1 259
927
3 400
413
.075
983
1 058
25 911
13 674
7 706
6^
11 159
2 474
5 206
1 308
387
1 163
5 440
60 458
10 839
2 000
9 145
2 164.
10 265
2 358
886
2 962
9 923
91 738
54 697
22 641
3 029
20 975
5 566
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152
Mean results expressed in quantity units for each period of plant
operation; trickling filter, plain sedimentation and activated sludge
are presented in table 6. In this table all results which appear to be
unduly affected by high discharge rates are omitted.
Table 6.—Mean quantity units of nitrogen present for each period of
Columbus sewage treatment plant operation
Sampling point
Discharge
thousand
second-
feet
Quantity units
Free
ammonia
Nitrogen
oxides
Organic
nitrogen
Total
nitrogen
TRICKLINO FILTER OPERATION
Columbus
Shadoville „
Bed Bridge „ .
Chillicothe -
Lucasville
0.788
0.825
0.791
1.221
2.708
0.244
0.623
0.781
0. 502
0.761
0 068
0.068
0 090
0. 325
0.397
0.308
0.808
0.821
0.718
1. 057
0 620
1.499
1.692
1.545
2.215
PLAIN SEDIMENTATION
Columbus
Shadevillc „
Red Bridge
Chillicothe —
Lucasville
0. 676
0.708
1 338
2.273
4.400
0.248
3.116
2.573
2.290
1.696
0. 875
0.445
1.248
2. 99fi
4.193
0.433
1.064
2.376
0.990
2.054
1.556
4. 62S
6.197
6.276
8.663
ACTIVATED SLUDGE OPERATION
Columbus
Shadeville ._
Red Bridge -
Chillicothe
0.417
0.436
0. 707
1.004
2.770
0.178
1 038
0.720
0.948
1.176
0. 317
0.316
0. 544
1.166
1.291
0. 316
0.580
0.695
0.270
2. 524
0.811
1.934
1.959
2.374
4.991
The total nitrogen increases at Shadeville which is below the
Columbus sewage treatment plant. This increase is greater during
the period of plain sedimentation. The periods of trickling filter and
activated sludge operation are quite similar with a tendency for smaller
amounts of organic nitrogen to be present during the activated sludge
period. There is a definite trend to an increased percentage of
nitrogen oxides with increased distance from the source of pollution
as can be seen in Table 7.
Table 7.—Percent nitrogen oxides
Station
Red Bridge
Chillieothe -- -- -
1st period
10.86
4.54
5.32
21.04
17.92
2d period
50. 23
9.62
20.14
47.73
. 56. 71
3d period
39.08
16.34
27.77
48.69
25.86
The value of a very extensive program of nitrogen determinations is
questionable when the time and expense consumed in accumulating
the data is considered and they may be very well omitted entirely
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153
without impairing the survey. Nitrogen determinations are mote
difficult to acquire and to interpret and are less sensitive than bio-
chemical or bacterial indices of pollution. This is not to be construed
as meaning that the determinations are valueless, as individual ones
may be very informative. However, it would seem that the only
comprehensive program undertaken should be one bracketing points
of greatest pollution to be used as a check on the biochemical data
and this to be done only at low river stages. Nitrogen data would
also be helpful when it was desired to correlate new data with older
surveys based on nitrogen indices.
o
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