IMMEDIATE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL HEEDS
ROANOKE RIVER BASIN
VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATION
MIDDLE ATLANTIC REGION
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
APRIL 196?
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Regional Center for Environmental Information
US EPA Region III
1650 Arch St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
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The water resources of the Beanoke Basin and the water quality
are important factors in the growth and development of the "basin.
Multi-purpose reservoirs, waste treatment construction, stream
monitoring, and special studies have been promoted in the basin to
protect the basin's water for beneficial uses. The water quality
control activities in the basin have been beneficial; however,
problem areas are still present which need correction.
The objectives of the Roanoke River Basin Immediate Pollution
Control Heeds Report are to indicate the present quality problem
areas, methods of correcting the problems, estimated costs of
carrying out the programs, and any special areas which need
additional study.
The information contained in this report is based on the best
information currently available on the water quality conditions of
the basin. Ho special engineering studies or investigations were
made for the development of this report. This basin is not within
the area covered by a comprehensive project.
The report was prepared in accordance with Section 3(a) of the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act. This section provides for the
preparation and development of comprehensive programs for eliminating
or reducing the pollution of interstate waters and tributaries thereof
and improving the sanitary condition of surface and underground water.
i;., r.-\ 19103
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LOCATION MAP
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LEGEND
IMMEDIATE WASTE TREATMENT
NEEDS AS OF APRIL, 1967
IMMEDIATE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL NEEDS
MIDDLE ATLANTIC REGION
ROANOKE RIVER BASIN
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATION
MIDDLE ATLANTIC REGION CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA.
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II „ SIBMAEY OF
IMMEDIATE POLLUTION
CONTROL NEEDS
Pollution of the waters of the Roanoke River Basin can cause damage
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to propagation of fish and wildlife,, municipal and industrial water supplies,
and recreational uses. The following tabulation presents a summary of the
municipal and industrial waste treatment at present and what action is needed
Flow regulation, Federal and
presented.
Waste Source
Municipal
Stuart, Va»
Martinsville s Va.
Danville , Va .
Bassett, Va<,
South Boston, Va0
AltaVista, Va.
Walnut Cove 5 K. C,
Eden Sewerage District
Henderson, N0 G,
Town of Plymouth, N0 C0
State programs, and
Waste Treatment
Present
Treatment
None
Primary
Primary
None
Primary
Secondary
Septic Tank
None
Secondary
None
special studies are also
Map
Need Location
Secondary I
Secondary 3
Secondary h
Secondary 2
Secondary 5
Additions 6
Secondary 9
Secondary 10
Pickle Waste 11
Treatment
Secondary 13
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Waste Source
Industrial
Federal Paper Board and
Paper Company
Roanoke Rapids, Va.
Albemarle Paper Company
Roanoke Rapids, N. C0
Weyerhouser Paper, Inc.
Plymouth , N. C.
E. I. DuPont
Dan River Mills
(2 plants)
A SB P Tea Company
South Boston, Va.
Riverdale Sanitation
Company
South Boston, Va,,
Pannill Knitting Company
Bassett Mirror Company
Bassett Industries
(6 plants)
Bassett-Walker Knitting
Company
Stanley Furniture Company
Burlington Industries,
AltaVista, Vs.
Burlington Industries,
Brookneal, Va.
Roanoke Electric Steel
Company
Waste Treatment
Present
Treatment
In-plant
Control
In-plant
Control
In-plant
Control
In-plant
Control
In-plant
Control
None
None
None
In-plant
Controls
In-plant
Controls
In-plant
Controls
In-plant
Controls
Secondary
Primary
Holding Ponds
Need
Secondary
Secondary
Secondary
(Under construction)
Secondary
Secondary
Connect to
Municipal System
Connect to
Municipal System
Secondary
Secondary
Secondary
Secondary
Secondary
Expansion
Secondary
Secondary
II - ;
Map
Location
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2
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II
Floy Regulation
Corps of Engineers
State Programs
States of North Carolina and
Virginia
Study of Roanoke River Basin
tentatively scheduled for
FY 1969.
Expand and strengthen water
pollution control programs.
Other Pollution Control
Practices
City of Roanoke and
Salem, Virginia
States of North Carolina
and Virginia
Special Studies
Federal Water Pollution Control
Administration, Virginia and
North Carolina
Federal Water Pollution Control
Administration, and Corps of
Engineers
Federal Water Pollution Control
Administration, Corps of Engineers
Virginia and North Carolina
Federal Water Pollution Control
Administration, and Virginia
Repair and replace defective
sewer lines to reduce infil-
tration and sewage overflow,
Establish effluent monitors
and instream sampling stations
in reaches receiving indus-
trial wastes.
Continue study of taste and
odor problems in the Smith
River,
Continue study of low dissolved
oxygen conditions in Kerr
Reservoir,
Initiate study to determine
the effect of nutrients dis-
charged to the Kerr Reservoir„
Initiate study to determine
effects of treated waste and
nutrients on the aquatic life
in the Smith Mountain Reservoir,
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III. IMMEDIATE CONTROL HEEDS
Considerable progress has been made in the improvement of water
quality in the Roanoke Basin in the past ten years through the construction
of municipal and industrial waste treatment facilities. The construction
programs have resulted in abatement of the more easily solved pollution
problem and the remaining areas of need required special study, planning„
monitoring and plan implementation.
The most significant water quality problems in the Basin are
taste and odor problems near Spray, North Carolina, and low dissolved
oxygen conditions immediately below the John H, Kerr Reservoir, Other
problems of a localized nature may exist near the outfalls of municipali-
ties and industries which provide less than adequate treatment; however,
the extent of these problems are not readily defined for this Basin. Ho
engineering studies or special investigations were conducted to provide
this information.
The following list of needs should be considered in the develop-
ment of a comprehensive river basin plan for the Roanoke Basin; however,
because of the limited information available the needs should not be
considered absolute or all inclusive.
WASTE TREATMENT
There are 31 municipalities in the Basin of which 23 provide
secondary treatment, four primary and four provide no treatment. All
the municipalities discharging directly to interstate streams have
secondary treatment with the exception of three which have primary arid
one with no treatment.
The communities which have less than secondary treatment and
discharge into interstate waters should initiate a program for the con-
struction of adequate treatment facilities ors through the appropriate
State agency, submit a report which evaluates the stream reaches affected
by the discharge and indicates that the present treatment will provide
for water quality enhancement commensurate with proposed present and
future water uses. Consideration must be given to future water uses,
economic growth, and industrial development of the Basin.
FLOW REGULATION
Provisions for flow regulation have been incorporated in
the FPC License provision for the Smith Mountain, Gaston and Roanoke
Rapids Reservoirs, To date the required releases have been made and
water quality maintained. Needs for additional flow regulation have
not been determined; however, a joint study with the Corps of Engineers
is tentatively scheduled for FY 1969.
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III-2
STAIE FROGKAM
(there is a need for the States of Virginia and Horth
Carolina to strengthen and expand their respective water pollution
control programs, The major .elements of the State plans which are
to be evaluated and strengthened are water qualify Monitoring,
coordination of waste treatment construction program with water quality
implementation plan, plant operator training, river basiij planning,
and enforcement.
OTHER POH.UTION COOTROL PRACTICES
There are seven major industries in the basin which have
private treatment facilities and the effluent from these plants is
discharged into or directly effect interstate waters. The remaining
industries discharge to municipal treatment plants. All the industries
which do not discharge into municipal systems provide treatment facilities,
inplant controls, or controlled discharges.
The five industries listed in the Summary provide inplant controls
and/or controlled discharges in lieu of treatment facilities. These
industries should initiate programs for the construction of adequate
treatment facilities. The type of treatment facility constructed must
provide for water quality enhancement commensurate with proposed, present
and future water uses.
Waste effluent monitors and instream sampling stations should be
provided at each industry having a direct discharge to a receiving stream.
Both the Cities of Roanoke and Salem have infiltration problems
which are attributed to old sewer lines that have deteriorated and allow
storm and ground water to enter them. In the older sections of Roanoke
combined sewers frequently overflow during period of heavy rains. Both
of these conditions result in sewage overflow and allow untreated waste
to enter the Roanoke River.
SPECIAL STUDIES
Taste and Odor - fhe joint study between North Carolina, Virginia,
and the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration concerning the
taste and odor problems in the Smith River should be continued. Currently
steps have been takea to determine the constituents causing the taste
and odor problem.
Kerr Reservoir - The joint IWPCA and Corps of Engineers study
of the low dissolved oxygen condition in the Kerr Reservoir is currently
being expanded and should be continued until remedial measures can be developed.
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Hutrients - A study of nutrients in the vicinity of the wastes
discharged from the municipalities of Henderson, North Carolina, and
Roanoke, Virginia, should be initiated to determine the effects of
nutrients on the Kerr and Smith Mountain Reservoirs.
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IV. COST
The estimated cost of pollution control measures listed as
immediate needs in Section II are tabulated belows
Cost Summary
Waste Treatment $4,,300,000
Flow Regulation To be studied
State Programs Currently being
prepared by the
States
Other Pollution Control Practices Not available
Effluent monitors for specific
industries
Correct infiltration problems $3S000S000
Special Studies $ 1^0,000
The waste treatment cost is for municipal systems only and does
not include cost for industrial treatment facilities„ At present there
is not sufficient information on waste strength, volumes and characteristics
to estimate the cost of adequate treatment.
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V. BESEE 5E0SEESS IN POLLUTION CONTROL
FEDERAL CONSTRUCTION GRANTS
The Federal Water Pollution Control Administration and
the State Water Pollution Control Agencies through the construction
grants programs have stimulated the expenditure of $15,^39,000
([eligible cost) for the construction of waste treatment facilities
within the Roanoke Basin. This represents $8,867,000 expended in
the State of Virginia and $6,572,000 in North Carolina since 1957.
A total of 23 projects for Virginia and 13 projects for North
Carolina were constructed with the assistance of the grant program
for that period.
STATE AGENCIES
The North Carolina State Stream Sanitation Committee prepared
a comprehensive pollution abatement plan for the Roanoke River Basin
in 1957> and has subsequently updated the plan and is currently carrying
out the implementation plan. In I960, eleven industries in the North
Carolina portion of the basin had no treatment facilities and at present
all industries have adequate treatment or control devices.
The State of Virginia has conducted stream surveys of the
Roanoke River and major tributaries, and initiated action for
abatement of pollution in the basin.
Both States are presently developing water Quality standards
and implementation plans for interstate streams located in
the basin. The documents Mil be submitted to the Federal Water
Pollution Control Administration prior to July 1, 1967.
STUDIES AND COJdMITTEES
A study entitled "Investigation of the Lower Roanoke River
Basin, Virginia and North Carolina" was prepared by FtfPCA in 1962,
The effects of power releases from the John H. Kerr and Roanoke
Rapid Reservoirs were evaluated to determine the effects of low
oxygen level releases on downstream water uses. In accordance with
the recoBnaendation of the report, water quality sampling was
expanded and an automatic monitor station was established below
the Kerr Eeservoir in 1966 by FWPCAo Current plans are underway
to intensify the sampling program.
The Steering Committee for Roanoke River Studies was
foraed in 1955? with the objective of developing a comprehensive
plan for the lower Roanoke River to protect all legitimate water
uses. The Committee is comprised of representatives of the
followings
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Federal Water Pollution Control Administration
U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
U. S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife
North Carolina State Stream Sanitation Committee
Hbrth Carolina Department of Conservation and
Development
Hbrth Carolina Wildlife Resources (Commission
Southeastern Power Administration
Albemarle Paper Incorporated (HalS^ax)
Weyerhouser Incorporated (H.C. Pulp Co.)
Sport Fisherman
Public at Large
Through the efforts of the Committee submerged weirs were
constructed in the Roanoke Rapids and Gaston Reservoirs to improve
the oxygen content of power releases. Minimum release schedules
were established to protect downstream water uses.
The Federal Water Pollution Control Administration in
cooperation with the States of North Carolina and Virginia is
assisting in the study of the taste and odor problem in the
Smith River.
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VI. BACKGROUND
PERTINENT BASIN CHARACTERISTICS
The Roanoke River rises in the Great Valley of soofchwest
Virginia. It flows southeasterly across the Piedmont Plateau, entering
North Carolina near Clarksville, Virginia and Roanoke Rapids, North
Carolina. In North Carolina, the river continues southeasterly to
empty into Batchelor Bay, an arm of Albemarle Sound. The drainage
area is approximately 9,820 square miles, of which about 6,300 are
in Virginia and 3,520 are in North Carolina.
The principal tributaries to the Roanoke River are the
Ban, Mayo, and Smith Rivers. All of these streams are interstate
streams and drain a large area of Virginia before entering North
Carolina. The Dan River rises in Patrick County, Virginia, and
flows in a southeasterly direction to enter North Carolina in
Stokes County. The river leaves North Carolina near Leaksville
und flows through Danville, Virginia, then re-enters North Carolina
near Blanche. The Dan River igain leaves North Carolina near
Hilton and joins the Roanoke near Clarksville, Virginia.
The precipitation which is relatively uniform over the
drainage basin averages approximately h3 inches annually. The
driest year of record was 1930, whenvthe annual precipitation in
the basin was 27.36 inches. The wettest year occurred in 1937 > and
the annual precipitation reached 5^-3^ incites.
General streamflow characteristics of the lower Roanoke
River have been in a state of change since August 1950, when the
Philpott Dam on the Smith Rive^ first influenced the downstream
flow pattern. The John H. Kerr Dam, Roanoke Rapids Dam and
Gaston Dam were completed in 1952, 1955> and 1963, respectively,
and.their operation has resulted in full regulation of the lower
Roanoke.
There are seven major stream gaging stations in the
basin. The 7-day once in ten-year flows for three gaging stations
are presented below. This is the design flow recommended by
North Carolina and Virginia for evaluating treatment needs for
meeting the water quality standards.
Location Drainage Area 7-day once in 10-year Flow
(sq mi)(cfs)~
Dan River at Leaksville 1,150 225
Smith River at Spray 538 iMf
Roanoke River at Roanoke
Rapids * 8,lHO 1,009
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VI-2
In general the water quality in the "basin is good with the
exception of the low dissolved oxygen conditions at the Kerr Beservoir.
The water quality at WPSS Station Ho. 9! at the Kerr Dam is indicated
belows
Water Quality - Kerr Beservoir
1963
Dissolved Oxygen (Beservoir) k.O - 9.6 mg/1
Chlorides 3.0 - 8.0 rag/1
Turbidity 25 units
Hardness 18-36 mg/1
Dissolved Ojq^gen (tailrace Aug. 1966) 0.9 mg/1
Land use in the basin is primarily agricultural; the
principal cash crops are ttibacco, cotton and peanuts. In addition
to agriculture, manufactured and forest products are improtfent to
the economy of the area. Manufactured products include textiles,,
pulp, paper, building materials and furniture.
The total population of the "basin in 1960 was 935,000
persons, of which ^97,000 were rural. The rural population is '
expected to decrease and municipal will increase markedly.
PRESENT WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS
Taste and Odors - Taste and odor problems have occurred
in the Smith Biver at Spray, Horth Carolina for the past ten years.
The sources of the problem are located upstream and involve the,
communities of MartinsviUe, Basset, and Stanleyton in addition to
furniture and textile plants. During early investigations the
problem was thought to be from phenols; however, subsequent studies
have indicated the phenol concentration was not of sufficient
levels to create the problem.
Becent studies by the State of Virginia have indicated a
relationship between the taste and odor problems and releases
from the Philpott Beservoir. It was thought that contaminants may
build up in the receiving stream during the weekends and on the
following Monday power releases flush the contaminants downstream.
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The sources of the contaminants have not been located
but could be attribute'd to inadequate municipal or industrial
treatment.
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VI-3
Dissolved Oxygen - Discharges from the John H. Kerr
Daai are devoid of dissolved oxygen during the late summer period
as a result of thermal stratification and low-level power intakes.
During 1966 the minimum dissolved oxygen level in the tailrace
was recorded at 0.9 mg/1. The.Gaston and Roanoke Rapids Reservoirs,
located downstream, have submerged weirs which permit the discharge
of higher quality water during periods *x£ thermal stratification.
The minimum dissolved oxygen level in the Roanoke Rapids tailrace
during the summer of 1966, was U.9 mg/1.
The relationships between low oxygen discharges at the
Kerr Dam, density underflow, and oxygen levels at Roanoke Rapids
have not been determined.
Smith Mountain Lake - Since the completion of the Smith
Mountain Dam in 19^, various water quality problems have developed
in some areas of the Lake. In the spring of 1966 an extensive fish
kill occurred and was traced to a parasitic organism called myxos
that sometimes attacks fish which are in a weakened condition. The
Lake is also beginning to experience algae and siltation problems.
The Virginia Water Control Board is currently working with
IWPCA to obtain support for a special research study of the various
problems developing in the Lake.
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