Water Quality of the Ohio Rivei
Louisville, Ky. - Evansville, Ind.
Prepared by the
National Field Investigations Center
for
Division of Technical Support
Federal Water Quality Administration
United States Department of the Interior
Cincinnati, Ohio
September, 1970
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WATER QUALITY OF THE OHIO RIVER
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY-EVANSVILLE, INDIANA
Richard K. Ballentine
Nelson A. Thomas
Prepared by the
National Field Investigations Center
For
Division of Technical Support
Federal Water Quality Administration
United States Department of the Interior
Cincinnati, Ohio
September, 1970
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
No.
PREFACE ......................... 1
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ................. 2
GENERAL ..................... 2
SPECIFIC ..................... 5
STANDARDS VIOLATIONS .................. 10
INTRODUCTION ...................... 13
WATER QUALITY STANDARDS AND WATER USES ......... 1&
THE AREA ........................ 16
METHODS OF STUDY .................... 19
CHEMICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL SURVEY ....... 19
BIOLOGICAL STUDY ................. 21
SOURCES OF WASTES ................... 2k
WATER QUALITY ..................... 25
AESTHETICS .................... 25
LATERAL MIXING .................. 26
FLOW ...................... 27
TEMPERATURE ................... 29
TIME-OF-WATER TRAVEL ............... 29
BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND ............ 29
Analyses Performed ............ 29
Results ................. 30
Tributary Streams ............. 32
Salt River .............. 32
Green River .............. 32
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Page No.
DISSOLVED OXYGEN 33
Tributary Streams 35
Salt River 35
Green River 35
BACTERIAL POLLUTION 36
Observed Coliform Densities 37
Tributary Streams 40
Salt River 40
Green River 4l
Salmonella Isolation 4l
OTHER CONSTITUENTS AND DETERMINATIONS 42
pH 42
Specific Conductance 42
Turbidity 43
Suspended Solids 43
STREAM BED ORGANISMS AND PIANKTON 45
FISH OFF-FIAVOR 56
ii
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LIST OF TABLES
No. Follows Page No.
1 Comparison of Indiana & Kentucky
Aquatic Life and Recreation
Standards for the Ohio River 14
2 Municipal Waste Inventory . .
3 Summary of Ohio River Flows .
^4- Dissolved Oxygen & Biochemical
Oxygen Demand
5 Coliform Bacteria (Geometric Mean
& Range of 80$ of the Data) . . .
6 Chemical Composition of Bottom
Sediments
T Bottom Organism Data 53
8 Taste Panel Evaluation of Ohio
River Catfish—1968 60
iii
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LIST OF FIGURES
No. Follows Page No.
1 Location Map ............... 17
2 BOD vs. Time -of -Water Travel ....... 30
3 Least Squares Fit of k^ Rates from 2-day
and 5-Day BOD Data ............ 3!
U Dissolved Oxygen ............. 33
5 Dissolved Oxygen and I/h Point Stations
Downstream from Louisville, Kentucky ... 3!*
6 Total Coliforra Bacteria ......... 37
7 Fecal Coliform Bacteria ......... 37
8 Fecal Coliforras as a Percent of Total
Coliforms ....... . ........ 37
9 Areas of Bottom Organism Degradation in
the Ohio River "between Louisville, Ky.
and Evansville, Indiana ....... . . k6
10 Sludge Deposits and Oxygen Consumption
lay These Deposits in the Chio River
Downstream of Louisville, Kentucky .
..
11 Number of PlanJrton Cells at Various Con-
centrations of Inorganic ritrogei .... 52
12 Pumbers o-" Plankton Cells at Various
Levels of Turbidity ........... 52
13 lumbers of plankton Cells at Various
Concentrations of Total Phosphorus .
..
lk Fumbers of Plankton Cells at Various
Concentrations of Soluble "Phosphorus ... 52
15 Degree o" Off- Flavor of Caged Channel
Catfish, ^Mo River, 1^68 ........ 59
IV
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APPENDICES
Appendix A - Indiana Water Quality Standards.
Appendix B - Kentucky Water Quality Standards.
Appendix C - Lateral Mixing in the Ohio River.
Appendix D - Time of Water Travel.
Appendix E - October 1968 Survey.
Appendix F - Station Location and Description.
Appendix 0 - Data Summary Table.
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10-5-70
PREFACE
State standards considered in this report
were those applicable at the time of preparation.
Since the preparation of the report, the
State of Indiana has upgraded its standards, and
on September 29, 1970, an official agreement was
reached between the Federal Water Quality Admini-
stration and the State of Kentucky concerning
water quality standards.
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SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
During October 1967 a water quality survey was made
on the Ohio River between Louisville, Kentucky and Evansville,
Indiana, to determine bacteriological quality including the
causes of high coliform densities, and the probable causes of
reported fish flesh tainting. The study of the off-flavor of
fish was extended to January 19^9 to gain additional infor-
mation about specific waste sources.
GENERAL
1. Estimated average river discharges during the
survey at Louisville and Evansville were U6,200
and 50,800 cfs respectively.
2. Water temperatures averaged 20 C in the Louisville
reach and 19° C in the Evansville reach.
3- Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations were higher at
all river sampling stations than the Indiana and
Kentucky water quality standards for fish and aquatic
life which now specify 5-0 mg/1 for 16 hours of any
day and not less than 3*0 mg/1 at any time.
k. Bacterial pollution from inadequately treated sewage
creates a health hazard in the Ohio River from
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Louisville, Kentucky to Evansville, Indiana.
The geometric mean total coliform densities
ranged from 15,300 to 7^0,000 MF/100 ml, and
the geometric mean fecal coliform densities
ranged from 700 to 89,000 MF/100 ml.
During the survey, the total coliform
density at all stations exceeded state stand-
ards for "body contact recreation "by 15 to 7^0
times; the state standards for domestic raw
water supplies were exceeded by 3 to 148 times.
Both the Indiana and Kentucky total coliform
standards specify maxima of 1,000 per 100 ml
for body contact recreation and 5,000 per 100 ml
for domestic raw water supply sources. The Indi-
ana total coliform standard for non-body contact
recreation is 5>000 per 100 ml. Pathogenic
Salmonella were isolated at 9 °ut of 10 sampling
stations.
5. Plankton in the Ohio River is the base of the food
web; it can be detrimental when it imparts tastes
and odors to domestic water supplies. Plankton
concentrations were usually less than 1500/ml,
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which is considered to be a low density at
the flow which occurred during the survey.
At higher flows it would be expected that the
plankton population would decrease as the re-
sult of increased silt action on the algal
population and by dilution.
Factors other than nitrogen and phosphorus
apparently control the plankton population because
these elements were present in sufficient quanti-
ties (1.6 mg/1 inorganic nitrogen and 0.06 soluble
phosphorus) to promote abundant growth.
6. Sludge on the Ohio River bed from organic pollution
decreased gamefish food organisms, increased pollu-
tion-tolerant sludgeworms, and removed dissolved
oxygen from the water by decomposition.
7. Complaints from commercial fishermen received by the
Evansville Field Station of the Ohio Basin Region,
and subsequent interviews with commercial fishermen
in both Indiana and Kentucky concerning the un-
marketability of fish from the Ohio River,
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indicate that fish captured downstream from
Louisville and Brandenburg, Kentucky are un-
palatable .
8. The Ohio River contained sufficient taste pro-
ducing substances to cause catfish to be of
unacceptable quality (unpalatable) in July,
1968 from Louisville to Evansville, a distance
of 190 miles, and from Louisville to Owensboro,
a distance of 150 miles, in October, 1968.
SPECIFIC
1. Within the Louisville to Brandenburg reach,
municipal waste from Louisville, Kentucky, New
Albany, Jeffersonville and Clarksville, Indiana,
and from industrial sources pollute the Ohio
River.
a. The geometric mean total coliform density
increased from l,6Uo MF/100 ml upstream from
Louisville to 7^0,000 MF/100 ml 6 miles down-
stream from Louisville, and 396,000 MF/100 ml
13.7 miles downstream.
b. The geometric mean fecal coliform density
increased from 130 MF/100 ml upstream from
Louisville to 89,000 MF/100 ml 6 miles
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downstream from Louisville, and 39,(XX) MF/100
ml IJ.T miles downstream.
c. Pathogenic Salmonella were isolated near the
Louisville Water Company intake.
d. There was little lateral mixing between the
Louisville Sewage Treatment Plant effluent and
the Ohio River. Settleable solids formed a
sludge bank along the Kentucky shore that was
estimated to be 100 feet wide, 6 inches deep
and 7-5 miles long.
e. Kinds of stream bed animals decreased from 8 to
3 in the 7 mile reach bracketing Louisville,
Kentucky; slime growths, Sphaerotilus natans,
were attached to the river bottom and floated in
the water along the Kentucky shore downstream
from the Louisville sewage treatment plant; the
number of pollution tolerant stream bed organisms
was greatest along the Kentucky shore of the Ohio
River.
f. Historically, during a 191U--1915 survey, 56 percent
of the bottom organisms downstream from the
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Louisville treatment plant were not tolerant
towards organic wastes. Behind McAlpine Dam,
the bottom organism population and composition
is now essentially unchanged from that found
in 191^-1915' Now, increased organic pollu-
tion, over that present in 1915, is indicated
in the 5-mile reach downstream from the
Louisville treatment plant because no bottom
organisms were found that were sensitive to
organic wastes.
g. Stream bed animal kinds were reduced from 7 up-
stream to k downstream from the discharge of
Olln Mathieson Chemical Corporation at Branden-
burg, Kentucky. Pollution tolerant bottom
organisms along the Kentucky bank increased from
54 to 75 per square foot. A maximum population
of 290 sludgeworms per square foot was present 5
miles downstream from Brandenburg (Station 7)•
Along the Kentucky bank for 20 miles, pollution
tolerant sludgeworms were more numerous downstream
from the Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation than
upstream.
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8
n. Channel catfish held in cages for 2 days
and submitted frozen to professional taste
panelists were used to assess the degree of
off-flavor acquired in the exposed time
period. This test established the presence
(X) of both off-flavor and acute toxicity as
determined from test fish mortalities in cages.
Off-
Flavor Toxicity
1. Mead Container Wastes, x x
Louisville, Ky.
2. Louisville Sewage Treat- „
ment Plant Effluent
3. Reynolds Metals Company „
Wastes, Louisville, Ky.
k. E. I. duPont de Nemours and
Co. Wastes, Louisville,
Ky. XX
5- American Synthetic Rubber
Corp., Louisville, X
Ky.
6. Stauffer Chemical Company,
Louisville, Ky. XX
7. Olin Mathieson Chemical
Corp., Brandenburg, X X
Ky.
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2. Municipal wastes from the Owensboro, Kentucky
Sewage Treatment Plant increased the total and
fecal coliform densities downstream from the
waste discharge.
3. Hear the Evansvllle, Indiana water intake the
total coliform density had a geometric mean of
27,700 MP/100 ml; calculations indicate that
Louisville, Kentucky was the source of U9 percent
of these coliform bacteria and that Owensboro was
the source of 51 percent. Pathogenic Salmonella
were isolated near the Bvansville water supply in-
take.
h. The Salt River, tributary to the Ohio River between
Louisville and Brandenburg, Kentucky, was extremely
polluted at its mouth. It supported only 3 kinds of
bottom organisms, 92 percent of which were pollution-
tolerant. Geometric mean total and fecal coliform
densities at the mouth were 1,6^0,000 MF/100 ml and
112,000 MF/100 ml respectively.
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STANDARDS VIOLATIONS
1. The State of Indiana aquatic life standard states, "There
shall be no substances which impart unpalatable flavor to
food fish, or result in noticeable offensive odors in the
vicinity of the water .... at any point in the stream
except for areas immediately adjacent to outfalls. In such
areas, cognizance vill be given to opportunities for the
admixture of waste effluents with river water." The off-
flavor of fish caused by discharges in the Louisville and
Brandenburg areas was present in the Ohio River for 190
miles, thus negating the exclusion clause.
Wastes from Mead Container, Louisville sewage treat-
ment plants, E. I. DuPont de Nemours and Company, American
Synthetic Rubber Corporation, Stauffer Chemical Company, and
Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, contribute off-flavors
to fish, making them unpalatable.
2. Both Indiana and Kentucky have minimal water quality standards
applicable to all waters at all places and at all times. These
are:
a. "Free from substances attributable to municipal, industrial or
other discharges or agricultural practices that will settle to
form putrescent or otherwise objectionable sludge deposits."
10
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11
Sludge deposits were found downstream from the
Louisville sewage treatment plant. This condition
should be corrected upon completion of plant alter-
ations .
b. "Free from floating debris, oil, scum and other
floating materials attributable to municipal, in-
dustrial or other discharges or agricultural
practices in amounts sufficient to be unsightly or
deleterious."
Discharges of the wastes from the American Syn-
thetic Rubber Corporation contained or produced
floating pieces of "sponge rubber" material.
c. "Free from materials attributable to municipal, in-
dustrial or other discharges or agricultural practices
producing color, odor or other conditions in such
degree as to create a nuisance."
This standard was violated by the discharges of
Mead Container, Louisville sewage treatment plant,
E. I. duPont de Nemours and Company, American Synthetic
Rubber Corporation, Stauffer Chemical Company, and Olin
Mathieson Chemical Corporation. Channel catfish were
unpalatable downstream beyond the immediate vicinity
of these discharges.
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12
d. "Free from substances attributable to municipal,
industrial or other discharges or agricultural
practices in concentrations or combinations vhich
are toxic or harmful to human, animal, plant or
aquatic life."
The discharges from Mead Container, Reynolds
Metals Company, E. I. duPont de Nemours and Company,
Stauffer Chemical Company and Olin Mathieson Chemical
Corporation were toxic to fish in U8 hours at least
300 feet downstream from the respective discharges.
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IHTRODUCTION
This report IB based on a field survey conducted
at the request of, and in cooperation with, the Ohio
Basin Region, *Pederal Water Pollution Control Admini-
stration, from October 2 to 13, 1967 and fish studies
which continued until January, 1969.
The study was primarily designed: (l) to deter-
mine the bacteriological quality of the Ohio River and
the waste sources causing high coliform densities from
the Louisville, Kentucky - New Albany, Indiana metro-
politan area to Evansville, Indiana; (2) to determine the
probable causes of reported fish flesh tainting; and (3)
to determine existing water quality. Biochemical oxygen
demand, dissolved oxygen, suspended solids, and the plant
nutrients, nitrogen and phosphorus, were determined and
assessments of the bacteriological and biological condi-
tions were made.
*throughout this report reference is made to Federal Water
Pollution Control Administration which is now the Federal
Water Quality Administration.
13
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WATER QUALITY STANDARDS AND WATER USES
Both Indiana and Kentucky have submitted water quality
standards to the Department of the Interior under provisions
contained in the Water Quality Act of 1965 (P.L. 89-23^,33
U.S.C. U66 g). Those of Indiana (Appendix A) for the Ohio
River have been approved by the Secretary; Kentucky's (Appendix
B) have been approved vith exceptions.
The present standards of both states for various water
uses are basically the criteria proposed by the Ohio River Water
Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO), as revised, in May, 1967. The
ORSANCO water quality criteria are currently under revision.
These revisions may lead to standards modifications by the states
along the Ohio River so that all the standards are consistent and
in agreement. The present Indiana and Kentucky standards for
recreation and aquatic life are used in this report (Table l).
For aquatic life, minimum DO's of 5 mg/1 during at least 16 hours
a day, with an absolute minimum of 3 mg/1 are specified.* Stream
temperatures have maximum limits of 93 F in summer with Indiana
specifying 60 F in winter and Kentucky 73 F. Bacteriological
standards* for recreational uses differ: Indiana differentiates
between partial and whole body contact recreation, while Kentucky
*Water quality criteria currently under consideration for
revision by ORSANCO.
Ik
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TABLE 1
Comparison of
Indiana & Kentucky Aquatic Life
and
Recreation Standards for the
Ohio River
Constituent
or
Determination
INDIANA
KENTUCKY
Dissolved Oxygen
pH
Temperature
Coliform bac-
teria
(partial body
contact)
Colifonn bac-
teria
(body contact)
Not less than 5.0 mg/1
16 hrs. of any 2*4-hr.
period. Not less than
3.0 mg/1 at any time.
Limited to pH 6.0 -
9.0 units, preferably
between pH 6.5 - 8.5
units.
Not to exceed 93* F.
during April through
November; not to ex-
ceed 60* F. December
through March.
Average density not
to exceed 5,000 per
100 ml.
Average density not
to exceed 1,000 per
100 ml.
Same
Limited to pH 5.0 -
9.0 units, prefer-
ably between pH
6.5 - 8.5 units.
Not to exceed 93" F.
during May through
November; not to ex-
ceed 73' F. during
December through
April.
None
specified
Same
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15
has a single recreation standard. The Kentucky recreation
standard of an average 1,000 total conforms per 100 ml is the
same as the Indiana body contact recreation standard. Indiana
limits the coliform group to 5,000 per 100 ml for partial "body
contact recreation.
The State of Indiana has classified the vaters of the
Ohio River for a warm-water fishery, agricultural uses, body
contact recreation, and industrial and public water supplies.
The Commonwealth of Kentucky adopted a similar classification
with the exception of recreation. Kentucky ". . deferred
designation of the application of the recreation standards at
this time as it applies to the Ohio River."*
* Anon., Report on Water Quality Criteria and Plan for
Implementation. Main Stem of the Ohio River and the
Kentucky Tributary Basin Excluding the Waters of the
Kentucky, Salt and Green Rivers," Kentucky Water
Pollution Control Commission, December, 1966.
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THE AREA.
The Ohio River originates with the confluence of the
Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
and flows south-westerly for 981 miles to Cairo, Illinois,
where it Joins the Mississippi River. It forms portions of
the boundaries between the states of Ohio and West Virginia;
Ohio and Kentucky; Indiana and Kentucky; and Illinois and
Kentucky.
From the headwaters to the mouth, the riverbed eleva-
tion drops U29 feet (about O.hh ft/mile). Generally the river
width varies from less than one-quarter mile, between Pitts-
burgh, Pennsylvania and Wheeling, West Virginia, to about one
mile upstream from McAlpine Dam.
The river is channelized from the headwaters to the mouth.
The original system of ^6 locks and dams is being replaced by a
new system of 19 new high level locks and dams. Primary pur-
poses of the new dams are to improve navigation on the river
by increasing the channel depth, reduce the number of lockages
required between shipping points, and provide for larger locks
to accommodate increased tow sizes. At the time of the survey,
two dams were under construction in the survey reach; McAlpine
16
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Dam at Louisville had already been completed.
The river is used extensively for public and industrial
water supply, navigation, water-related recreation, commercial
fishing, and waste disposal. Commercial barges transport
materials to cities located along the main stem and larger
tributaries. Pleasure boating, especially during the cummer
months, has increased markedly since 19^-5-
The 191-mile reach of the river considered in this
report extends from Louisville, Kentucky, to Evansville,
Indiana (Figure l). This reach of the river forms a state
boundary with Indiana to the north and Kentucky to the south.
Six existing low level dams and two high level dams under con-
struction are located here.
Major tributaries entering the Ohio River in this reach
are the Salt River and the Green River. The Salt River enters
about 2^ miles downstream from McAlpine Dam. The Green River
joins the Ohio River about seven miles upstream from the Evans-
ville Water Works intake. The Green River is the larger tribu-
tary; it is channelized and supports commercial barge traffic.
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V)
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18
The reach is characterized as a series of pools
interspaced with high velocity currents that result in a
number of different bottom habitat types. These habitats
range from fine silts in the slack vater areas to coarse
sands and gravels in the river's center, with clay or
bedrock along the river banks. The diverse assemblage of
aquatic life is climaxed in an abundant fish population
supporting a fishery that is enjoyed by thousands each year.
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METHODS OF STUDY
CHEMICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL SURVEY
The study reach was divided into two sections of about
equal lengths; the upstream section consisted of stations 0-1
through 0-13; and the downstream section was comprised of
stations 0-1^ through 0-30. These 31 stations included the
Louisville sewage treatment plant effluent (0-2), the Salt
River (0-4A), the Green River (G-28), and the Owensboro treat-
ment plant effluent (0-23) (Appendix P).
Samples from each station, with the exception of stations
0-2 and 0-23, were scheduled for collection twice daily for 10
days. The two daily sampling runs were scheduled to start at
daybreak and late morning. The direction of sample collection
was alternated between downstream and upstream throughout each of
the two survey reaches to obtain samples from each station at
various times throughout the day.
Automatic samplers installed at the Owensboro and Louisville
sewage treatment plants collected 24-hour composite samples of
plant effluents for chemical analyses. Grab samples of the treat-
ment plant effluents were collected for coliform tests twice daily.
Since a lack of lateral mixing was suspected, sampling
stations 0-3, OA, 0-6, 0-19, 0-22, 0-2U, and 0-29 were sampled
19
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ao
at quarter points (3 points per cross section) and composited
into a single sample. Single mid-channel samples were col-
lected from the remaining stations because the distance down-
stream from waste discharges or tributaries was sufficient to
ensure adequate lateral mixing.
Samples were analyzed for:
a. Temperature
b. pH
c. Total coliform
d. Fecal coliform
e. Salmonella (from "swabs" recovered from 10 selected stations)
f. Dissolved Oxygen
g. BOD (2-day and 5-day at each station; at selected
stations using the HH. Cl carbonaceous test and 2
sets for 20-day BOD's)
h. Nitrogen Series (N0~*, total organic and NH,)
i. Phosphorus Series (total and soluble)
j. Total and volatile suspended solids
k. Turbidity
1. Conductivity
Samples for coliform bacteria and dissolved oxygen
analyses were collected on each sampling run, i.e., two samples
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per station per day. Samples for other analyses vere collected
once each day and the time of collection was alternated between
morning and afternoon.
Separate samples were collected for DO, bacteria, and
chemical analyses. The DO and chemical samples were collected
at a depth of 5 feet and the bacteriological samples were col-
lected near the surface. All samples were iced in dark coolers
to eliminate sunlight effects. Temperature, pH and specific
conductance were determined immediately after sample collection.
A summary of the chemical and bacteriological data is contained
in Appendix H.
Two mobile laboratories were located at the Louisville,
Kentucky, sewage treatment plant. Analyses of samples from the
upstream section were analyzed in these laboratories. The samples
from the downstream section were analyzed at the Evansville,
Indiana, Field Station Laboratories. Dissolved oxygen, BOD, pE,
turbidity, and collform analyses were conducted when the samples
were delivered to the laboratories. Samples were preserved for
later determination of nitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended solids.
BIOLOGICAL STUDY
The biological field survey was also conducted October 2 -
13, 1967. Ninety-one Petersen dredge samples were collected with
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2S
three samples taken along a river cross-section. Seventy-
four surface water samples were collected for algal nutrient
analyses and 28 for phytoplankton counts. Twenty-four bottom
sediment samples were collected to determine phosphorus, or-
ganic nitrogen and organic carbon. At 7 locations in the
Louisville area, the rate of oxygen demand by the sediment
was determined with an in-situ respirometer.
To determine the compounds contaminating the fish tissue,
catfish were purchased from fishermen at Utica, Indiana, West
Point, Kentucky, and Leavenworth, Indiana. These fish were
held in recirculating water which passed through an activated
carbon absorption filter.
In May 1968, a new series of investigations were begun.
Channel catfish from Lake Erie were purchased from a live fish
dealer and placed in flowing well water ponds for four weeks.
The fish were then transported to Louisville, Kentucky and placed
in metal mesh baskets at various sites in the Ohio River.
Following a five day exposure period, the fish were removed from
the baskets, filleted, tagged and frozen with dry ice. The fish
were then shipped to a professional taste panel at Oregon State
University in Corvallis, Oregon for rating as to the degree of
off-flavor and desirability.
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23
In July, 1968, a cooperative investigation involving
the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission, the State of
Kentucky, the State of West Virginia Bureau of Commercial
Fisheries, and the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration
was undertaken to determine the degree of off-flavor of fish
throughout the entire Ohio River. Samples were placed at lock
and dam sites to obtain results on the general off-flavor trend
of fish rather than specific causative effluents. To determine
if catfish held in cages would be contaminated with the same
degree of off flavor as native fish, native channel catfish were
captured from four of the test sites. All of the test fish from
this investigation were quick frozen whole and flown to the Bureau
of Commercial Fisheries Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Michigan for taste
panel testing. The taste panel at the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries
Laboratory was used during this portion of the study because this
was a cooperative study.
A third test was conducted in October, 1968, which included
32 sites extending from Pittsburgh to Cairo, with 16 of the sites
in the Louisville area. The fish from this study were frozen whole
and shipped to Ann Arbor for taste evaluation. Sample fish from
the intensive Louisville study were split so that fish from the
same sample basket were sent to both Corvallis, Oregon and Ann
Arbor, Michigan for taste and odor evaluation.
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SOURCES OF WASTES
Using the Indiana and Kentucky inventories to augment
visits to the various plants, an estimate vas made of the dis-
charged municipal vaste strength in the reach from Louisville,
Kentucky, to Evansville, Indiana (Table 2). This inventory was
revieved by both Indiana and Kentucky.
Of the eight municipalities discharging sevage to the
river from Kentucky, tvo have no treatment while six provide
primary treatment. Nine municipalities discharge to the river
from Indiana with eight providing primary and one secondary
treatment. Kentucky sewage represents 85.8 percent of the total
sewered population within the study reach. Discharges from both
states represent a sewered population of 555*200; the discharged
wastes had a bacterial population equivalent of 2,952,000 and a
BOD population equivalent of 717,350.
It was estimated that of the coliform bacterial population
equivalents discharged to the Ohio River from municipal sources,
Louisville, Kentucky, contributed 90 percent and Owensboro, Kentucky
9.6 percent (Table 2). These two communities together were re-
sponsible for 99-6 percent of the coliform bacteria discharged by
municipal waste sources.
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WATER QUALITY
AESTHETICS
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary defines aesthetics as
"... the theories of beauty, its essential character, the
tests by which it may be recognized or judged, and its char-
acteristic relation to or effect upon the human mind." The
appearance of pollution and the fear of pollution detract from
aesthetic values. The knowledge that water is clean enhances
aesthet ic apprec iat ion.
The standards submitted by Indiana and Kentucky under
the Federal Water Quality Act of 19^5 stipulate requirements
to maintain aesthetically pleasing waters. Among other things,
these standards prohibit waste discharges that settle to form
putrescent or otherwise objectionable deposits; that cause un-
sightly or deleterious amounts of floating debris, oil, scum and
other floating materials; that produce color, odor or other con-
ditions in such degree as to create a nuisance; and which are
toxic or harmful to human, animal, plant or aquatic life.
The Louisville sewage treatment plant discharge is readily
visible at normal pool stages. On calm days, an objectionable
"sewage slick" can be seen for as far as one mile downstream
25
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26
along the Kentucky bank of the river. The typical "musty" odor
of domestic sevage is also evident. Along the Kentucky shore,
a sludge bank, partially composed of unremoved sevage particles,
produces odors and reduces severely the River's aesthetic value.
Farther downstream, exposed industrial wastes and
cooling water outfalls are located high on the banks. Wastes
enter the river by flowing directly down the banks or in flumes.
Foamy waste discharges created unsightly billows of foam on the
river and accentuated the aesthetically unpleasing situation.
Unpleasant tastes and odors in fish taken from the Ohio
River make the river less desirable for the recreational pursuit
of fishing.
LATERAL MIXING
The low velocity in the Ohio River during the low flow
periods and the resultant low turbulence level does not cause
effective lateral mixing of waste discharges. This lack of
lateral mixing makes the selection of sample points on a cross
section difficult to properly locate. A theoretical analysis of
lateral mixing was made downstream from Louisville (Appendix C).
Limited field data which were collected in the Owensboro-Evansville
-------
87
reach in October, 1968 illustrated the effects from low lateral
mixing rates (Appendix E).
The results obtained from the theoretical analysis and
field observations confirmed that multiple point sampling is
required.
In certain situations it is possible that the entire waste
load might be missed by not sampling properly. The possibility of
this situation has been demonstrated downstream from Owensboro
(Appendix E). Sampling problems because of the lack of lateral
mixing also undoubtedly occur in the Louisville reach.
Lateral mixing should occur as the river flow is forced
through relatively small areas in passing the wicket dams. At
low flow, most of the water would pass through the bear traps
which causes turbulence and mixing.
FLOW
During low flows when the Ohio River is in pool condition,
flow measurement is difficult because of the low water velocities
that occur. Flow estimates are available from the U. S. Geological
Survey, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U. S. Weather Bureau
at various locations along the river. Louisville, Kentucky, and
Evansville, Indiana, are two such locations.
-------
Available flow estimates for McAlpine Dam during the
survey period are presented in Appendix Table D-l. The flow
used for Louisville was ^6,200 cfs as determined by the
Geological Survey.
The flow estimate used for Evansville was 50,780 cfs.
This flow was determined from drainage area yield factors
(Appendix Table D-2) and was checked, approximately, by calcu-
lations using the Geological Survey rating curve for this station.*
Geological Survey flow data were used for the Green and Salt
Rivers.
Table 3 shows the average flows during the October 2-13,
1967 survey period and the low 30-day flows with an average re-
currence frequency of once in 10 years. Comparison of the
survey period with the 30-day low flows** indicates that the
study was not conducted during a drought period. Flows averaged
3 to k times the drought flows.
*The rating curve is not within the accuracy standards of the
Geological Survey at low flows. Five day average flows are
published for this station in the water supply papers.
**Anon., "Hydrology of the Ohio River Basin," Appendix C, Ohio
River Basin Comprehensive Survey, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Ohio River Division, Cincinnati, Ohio (August, 1966).
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TEMPERATURE
Average water temperatures were 20 C at Louisville and
19 C at Evansville. These temperatures were lower than those
that occurred during the mid-summer months of July and August,
but were still representative of warm-weather conditions.
TIME OF WATER TRAVEL
Data for the Biochemical Oxygen Demand test and colifonn
bacteria have been graphed using time of water travel rather
than river mile. This procedure illustrates data in a more
orderly way than plotting concentration versus distance and
shows the actual time associated relationships among the data-
Both river mile location and time of travel downstream from the
Louisville sewage treatment plant are given in the tables for
BOD and coliform bacteria. The method used to calculate time of
travel is present in Appendix D.
BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (BOD)
Analyses Performed
Daily analyses for 2- and 5-day BOD16 were made on samples
from all 31 stations. This information was used to calculate the
reaction rate and the ultimate first stage or carbonaceous BOD for
each station.
-------
30
Two sets of 20-day BOD's were run at selected stations
to demonstrate the applicability of calculating the ultimate
first stage BOD from the 2- and 5-day BOD data.
The 20-day BOD data were also used as a qualitative estimate of
the second stage or nitrogenous BOD.
To evaluate the second stage or nitrogenous BOD, the
total organic, ammonia, and nitrate forms of nitrogen were de-
termined. It was postulated that the decrease in concentration
of the total organic plus ammonia nitrogen would "be equivalent
to a decrease in the ultimate nitrogenous BOD when converted to
an oxygen equivalent. * This postulation assumes that nitrogen
fixation from the atmosphere and denitrification of oxidized
nitrogen compounds is absent.
Results
The ultimate first and second stage BOD's of the river
samples were calculated from the standard 2- and 5-day BOD and
nitrogen data (Table k, Figure 2).
McMichael, F. C. and J. E. McKee, "Wastewater
Reclamation at Whittier Narrows," State of California
Water Quality Control Board, Pub. No. 33, 1966.
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To obtain the ultimate first stage BOD, the oxidation
rates (k..) from the 2- and 5-day 30D results were calculated
for each station. The individual rates were plotted against
river time of travel (Figure 3). The indicated line was fitted
by the method of least squares. From this graph, it was noted
that the k, rates decreased in the downstream direction. The
k. rates taken from this line were vsed to calculate the \ilti-
mate first stage BOD's for the various stations. The k. rates
determined by this procedure varied from a maximum of 0.1'iB per
day at Louisville to 0.060 per day at Bvansville.
The profiles show the ultimate carbonaceous and ultimate
nitrogenous BOD concentrations in the river (Figure 2). The
total ultimate BOD is the sum of these two curves. Increases in
BOD concentrations because of waste loads and tributary inflow
are shown with broken lines or as sharp breaks in the curves where
the loads enter the river. BOD loads are indicated for
the Louisville, Kentucky-Few Albany, Indiana, Metropolitan Area;
the Olin Mathieson Chemicals Division Plant at Brandenburg,
Kentucky; the Owensboro, Kentucky, Metropolitan Area; and the
Green River.
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Average 5-day BOD's were low and ranged from 2.4 mg/1
in McAlpine Pool to 0.9 mg/1 125 miles downstream at station
0-l8. The concentration near the Evansville Water Works in-
take was 1.4 mg/1.
Tributary Streams
Salt River
The Salt River, which receives sewage discharges from
the U. S. Army Post at Ft. Knox, Ky. and several subdivisions
in the Louisville area, enters the Ohio River 17-9 miles down-
stream from the Louisville sewage treatment plant. The 5-day
BOD near the mouth of the stream was 2.1 mg/1. This concen-
tration was close to that found in the Ohio River and was prob-
ably affected by backwater from the Ohio River.
Green River
The 2- and 5-day BOD in the Green River indicated a
low rate of oxygen demand satisfaction. The calculated Tit-
rate of 0.037 per day is indicative of either toxicity or oxi-
dation of complex compounds, either from natural or man-made
sources. The increase in ultimate first-stage BOD in the Ohio
River downstream from the confluence with the Green River
(from 2.k mg/1 to 3-1 mg/l) possibly indicated toxicity which
is removed by dilution in the Ohio River, or possibly the Green
River furnished a critical nutrient deficient in the Ohio River
allowing further oxidation to proceed.
-------
33
DISSOLVED OXYGEN
The dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations at all sample
stations in the Ohio River during the October 196? survey vere
greater than the Indiana and Kentucky standards of not less
than 5.0 mg/1 for 16 hours in any 2lj—hour period and not less
than 3-0 mg/1 at any time (Table k, Figure 1)-). The lowest
average DO of 5.9 mg/1 and the lowest minimum DO of 5.0 mg/1
for an entire cross section occurred at station 0-1 upstream
from McAlpine Dam near the Louisville Water Company municipal
intake. The sluggish, deep waters lying behind McAlpine Dam
have a low water velocity and consequently a lower rate of re-
aeration than the pools behind the low head wicket dams down-
stream. This fact combined with oxygen demands of residual BOD
from upstream and from the bottom muds accounted for the lover
DO's at this station.
Downstream from McAlpine Dam, comparison of the average
DO concentrations at the Indiana quarter point with that at the
Kentucky quarter point, showed the concentration on the Kentucky
side to be "L.k mg/1 less than that on the Indiana side at station
0-3, 6 miles downstream from the Louisville sewage treatment plant,
and 1.9 mg/1 less at station 0-^, 13.7 miles downstream from the
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Louisville sewage treatment plant (Figure 5)« The Kentucky
quarter point stations had minimum DO concentrations of ^.8
mg/1 at both stations 0-3 and 0-^.
The large differences in DO observed at the quarter
points at stations 0-3 and OA are due to a lack of lateral
mixing of the oxygen demanding waste discharges from the
Louisville sewage treatment plant and non-sewered Louisville
industries with the flow of the Ohio River. These wastes flow
along the Kentucky shore of the river for several miles and
reduce the DO (see Appendix C for discussion of lateral mixing).
Oxygen demanding materials in the sludge bank along the Kentucky
shoreline in this same reach also reduced the dissolved oxygen.
This latter effect magnified the oxygen reduction owing to the
oxygen demanding waste discharges alone.
Quarter point sampling was not used at station 0-5 lo-
cated 21.5 miles downstream from the Louisville sewage treatment
plant because adequate mixing of waste effluents from the Louis-
ville, Kentucky-New Albany area with the Ohio River should have
occurred following passage ortr DBA Ho. k$.
In the Owensboro, Kentucky, reach, average DO concen-
trations increased from 7«3 mg/1 at 0-22 upstream from the city
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35
to 7.9 mg/1 at station 0-2U downstream from the city waste dis-
charges. Reaeration of the river at Dam No. k6 in Owensboro
accounted for the increase.
Average dissolved oxygen concentrations in the reach from
Owensboro, Kentucky, to Evansville, Indiana, were betveen 7.9
mg/1 and 8.2 mg/1. The average DO at the Evansville Water Works
intake was 8.1 mg/1.
Tributary Streams
Salt River
The Salt River, receiving subdivision and other domestic
wastes as well as being affected by backwater from the Ohio River,
had DO concentrations at the mouth that averaged k.J mg/1 with a
minimum of ^.2 mg/1. With the small flow in the Salt River, no
adverse effects on DO were noted in the Ohio River 3.^- miles down-
stream at station 0-5-
Green River
The DO concentrations at the mouth of the Green River aver-
aged 7.6 mg/1 with a minimum of 7.2 mg/1; this was only 0.6 mg/1
less than the Ohio River and caused no detectable effect on the
DO of the Ohio River.
-------
36
BACTERIAL POLLUTION
Sewage contains "bacteria of the coliform group that
typically occur in the fecal discharges of humans as veil as
all other warm-blooded animals. Bacterial results "based on
the entire coliform group (total coliforms) do have a dis-
advantage as an indicator of fecal pollution "because several
species of the group may come from sources other than sewage.
To augment the total coliform test, a more specific test to
identify and enumerate coliforms of fecal origin is used
(fecal coliforms). This test measures coliform "bacteria of
fecal origin with a high degree of reliability.
Densities of "both total and fecal coliforms are generally
reported as the number per 100 milliliters of water (about 1/2
cup). Depending on the method of analysis used, coliforms are
reported as a most probable number (MPTl) for the multiple tube
technique, or as an actual colony count for the membrane filter (MF)
technique. The membrane filter technique was used for all coli-
form determinations during this study.
Recently, a technique for qualitatively insolating
4.
Salmonella from water has been developed. All Salmonella
4t
Spino, D.F., "Elevated-Temperature Technique for the
Isolation of Salmonella from Streams," Appl. Microbiol.,
Vol. Ik,
-------
37
are intestinal pathogens to man to some degree. This test is
used to determine when a definite pathogenic bacterial group
may be present in the waters. The source of Salmonella would
be the fecal discharges of infected persons and other warm-
blooded animals which enter the water primarily through sewage
discharges.
Observed Coliform Densities
The geometric means, the 80 percent confidence limits of
the data, and the percentage of the coliform group that were
specifically of fecal origin are listed in Table 5 and plotted
in Figures 6, 1, and 8.
Station 0-1 located near the Louisville Water Company
municipal water intake, was selected as a control station and
to indicate bacteriological conditions upstream from Louisville
in the lover pool areas behind McAlpine Dam. The station also
indicated the bacteriological conditions in the raw water used
by the city for the survey period. The geometric mean total
coliform density at this station was l,$t-0 MF/100 ml. The
fecal coliform density was 130 MF/100 ml or 7.9 percent of the
total coliform density. The Indiana body contact recreation
standard of 1,000 MF/100 ml total coliforms was violated at this
station.
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Downstream from Me Alpine Dam the treated sewage discharges
from Jeffersonville, Clarksville and New Albany, Indiana, and
from Louisville, Kentucky enter the Ohio River. In the Louis-
ville sewage treatment plant discharge (Station 0-2), the geo-
metric mean densities were 63,700,000 per 100 ml total coliforms
with IT.k percent or 11,100,000 per 100 ml fecal coliforms.
The highest mean densities measured downstream from the
Louisville area occurred at station 0-3, 0.2 day travel time
downstream. Densities were 7^0,000 per 100 ml total coliforms
and 89,000 per 100 ml fecal coliforms.
Continuing downstream from the Louisville metropolitan
area, total and fecal coliform densities exhibited a generally
decreasing pattern (Figures 6 and 7)- The percentage of fecal
coliforms also decreased (Figure 8). Several small communities
discharged treated and untreated wastes betveen Louisville and
Owensboro, Kentucky, but their effects were masked by the high
residual coliform densities from the Louisville metropolitan
area, the variation in density in the river, and the high dilution
afforded by river flows in excess of U6,000 cfs.
At station 0-22 located upstream from Owensboro, Kentucky,
but 1^4-0.8 miles and 5-7 days travel time downstream from the
-------
39
Louisville sewage treatment plant, the geometric mean total
coliform density had decreased to 15,600 MF/100 ml. Fecal
coliforms were k-5 percent of the total coliforms and had a
geometric mean of 700 MF/100 ml. Even at this great distance
downstream from Louisville, the total coliforms exceeded the
1,000 MF/100 ml Indiana bacteriological standard for body con-
tact sports by 15-6 times and the 5,000 MF/100 ml Indiana and
Kentucky general recreation standard and public water supply
standard by 3 times.
The coliform density pattern downstream from the Owens-
boro sewage treatment plant discharge was not fully defined
during the October, 1967 survey. The effect from this effluent
was not detected until the river passed over Dam kj.
The results from a survey in October, 1968 showed the
poor lateral mixing downstream from Owensboro and indicated the
total and fecal coliform pattern (Appendix E).
The geometric mean total and fecal coliform densities
for the October, 1967 survey were 27,700 MF/100 ml and 1,010
MF/100 ml respectively, at station 0-JO near the Evansville
Water Works Intake. This station was i.k days travel time
-------
downstream from Owensboro and approximately 7.5 days travel
time downstream from Louisville.
Calculations for total coliforms (based on Figure 6)
for station 0-30 indicate that of the total coliform density
of 27,700 MF/100 ml, about 13,500 MF/100 ml or 14-8.7 percent
was from sources upstream from Owensboro and primarily from
the Louisville area; and about 14,200 MF/100 ml or 51-3 percent
was from the Owensboro area. Calculations for fecal coliforms
indicated a similar distribution.
The total coliform densities at station 0-30 violated
the 5,000 MF/100 ml Indiana and Kentucky standards for domestic
water supply sources and for general recreation by 5.5 times.
The 1,000 MF/100 ml Indiana body contact recreation standard was
violated by 27.7 times.
Tributary Streams
Salt River
The Salt River contained extremely high total and fecal
coliform densities. The geometric mean total coliform density
was 1,640,000 MF/100 ml; fecal coliforms were 6.8 percent of the
total coliforms and had a geometric mean density of 112,000 MF/
100 ml. The principal sources of these coliforms were sewage
-------
discharges from housing subdivisions and backwater from the
Ohio River. The effects of these high coliform densities
were not noted in the Ohio River because of the low flow in
the Salt River compared to that of the Ohio River.
Green River
Total and fecal coliform densities observed in the
Green River were relatively low. The geo metric mean total
coliform density was 520 MF/100 ml; fecal coliforms were
3.5 percent of the total coliforms and had a geometric mean
of 18 MF/100 ml. No adverse effect on the bacteriological
quality of the Ohio River was observed downstream from the
confluence with the Green River.
Salmonella Isolation
To determine the presence or absence of pathogenic
bacteria in the Ohio River, gauze "swabs" were placed at
selected stations for a period of five days to isolate Salmon-
ella, an intestinal pathogenic group of bacteria. Five sta-
tions were selected to represent bacteriological conditions
for a 33-7 river mile reach downstream from the sewage dis-
charges in the Louisville, Kentucky-New Albany, Indiana, area.
-------
42
In the Owensboro, Kentucky, to Evansville, Indiana, river
reach, five stations were also selected.
Pathogenic Salmonella were isolated at 9 out of 10 sta-
tions tested confirming the presence of pathogenic bacteria.
OTHER CONSTITUENTS AND DETERMINATIONS
PS
The average pH1s varied from 7.3 units at Louisville to
7.6 units at Evansville. This level indicates slightly alkaline
conditions, and is well within the limits of pH 5 - pH 9 for
aquatic life as specified by the proposed Kentucky standards
and the limits of pH 6 - pH 9 of Indiana. The Green and Salt
Rivers were also slightly alkaline, with pH1s of 7«^ units and
7.8 units, respectively.
Specific Conductance
The Indiana and Kentucky public water supply standards for
dissolved solids are a maximum of 500 mg/1 for a monthly average,
and not more than 750 mg/1 at any time. The standards note that
these requirements are met by specific conductances of 800 and
1,200 micromhos per centimeter (junho/cm), respectively.
Average specific conductances ranged between 520 jumho/cm
at Louisville to 550 jimho/cm at Evansville. These levels were
less than the respective states' standards. The Salt and Green
Rivers had average specific conductances of 530 umho/cm and
430 ^mho/cm respectively.
-------
Turbidity
Average turbidity levels ranged from 13 Jackson Candle
\
Units (JCU) at Louisville in McAlpine Dam Pool to 38 JCU at
Evansville. The Salt and Green Rivers likewise had low turbidities
averaging 15 JCU and 3U JCU, respectively.
Suspended Solids
Average total suspended solids concentrations ranged
from 11 mg/1, downstream from Louisville, to a high of 3^ rag/1
at station 0-7, downstream from the Olin Mathieson Chemicals
Division Plant at Brandenburg, Kentucky. In the vicinity of
the Evansville Water Works, the total suspended solids averaged
29 rag/1.
Volatile solids made up 25 to 33 percent of the total
suspended solids, which is indicative of significant organic
content in the suspended solids. The organic fraction would
include fecal particles contained in sewage, organic sludges
from industrial operations, plankton, and natural organics from
land drainage (leaf fragments, etc.). The inorganic fraction
would consist of silty materials from land drainage or bottom
muds stirred "by gravel and dredging operations.
-------
Final effluents from the Louisville and Owensboro,
Kentucky, sewage treatment plants which provide primary treat-
ment, contained average total suspended solids concentrations
of 122 mg/1 and 99 mg/1, respectively. Volatile solids were
6l and 85 percent of the total suspended solids. These con-
centrations were higher than the 15-20 mg/1 total suspended
solids usually found in effluents from plants providing secondary
treatment.
-------
STREAM BED ORGANISMS AND PLANKTON
The density and kinds of bottom-associated organisms
delineate the areas that vere polluted by waste discharges, and
the extent to which the "biological community has been altered.
Bottom organisms, because they lack extensive mobility, are
subjected to all environmental changes, and they react to these
changes with population changes in the bottom organism community.
This biological study of the Louisville reach included
a review of data from stations that were sampled in 191^ and
1915. The 191^ and 1915 results were expressed as numbers of
organisms per 200 ml of sediment sample. In these years, the
area upstream from Louisville (RM 600. O-l) had an average of
12 pollution-tolerant sludgeworms, 8 intermediately tolerant and
0 Intolerant organisms per 200 ml of sediment; in 1967, this same
area supported k- pollution-tolerant sludgeworms, 2 intermediately
tolerant midges and 1 Asiatic clam, and 0 intolerant organisms per
200 ml of sediment. Though slightly fewer organisms were present
in 1967* "the satisfactory water quality has remained relatively
unchanged.
Sediment samples upstream from Louisville contained O.l6
percent organic nitrogen and 3-50 percent organic carbon, indicating
-------
stabilized organic materials. The dissolved oxygen content of
the overlying waters in this reach was decreased by the oxygen
consumption of the sludge at a rate of 0.75 grams oxygen per day
o
per square meter (gm 02/day/m ). Because of the slack water
created by McAlpine Dam at Louisville, there was only a small
amount of dissolved oxygen added through reaeration.
Pollution abatement has not kept pace with the expansion
of Louisville, Kentucky, and New Albany, Indiana. In 191U-1915
the station downstream from these pollutional sources supported 20
pollution-tolerant organisms and 25 other organisms per 200 ml of
sediment; in 19&7* only pollution-tolerant sludgeworms numbering
16 per 200 ml were found, indicating that only the more pollution-
tolerant organisms now survive 6 miles downstream from the waste
sources.
Evidence of pollution downstream from Louisville and New
Albany is further indicated in Figure 9 by the decreased number of
kinds of organisms, from 8 upstream to 3 downstream from these
sources, and the increased number of tolerant sludgeworms from 38
to 76 per square foot downstream at RM 625.7 (0-^). The "line of
degradation" in Figure 9 depicts where the number of kinds was
-------
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-------
reduced to less than 5 and the number of pollution-tolerant
organisms vas increased to 75 or greater per square foot.
When either the number of pollution-tolerant organisms is greater,
or the number of kinds is less than this "line of degradation,"
organic pollution is moderate. When both the number of pollution-
tolerant organisms is greater than, and the number of kinds is less
than, the demarcation line, organic pollution is severe. Organic
pollution may be extremely severe when the number of tolerant
organisms is less than the demarcation line. This could occur
vhen the organic wastes are of sufficient strength to remove all
the dissolved oxygen; in the table this would be "heavy."
No. of Tolerant
Organisms No. of Kinds T ,. , ,
_ , j_i_ T • T^ n i .i.i T • Indicated
Exceeds the Line Drops Below the Line ^ . TT
- 1 _ Organic Wastes
Yes No Yes No _ ^
x x Light Load
x x Medium Load
x Heavy Load
Toxic Wastes
x Light
x Heavy
-------
1*8
These values are empirical for the Ohio River and were ob-
tained "by measuring the population of bottom animals in relatively
unpolluted areas upstream from Louisville and Owensboro, Kentucky,
versus values from polluted areas downstream from Louisville and
Brandenburg, Kentucky.
Deposition of sludges along the Kentucky shore extended for
7.5 miles downstream from the Louisville sewage treatment plant.
The sludge bank averaged 100 feet wide with an average depth of
6 inches (maximum depth, 15 Inches). Upstream from the sewage
treatment plant, oxygen demand rates were 0.7 compared to 6.1 gm
P
Og/day/m 0.5 miles downstream from the plant within the confines of
the sludge deposit. At EM 615 (2.5 miles downstream from the plant),
the rate had decreased to 5.3 and at EM 6l8 the rate was 3«0 gm Op/d-ay/
(Figure 10). Based on an integrated rate, the total oxygen consumption
for the entire sludge bank was k,267,600 gm 0^ per day (9,^00 pounds).
Downstream from McAlpine Dam at Louisville, swift currents restricted
the deposition of sludge to the Kentucky shore. The sludge at RM
6l8 (0-3) was 0.28 percent organic nitrogen, 5«1 percent organic
carbon, and 0.15 percent total phosphorus indicating that the
sewage solids in this sludge had been only partially
-------
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-------
oxidized and stabilized by the sewage treatment facilities. No
sludge was observed 6 miles downstream at RM 625.7 (0-4); however,
petroleum products were found in the bottom sediments. The low
value of 0.09 percent organic nitrogen, l.J percent organic carbon,
and 0.08 percent total phosphorus indicates the bottom materials
had been completely oxidized (Table 6).
Another adverse condition caused by nutrients in wastes
discharged from the Louisville area was the growth of slimes,
principally Sphaerotilus natans. These slime growths restrict
many stream bed organisms by covering their habitat and gillsj slimes
also lower the dissolved oxygen concentration in the overlying water.
Slimes covering rocks south of mid-channel at RM 615 had an oxygen
^
consumption rate of 12.1 gm Op/day/m . Sphaerotilus natans was also
found in the plankton samples from RM 6l8 (0-3). The slimes were
heaviest along the Kentucky bank downstream from the Louisville sewage
treatment plant. Chunks of "foam rubber" were observed floating on
the Ohio River for several miles downstream from the American Synthetic
Rubber Corporation (RM 613.6).
Plankton in the Ohio River at Louisville has been studied inter-
mittently during the past 50 years. Conclusions drawn from these
surveys indicate that the Ohio River possesses a plankton population
-------
TABLE 6
Chemical Composition of
Bottom Sediments, Ohio River
(Louisville, Ky., to Evansville, Ind.)
Station Number
0-1
0-2
0-3
0-1*
0-UA
0-5
0-6
0-7
0-8
0-9
0-10
0-11
0-12
0-13
0-lU
0-15
0-16
0-17
0-18
0-19
0-20
Percent
Phosphorus
0.11
-
0.15
0.08
0.11
0.08
0.03
0.09
-
0.07
0.07
-
0.07
0.01*
-
-
0.02
0.08
-
0.07
_
Percent Organic
Nitrogen
0.16
-
0.28
0.09
0.21
0.10
0.09
0.19
-
0.19
0.15
-
0.09
0.21
-
-
0.12
0.20
-
0.13
_
Percent
Carbon
3-5
-
5.1
1.3
1.5
1.2
2.1
3-3
-
2.9
3.8
-
1.9
2.9
-
-
2.7
3-2
-
2.8
-
-------
TABLE 6 Continued
Station Number
0-21
0-22
0-2J
0-24
0-25
0-26
0-27
0-28
0-29
0-30
Percent
Phosphorus
0.08
-
-
0.08
0.03
0.03
0.02
0.02
0.04
0.02
Percent Organic
Nitrogen
0.15
-
•»
0.14
0.01
0.09
0.04
0.00
0.13
0.00
Percent
Carbon
1.8
-
-
3.2
0.6
3-3
1.4
< 0.3
1.5
< 0.3
-------
50
different from that of its tributaries. An outstanding characteristic
of the Ohio River plankton was the presence of genera not prominent in
the plankton of its tributaries. It was also concluded that stable
flows in the fall permitted heavy plankton production, including the
fall "pulse" of diatoms. The numbers and concentrations of plankters
has remained relatively constant during the last 50 years. The slight
decrease in 19^7 was probably caused by natural fluctuations. The
following summary lists available data in comparable units.
Vol. and Counts of Algal Populations
Year
Sept. -Oct. 'Ik
Aug. -Oct. '39
Oct. '67
KM
Vol.
(ppm)
2.36
-
0.i«-5
598 (st. o-i)
Total Count
(No. per ml)
-
1,228
900
KM 619
Vol.
(ppm)
I.fc8
-
0.2
(St. 0-3)
Total Count
(No. per ml)
-
2,107
650
The plankton concentration in the Ohio River has remained
relatively low, thus minimizing this probable cause of taste and
odor problems in water supplies. Low plankton concentrations
have been observed for 50 years which predates much of the industrial
development. In Table 8 of "Aquatic Life Resources of the Ohio River"*
* Anon. 1962. Aquatic Life Resources of the Ohio River. Ohio River
Valley Water Sanitation Commission, Cincinnati, Ohio. 218 pp.
-------
51
a listing of the tastes and odors of Ohio River water at Louis-
ville, Kentucky, is presented for the period of October through
December 1958 (as reported by the Louisville Water Company). This
table lists the number of days that reported algal associated
tastes and odors occurred along with the relative abundance of
plankton. A summary from this table follows:
1. During October, algal associated odors were present
6l percent of the days with abundant diatoms, green
algae and blue-green algae.
2. During November, algal associated odors were present
93 percent of days with abundant diatoms and green
algae.
3. During December, algal associated odors were present
29 percent of the days with diatoms and green algae
being scarce.
This summary reveals a strong relationship between water supply
odors and the relative abundance of algae. The percentage of days
when algal associated odors were present in the Louisville water
supply decreased when algal abundance decreased.
The Analytical Quality Control Laboratory, Federal Water
Pollution Control Administration, examined 20 plankton samples
-------
collected at Louisville, Kentucky, during the period from
October 2, 1962 to August 19, 1963. The river contained from
100 to 12,900 algae per milliliter, with extreme variability
in numbers at all seasons. Algal nutrient data collected
during the 1967 survey shov that the major nutrient concen-
trations, inorganic nitrogen and soluble phosphorus, vere not
limiting. The samples averaged 1.6 mg/1 inorganic N and 0.06
mg/1 soluble P at Louisville. The assumption that these
nutrients, or turbidity, were not limiting is based on the
non-dependent relationship existing between algae and soluble
phosphorus, total phosphorus, inorganic nitrogen concentrations
and turbidity (Figures 11 to Ik). That is, the number of
plankton did not increase as the concentrations of nutrients
increased and turbidity decreased. During the October 196?
survey, the stations possessing higher nutrient concentrations
did not support a larger number of algae, likewise stations having
less turbidity did not support greater algal populations than the
more turbid stations.
The Salt River enters the Ohio River downstream from the
Louisville sewage treatment plant discharge at West Point, Kentucky
-------
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53
(RM 629.9 0-4A). The Salt River was extremely polluted; it
supported only 3 kinds of benthic organisms numbering 22U per
square foot of -which 209 were pollution-tolerant sludgevorms
(Table 7). Pollution of this tributary was also confirmed by
the visible presence of petroleum products.
Evidence of pollution was found downstream from Brandenburg,
Kentucky. As shown in Figure 9> the population of tolerant
bottom organisms increased from an average of 20 per square foot
upstream from Brandenburg (RM $f5.7 0-6) to an average of 9^
downstream from Brandenburg (RM 650.8 0-7)» The number of kinds
of organisms decreased from 7 to k at the respective stations.
This reach was polluted by the discharges from the Olin Mathieson
Chemical Corporation.
Upstream from the Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation (0-5),
cross sectional sampling produced 3 intermediately pollution tolerant
midges per square foot near the Indiana shore, 10 midges at mid-
channel, and 1 midge, 8 intermediately tolerant clams and 32 pollution
tolerant sludge-worms per square foot near the Kentucky shore. Two
miles downstream (0-6) from Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, cross
sactlcnal sampling showed an increase in pollution tolerant organisms
on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River. The population of bottom
-------
TABLE 7
BOTTOM ORGANISM
A. Oenaral Supnury
Ohio Rirtr - October 1967
number par Square Toot
Stl
0-2
0-2
0-3
0-3
0-3
0-k
0-k
0-k
0-5
0-5
0-5
0-6
0-6
0-6
0-7
0-7
0-7
0-8
0-8
0-9
0-9
0-9
0-10
O-1O
.4.. May- Caddis -
rtlon flies flies
Ind.
Ky.
Ind.
Mid.
Ky.
Ind.
Mid. . 10 5
Ky.
Ind.
Mid.
Ky.
Ind. - 12
Mid.
Ky.
Ind.
Mid .
Ky. - 2
Mid.
Ky.
Ind.
Mid. - 3
Ky.
Ind.
Ky.
Beetles Clams
3
-
2
-
-
2
2
5
-
-
7
3
-
5
-
2
-
2
-
3
1 l
-
2
Midges Planaxia Snails
2 - -
3
2 - -
...
...
-
2
71 2 -
3
17
2
3U - -
2 - -
19
-
6
22
73
10
8
1
5
_
17
Hen*- Sludge-
todes Leeches worms
17
5 20
11*
8
216
2
5
15
.
.
32
2
-
75
6
2
287
12
12U
3
5
7 97
10
a - ?6
Total
22
30
18
8
216
1*
2k
93
3
17
ki
51
2
99
6
10
311
87
13^
Ik
11
109
12
55
*Specific identifications are listed in Table 7- B.
Ind. - 100 ft. out from the Indiana bank of the Ohio River.
Mid. - Mid-channel.
Ky• - 100 ft. out from the Kentucky bank of the Ohio River.
-------
».
Oototatr
Orgwilfflu
/sn fnof.1
Bottom __„
Jtunber/s^ foot
Mayflies
Stenonsma
Tricorythodes
Hexiffenta.
Caenie
CaddiifXien
Hydropsyche
Pnychomyia
Cheumatopnyche
River Mtle 590 600.6 611.5 6l6 6S5.7 629.9 *33-5 6li5.7 650.6 663.5 667.3 £78.2 68?.9 689.8 700.9 703.f 710.5 71"'.?
Station
0.0 0-1
0-2A 0-3 0-14
0-5
0.6
0-B3
0-10 0-11 0-12 0-13 O-IU 0-15
0-1'
Cryptochlr
Procladlus
Polypedilum
Coelotanypus
CMronomua
Pentoneura
Harniachia
Spaniotoma
Tanypufi
Pseudochlronomus
Chaoborus
I
?
1
'-
I
16
1
-
-
1
2
-
'• » •
1
20 8
1
-
2
6
-
1
It
1
2
e
i
2 26
1 1
7
1
1
3 3
1
3
2 6
6
2
Corblcula
Sphaerlum
Medlonidus
BeetleB
Cylloepua
Snails
Umpet
Planar!an
Nematodes
leeches
Bloodworma
SludeeWQTTns
aU
6
38
76
Number of Klnda
Total Number per Square foot
8
61
3 10
78 32
k
99
8
29
Alttae - 'hi-nber per ml
Diatoms
Green Algae
Flaiellates
Blue-Greens
650
150
100
250 100 350 500
350 150 30 500
50 50 50
llOO
200 150
150 200
150
It50
50
250
200
150 600
^00 300
50 50
150 500
1.50 250
150
?00 100
250 f 00
50
Total
900
650 300 U30 1000
650
350
350 650
1.50
600 950
900
1.50 750
1. Average of 3 saaplee.
?. One Sample
3. Two SanpleR
-------
Ootobmr 1967
River Mile
Bottom Organisms
Number/so foot1 Station
Mayflies
Stenonema
Tricorythodes
Hexagenla
Caenis
Caddisflies
Hydropsyche
Psychorayia
Cheumat op syche
Potamyla
Mi_dges_
Cryptochironomus
Procladius
Polype dilum
Coelotanypus
Chironomus
Pentoneura
Harnischia
Spaniotoma
Tanypus
PS eud oc h i r onctnus
Chaoborus
Clams
Corbicula
Sphaerium
Medionidus
Beetles
Cylloepus
Snails
Limpet
Planarian
Nematodes
Leeches
Bloodworms
Chironomus sp.
Sludgeworms
Number of Kinds
Total Number per Square Foot
Algae - Ifumber per ml
Diatoms
Green Algae
Flagellates
Blue- Green
Total
723.5
0-17
1
1
2
5
1
2
1
1
T
„
-
_
-
-
55
9
69
150
1*50
50
-
650
7S6.>i
O-18
-
-
1
2
2
6
-
.
-
_
-
-
6
5
17
50
250
-
50
350
730
9-19
2
2
3
U
8
l
3
-
1*
-
.
-
-
8
9
35
150
150
-
-
300
736.6
0-20
i
1
1
2
1
6
r
-
_
-
«
-
.
3
7
15
250
300
100
-
650
71.1.3
0-21
1
1
1
26
2
3
10
5
2
1
1
-
f
-
-
17
13
71
g
i
i
758.8
0-283
1
T
1
1
1
-
_
-
_
-
-
20
5
2U
150
350
-
-
500
763
-
™
9
1
3
1
1
-
_
-
.
-
¥
U6
8
6U
too
300
100
-
800
769.8 778.1 781t 785.1 786.8 79:1.5
0-25. 0-26 0-27 G-288 0-29 0-30
j. - - - - .
.... 2 -
1*6 10 1 - 1 39
3 1 - - l
1 -
6
1 - - - 2 -
2 1 - - -
1
It 6 1 20 7 25
.
- - - -
1
------
- - - - 1 -
1 - - - -
2 2 - 7 135 1
565277
Jl* 19 5 27 151* 70
Uqp loo 350 50 550 300
500 250 350 - "tOO 350
100 - 25 50 50
-
900 U50 700 75 1000 700
1. Average of 3 samples.
2. One Sample
3. Two Samples
-------
animals near the Indiana bank was comprised of 3 clams and 2 sludge-
worms per square foot. Mid-channel sampling produced 2 midges per
square foot. Near the Kentucky shore, the influence of upstream
wastes was evidenced by a population of bottom organisms comprised
of 9 midges, k clams and 75 pollution tolerant sludgeworms per square
foot. Further settling of organic wa,stes downstream from Station 0-6
was indicated by the increases in phosphorus (150 percent), organic
nitrogen (100 percent), and carbon (50 percent) content of the bottom
muds. Five miles downstream sludgeworms numbered 887 per square foot
whereas, the population of bottom animals at mid-channel and near the
Indiana bank remained about the same as upstream. Downstream an addi-
tional 17 miles (0-9), the number of sludgeworms was larger than up-
stream from Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation indicating that the
organic wastes from Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation settle along
the Kentucky bank of the Ohio River for 2k miles.
The slight biological degradation at RM 703.6 (0-l4) indicated
by a decrease in the number of kinds of organisms (Figure 9) was
caused by a shifting sand stream bed.
-------
55
In the 120-mile reach of river extending from Dam kk to the
confluence with the Green River, no pollutional effects on the
bottom animals population were indicated. The population exhibited
fluctuations in both the number and kinds of bottom animals, but
all were within the variation caused by natural changes in habitat.
In the reach from Dam kk to the Green River, phytoplankton
numbers ranged from 200 to 1,500 algal cells per ml during the
1967 survey period. These values were similar to those observed
in October 1939. Plankton populations in both 1939 and 1967 wers
largely diatoms, principally Melosira.
The population of bottom organisms did not indicate the
presence of organic pollution in the Green River at RM j8k.3-0.2
(0-28). However, it supported only sparse populations of algae and
bottom organisms. The phytoplankton population numbered only 75 per
ml. Low algal nutrient concentrations accounted for this sparse
plankton population. The population of bottom organisms was comprised
of 20 Asiatic clams and 7 sludgeworms per square foot.
Biological degradation was observed in the Ohio River at RM 786.8
(0-29). This station is 1.5 miles downstream from the confluence of
-------
56
the Green River and 5 miles upstream from Evansville. In this
reach the bottom substrate was a mixture of silt, leaves and
sticks. The sediments contained 0.13 percent organic nitrogen
and 1.5 percent carbon, indicating stabilized conditions. The
population of bottom organisms was comprised of 88 percent
pollution-tolerant organisms and only 2 percent pollution-
sensitive organisms. The population of sludgeworms, numbering
135 per square foot was the largest average population found in
the Ohio River during the 1967 survey. Downstream at Evansville,
Indiana (RM 791-5 0-30), the population of bottom organisms was
more representative of clean water with 7 kinds of organisms of
which k~L per square foot were clean water mayflies and caddisflies.
FISH OFF-FIAVOR
Unpalatable flavors in many fishes of the Ohio River, during
the period from late summer to spring, discourage sport-fishing and
decrease fish marketability by commercial fishermen. Many commercial
fishermen are forced to fish part time or sell their catch live to
"pay lakes" at decreased prices. Fish markets once favoring Ohio
River catfish and drum no longer will sell fish taken from the Ohio
River. Many species of fish are deemed unsatisfactory for human
-------
57
consumption; to the sport fisherman, off-flavor of the sauger
and catfish are particularly offensive. Commercial fishermen
complain most about the condition of catfish, freshwater drum
and buffalo.
The commercial catch from the Kentucky portion of the Ohio
River in 1966 was estimated to be 1,091,14-57 pounds at a value of
$185,639. In 1959, the last year for which sport fishing data
are available, an estimated 287,000 sport fishermen harvested
522,50)4- pounds of fish as table food at a value of $130,626.
Previous studies of commercial fishermen complaints
that catfish from the Ohio River had an offensive taste and odor re-
vealed that the compounds producing the off-flavor were present in minute
concentrations. In addition, it was concluded that even with the
most sensitive analytical instruments available, the compounds could
not be detected in fish tissue.
After additional complaints were received by the Evansville,
Indiana field station of the Ohio Basin Region, a field reconnaissance
was conducted to discuss with commercial fishermen from Indiana and
Boyle, H. W. Report on Taste/Odor Contamination of Fish from
the Ohio River near Tell City, Indiana. Waste Identification
and Analysis Activities, FWPCA, U. S. Department of the
Interior, pg. 5- 1967«
-------
Kentucky the quality of catfish they were harvesting from the
river. It was concluded from these discussions that the most
problems occurred downstream from Louisville, Kentucky. In
discussions with commercial fishermen upstream from Louisville
and in the reach from Owensboro to Evansville, it was concluded
that the problem in these areas was intermittent and of short
duration.
It is evident from the fish flavor study that contaminated
fish were found to lose most of their off-flavor in seven days
and to be completely free of all off-flavors in fourteen. Even
with gas chromatography, the compounds could not be separated
from the natural occurring oils from the fish tissue.
The results of the May 1968 fish taste and odor investi-
gation revealed that a taste panel could differentiate between
fish exposed to wastes in the Ohio River as compared to fish held
upstream from McAlpine Dam. Fish held upstream from McAlpine Dam
did not acquire a significant off-flavor whereas fish placed down-
stream from RM 612 acquired a strong off-flavor.
In July the investigation was expanded to include the entire
Ohio River, and this study showed that both caged and native fish
from the West Virginia sites generally possessed a high degree of
-------
off-flavor vhereas fish from the Ohio River near Paducah and
Cairo were of fairly acceptable quality and fish from the
Louisville area and dams k& and 50 vere of borderline quality
(Figure 15). The remaining sites along the Kentucky borderline
vere of unacceptable quality.
Another investigation in October indicated that three
reaches of the Ohio River contain chemicals that produced
sufficient off-flavor in catfish to make them unacceptable.
These areas were Immediately downstream from Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania; from Parkersburg, West Virginia to Gallapolis,
Ohio; and from Louisville to Owensboro, Kentucky (Figure 15).
Because of the large quantities of slimes resulting from
the Louisville sewage treatment plant that clogged wire mesh
baskets and suffocated the fish, wooden boxes with large holes
were employed during this October study. Test fish were exposed
for both k& and 356 hours at 4 test sites. It was found that U8
hours was sufficient to produce the same degree of off-flavor as
336 hours.
The degree of off-flavor caused by individual effluents
is shown in Figure 15- For example, the effect of the Louisville
sewage treatment plant effluent (RM 6l2 0) can be ascertained
-------
LOUISVILL
O
O
<
UJ
1
1
c
u
(.
3
j
D
L
-
j
T
5
j
j
n
ff ^ t
Q 2
z tc
1- CK
<" 3
i I
n
j
i« = i
>- x ^
UJ ~ O 5
cc uj tr <
ACCEPTABLE
•J' >#• ^ J' ^
n n
5 2-
6117 6119 6121 6123 6125 6127 6129 6131 6133 613.5 6137 6139 6141 6143 6145 6147 6149
RIVER MILE
FIGURE 15. DEGREE OF OFF-FLAVOR OF CAGED CHANNEL CATFISH ,
OHIO RIVER , 1968 .
-------
60
from the lower portion of Figure 15. The values at the stations
just upstream (RM 612) and dovnstream (RM 612.1) decreased from
3-7 to 2.0. The fish held downstream from the Louisville sewage
treatment plant vere in the extreme off-flavor category. Pish
held in the eight mile reach (RM 612 - 620) were also adversely
affected by the discharge from E. I. duPont de Nemours and Co.,
American Synthetic Rubber Corp., and Stauffer Chemical Corp.
One anomaly was noted downstream from the Air Reduction Chemical
and Carbide Company where an apparent improvement in the flavor
of fish held at river mile 6lJ occurred. From observations, it
was apparent that materials contained in this effluent combined
with substances in the river to form a precipitate which subse-
quently settled. It is possible that some of the substances
producing the off-flavor in fish were likewise precipitated with-
in 500 ft. downstream from the effluent (RM 615).
Fish with unacceptable flavor occurred in the Ohio River.
The reaches of the Ohio River that produced fish with extreme off-
flavor were downstream from the Louisville sewage treatment plant
RM 612) to Dam k$ (RM 633) and downstream from the Olin Mathieson
Chemical Corporation to Owensboro, Ky.
The results from this intensive investigation and all other
exposure studies (Table 8) led to the following conclusions:
-------
Table 8-A
Taste Panel Evaluation of Ohio River Catfish—1968
Mean Flavor Scores
Scale: 7 highest; 1 lowest score possible
City
Pittsburgh
New Cumberland
Wheeling
New MartinsvUJe
Parkersburg
Pomery
Gallipolis
New Richmond
u.s. Louisville
d.s. Shell Oil
d.s. Nat'l Oil
d.s. American
Bituminous
Asphalt
d.s. Jeff.
Boat Wks.
Me Alp in Dam
Indiana Bank
May
River Desira-
Mile Flavor bility
6.2
54.4
84.3
127
185
254
276
450
597.8 4.6 3.2
602.7 5-3 3-4
602.8 3.4 2.3
602.9 4.3 3.4
604.2 3.2 2.3
606
608
July
October
Appear-
Odor
-
5-2
5.0
4.4
5-3
5-6
4.8
4.8
6.4
5-1
5.6
-
_
-
-
_
-
4.9
_
Flavor
-
4.0
3.4
2.6N
2.7
4. ON
2.1
3-3N
4.7
3- ON
4.3
-
_
-
-
_
-
4.4
-
ance
6
6
6
7
6
6
5
7
6
-
-
-
_
-
5
_
.2
.6
.6
.2
.3
.8
.5
.0
.3
A
Odor
4
6
5
6
4
5
4
5
5
-
-
-
_
-
4
_
.8
.2
• 3
.2
• 9
.2
.0
.0
.6
.9
Flavor
4
5
4
3
4
3
3
4
5
5
-
-
_
-
5
4
.0
.2
•7
• 3
.4
.8
A
• 7
.1
.2
.2
.0
Overall
4
5
4
5
4
4
5
4
4
4
-
-
_
-
4
2
.0
• 3
• 7
.5
.4
.2
.6
.9
.3
.0
.9
.9 2wk
Colgate-Palmolive
Indiana Bank
609.4 4.6 3.4
-
-
_
_
_
_
Socony Vacuum Oil
Indiana Bank
Public Service
Company
Louisville Ref.
Mead Container
6lO
611.8
611.9
-
-
_
-
_
_
5
3
5
.3
A
A
4
4
3
.7
.6
.1
3
5
3
5
2
3
•9
.0
.7
.1
.1
.8
4
4
3
3
2
2
.0
.0
.6
• 9
.4
.8
u. s. - upstream from
d. s. - downstream from
N - Native
-------
Table 8-A
(contd)
_ May July
City
Gulf Ref .
Louisville
STP
Aetna Oil
Standard Oil
Air Reduction
Chem. Carbide
Reynolds Met.
E. I. duPont
de Nemours
Rohm & Haas
Am. Synthetic
Rubber
Stauffer
Chemical
Ky. Asphalt
Indiana Bank
Dam U3
u.s. Olin
Mathieson
d.s. Olin
Mathieson
Dam kk
Leavenworth
1<5 Rome
kj Newburg
k& Henderson
50 Weston
51 Galcondia
River
Mile Flavor
612
612.1
612.2
612.5 2.k
613
613.1
613.2
613.3
613.6
61^.8 1.3
620.5
620.5
633
6^2 2.7
6kk 1.7
663
703
777
809
876.8
903
Desira- Appear-
bility Odor Flavor ance
k.2
5-5
>
1.8 - - k.l
5.5
6.5
2.1
-
k.6
1.00 -
5.5
5-8
k.2 3.14- 6.2
1.8 - - 4.8
5.0
1.2 - - k.2
k.2 2.6 6.0
5-6
k.2 3.6 6.1
5.0 k.6 6.k
5-9
5-1 k.l
October
Odor
3.2
2.7
-
3.^
5.6
2.3
2.1
-
1.3
-
2.7
5.3
U.3
2.5
l.k
k.l
3.8
6.0
5A
5.0
-
Flavor
2.8
k.6
2.0
2.1
2.2
5.0
1.9
2.5
3.3
1.9
-
1.3
1.7
-
2.0
2.6
k.2
l.k
2.3
3-9
3.9
k.2
1.3
2.2
3-2
3.6
6.2
5.3
5-1
-
Overall
2.6
3-3
1.6
1.5
2.1
3.2
2.6
1.9 2vk.
2 .k
2.1
-
1.3
1.5 2wk
-
2.1
1.6
M
3-6
2.1
3-9 2wk
2.9 2wk
3.0
1.1
1.6
3-8
3.8
6.1
5.3
k.9
-
u. s. - upstream from
d. s. - downstream fron
-------
City
52 Paducah
53 -
Salt River
Tatile 8-A
(contd)
May July October
River Desira- Appear-
Mile Flavor bility Odor Flavor ance Odor Flavor
938 - - 6.0 5.8 6.2 k.6 U.5
962.6 - - 6.1 5.6 5-9 5-7 5-7
629.8- 3.3 2.1
1.0
Overall
^•5
5-9
-
-------
Table 8-B
Taste Panel Evaluation of Ohio River Catfish—1969
Mean Flavor Scores
Tested by Oregon State University
Scale: 7 highest; 1 lowest score possible
July
City
Pittsburgh
New Cumberland
Wheeling
New Mart ins -
ville
Parkersburg
Belleville
Racine
Gallipolis
Huntington
Green-up
Meldahl
Markland
Me Alpine
Dam 43
Dam 44
Dam 45
Dam 47
River
Mile
6.2
54.4
84.3
127
185
203.9
23T.3
279.2
305
341.4
446.2
531-5
606
633
663
710
777-7
Flavor
3-7
4.3
4.3
4.7
4.1
4.7
3.8
4.0
4.3
5.4
4.3
4.5
4.6
4.6
-
5.2
Desira-
bility
2.5
3.0
3-0
3-6
3-0
3.6
2.5
2.8
3-0
3.0
2.7
2.8
3.0
3.0
-
3-6
October
Flavor
3.8
3-8
4.5
4.6
4.9
3.6
3-8
3.0
2.8
3-1
4.3
3-6
4.7
4.3
3.8
4.3
4.6
Desira-
bility
2.6
2.7
3.8
3.2
3-7
L'.4
2.3
1.9
22.0
2.0
3.0
2.1
3.4
3.0
2.4
3.0
3.3
-------
Table 8-B
(contd)
July October
City
Dam 48
Dam 51
Dam 52
Dam 53
River
Mile
809.0
903.1
938.9
962.6
Desira-
Plavor bility
-
-
.
-
Flavor
k.Q
3-8
5-0
5-5
Desira-
bility
3.8
2.6
3-7
^.3
Control 4.7 3-4 5-5
-------
61
1. Caged catfish held upstream from Louisville, Kentucky
(HM 597-9) and at McAlpine Dam (KM 606) were of
acceptable quality.
2. Fish held in cages downstream from Colgate-Palmolive,
Jeffersonville, Indiana; Louisville Refinery; Gulf
Refining Company; Aetna Oil; Standard Oil; Air Reduction
Chemical Carbide; Reynolds Metals Company; and Kentucky
Asphalt, all of Louisville, Kentucky, did not possess a
higher degree of off-flavor as compared to the fish up-
stream from each of these installations.
3« Fish held in cages downstream from Mead Container,
Louisville, Kentucky, had an average score of 2.9 which
indicates a very strong off-flavor. The quality of these
fish was l.U units lower than fish held upstream.
Toxicity killed sane of the caged catfish at a depth of
one foot, 300 feet downstream from the Mead Container
outfall.
4. Caged catfish held 800 feet downstream from the Louisville
sewage treatment plant were of unacceptable quality. The
fish scored 1.7 units lower than the fish held upstream from
the effluent. The compounds contained in the Louisville
-------
6€
sewage treatment plant effluent lowered the quality of
catfish more than any other pollutions! sources tested.
5. Wastes from the Reynolds Metals Company, Louisville,
Kentucky, killed half of the fish in cages at a depth
of one foot, hOO feet downstream, whereas fish held in
cages immediately upstream from the effluent were not
killed.
6. All fish held in cages for k-8 hours at a depth of one
foot were killed 1^00 feet downstream from the effluents
from E. I. duPont de Nemours and Company, Louisville,
Kentucky. Fish held in cages at other depths had a
stronger off-flavor than fish held in cages upstream
from the effluents. The off-flavor of the fish was quite
high in this area, thus making the numerical decrease in
quality minimal. Fish downstream from E. I. duPont de
Nemours and Company scored .J units poorer than fish up-
stream from the outfall.
7- The quality of caged catfish was further deteriorated 800
feet downstream from the American Synthetic Rubber Corporation,
Louisville, Kentucky. Fish held in cages here scored .25
units poorer than fish held immediately upstream from this
plant.
-------
63
There is the possibility that wastes from Rohm and
Haas Company and B. F. Goodrich contained substances
that could produce off-flavors in catfish. However,
their effluents could not be located and any effect
would be combined with that of American Synthetic
Rubber.
8. Four-hundred-fifty feet downstream from the Stauffer
Chemical Corporation, Louisville, Kentucky, effluent,
wastes were toxic at all depths during all surveys except
for one occasion; fish immediately upstream were
not killed. The fish that did survive were of the lowest
quality encountered in any of these surveys. The wastes
from the Stauffer Chemical Corporation lowered the quality
by .35 units. This value is also the minimum found because
of the accumulative effects from this and other upstream
wastes.
9. Wastes from the Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation,
Brandenburg, Kentucky, impart increased off-flavor to caged
catfish one mile downstream. Caged catfish upstream from
Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation had a moderate off-flavor,
but those exposed developed an extreme off-flavor—a change of
1.5 units. Caged fish were killed 500 feet downstream from
-------
6k
the Olin Mathieson discharge, whereas fish immediately
upstream survived. Twenty miles downstream the quality
of caged catfish was still less than that of test fish
upstream from Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation.
10. Wastes from Mead Container; Louisville sewage treatment
plant; E. I. duPont de Nemours and Company; American
Synthetic Rubber Corporation; Stauffer Chemical Company;
and Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation contained
sufficient taste producing substances to cause catfish
to be of unacceptable quality (unpalatable) from Louis-
ville to Evansville, a distance of 190 miles, in July,
and from Louisville to Owensboro, a distance of 150 miles,
in October.
-------
APPENDICES
-------
APPENDIX A
INDIANA WATER QUALITY STANDARDS
Pursuant to due publication of notice and public hearing
required by the provisions of the Acts of 19*1-5, Chapter 120, as
found in Burns' IND. STAT. ANN., (1961 Repl.), Section 60-1501,
et seq., the Stream Pollution Control Board of the State of
Indiana at a special meeting held at 1530 West Michigan Street,
Indianapolis, Indiana, on June 5> 19^7, at which meeting a quorum
of members vas present, as provided by the Acts of 19^3, Chapter
21k, as amended by Acts of 19^5, Chapter 132, Section 2, as found
in Burns' Indiana Statutes, 1961 replacement 68-519, unanimously
adopted the following nev rules:
REGULATION SPC IE
Water Quality Standards for Waters of Indiana
MINIMUM CONDITION APPLICABLE TO
ALL WATERS AT ALL PLACES AND AT ALL TIMES
1. Free from substances attributable to municipal, industrial,
agricultural or other discharges that will settle to form
putrescent or otherwise objectionable deposits.
?. Free *rom floating debris, oil, scrim end other floating
materials attributable to municipal, industrial, agric-ulturpl
or other discharges in amounts sufficient to be unsightly or
deleterious.
A-l
-------
3. Free from materials attributable to municipal, industrial,
agricultural or other discharges producing color, odor or
other conditions in such degree as to create a nuisance.
k. Free from substances attributable to municipal, industrial,
agricultural or other discharges in concentrations or
combinations which are toxic or harmful to human, animal,
plant or aquatic life.
STREAM- Q U A L I T V CRITERIA
FOR PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY AFP FOOD P30CE5SI1KV INDUSTRY
The following criteria are for evaluation of strecm quality
at the point at which water is withdrawn for treatment ?nd distri-
bution as a potable supply:
1. Bacteria: Coliform group not to exceed 5.>000 per 100 ml as a
monthly-average value (either MPN or MF count); nor exceed this
number in more than 20 percent of the samples examined during
any month; nor exceed 20,000 per 100 ml in more than five
percent of such samples.
2. Threshold-odor number; T"ste and odor producing substances,
other than naturally occurring, shall not interfere with the
production of a finished water by conventional treatment con-
sisting of coagulation, sedimentation, filtration and chlorin-
ation. The threshold odor number of the finished water must be
three or less.
A-2
-------
3. Dissolved solids; Other than from naturally occurring
sources not to exceed 500 mg/1 as a monthly-average value,
nor exceed 750 mg/1 at any time. Values of specific con-
ductance of 800 and 1,200 micromhos/cm (at 25°C.) may be
considered equivalent to dissolved-solids concentrations
of 500 and T50 mg/1.
U. Radioactive substances; Gross beta activity (in the known
absence of Strontium-90 and alpha emitters) not to exceed
1,000 picocuries per liter at any time.
5. Chemical constituents: Fot to exceed the following specified
concentrations at any time:
Constituent Concentration (mg/l)
Arsenic
Barium
Cadmium
Chromium
(hexeivalent)
Cyanide
Fluoride
Lead
Selenium
Silver
FOR INDUSTRIAL WATER SUPPLY
0.05
1.0
0.01
0.05
0.025
1.0
0.05
0.01
0.05
The following criteria are applicable to stream water at
the point at which the water is withdrawn for use (either with
or without treatment) for industrial cooling and processing:
A-3
-------
1. Dissolved oxygen; Not less than 2.0 mg/1 as a daily-average
value, nor less than 1.0 mg/1 et any time.
2. pH: Not less than 5«0 nor greater than 9-0 at any time.
3. Temperature; Not to exceed 95°F. at any time.
';. Dissolved solids; Other than from naturally occurring sources
not to exceed 750 mg/1 as a monthly-average value, nor exceed
1,000 mg/1 at any time. Values of specific conductance of
1,200 and 1,600 micromhos/cm (at 25 C.) maybe considered
equivalent to dissolved solids concentrations of 750 and
1,000 mg/1.
FOR AQUATIC LIFE
The following criteria are for evaluation of conditions
for the maintenance of a well balanced, warm-water fish population.
They are applicable at any point in the stream except for areas
immediately adjacent to outfalls. In such areas cognizance will
"be given to opportunities for the admixture of waste effluents
with river water.
1. Dissolved oxygen: Not less than 5-0 mg/1 during at least 16
hours of any 2l}.-hour period, nor less than 3-0 mg/1 at any time.
2. pH; No values below 6.0 nor above 9.0 and daily-averare (or
median) values preferably between 6.5 and 8.5.
-------
3. Temperature; Not to exceed 93°P. at any time during the
months of April through November, and not to exceed 60°F.
at any time during the months of December through March.
^. Toxic substances: Not to exceed one-tenth of the 96-hour
median tolerance limit obtained from continuous flow bio-
assays vhere the dilution water and toxicant are continuously
renewed, except that other application factors may be used
in specific cases when justified on the basis of available
evidence and approved by the appropriate regulatory agencies.
5. Taste and Odor: There shall be no substances which impart
unpalatable flavor to food fish, or result in noticeable of-
fensive odors in the vicinity of the water.
6. Trout streams; In addition, the following criteria are
applicable to those vaters designated for put-and-take trout
fishing:
(a) Dissolved oxygen; Not less than 6.0 mg/1 as a daily-
average value, nor less than .';-.0 mg/1 at any time.
(b) £H: Not less than 6.5 nor greater than 8.5 at any time.
(c) Temperature; Not to exceed 65°P. (However, slightly
higher temperatures may be tolerated with higher dissolved
oxygen content than specified.
A-5
-------
FOR RECREATION
The following criteria are for evaluation of conditions
at any point in waters designated to be used for recreational
purposes:
1. Whole "body contact: Coliform group not to exceed 1,000
per 100 ml as a monthly-average value (either MPN or KF
count) during any month of the recreational season; nor
exceed this number in more than 20 percent of the samples
examined during any month of the recreational season; nor
exceed 2,kQQ per 100 ml (either MPN or MP count) on any
day during the recreational season. The months of April
through October, inclusive, are designated as the recre-
ational season.
2. Partial body contact; Coliform group not to exceed 5,000
per 100 ml as a monthly-average valve (either MPN or MF
count); nor exceed this number in more than 20 percent of
the samples examined during any month; nor exceed 20,000
per 100 ml in more than five percent of such samples.
FOR AGRICULTURAL OR STOCK WATERIFC-
Criteria are the same as those shown for minimum conditions
applicable to all waters at all places and at all times.
A-6
-------
Note 1: Unless otherwise specified, the term average as
used herein means an arithmetical average.
Note 2: The analytical procedures ised as methods of
analyses to determine the chemical, bacteriological,
biological, and radiological quality of waters
sampled shall "be in accordance with the latest
edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of
Water and Wastewater or other rrcthods approved by
the Indiana Stream Pollution Control Board and the
Federal Water Pollution Control Administration.
A-T
-------
APPENDIX B
KEMTUCTCr WATER QUALITY STANDARDS
YATER QUALITY STAEBAREG FCR INTERSTATE WATERS
Relates to T^RS 22U.010 to 22^.210 and 22k.990
Pursuant to the authority vested in the Water Pollution
Control Commission b£ ^§ 22ti.Qi-'-0, the following regulation is
adopted:
Section 1. MINIMUM CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL IHTERST/VEB
WATERS.
The following minimum conditions shall apply at all places and
at all times to the interstate rivers within the jurisdiction of
the Commonwealth of Kentucky which are as follows: The Mississippi,
the Ohio, the Tennessee, the Cumberland (both lower and upper por-
tions) and the Big Sandy (including the Tug and Levisa Forks):
(l) Free from substances attributable to municipal, industrial
or other discharges or agricultural practices that will
settle to form putrescent or otherwise objectionable
sludge deposits.
(2) Free from floating debris, oil, scum and other floating
materials attributable to municipal, industrial or other
discharges or agricultural practices in amounts sufficient
to be unsightly or deleterious.
B-l
-------
(j) Free tram, materials attributable to municipal, industrial
or other discharges or agricultural practices producing
color, odor or other conditions in such degree as to
create a nuisance.
(U) Free from substances attribxitable to municipal, industrial
or other discharges or agricultural practices in concen-
trations or combinations which are toxic or harmful to
human, animal, plant or aquatic life.
Section 2. STREAM USE CLASSIFICATION.
In addition to the minimum conditions set forth in Section 1,
the following specific stream use classifications shall govern where
applicable.
(l) Public Water Supply and Food Processing Industries
The following criteria are applicable to water at the point at
which water is withdrawn for use for a public vater supply or by a
food processing industry:
(a) Bacteria: Coliform group not to exceed 5,000 per 100 ml
as a monthly arithmetical average value (either MPN or MF
count); nor exceed this nunber in more than 20 percent of
the samples examined during any month; nor exceed 20,000
per 100 ml in more than five percent of such samples.
B-2
-------
(b) Threshold-odor number; After normal treatment to "be
less than 3> generally the value will "be less than 2k
in the raw water.
(c) Dissolved solids; Not to exceed 500 mg/1 as a monthly
average value, nor exceed 750 mg/1 at any time [Values
of specific conductance of 800 and 1,200 micromhos/cm
(at 25 C.) may "be considered equivalent to dissolved
solids concentrations of 500 and 750 mg/1. ]
(d) Radioactive Substances: Gross "beta activity not to ex-
ceed 1,000 picocuries per liter,, (pCi/l), nor shall
activity from dissolved Strontium 90 exceed 10 pCi/1,
nor sh?.ll activity from dissolved alpha emitters exceed
3 pCi/1.
(e) Chemical constituents: Tot to exceed the -fcllowine speci-
fied concentrations at any time:
Constituents Concentrat ionfag/l)
arsenic 0.05
Barium 1.0
Cadmitm 0.01
Chromium 0.05
(hexavalent)
Cyanide 0.0?5
Fluoride 1.0
Lead 0.05
Selenium 0.01
Silver 0.05
B-3
-------
(2) Industrial Water Supply
The following criteria are applicable to water at the point
at which water is withdrawn for use, either with or without
treatment, for industrial cooling and processing (other than
food processing):
(a) pH; Not less than 5-0 nor greater than 9^0 at any
time.
(b) Temperature; Not to exceed 95°F. at any time.
(c) Dissolved Solids: Not to exceed 750 mg/1 as a monthly
average value, nor exceed 1,000 mg/1 at any tine.
[ Values of specific conductance of 1,200 and 1,600
micromhos/cm (at 25 C.) nay "be considered equivalent
to dissolved-solids concentrations of 750 and 1,000 rogr/1.]
(3) Aquatic life
The following criteria are for evaluation of conditions for t,]-e
maintenance of well balanced, indigenous fish populations. These
criteria shall be applicable to all waters here considered except
for areas immediately adjacent to outfalls. Tn such areas cog-
nizance will be giver by the Fater Pollution Control Commission
to opportunities for the admixture of the effluents from such out-
falls with the waters of the River.
B-U
-------
(a) Dissolved oxygen; Not less than 5-0 mg/1 during at
least 16 hours of any 2U-hour period, nor less than
3.0 rag/1 at any time.
(b) pE; No values below 5-0 nor above 9-0 and preferably
between 6.5 and 8.5.
(c) Temperature; Not to exceed 93°F. at any time during
the months of May through November, and not to exceed
73 F. at any time during the months of December through
April.
(d) Toxic substances; Not to exceed one-tenth of the t8-
hour median tolerance limit, except that other limiting
concentrations may be used in specific cases when justi-
fied on the basis of available evidence and approved by
the Water Pollution Control Commission.
(k) Recreation
The following criterion is for evaluation of conditions at any
point in waters designated by the Water Pollution Control Commission
to be used for recreational purposes, including but not limited to
such water-contact activities as swimming and water skiing:
Bacteria; Coliform group not to exceed 1,000 per 100
ml as a monthly arithmetical average value (either !!PN
B-5
-------
or MF count); nor exceed this number in more than
20 percent of the samples examined during any month;
nor exceed 2,'4-00 per 100 ml (either MPN or MF count)
on any day.
(5) Agricultural
No criteria in addition to the minimum conditions emimerated
in Section I are proposed for the evaluation of stream quality at
the point at which water is withdrawn for agricultural and stock
watering use.
B-6
-------
APPENDIX C
LATERAL MIXING IN THE OHIO RIVER
DOWSTREAM FROM LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY
Differences between dissolved oxygen concentrations for quarter
point samples and the occurrence of a 7-1/2 mile-long sludge bank down-
stream from the Louisville, Kentucky sewage treatment plant outfall,
indicated that lateral mixing (i.e. perpendicular to the direction of
t
water flow) is quite limited in the Ohio River during low flow periods.
Calculation of lateral mixing concentration profiles has been performed
using a theoretical equation.
The dispersion equation used for this analysis was developed by
Glover . The Equation is: ,, Q
q exp(- !»- E x)
c = y (1)
Q IT- i _L i- i- —-- - -ir —
ID (TV E^ U x)1/2
J
where: c = concentration of conservative substance.
q.
q = mass introduction rate of conservative substance.
U = stream velocity.
y = distance from bank perpendicular to the direction
of flow.
x = distance downstream from po^'nt of introduction of
conservative substance.
E = lateral dispersion rate coefficient.
\f
D = mean stream depth.
C-l
-------
Equation (l) was derived for streams of unlimited width but
can be adopted to natural streams. It can be applied directly until
the quantity
B
- =2 (2)
«y
where: t = time of flow downstream.
B = stream width.
E - lateral dispersion rate.
v
When this condition occurs, the dispersing substance has been trans-
ported from one bank to the opposite bank and the equation no longer
applies directly. To account for boundary conditions downstream from
this point, Glover reommends the "method of images" which he des-
cribes fully.
In order to use Equation (l), it is necessary to evaluate the
necessary coefficients. The lateral dispersion coefficient E is the
(2 3)
most difficult to evaluate. Fischer^ recommended the use of an
equation developed by Elder to evaluate E . This equation is:
•J
E = 0.23 D U* (3)
i7
where U* = shear velocity.
M
In a later article, Fischer reported that for the Missouri
River a coefficient of 0.6 rather than 0.23 in Equation (2) better fit
the observed data. This he partially attributed to the hydraulic effects
of river bends.
C-2
-------
The sheer velocity (U ) in Equation (3) can be estimated by the
equation:
**" /a2 co
where /^ = fluid sheer stress at a boundary.
= fluid density.
g = acceleration of gravity.
C,= Chezy friction factor.
U = mean velocity.
The Ohio River has a much lower velocity than the Missouri River
at low flows making the effects of bends not nearly as significant.
To determine the effects of river bends and to observe the sensi-
tivity of Equation (l) to changes in E , calculations were performed
using values of 0.23, 0.46 and 0.60 in Equation (2).
An example of the computations for lateral mixing in the Ohio River
downstream from Louisville, Kentucky, follows:
Average width = 1600 ft.
Average depth = 17.5 ft.
o
Cross Sectional Area = 26,000 ft.
Velocity =1.8 fps.
Hydraulic slope = 0.0000224 ft./ft.
(3.1 ft. drop in 26.2 miles - C.E. gage records
for October 2 - 14, 1968 survey period.)
Flow = U6?00 cfs
C-3
-------
20
15
o
Csl
ID
O
QC.
10
I
24 6 8 10 12
HORIZONTAL DISTANCE, 100 FT.
14
10
Of.
»—
2
uu
CJ
Z
O
o
10°
0 g
o
-------
, /
n = Q A R2/3 S1/2
(28,000)(17.5)2/3 (0.0000224)1/2
n = 0.0284 -
"S-85^
n
i - 15
TT* _ 1*8
_u_ = __
j£ =0.23 DU* = 0.^79 FtP/sec
j^; = 0.^6 DU* 0.958 Ft2/sec
E 0.60 DU 1.250 Fty/sec
Computations were performed with an assumed loading of 100 Ibs./sec
of a conservative substance entering at River Mile 612.0 (the outfall
location of the Louisville Sewage Treatment Plant). If this loading
were immediately diluted by the entire river flow, the average concentra-
tion would be 3^.3 rog/1. All calculated concentrations were then ex-
pressed as a ratio to this average (Figure C-l).
The peak concentration of the constituent decreases as the waste
moves downstream and is dispersed toward the opposite river bank. Assum-
ing that the lateral dispersion rate in the Ohio is approximated by
o
E = 0.958 Ft /sec, the peak concentration near the bank would still be
i7
-------
3.5 times greater than the mean concentration 20 miles down-
atream; the concentration out 1200 feet (the 3 A point) would
only be 0.6 percent of the mean.
Although these curves are theoretical and neglect density
currents, wind mixing and the mixing caused by the passage of
tows, the general form of the curves simulates the actual.
C-5
-------
BIBLIOGRAPHY
^ ' Glover, R.E., "Dispersion of Dissolved or Suspended Materials
in Flowing Streams," U.S. Geological Survey Professional
Paper ^33-B, 196U.
Fischer, H. B., "Dispersion Predictions in Natural Streams,"
J.S.E.D., A.S.C.E., Vol. 9k, Ho. 3.A.5, October 1968.
Fischer, H. B., "The Mechanics of Dispersion in Natural Streams,"
J. Hyd. Div., A.S.C.E., Vol. 93, No. Hy-6, November 1967.
Fischer, H. B., "The Effect of Bends on Dispersion in Streams,"
Water Resources Res., Vol. 5, No. g, April 1969.
C-6
-------
APPENDIX D
TIMB-OF-WATER TRAVEL
Calculation of the time-of-water travel from Louisville,
Kentucky, to Evansville, Indiana, was accomplished using the volume-
displacement method. Cross-section depths were taken from maps
furnished "by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. The width distance
"between depth readings were measured manually from the charts with
a scale. A cross-section interval of one-half mile was used.
The method of calculation for the cross-section area assumed
straight lines existed "between each "bottom point. This assumption
allows the cross-section to "be dissected into a series of trapezoids.
The total area was calculated as the sum of these trapezoids. The
water volume "between stations was calculated "by averaging the end
areas and multiplying "by the one-half mile distance "between cross-
sections. The time-of-travel through each one-half mile segment is
the segment volume divided by the flow rate.
The accuracy of time-of-travel estimates by this method depends
on how close actual conditions meet the necessary assumptions ."or the
calculations. The primary assumptions are listed below:
1. The straight line assumed "between depth points repre-
sents a good average of actual conditions.
2. The cross-sections are relatively uniform "between stations
so that an average end-area calculation method is adequate.
-------
3. Calculations used an average pool elevation. Variations
from this assumption must be small (slope of the hydraulic
gradeline must be small).
U. Longitudinal dispersion is not significant; plug flow
conditions are approached.
These assumptions are reasonably well met in the Ohio River at
lav? flow conditions. Time-of-travel predicted within a given pool
should be reasonably accurate. Estimates for the total elapsed time
for the 190-mile reach would not be as accurate because of longitudincl
dispersion but should yield a good approximation.
The hydraulics of the Ohio River are regulated to a large extent
by the operation of the existing navigation dams. The reach examined
extends from McAlpine Dam to the Evartsville water works. There are
five dams in this reach with the most downstream stations affected by a
sixth. Depending on the wicket settings at each dam, a flow range can
occur for an average pool elevation. Thus, no stable stage-discharge
relationship exists on the Ohio River at controlled, lent flows. To
account for this phenomena, travel times were calculated for 5 flow con-
ditions for h separate river stages for each pool. The time-of-travel
through each pool is presented as U curves representing the h river stages
assumed which were normal pool, 2, k and 8-feet above normal pool.
(Figures D-l and D-2.)
-------
This presentation method allows determination of time-of-
travel for a variety of river conditions "by interpolation using
these curves.
For the October 2 - Ik, 1967 survey period, time-of-travel
was calculated for the average stage and flow condition which pre-
vailed. A cumulative travel tirae-river mile diagram was prepared
for this calculation (Figure D-2).
Flow and stages used in this analysis are presented in Table D-L
The travel time downstream from the Louisville STP are presented in
the report text.
-------
Table D-l
OHIO RIVER FLOW
October 2-13, 1967
Date
Oct. 67
2
3
k
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Mean
cfs/sg mi
Louisville, Ky.
Corps of
Engineers
CFS
68,000
3^,000
2U,800
U5,800
35,500
^6,000
U5,100
1^,100
3^, 100
31,^00
25,100
32,000
38,800
.h26
Geological
Survey
CPS
80,300
U8,UOO
^3,700
U7,200
U2,^00
^8,700
U8,200
!;5,900
lH, 900
38,000
3U,900
3H,8oo
V6,200
0.507
Weather
Bureau
CPS
65, ceo
37,000
U5,ooo
50,000
Uo,ooo
55,000
52,000
^5,000
';0,000
35,000
30,000
27,000
i^Mt
O.KT<
Bvansville, Ind.
Corps of
Engineers
CFS
88,UOO
88,200
95,100
62,800
80,^00
'67,600
63,200
65,700
51,200
5U,?-00
kJjkQQ
^3,500
67,100
0.627
USGS
rating curve
CFS
5^,600
59,100
U6,850
^'-2,600
'19,100
M;,250
lj-9,000
U8,6oo
^1,500
in,iioo
36,000
35,750
^5,980
O.JjJO
-------
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o
-------
APPENDIX E
OCTOBER 1968 SURVEY
The Evansville, Indiana, Field Station of the Ohio River
Basin Project conducted an intensive water quality survey of the
Ohio River in the reach from Owensboro, Kentucky to Evansville,
Indiana, during the period October 10-17, 1968. Ten river stations
were sampled including a station on the Green River (Table E-l).
Seven of the ten stations were the same as those used in this reach
during the October 1967 survey. Data and descriptions of the survey
are available in work Document E-7 available in the Evansville office.
River flows for the sampling dayn were estimated by the Wea-
ther Bureau in the Daily River Forecast and averaged 18,300 cfs at
Louisville and 21,700 cfs at Evansville.
o
Stream temperatures averaged approximately 21 C. at Evansville
and 20P C. at Owensboro.
SAMPLING
The sampling routine followed during the survey has been des-
cribed in an open file report of the field station and is essentially
reproduced here. Field data axe also contained in this open file
report.
Samples from each station were collected each day for a six-day
sampling period. The direction of sample collection was alternated
between upstream and downstream throughout the survey to obtain samples
E-l
-------
from each station at various tiraps ^Iwoughout the day. Samples
were taken on November 10 and 11, 1968 and November I** to IT, 1968.
At mile points 779 <1 and 786.8, the river was sampled at three
points per cross-section during the entire survey. Mile point 77°-0
was sampled at three points pe,r cross-section the last three sampling
days. Mile point 759•5 and 763.2 was sampled at three points per
cross*section the first three days of the survey. The last three
days these two mile points were sampled at five points per cross-
section. Mile point 752.8 was three point cross-sectioned three
times in the survey. The purpose of the cross-sectioning was to see
what degree of lateral mixing was occurring, A three point cross-
section at a depth of five feet, for comparison with surface samples,
was collected three times at Mile point 759•5 to determine if stratifi-
cation occurred. Samples at other stations were collected from mid-
channel.
Effluent samples from the Qwensboro Sewage Treatment Plant and
an Qwensboro industrial outfall were also collected.
ANALYSES PERFORMED
" i ; '" ' '
Of the several analyses performed during the field stations'
survey, only the coliform bacteria results will be included here for
analyses. These results will be analyzed to show the effects of
E-2
-------
location and number of sample points for a cross-section. The
variation in coliform bacteria densities over the cross-section
demonstrates the difficulty in obtaining representative samples in
a wide, slow-moving stream such as the Ohio River.
RESUME
Initial effort was made to mathematically composite data
from three points per station and five points per station samples
to obtain a single, representative density for each station. This
was accomplished by arithmetically averaging the data for each day
at a station. The daily average values were then geometrically
averaged for each station in accordance with a logarithmic normal
distribution. The results of this analysis (Table E-l and Figure E-3)
indicated that densities in the river were greater than could be
accounted for by the sewage plant discharge and that perhaps bacterial
growth occurred.
Further analysis was directed toward obtaining a more repre-
sentative average of coliform densities over a cross-sectipn. The
first three stations downstream from the Owensboro Sewage Treatment
Plant were selected for this special analysis (Stations 0-759.5, 0-763.2
and 0-770.0). The first two stations were sampled at five points over
-------
OJ
ITN
•>
» •>
H H
R fc
OJ H
OJ
§
•\
ir\
H
•s ' •» * «s •»
t- ON VO t- H
J- CO t— N"N ON
OJ CM OJ OJ
s s § § i
OJ
OJ
CO
ITN
IA
0
-------
000,000
I 00;000
COMPARISON OF BACTERIAL DATA COMPOSITING
OHIO
RIVER: OUENSBORO; KY.- EVANSVILLE; INO
OCTOBER;1968
•MATH COMf
TOTAL COLIFORMS
o
o
10;000
ex.
o
-------
the cross-section for the final three survey days. Three day geo-
metric means were obtained for each of the five cross-section points
•which were then plotted (Figure E-2). The quarter-point samples of
Station 0-770.0 were likewise averaged and plotted. To obtain weighted
mean densities, the stream cross-section area at each station was
plotted and the area represented by each of the cross-section sample
points were allocated. The cross section area representing each
sampling point was determined with a planimeter.
The mean coliform density for each cross sectional area
segment was obtained by finding the area under the coliform curve
corresponding to and divided by the distance shown on the cross-
sectional area drawing. The coliform means for the entire cross-
section were determined by weighting the coliform density in each seg-
ment by the area of flow.
Analysis by this method at each of the three stations yielded
mean total coliform densities for the final three sampling days of
225,500 MP/100 ml at Station 0-759-5, 119,700 MF/100 ml at Station 0-
763,2 and 107,000 MF/100 ml at Station 0-770.0. A similar analysis was
conducted for the fecal coliforms with similar results. Mean densities
were respectively 8,5^0 MF/100 ml, 2,960 MF/100 ml and 2,990 MF/100 ml.
The curves plotted through these results indicate a decreasing
trend rather than the increasing one determined by the mathematical
averaging procedure (Figure E-l). The method using the cross-sectional
E-U
-------
770
— >-
o *
•a.
at -
o o
M >- O
I i- en
uj _ 1/1 f9
** ^ ^O
UJ 2 S OT
ff tjj ~T
=> o o ^
8*
_ a:
o o
753.2
759.5
OUENSBORO
SEUAGE
TREAlflENT
PLANT
DISCHARGE
757.3
I DAM #i6
.000/000
100.000
10.000
o
o
1.000,000
i00;ooo ri
10.000
A.000.000
I ,000,000
100,000
10,000
-------
areas is the more exact method and the decreasing trend is probably
the actual one occurring.
The major difficulty in applying this analysis method is de-
termining the densities from the stream banks to the first sampling
points. Definition of this curve section becomes more critical to
the analysis as the vaste source is approached because of the greater
differences in bacterial densities over the section.
Examination of the cross-section coliform density curves for
Station 0-759*5 (Figure •5-2) which is located only slightly more than
one mile downstream from the Owensboro sewage treatment plant dis-
charge illustrates this problem. The curve was first plotted on semi-
log paper with its compressed scale. The densities thus determined
were transferred to arithmetic paper so that the area could bo deter-
mired. Although this method seemed the most reasonable approach, the
derived average would depend upon the judgment of the analyst in defining
the original ciirve.
One pertinent result of this analysis is the demonstration of
the difficulty in obtaining truly representative samples in rivers
close to sources of wastes before lateral mixing occurs. Use of the
quarter-point sample locations (three points) at Station 0-759-5 would
result in missing the pollution load almost entirely. However, as
lateral dispersion mixes the wastes over the entire cross-section in
-------
downstream reaches, the curves determined by either of the two
analysis methods would approach one another, yielding equivalent
results.
The results of this study clarify the bacterial contamination
pattern in the reach between Owensboro and Bvansville. These data
indicate that Owensboro is a primary source of the high bacterial
densities occurring at the Evansville Water Works intake.
E-6
-------
APPENDIX F
Ohio Pxiver: Louisville, Kentucky-Evansville, Indiana
STATION LOCATION
RIVER
DESIGNATION MILE
DESCRIPTION
0-1
0-2
0-3
0-1*A
0-5
0-6
0-7
600.6 Near the Louisville Water Company municipal
Intake.
601-617 Louisville, Kentucky-New Albany, Indiana
metropolitan area.
607 McAlpine Dam locks.
612.0 Louisville Sewage Treatment Plant (Ft. South-
worth Sewage Treatment Plant).
6l8.0 1.2 miles downstream from the Louisville Gas
and Electric Company generating plant.
625.7 Near Fishtown light.
629.9-0.2 Mouth of Salt River.
630 West Point, Kentucky.
633.2 Dam No. 1*3.
633.5 0.3 miles downstream from Dam No. 1*3.
637.7 Rock Haven, Kentucky.
61*3.1* Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation plant.
61*5.7 Buoy one-half mile upstream from Flippens Run.
61*6 Brandenburg, Kentucky.
61*8 Mauckport, Indiana.
650.8 Near Haunted Hollow Light.
F-l
-------
Ohio River: Louisville, Kentucky-Evansville, Indiana
STATION LOCATION
DESIGNATION
0-8
0-9
0-10
0-11
0-12
0-13
RIVER
MILE
656
663.2
663.?
66k
667.3
677
678.2
679
682.9
686
689.8
692
700.9
DESCRIPTION
New Amsterdam, Indiana.
Dam No. kk.
0.3 miles downstream from Dam No. kk
Leavenworth, Indiana.
Near Fredonia Light.
Wolf Creek, Kentucky.
Near Morrows Daymark-Alton Bar Upper Daymark.
Alton, Indiana
Near Rono Light.
Concordia, Kentucky
Near Flint Island Light
Derby, Indiana.
Upstream from Rome, Indiana-Stephensport,
Kentucky.
701 Rome, Indiana
Stephensport, Kentucky.
703.0 Dam No. ^5.
,0-1^ 703.6 0.6 miles downstream from Dam No. ^5.
0-15 710.5 One-half mile upstream from Cloverport, Kentucky.
711 Cloverport, Kentucky.
P-2
-------
Ohio River: Louisville, Kent uclsy-Evans ville, Indiana
STATION LOCATION
DESIGNATION
0-16
0-17
0-18
0-19
0-20
0-21
0-22
0-23
0-2^
RIVER
MILE
717.2
720.8
723.5
724
726.4
727
730.0
73X
736.6
738
7M.3
742
747
752.8
753-759
757.3
758.3
763.0
DESCRIPTION
Near Hog Point Light.
Connelton Locks and Dam (under construction)
Near Lincoln Trails Highway Bridge.
Hawesville, Kentucky.
Connelton, Indiana.
Near Maxon Dock Light.
Tell City, Indiana
Near entrance of Henderson Creek.
Troy, Indiana.
Corn Island Light and Daymark.
Lewi sport , Kentucky .
Near entrance of Little Sandy Creek.
Grandview, Indiana.
Rockport, Indiana.
Near Yellow Bank Island Light.
Owensboro, Kentucky metropolitan area.
Dam No. 46.
Owensboro, Kentucky sewage treatment plant.
0.2 miles upstream from Enterprise, Indiana.
F-3
-------
Ohio River: Louisville, Kentucky-Evansville, Indiana
STATION LOCATION
RIVER
DESIGNATION MILE DESCRIPTION
763.2 Enterpri se, Indiana.
0-25 769.8 Near French Island lower Light and Daymark.
776.0 Newburgh Dam (under construction).
777.7 Dam No. 47.
778 Newburgh, Indiana.
0-26 778,1 0.4 miles downstream from Dam No. 47.
0-27 784.0 0.3 miles upstream from entrance of Green
River.
G-28 784.3-0.2 Mouth of Green River.
0-29 786.8 Near twin highway bridges.
0-30 Near Water Works Light (Evansville, Indiana),
F-4
-------
fcrannu a
SUtWART TABLE
OHIO RIVER SURVEY
LOUISVILLE, KnmjCinr-EVAllSVILLE.IllDIAH*
October 3-13, 1967
STATION TJJMP.
DESIGNATION RIVER MILS °C
0-1
0-3
0-1.
0-5
0-6
0-7
0-8
0-9
0-10
0-11
0-12
0-13
0-14
0-15
Orl6
0-17
0-18
0-19
0-20
0-21
0-32
0-*
0-25
0-26
0-27
0-29
0-30
Tributary Strei
Salt RlYer
Green
River
600.6
618.0
625.7
633-5
61.5.7
650.8
663.5
667.3
S78. 2
682.9
689.8
700.9
703.6
710.5
717.2
723.5
726. It
730.0
736.6
71.1.3
758.8
763.0
769.8
778.1
781.. 0
786,8
791.5
uns
629.9-0.
781.. 3-0,
Sewage Treatment Plant
Louisville
Ovensboro
618.0
758.3
20
20
20
20
20
20
SO
20
20
20
20
19
19(D
19(1)
19W
19(D
„(«
19(1)
19(1)
19(1)
19(1)
19(1)
19M
19(1)
19(D
19(D
19(D
.2 20
.2 20
Effluents
-
-
PH
UNITS
7.3
7.3
7.3
7.1.
7.k
7.1.
7.1t
7.1.
TA
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7A
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7A
7.5
7.6
7.5
7.5
7.6
7.6
7.6
7.6
7.1.
7.8
TA
7.1
SPECIFIC
CONnjCTAHO!
JJMHO/CM.
520
530
520
530
530
530
520
530
530
54o
530
530
520
530
530
530
5ltO
5*0
51.0
530
51.0
550
550
550
550
- 550
550
530
1.30
-
T60
TURBIDITY
UNITS
13
15
15
20
21.
33
30
26
21
25
2ll
17
31
30
34
21.
38
35
33
31
29
33
34
36
29
33
38
15
3*
250
170
SUSPENDED SOLIDS BOD
TOTAL VOLATILE 2-DAY 5-DAY
MG/L MO/L MG/L MO/L
19
11
11
20
27
31.
32
25
21
23
16
13
26
21
25
lit
26
25
23
17
16
21
25
21
17
18
29
15
28
122
99
< It
< It
< 3
It
It
6
< 6
1.
It
5
3
< 3
< 5
6
6
< It
6
5
6
6
5
< 6
6
6
< 6
6
< 6
< 5
6
74
84
1.1
1.3
1.0
1.0
0.9
1.0
0.9
1.0
0.9
0.8
0.8
0.9
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.6
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.5
0.6
0.8
0.7
1.3
0.5
112
71
2.5
2.0
1.6
1.7
1.5
1.8
1.7
1.7
1.5
lA
1-5
1.5
1.1
0.9
1.0
1.0
0.9
1.1
1.0
1.1
1.0
1.1
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.6
lA
2.1
0.8
167
121
DO
MG/L
5.9
6.5
6.6
7.2
7.3
7.1
7.7
7A
7A
7.3
7.2
7.2
7.0
7-3
7.4
7.3
7.2
7.3
7.4
7.3
T.3
7.9
7.9
8.2
8.2
8.2
8.1
4.7
7.6
-
-
NITROGEN SERIES AS N
ORGANIC
MO/L
1.0
1.0
0.9
0.9
0.8
0.8
0.9
1.0
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.7
0.8
0.7
0.7
0.8
0-9
0.7
0.7
0.8
0.9
0.8
0.9
0.9
0.8
0.9
1.0
0.7
10.5
7.6
NH
MG/L
0.5
< oA
< 0.2
< 0.3
< 0.3
<0.3
<0.2
< 0.2
< 0.2
< 0.3
< 0.3
< 0.2
<0.3
0.3
0.2
< 0.2
< 0.3
< 0.3
< 0.2
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
<0.3
< 0.3
0.5
< 0.1
16.5
17.0
ItO.
MG/3
1.1
1.2
1.2
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.1
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.1
1.2
1.2
1.1
1.1
1.1
1.1
1.1
1.1
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.2
0.6
< 0.1
< 0.2
PHOSPHORUS AS P
SOLUBLE
MG/L
0.06
0.06
0.05
0.06
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.08
0.07
0.06
0.07
0.07
0.07
0.06
0.06
0.08
0.07
0.07
0.08
0.07
0.08
0.08
0.09
0.02
6A
8.7
TOTAL
MG/L
0.08
0.08
0.09
0.12
0.11
0.13
0.11
0.12
o.oe
0.09
0.10
0.08
0.10
0.09
0.09
0.09
0.09
0.09
0.08
0.08
0.09
0.10
0.10
0.10
0.10
0.10
0.12
0.16
0.02
8.9
10.0
TOTAL
COLIFORMS
MF/100 Kl
1,61.0
740,000
396,000
1.86,000
343,000
429,500
246,000
2lll,000
72, 300
76,200
71,500
35,400
52,000
41,1.00
38,150
21,600
28, 500
24,900
?6,liOO
22,200
15,600
19,400
15,300
28, 700
33,900
32,600
27,700
1,61.0,000
520
63,700,000
70,100,000
FFCAL
COLTFOqMS
MF/100 m.
1,130
89,000
39,000
53, Boo
33.100
ItP.'iOO
?5,ooc
?1 , 1400
8, 1.00
T.al.o
" , 960
3,21.0
3.390
2,"ii40
2,51.0
1.720
1,750
1A50
1,660
1,1. ''0
TOO
9>40
770
1,320
1,230
91.0
1,010
112,000
18
11,100,000
3,930,000
NOTE: Difference In thermometera used between upstream section crews and downstream section crews of 1 degree centigrade.
Downstream temperature readings were increased by 1 degree centigrade.
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