Report on Water Pollution
in the
M
JL
53
CASS RIVER
%
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATION
GREAT LAKES REGION
JANUARY 1967
-------
REPORT ON
WATER POLLUTION IN THE LAKE HURON BASIN
CASS RIVER
JANUARY 1967
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Federal Water Pollution Control Administration
Great Lakes Region
Detroit Program Office
U.S. Naval Air Station
Grosse lie. Michigan
-------
PREFACE
This document was assembled by the Detroit Program Office, Federal
Water Pollution Control Administration, with the intention that it be used
together with information from other sources to develop a comprehensive
plan for water pollution control in the tributaries of the Lake Huron Basin.
The intended purpose of the plan would be to restore the usefulness of these
waters for recreational purposes, provide a more suitable environment for
fish and aquatic life, and enhance the value of this resource. It would
improve the quality of the area's waters for municipal and industrial
purposes, aesthetic enjoyment, and other beneficial uses.
-------
DETROIT PROGRAM OFFICE
GREAT LAKES-ILLINOIS RIVER BASIN 'PROJECT
DRAINAGE BASINS OF THE
GREAT LAKES
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
ONTARIO
FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATION
GREAT LAKES REGION GROSSE ILE, MICHIGAN
SCALE IN MILES
SUPERIOR
QUEBEC
MINNESOTA
WISCONSIN /
NEW
YORK
ILLINOIS
PENNSYLVANIA
-------
I. SAOINAW RIVER
2. CASS RIVER
3. FLINT RIVER
4. SHIAWASSEE RIVER
5. TITTABAWA3SEE RIVER
6. MICHIGAN TRIBUTARIES
TO SAOINAW BAY
7. MICHIGAN TRIBUTARIES
TO LOWER LAKE HURON
8. AU SABLt RIVER
9. THUNDER" BAY RIVER
10. CHEBOYOAN RIVRR
II. ST. MARYS RIVER AND
MICHIGAN UPPER PENINSULA
TRIBUTARIES TO LAKE HURON
12.
IS.
14.
19.
16.
17.
IB.
19.
20.
21.
MISSIS8AGI RIVER
SPANISH RIVER
WANAPITEI RIVER
FRENCH RIVER
MAGANATAWAN RIVER
MUSKOKA RIVER -
SEVERN RIVER
SAUOETN RIVER
MAITLAND RIVER
AU SABLE
LAKE\HURON
so
DETROIT PROGRAM OFFICE '
GREAT LAKES ILLINOIS RIVER BASIN PROJECT
LAKE HURON BASIN
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATION
GREAT LAKES REGION GROSSE ILE , MICHIGAN
-------
LAKE HURON PROGRAM OFFICE
GREAT LAKES-ILLINOIS RIVER BASIN PROJECT
DRAINAGE BASIN
SAGINAW RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES
U.«. OCPADTHtNT OF TNI INTKIOX
WATI* POLLUTION CONTROL ADNIN If Tit ATION
«««AT IAKCI m«IO» OOKI III. KICHKAN
-------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Page No.
Area Description
Climate
Hydrology
Drought Flow
WATER USE 17
Municipal Water Supply
Industrial Water Use
Water-related Recreation
SOURCES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF WASTES 22
Municipal
Industrial - 1966
POPULATION AND WASTE LOAD PROJECTIONS 29
DESCRIPTION OF WATER QUALITY 35
Chemical
Microbiological
SUMMARY AND WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS 50
-------
LIST OF TABLES
Table No. Page No.
1 Cass River Sampling Stations 15, 16
2 Municipal Water Supplies 19
Owner and Treatment Code (for Table 2) 20
3 Projected Water Use 21
4 Cass River Basin Municipal Waste 28
5 Waste Flow Projections 31
6 BOD_ Projections 33
7 Water Quality - 1965 Average Concentrations 40
Dissolved Oxygen and BOD_ Concentrations - 41
Tributaries to Cass River
Water Quality - 1965 Average Concentrations 47
10 Water Quality - 1965 Total and Fecal 48
Coliform Densities - Station X610
11 Comparison of 1965 Total and Fecal 49
Coliform Densities - Station X610
12 Water Quality - Cass River - 1965 55, 56
Notes for Water Quality. Tables 57
ii
-------
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure No. Page No.
Cass River Basin
Mean Daily Flow - Cass River at
Frankenmuth
Flow Duration Curve - Cass River at 10
Cass City
Flow Duration Curve - Cass River at 11
Vassar
Flow Duration Curve - Cass River at 12
Frankenmuth
Drainage Area vs River Miles - Cass River 13
Location of Sampling Stations 14
Municipal and Industrial Waste Outfalls 27
Cass River Basin 32
10 Population and Municipal Waste Flow 34
Projections
11 Dissolved Oxygen and 5-Day BOD 42
12 Nitrate Concentration 43
13 Total Phosphate 44
14 Total Solids and Chlorides 45
15 Total Coliform Densities 46
iii
-------
INTRODUCTION
AUTHORITY
Comprehensive water pollution control studies were authorized by
the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1956, as amended (33 USC 466
et seq.).
Sec. 3.(a) "The Secretary shall, after careful investi-
gation, and in cooperation with other Federal agencies, with
State water pollution control agencies and interstate agencies,
and with the municipalities and industries involved, prepare
or develop comprehensive programs for eliminating or reducing
the pollution of interstate waters and tributaries thereof and
improving the sanitary condition of surface and underground
waters. In the development of such comprehensive programs due
regard shall be given to the improvements which are necessary
to conserve such waters for public water supplies, propagation
of fish and aquatic life and wildlife, recreational purposes,
and agricultural, industrial, and other legitimate uses. For
the purpose of this section, the Secretary is authorized to
make joint investigations with any such agencies of the condi-
tion of any waters in any State or States, and of the discharges
of any sewage, industrial wastes, or substance which may adversely
affect such waters."
Sec. 5.(f) "The Secretary shall conduct research and
technical development work, and make studies, with respect
to the quality of the waters of the Great Lakes, including
an analysis of the present and projected future water quality
of the Great Lakes under varying conditions of waste treat-
ment and disposal, an evaluation of the water quality needs
of those to be served by such waters, an evaluation of muni-
cipal, industrial, and vessel waste treatment and disposal
practices with respect to such waters, and a study of alternate
means of solving water pollution problems (including additional
waste treatment measures) with respect to such waters."
Initiation of the Great Lakes-Illinois River Comprehensive Program
Activity followed an appropriation of funds by the 86th Congress late
in 1960. In accordance with the provisions of the Act, the Secretary of
Health, Education, and Welfare delegated the responsibility for the study
to the Division of Water Supply and Pollution Control of the Public ,,
-------
Health Service. Passage of the "Water Quality Act of 1965" gave the
responsibility for these studies to the Federal Water Pollution Control
Administration (FWPCA). As a result of Reorganization Plan No. 2 of
1966, the FWPCA was transferred from the Department of Health, Education,
and Welfare to the Department of the Interior effective May 10, 1966.
PURPOSE
This report presents the water quality of the Cass River, Michigan
as it exists today, and includes predictions of population, water use,
and waste load trends for future years. Its purpose is to present informa-
tion that can be used as a basis for developing a basin wide water pollution
control program.
The objectives of the FWPCA are to enhance the quality and value of
the Nation's water resources, and to prevent, control, and abate water
.pollution through cooperative local, State, and Federal pollution control
plans.
SCOPE
The area covered by this report is the Cass River drainage basin
entirely within the State of Michigan. The study of the Cass River was
conducted on the 59 miles between the City of Cass and the confluence
of the Cass and Saginaw Rivers.
ORGANIZATION
The Detroit Program Office, located at the Naval Air Station,
Grosse He, Michigan, began collecting water quality data on the Cass
River in 1964. Its staff include specialists in several professional
skills, such as sanitary engineers, hydrologists, chemists, biologists,
-------
and bacteriologists. The resources of the Robert A. Taft Sanitary
Engineering Center at Cincinnati, Ohio have been utilized, and assistance
and guidance have been obtained from the Great Lakes-Illinois River Basins
Project, Chicago.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Detroit Program Office has received the cooperation and assistance
of local, State, and Federal agencies, as well as interested individuals.
i
The principal agencies taking an active part in providing assistance in the
preparation of the report are as follows:
State Agencies
Federal Agencies -
Michigan Water Resources Commission
Michigan department of Public Health
U.S. Department of Commerce
Weather Bureau
Office of Business Economics
Bureau of Census
U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Commercial Fisheries
Bureau of .Sports Fisheries and Wildlife
Bureau of Outdoor Recreation
Geological Survey
U.S. Department of Defense
Detroit District, Corps of Engineers
Lake Survey, Corps of Engineers
-------
-------
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Area Description
The Cass River Basin is located in the Thumb Area of Michigan's lower
peninsula. The basin drains a total area of 948 square miles. The major
portion of the basin lies in Tuscola and Sanilac Counties. The lower
reach, from Frankenmuth to the mouth, lies in Saginaw County.. Small
portions of Huron, Lapeer, and Genesee Counties make up the remainder of the
area drained by the Cass River.
The basin is irregularly shaped, varying in width from about 15 miles
to 35 miles, and measuring approximately 55 miles at its longest point.
The Cass River has three branches. The South Branch, originating in
Lapeer and Sanilac Counties, flows in a northerly direction converging
with the East Branch in the northwest section of Sanilac County. The East
Branch meets the North Branch in Tuscola County to form the main stem of
the river. The Cass River flows in a generally westerly direction to its
mouth at the Saginaw River.
The Cass River Basin is bounded on the north by land adjacent to
Lake Huron, on the east by the Black River Basin, on the south by the Flint
River Basin, and the west by the Saginaw and Flint River Basins.
There are no major population centers in the Cass River Basin. Caro,
the largest community, had a population of less than 3,600 in 1960.
The Cass River above Frankenmuth consists of moraine, sandy lake
plains, outwash and till plain in equal portions. The till plain lies in
the eastern headwaters region, and is flanked on the north and southwest
by outwash-moraine sequences. The lake plain lies in the northern half
of the Cass River Basin.
-------
Climate :
The climate of the Cass River Basin conforms to the general weather
pattern that exists over the entire lower Great Lakes area. This climate
is a result of the modifying influences of the large masses of water that
nearly surround the region. These water masses tend to cool the air in
the summer and warm it in the winter. The resulting climate can be des-
cribed as one having many storms, wide seasonal temperature variation,
and a relatively constant yearly precipitation distribution. The precipi-
tation in the winter is usually in the form of snow. At Caro, the largest
community in the Cass River Basin, the average yearly temperature is
about 47 F, with average summer and winter temperatures of 69 F and 25 F,
respectively. The average yearly precipitation at Caro is 28 inches. The
growing season has a length of about 145 days.
Hydrology
There are four U.S. Geological Survey stream gaging stations in the
Cass River Basin, of which three were utilized by the Federal Water
Pollution Control Administration.
The first of these is Cass River at Cass City. Michigan. It has a
drainage area of approximately 370 square miles, and is located 500 feet
downstream from the Cemetery Road bridge, one mile south of Cass City.
It has been in operation from October 1947 to the present. The Federal
Water Pollution Control Administration sampling station X688 is located
at the Cemetery Road bridge - mile point 59.2.^
The second U.S. Geological Survey gaging station is Cass River at
Vassar. Michigan. It is located on the downstream side of the Highway 15
I
bridge in Vassar, has a drainage area of approximately 700 square miles,
-------
and has been in operation since October 1947. The Highway 15 bridge,
mile point 28.1,; is the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration
sampling station X650.
The third U.S. Geological Survey gaging station is Cass River at
Frankenmuth, Michigan. It is located on the right bank of the river, one-
half mile downstream from Frankenmuth. The drainage area for this gage
is 848 square miles, and it has been in operation continuously since
June 1939, longer than any other gage on the river.
The ranges of observed discharges at these gaging stations are as
follows:
Cass River at Cass City - Maximum - 8,460 cfs
Average - 192 cfs
Minimum - 0.5 cfs
Cass River at Vassar - Maximum - 11,400 cfs
Average - 373 cfs
Minimum - 11 cfs
Cass River at Frankenmuth - Maximum - 17,700 cfs
Average - 450 cfs
Minimum - 1.5 cfs
Drought Flow
The one-day and seven-day low flows (once in ten years) have been
calculated for the Cass River at two of the U.S. Geological Survey
stations by use of Gumbel Extremal Probability Paper. The stations used
were Cass River at Frankenmuth and Cass River at Vassar. The flow at
the remaining points along the river was arrived at by comparison of their
drainage areas with that of the U.S. Geological Survey stations.
Because the dams on the Cass River at Frankenmuth and Caro had a
pronounced effect on the one-day flow prior to 1946, and because the
period of record for the Frankenmuth gage is longer than that of the
-------
Vassar gage, only those flows in the period 1948-1963 were used in this
analysis. This results in a seven-day flow at Frankenmuth that is slightly
higher than would have been expected had the entire period of record been
used, but also yields a one-day flow that is meaningful.
Drainage Area One-Day Flow Seven-Day Flow
Location (sq. miles) (cfs) (cfs)
X650 (USGS) 700.0 16.0 19.0
Goodings Creek* 703.4 16.1 19.1
Goodings Creek 760.4 17.4 20.7
Perry Creek* 802.0 18.0 22.3
Perry Creek 839.8 18.7 23.7
X640 «,..': 840,4 18*8 23.8
Frankenmuth Gage (USGS) 848.0 19.0 24.0
X620 : ,. 868.2 19.4 24.6
Dead Creek* 872.0 19.5 24.7
Dead Creek 910.0 20.4 25.8
X615 917.5 20.6 26.0
X610 933.0 20.9 26.4
Mouth 948.0 21.2 26.8
* up to, but not including named stream.
-------
MEAN DAILY FLOW
CASS RIVER AT FRANKENMUTH
too.
ISO
160
140
I
£
o
_l
u.
120
100
01
<
u
60
\MA
40 I
10
A>
,
/
/
iit
n
o
c
j)
m
N
10
19
JUNE
20
29
10
I5J 20
JULY
23
10" is 20
AUGUST
10 19 20 29
SEPTEMBER
1965
-------
rlGURE 3
FLOW DURATION CURVE
CASS RIVER AT CASS/CITY
1948-1964
10,000
1,000
Q
z
o
o
UJ
UJ
Q.
Ul
o
m
o
z
UJ
o
-------
HGURE 4
FLOW DURATION CURVE
CASS RIVER AT VASSAR
1949-1964
10,000
1,000
o
z
o
u
UJ
V)
ec
Ul
a
UJ
Ul
u.
u
ffi
o
z
UJ
o
(£
o
V)
too
10
1.0
\
\
\
0.01 0.05 O.I O.t O.B 1C S IO 20 3O 40 SO 60 TO »0 SO 93 98 99
TIME IN PERCENT OF TOTAL PERIOD
99.8 99.9 99.99
-------
rIGURE 5
FLOW DURATION CURVE
CASS RIVER AT FRANKENMUTH
1936, 1940-1964
10,000
1,000
a
z
o
o
UJ
tc.
UJ
a
UJ
u,
o
m
u
z
UJ
o
K
X
u
w
100
10
1.0
^
\
\
\
V
X
X:
\
0.01 0.05 O.I 0.2 O.S It .5 10 2O SO 40 BO 6O 70 iO »O 99 88 99
TIME IN PERCENT OF TOTAL PERIOD
99.8 99.9 99.99
-------
DRAINAGE AREA VS. RIVER MILES
CASS RIVER
1000
70
60
50
40 30
RIVER MILES
20
o
c
JO
m
0)
-------
SCALE IN MILES
LOCATION OF SAMPLING STATIONS
CASS RIVER BASIN
-------
TABLE 1. CASS RIVER SAMPLING STATIONS
Mainstream Stations
Station
X605
X609
X6LO
X615
X620
X628
X630
X640
X647
X650
X655
X668
X670
X678
X680
X682
X684
X686
X689
X688
Mile Point
2. .3
5.0
7.8
11.7
15.2
17.0
17.2
22.4
27.8
28.1
32.0
37.1
38.0
41.6
42.1
46.0
50.3
54.8
58.9
59.2
Location
Bridge on M- 13 East Rd.
Bridgeport sewage treatment plant
Bridge on Fayette St. in Bridgeport
Bridge on Dixie Highway
Bridge on S. Beyer St.
Frankenmuth sewage treatment plant
Bridge on S. Main St. in Frankenmuth
Bridge on Bray St. in Tuscola
Vassar sewage treatment plant
Bridge on M-15 in Vassar - USGS gage #4-1510
Bridge on Waterman Rd.
Wahjamega sewage treatment plant at Caro State
Hospital
Bridge on Walk Rd.
Caro sewage treatment plant
Bridge on M-24 Highway in Caro
Bridge on Deckerville Rd.
Bridge on Kurds Corner Rd.
Bridge on N. Dodge Rd.
Cass City sewage treatment plant
Bridge on Seeger St. (Cemetery Rd . ) USGS
gage #4-1505
15
-------
TABLE 1. CASS RIVER SAMPLING STATIONS
(cont'd)
Tributary Stations
Station Mile Point
.1
X642
X649
X681
X683
X695
1.0
1.6
.8
3,9
On Tributary
Perry Creek
Goodings Creek
Sucker Creek
White Creek
South Branch
Confluence
Mile Point
22.7
27.0
43.2
47.6
59.3
Location
Bridge on Lx>ren Rd.
near Tuscola
Bridge on Vassar
Rd.
Bridge on Albin Rd.
Bridge on Murray
Rd.
4.2 mi. southeast
of Cass City off
Cable Corn. Enter
on Lamton Rd. 1%
mi. N. of Severence
Rd. - USGS gage
#4-1500
16
-------
WATER USE
Municipal Water Supply
The Cass River Basin has a population served by public water supplies
of approximately 20,000 people. Except for the City of Frankenmuth, which
obtains its water from the Cass River, all of this water comes from local
wells.
Total municipal water use in the basin is approximately 3.0 million
gallons per day (MGD). The 2020 projected use is expected to be
around 12 MGD.
Table 2 lists the present water supplies and the source. In Table 3
the projected municipal water uses for 1990 and 2020 are shown.
Industrial Water Use
The Michigan Sugar Company is the only large water user in the basin.
It uses approximately 4.0 MGD from the Cass River when operating. The
projected industrial water use shown in Table 3 is based on this use, but
is intended to imply the expansion of water using industries, in general,
not necessarily this single industry.
Water-related Recreation
The Cass River does not offer many boating facilities due to its
shallow depth. The number of boats in the basin in 1965 was estimated
to be approximately 2,000. Most of these boats were less than 20 feet
in length, and were probably used on small private ponds and lakes. The
backwaters of the dams at Franketunuth and .Caro are suitable for small
boat activity.
Fishing in the Cass River is probably its largest recreational use.
17
-------
The river, downstream from Frankenmuth, is generally too polluted for
game fish and there is limited fishing in this area. Upstream from
Frankenmuth, however, bass and perch are taken, and the fishing has been
described as good. Suckers and carp are also found in this reach, but
are more abundant in areas of degraded water quality.
Along the banks of the upper Cass River, there are several areas
for picnics and family outings.
Swimming in the Cass River is minimal as there are few suitable areas
due to its shallow depth. In the upstream end, the water quality would
permit swimming, but in the reach below Frankenmuth the degraded water
quality prohibits this activity.
18
-------
TABLE 2. MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLIES'
Cass River Basin
Town
Bridgeport Twp.
Frankenmuth
Millington
Vassar
May vi lie
Caro
Cass City
6 age town
Indian Field Twp
Kingston
Marlette
Ubly
Pop.
4,000
1,728
1,159
2,680
896
3,534
1,945
376
456
1,640
819
Owner
T
M
M
P
M
M
M
M
S
M
M
M
**
Source Treatment
Wells in rock 116' to 140'
deep and in drift 63' to 71'
deep
Cass River 50' of 10" intake 2 & 6
8' deep
Wells in rock 370' to 390'
deep
Wells in rock 260' to 270'
deep
Wells in rock 272' to 327'
deep
Wells in rock 120' to .166'
deep, wells in rock 226*
to 250' deep
Wells in rock . 3
Wells in rock 85' to 185'
deep
Wells in drift 77' to 80' /
deep, wells in rock 300'
deep
Wells in rock 215' to 331'
deep
Wells in rock 170' to 300'
deep
Wells in rock 150' to 175'
deep
*Taken from ''Data on Public Water Supplies in Michigan," Engineering
Bulletin No. 4 by the Michigan Department of Public Health.
See Owner and Treatment Code next page.
19
-------
OWNER AND TREATMENT CODE
Owner Code;
M = City or Village
T = Township
P = Private
D = District
C = County
S = State
U.S. = Federal
Treatment Code:
1 Std. Filtration*
2 Lime softening**
3 Zeolite softening
4 Iron removal
5 Chlorination
6 Fluoridation
* Implies at least chlorination, chemical coagulation, and rapid sand
filtration.
** Lime softening includes filtration.
20
-------
TABLE 3. PROJECTED WATER USE
(MGD)
1965 1990 2020
Municipal* 3 7 12
Industrial 4 9 16
Total 7 16 28
* Includes water used by small industries.
21
-------
SOURCES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF WASTES
The Cass River has seven sewage treatment plants along its length
that contribute a flow of about 3 MGD from approximately 18,000 people.
The areas served by municipal sewage treatment plants are Bridgeport,
Frankenmuth, Caro, Caro State Hospital, Vassar, Cass City, and Marlette.
Millington is a town of about 1,160 people located on Highway M-15
in Tuscola County. The town is served by sewers but has no treatment
facilities. They have plans underway for a waste stabilization lagoon.
The town of Mayville in Tuscola County does not have any type of
public sewerage for its 900 residents,: but is expected to have a collection
and secondary system by 1970.
Data contained in this section are based oh the 1965 operating records
furnished the Michigan Department of Public Health by the sewage treatment
plants. A summary of these data is listed in Table 4, and outfall loca-
tions are shown in Figure 8.
Prior to January 1967, sewage treatment plant effluents had to be
chlorinated at least between May 15 and September 15, as required by the
Michigan Department of Public Health. Beginning in January 1967, all
municipal sewage treatment plants are required by the Michigan Department
of. Public Health to disinfect their effluents all year round.
Bridgeport Sewage Treatment Plant - 1965
This trickling filter plant handled an average flow in 1965 of 0.41
MGD from a population served of about 5,000. The flow varied from 0.27
to 0.67 MGD during the year. Chemical data on the effluent is very
limited, with only three BOD samples run during 1965; the values for
22
-------
these were 37, 30, and 43 milligrams per liter (mg/1). In 1965 the plant
chlorinated its effluent from May 15 to September 15.
Frankenmuth Sewage Treatment Plant - 1965
The Frankenmuth sewage treatment plant was constructed in 1955 and
was originally a trickling filter type plant. This unit proved to be
unsatisfactory for handling the waste from the 1,700 residents and two
breweries. The plant was converted to activated sludge in 1961 by re-
moving the media from one trickling tank and installing four mechanical
aerators. In 1965, these aerators were replaced by three different aerators.
Operation.has not been, and is still not fully satisfactory to the Michigan
Department of Public Health, as noted in a presentation by Mr. Merle Crow
before the Michigan Water Resources Commission meeting July 28, 1966 in
Saginaw, Michigan. The City of Frankenmuth is working on the problem and
hopes to have a satisfactory solution in operation within a couple of
years. The major problem is created by the Carling Brewing Company,
which discharges a waste with a population equivalent (P.E.) of approxi-
mately 30,000 people based on the 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD).
This waste load also fluctuates in volume and strength, which makes treat-
ment difficult.
Chemical data on this plant are not readily available due to
continuously changing procedures in an effort to obtain an efficient
operation.
Vassar Sewage Treatment Plant - 1965
This trickling filter plant serves approximately 2,700 people. The
average flow for the time in 1965 that records were available was 0.35 MGD.
23
-------
The effluent BOD values for this period varied between 40 and 74 mg/1,
with an average of 57 mg/1. In 1965, the effluent was chlorinated from
May 15 to September 15.
Caro Sewage Treatment Plant - 1965
The City of Caro has a trickling filter plant which serves about 3,500
people, who contribute a flow of approximately 0.23 MGD. Average 1965
effluent BOD values ranged from 35 to 92 mg/1, with a yearly average of 56
mg/1. In 1965, the effluent was chlorinated from May 15 to September 15.
Caro State Hospital Sewage Treatment Plant - 1965
The hospital has its own sewage treatment plant for handling its
domestic and laundry waste. The flow from this activated sludge plant
averaged about 0.20 MGD with only slight variations. The effluent BOD's
varied from 78 to 300 mg/1 with an average of 146 mg/1. The plant has
been plagued with equipment problems, which are currently being improved,
and should fihbw improved operation. In 1965, chlorination was practiced
from May 15 to September 15.
Cass City Sewage Treatment Plant - 1965
Cass City has a trickling filter plant which treats the wastes of
about 1,900 people. The treatment plant flow varied from 0.18 to 0.26
MGD during 1965, with an average value of 0.22 MGD. The effluent BOD's
during this period varied from 6 mg/1 to 55 mg/1, with an average value
of 23 mg/1. In 1965, the effluent was chlorinated from April through
November.
24
-------
Marlette Sewage Treatment Plant - 1965
This plant is located in Marlette on Dutch Drain, a tributary of the
Cass River. The trickling filter plant serves about 1,500 people who
contribute a flow of approximately 0.36 MGD. The treatment plant has a
sand filter that is used during the period of low stream flow and substan-
tially reduces the BOD load to the stream. The yearly average effluent
BODj. was 14 mg/1, but during the period the sand filter was in operation,
the effluent BOD,, averaged less than 3 mg/1. The effluent in 1965 was
chlorinated from May through October.
Industrial - 1966
The Cass River drains a rural farming area. About the only large
industry in this basin, other than the brewery wastes handled by the
Frankenmuth sewage treatment plant, is the Michigan Sugar Company in
Caro. This plant processes sugar beets into sugar. Their waste has a
flow of 4 MGD when they are processing beets, and contains BOD and solids.
Treatment consists of screens and lagoons, with the lagoon discharge
controlled so that no waste enters the river during low flow conditions.
This plant's waste control was rated as adequate in April 1966 by the
Michigan Water Resources Commission.
The W.N. Clark Company in Caro operates a cannery which has a waste
flow of 0.1 MGD. This flow is not discharged to the river, but is spray
irrigated. Control is rated as adequate by the Michigan Water Resources
Commission (April 1966).
Crown Foods, Inc., a Division of Vlasic Foods, is located in Bridge-
port. Their waste, containing BOD , suspended solids, acids, and chlorides,
is placed into a lagoon which has a controlled discharge. Control is rated
25
-------
as adequate by the Michigan Water Resources Commission (April 1966).
Nestles Company. Inc. in Ubly is a milk processing plant which has
a waste flow of about 0.3 MGD. The flow contains milk waste and BOD,..
The Michigan Water Resources Commission rates this plant as "B", which
means "control provided - adequacy not established" (April 1966).
Outfall locations for these industries are shown on Figure 8.
26
-------
1C*IC IN MILES
MUNICIPAL S INDUSTRIAL WASTE OUTFALLS
CASS RIVER BASIN
-------
TABLE 4. CASS RIVER BASIN MUNICIPAL WASTES
1965 Yearly Average
Effluent Characteristics
Plant Name
Bridgeport
Frankenmuth
Vassar
Caro
Caro State
Hospital
Cass City
Marlette
Flow
(MGD)
0.41
1.1
0.35
0.23
0.20
0.22
0.36
Temp. F.
(Raw)
60
68
69
58
5-Day
BOD
mg/1
57
56
146
23
14
Susp.
Solids
mg/1 .
27
58
86
19
21
Susp. Vol.
Solids
mg/1
22
48
70
16
11
7.3
7.8
7.1
7.6
7.5
28
-------
POPULATION AND WASTE LOAD PROJECTIONS
Demographic studies were conducted by the Great Lakes-Illinois River
Basins Project, Chicago for the Lake Huron Basin. Population trends.on
a national, regional, and county basis were analyzed, and population
projections were developed for the various areas of the Lake Huron Basin.
In 1960, approximately 1.2 million persons lived in the Lake Huron Water-
shed - about double the 1920 population. By the year 2020, it is estimated
that the population of the watershed will be approximately 3.2 million.
For this report, the areas of Marlette, Caro, Cass City, Frankenmuth,
Vassar, and Bridgeport were analyzed separately, assuming that by 2020
each area will be urbanized and served by water and sewer systems. Then
the individual areas were added together to yield the total area served
for the basin. The 1965 population served by sewerage systems was estimated
to be 18,400, and projected to be 28,500 by 1990 and 40,10.0 by the year 2020.
These figures should not be construed to be the total population figures
for the basin.
Table 5 shows the estimated waste flow in MGD for the Cass River
Ba s in.
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD_) projections were based on present
day inventory information obtained from the Michigan Water Resources
Commission, the Michigan Department of Public Health, and the U.S. Public
Health Service. Municipal and industrial water use growth rates and BOD
production in terms of population equivalents were determined from studies
on the Lake Michigan Basin and applied to the inventory data obtained for
the Cass River Basin.
The results of these projections are shown on Table 6. For example,
29
-------
in 1965 a total of 16,900 pounds per day of BOD was produced in the
basin, of which 72 percent was removed by treatment, leaving 6,350 pounds
of BOD,, discharged to the river. By the year 2020, with the same percentage
of treatment, 21,800 pounds would reach the river. In order to show an
improvement over present water quality, 90 percent or more removal will be
necessary at that time.
30
-------
TABLE 5. WASTE FLOW PROJECTIONS
(MGD)
1965 1990 2020
Municipal
Residential 2.3 4.8 8.1
Industrial 0.6 0.7 1.0
Total 2.9 5.5 9.1
Industrial 4.1 9.0 15.6
(direct to river)
Total to River 7.0 14.5 24.7
31
-------
-------
TABLE 6,
BOD^PROJECTIONS
Municipal
Residential
Industrial
Total Municipal
With present removal
With 90% removal
With 95% removal
With 99% removal
1965
#/day
3,583
6,171
9,751*
1,3^9
976
1990
#/dav
98
5,090
8,030
13,120
1,913
1,312
656
131
2020
#/dav
7,872
10,800
18,672
2,733
1,867
933
187
Industrial
(direct to river)
Wi th present 30% removal
With 90% removal
With 95% removal
With 99% removal
5,000
71^
357
71
15,700
11,000
1,570
785
157
27,100
19,000
2,710
1,355
271
Total -in the Basin
Total to the River
With present removal
With 90% removal
With 95% removal
With 99% removal
16,89*1
./
6,3^9
1,690
Bkk
169
28,820
12,913
2,882
288
1*5,772
21,783
-------
FIGURE to
POPULATION AND MUNICIPAL
WASTE FLOW PROJECTIONS FOR THE
CASS RIVER BASIN
1,000,000
ut
v>
§ 100,000
D
a.
o
a.
10,000 I I I I I i i I I I I i I i I I I I I I I i I I I I i i
Vi
G2,
I I I I I 1 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I
ItSO ' I9TO
100
V
<
o
a:
UJ
a.
10
1980 1990 8000
YEARS
toio
1010 tOSO
-------
DESCRIPTION OF WATER QUALITY
The Detroit Program Office conducted a survey of the Cass River
during 1965 to determine the quality of this water source. Figure 11
indicates the location of sampling station X610, sampled approximately
twice a month, and municipal sewage treatment plant sampling stations.
The remaining stations within the study area were OXSAG stations as $hown
in Figure 7. These stations were sampled approximately once every 4 hours
over a 24-hour period during the August 4-5, 1965 survey.
Chemical
Of the many water quality measurements made during 1965, those
presented in this section are: dissolved oxygen, 5-day biochemical oxygen
demand (BOD,.), nitrogen (ammonia, organic, and nitrate), phosphates (total
and total soluble), solids (total, suspended, and volatile suspended),
chlorides, iron, and phenols.
Water quality data for the Cass River, Station X610, are tabulated
in Table 7. This table lists the seasonal average and range of dissolved
oxygen levels for the regular sampling station X610, and also shows the
average seasonal and annual values for nitrogens, phosphates, chlorides,
phenols, and BOD.
The average annual dissolved oxygen concentration at Station X610,
located below the City of Frankenmuth, was 6.4 mg/1 (61 percent satura-
tion), with a range of 3.3 to 12.6 mg/1 (36 to 110 percent saturation).
Figure 11 illustrates the dissolved oxygen concentration along the
course of the Cass River during the special OXSAG survey conducted over
i
a 24-hour period on August 4-5, 1965. Dissolved oxygen analyses were
35
-------
made every four hours, along with composite BOD 's. The average dissolved
oxygen concentration in the upper Cass River, above the City of
Frankenmuth's sewage treatment plant, increased from a low of 6.4 mg/1,
with a range of 5 to 7.9 mg/1 at Station X688 to a high average of 11.6
\
mg/1, with a range of 9.6 to 15.9 mg/1 at Station X680. A decline in
dissolved oxygen concentration was found below the major waste sources.
The lowest dissolved oxygen levels were recorded at Station X620 located
below the Frankenmuth sewage treatment plant. One-third of the samples
taken at this station during the 24-hour survey period showed 0 mg/1; the
average value at this station was 0.7 mg/1 (8 percent saturation).
Downstream from this station, the average dissolved oxygen concentration
increased from 2.7 mg/1 at Station X615 to a high of 15.3 mg/1 at
Station X605.
Dissolved oxygen concentration in the tributaries of the Cass River
sampled during the special survey on August 4, 1965 is shown in Table 8.
This Table also lists BOD,, determinations made during the survey.
Dissolved oxygen concentration in the tributaries of the Cass River
ranged from 8.1 to 9.5 mg/1.
The observed average BOD,, in the Cass River at the regular sampling
station X610 was 3 mg/1 as shown in Table 7.
BOD,, results of composite samples taken during the special OXSAG survey
on August 4-5, 1965 are shown in Figure 11. The maximum BOD5. value of 5
mg/1 in the upper Cass River was recorded at Stations X680, X670, and X655.
Station X630, located above the City of Frankenmuth's sewage treatment
plant, had a BOD value of 2 mg/1. BOD at Station X620, located below
Frankenmuth's sewage treatment plant, reached a high of 13 mg/1. BOD
36
-------
values of 5, 3, and 6 mg/1 were recorded at downstream Stations X615, X610,
and X605, respectively. The tributaries of the Cass River - Perry Creek,
Goodings Creek, Sucker Creek, and White Creek - had BOD values of 2, 2, 4,
and 3 mg/1, respectively.
Nitrate, as nitrogen, during the 1965 survey at the regular sampling
Station X610, averaged 1.0 mg/1, with lower values in the summer and fall
as shown in Table 7.
Figure 12 illustrates the nitrate concentrations during the special
OXSAG survey conducted on August 4, 1965. Nitrate concentrations in
the Cass River ranged from 0.1 to 0.4 mg/1. It also shows the annual average
nitrate concentration and its ranges for the regular sampling station,
X610.
Total phosphate in the Cass River at the regular sampling station X610
was .6 mg/1 during 1965. Soluble phosphate as a percent of total phosphate
at Station X610 averaged 75 percent. Figure 13 shows the results of the
August 4-5, 1965 survey, and lists the individual total phosphate values
for each station. Total phosphate above the Frankenmuth sewage treatment
plant at Station X630 was 1.6 mg/1. Below the Frankenmuth sewage treat-
ment plant at Station X620 the total phosphate concentration increased
to 6.7 mg/1. Stations X615, X610, and X605 had total phosphate levels
of 1.1, 1.3, and 1.0 mg/1, respectively.
Total solids and chloride concentrations in the Cass River are shown
in Table 7. The annual average total solids concentration at Station X610
was 479 mg/1. Chlorides account for 10 percent of the total solids. Total
solids and chloride concentrations were significantly high in the Cass
River, below the City of Frankenmuth's sewage treatment plant, during the
37
-------
special survey conducted on August 4-5, 1965. Figure 14 illustrates
the increase in total solids and chloride in the Cass River below the
Frankenmuth sewage treatment plant on August 4-5, 1965. Total solids in
the Cass River during the survey increased from 512 mg/1 at Station X630,
above the City of Frankenmuth sewage treatment plant, to a high of 665
mg/1 at Station X620, below Frankenmuth. Chloride levels at Stations X630
and X620 were 78 and 142 mg/1, respectively. White creek, a tributary to
the Cass River, had a total solids of 923 mg/1.
Average annual phenol concentration in the Cass River at the regular
sampling station X610 was 4xug/l, with a range of 1 to 8^ig/l.
Table 9 summarized average iron, sodium, potassium, calcium,
magnesium, sulfate, and total hardness values found during the 1965 survey
in the Cass River for the regular sampling station X610. Average annual
iron concentration was 2,142/ag/l, with seasonal averages of 4,050/ag/l,
1,040/ug/l, and 166/jg/l, respectively.
Sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfate concentrations
were typical of concentrations in other tributaries in the Saginaw River
Basin. Annual total hardness was 279 mg/1, with seasonal average values
of 232 mg/1, 328 mg/1, and 279 mg/1.
Microbiological
Microbiological results of sampling in 1965 were separated into
three intervals - January to April, May to September, and October to
December - to coincide with the municipal waste chlorination period begin-
ning May 15 and ending September 15. Median, low, and high results of
the surveys are reported in Table 10.
The median annual total coliform density in the Cass River at the
38
-------
regular sampling station X610 was 62,000 organisms/100 ml, with seasonal
values of 64,000, 9,000, and 110,000 organisms/100 ml, respectively. The
median annual percent fecal coliform density at this station was 2 percent
of the total coliform density.
A comparison of the average, median, and geometric mean values of
annual total and fecal coliform results for Station X610 is shown in .
Table 11.
Figure 15 shows the total coliform results of the special survey
conducted on the Cass River on August 4, 1966. It also shows the annual
total coliform densities for the regular sampling station X610. At all
locations above Frankenmuth's sewage treatment plant total coliform
densities were less than 3,000 organisms/100 ml. Below the City of
Frankenmuth's sewage treatment plant at Station X620, total coliform
counts reached a high level of 370,000 organisms/100 ml. At Stations
X615, X610, and X605, total coliform densities were 1,000, 3,000, and 1,000
organisms/100 ml, respectively for this survey.
39
-------
TABLE 7. CASS HEVER WATER QUALITY
1965 AVERAGE CONCENTRATIONS
Station X610
. Tot***
; Dissolved Oxygen ~ Tot** Sol Tot Susp Vol*
Season Avg Max Min BODj NH3~N Org-N NO^-N PO^ PO^ Sol Sol S.S. Cl Phenols
Jan-April
N
10.U 12.6 5.U - 0.70 0.22 l.U O.U . 0.3 392 51 12 26 5
May-Sept
° U.7 8.0 3.3 3 O.U9 0.30 O.U 0.8 0.6 58U 23 7 72 2
Oct-Dec
\ .
10.U 12.1 9.1 U O.UO 0.32 0.9 O.U 0.3 U79 17 5 58 U
Jan-Dec
6.U 12.6 3.3 3 0.56 0.27 1.0 0.6 O.U U79 3U 9 U6 U
Note; All results in mg/1 except phenols (ug/1).
Phosphates reported as PO^.
Nitrogens (NH3, N03, Organic) reported as Nitrogen.
*Volatile Suspended Solids.
**Total phosphate includes: ortho, poly, biological, and organic phosphate.
*tf-«-Total soluble phosphate (performed on filtered sample) includes: soluble ortho, soluble poly, and soluble
organic sulfate.
-------
TABLE 8. DISSOLVED OXYGEN AND BOD5CONCENTRATIONS
Tributaries to Cass River
August 4, 1965 Survey
DO BOD5
Tributary Station No. (mg/1) (mg/1)
Perry Creek X642 8.1 2
Goodings Creek X649 8.4 2
Sucker Creek X681 9.5 4
White Creek X683 8.5 3
41
-------
CASS RIVER
DISSOLVED OXYGEN AND 5-DAY BOD
AUGUST 4-5, 1965 SURVEY
£9
'20
\
9
E .
1
o
o
CD
i «
O l8
z
<
z
0
X
O 10
0
bJ
>
_J
0
CO
CO
o g
o
.
'.
" '
LEGEND
6
MAXIMUM T
AVERAGE 6
MINIMUM JL
t
'' ' . *
.
i
T
t J
i
»
[ >IL
1 1 1 1 1 1 .1 1 1
*
**>
00*^^
°J° 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 -
BOD COMPOSITE
DISSOLVED OXYGEN
'
* - hi
w ^P w
5/5
£ u
* ' z .3
» »
1 1° 1 1 1 1 °l .
70 60 90
..-
»
a.
K
"
<
o
J° '
-
t
s
<
«
40
I
1
>-
m
o
w
a
X
.*
cTATinu m CD o> CD CD r. *
t
t
\
N
'
i
«
<
[ T
i^b
a.
NL
oe ^^^^
i '
A
\
\
1 \
I/ \
^ V
X \
3
'X
X ,
,1,1,
30 20
'
It
4
I
i
Sk
N
1 L
10
*s
/w
t» ^
^ 5 ^
s !
I i
* *
,11 PI i ,i i
T
0
c
0 '
vo o oono * m
) n V n N O
NOS.
-------
CASS RIVER
NITRATE CONCENTRATION
AUGUST 4-5, 1965 SURVEY
10.0
1.0
O.I
0.01
7
1 AW
1 1 1 1 1 till
LEGEND
A
MAXIMUM T
AVERAGE &
MINIMUM *
', ... A
a " cr
ec
w
=s
«>
uu
20
*l° 1 1 1 L 1 1 1 1 -
COMPOSITE SAMPLE
AUG. 4-5, 1965 SUR
AVERAGE 8 RANGE
OF 1965 SAMPLES
r
it*
-
x
X W
hi hi
W K
CT o «.
U 1-
ir >
r s °
t 0 oc
X 3 «
* 00
1 1° 1 1 1 1 el J° 1
VEY
^
a
^
0
hi
X
1 1 9 I I i 1 J I
A A
a.
K
1 ^ 1 1 1 1 1 -1 I
:.'
»
11 Q HU
0.
J;
X
. 3
X
hi
X
Z
h.
1 1 3 1 J 1 1 1- 1
-
«
/
/_.
*^"^"
c.
c
> U
I «
hi *
5 1
K «
n
1 U 1 1 f 1 1 -1 1
O
c
0 60* * 50 40 30 20 10 0 3D
o co 104- NOO no o o o m o o Fl
o>
6
i
UJ
a:
H
Z
STATION
NOS.
01
-------
CASS RIVER
TOTAL PHOSPHATE
AUGUST 4-5. 1965 SURVEY
1.0
O.I
0.01
7
ON
,;>: "
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
^
/v^
LEGEND
A
MAXIMUM
AVERAGE <
"' MINIMUM J.
K
U
>a.
«: '
5t .
oo
:
2U
°l° 1 1 II II 1 1 -
t
v
^
\
*
\
\
V-
COMPOSITE SAMPLE
AUG. 4-5. 1969 SURV
AVERAGE 8 RANGE
OF 1969 SAMPLES
. K
x
r s o
~ 0 «
X 34
» 00
1 1° 1 1 1 1 °l J° 1
/
A V
EY
a.'
* "
»
«
e
bl
>
<
>
X
<
»
I i S I I I 1 J I
/ *,
f \ i
\ /
\ /
V
U
a.
t>
«o
K
<
t)
)
<
>
1 -P 1 1 II 1 -t 1
A
A
/ \
/ \
/ \
^ V
/ ^
/
^*
a
»-
«
X
K
. 3
X
kl
X
Z
<
1 1 3 I -) 1 I 1- 1
*T -
'
t.
t-
0
c
K -kl
* 2
2
kl >
s ?
- 0
K <
a n
1 u 1 1 P l l -1 1
-n
o
c
0 60" 50 40 30 20 10 03)
n to V » NO o « o .O O o « -Q S1*1
o>» co e K inn » n N O
E
I
X
a.
CO
o
x
a.
NOS.
RIVER MILES
-------
CASS
TOTAL SOLIDS
AUGUST 4-5,
RIVER
AND CHLORIDES
1965 SURVEY
1000.0
0>
. E
i
«
UJ
Q
or
O
_i
X
u
O
z
f
O
c
HI
70
s TATION
NOS.
n
o>
ID
X
60
CD
O
ID
X
-------
CASS RIVER
TOTAL COUFORM DENSITIES
AUGUST 4-5, 1965 SURVEY
1,000,000
E
O
O
X.
(O
v>
O
3,000,000
1
I
\
-\
t
\
1
I
\
I
\
I
\
\
\'
«
Z
z
z
u
1C
X
4
C
h.
1 1 9 1 J I 1 1 1
s~
f %
\
sa
^»
c
*
at a
a.
w
r
I I I I P i i i t
70
TAT ION
NOS.
«
40
30
20
10
N
-------
. TABLE 9. CASS RIVER WATER QUALITY
196$ AVERAGE CONCENTRATIONS
(Seasonal and Yearly Values)
Station X610
Season
Jan-April
May-Sept
c
Oct-Dec
-
Jan-Dec
Total Total
Iron Sodium Potassium Calcium Magnesium Sulfate Hardness
U050 27 10 67 .20 95 232
\
10UO 41 8 84 31 85 328
170 35 11 74 20 53 289
2140 32 10 73 23 82 279
Note; All results in mg/1, except Iron -
Total Hardness as CaCO,
-------
TABLE 10. CASS RIVER WATER QUALITY
1965 Total and Fecal Coliform Densities
Station X610
Interval
Total Coliform
Organisms/100 ml
Fecal Coliform
Organisms/100 ml
Jan. - April
Median
Low
High
64,000
4,600
940,000
2,000
480
3,600
May - Sept.
Median
Low
High
9,000
900
>3,000,000
600
100
28,000
Oct. - Dec.
Median
Low
High
110,000
32,000
180,000
590
180
1,000
Jan. - Dec.
Median
Low
High
62,000
900
>3,000,000
1,400
100
28,000
48
-------
TABLE 11. COMPARISON OF 1965 TOTAL AND FECAL
COLIFORM DENSITIES
Station X610
(Organisms/100 ml)
Geometric
Average Median Mean Minimum Maximum
Total Coliform 330,000 62,000 54,000 900 3,000,000
Fecal Coliform 3,600 1,400 1,100 100 28,000
49
-------
SUMMARY AND WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS
In the Cass River below Frankenmuth, the DO level is very low due to
the effect of the Frankenmuth sewage treatment plant, which is presently
overloaded by industrial wastes. Relatively high levels of chlorides
were observed in the South Branch of the Cass River below Marlette, and
high bacterial levels were observed in the river below the municipalities.
Phosphates were high in certain locations and moderate throughout the rest
of the stream. The data indicate that there are moderate amounts of
pollution in the stream,with the exception of the river below Frankenmuth
where levels are excessive.
The Cass River Basin above Frankenmuth is a sparsely settled rural
farming area. There are a number of communities in the basin: Ubly (819),
located at the headwaters of the North Branch Cass River; Cass City (1,945),
located at the confluence of theEapt Branch Cass River and North Branch
Cass River; Caro, the largest city in the basin (3,534), located approxi-
mately one-third the way from Frankenmuth to Cass City; Frankenmuth (1,728),
located approximately 15 miles above the confluence with the Saginaw
River; Bridgeport Township (4,000) located near the mouth of the Cass
River; Marlette (1,640) located near the headwaters of the South Branch
Cass River; and Mayville (896) and Millington (1,159) located at the
headwaters of the tributaries to the Cass River. Bridgeport, Frankenmuth,
Vassar, Caro, Cass City, and Marlette all provide secondary treatment for
*
their waste effluent. The Caro State Hospital also provides secondary
treatment. The community of Millington presently has a sewer system but
no formal sewage treatment plant facilities.
located 5 miles downstream of Caro at Wahjemega.
50
-------
There are four industries which generate industrial waste effluent
in the basin: Michigan Sugar Company, Caro; W. N. Clark Company, Caro,
which practices spray irrigation; Crown Foods, Division of Vlasic Foods
in Bridgeport; and Nestles Company, Inc. in Ubly. With the exception of
the Nestles Company, these industrial waste control methods are rated as
adequate by the Michigan Water Resources Commission. In addition to
these, two breweries in the City of Frankenmuth discharge their waste
products to the Frankenmuth sewage treatment system, resulting in a signi-
ficant overload on the treatment plant.
In January 1965, a reconnaissance survey was conducted on the 55 miles
of stream from above Cass City to near the confluence with the Saginaw
River. Sampling stations were at approximate intervals of 3 miles - a
total of 20 sampling locations. There were moderate increases on the
bacterial levels below the cities of Cass City, Caro, and Vassar, and a
significant increase in the bacteriological load below the City of Franken-
muth, and again below the City of Bridgeport. Moderately high chloride
levels were noted after the confluence of the East Branch Cass River.
Another increase in chloride levels occurred below the City of Frankenmuth.
There were a number of DO depressions noted, especially a critical one
below the City of Frankenmuth. During the survey there was ice cover at
the various sampling locations.
Three locations on the Cass River were sampled routinely by the FWPCA
in 1965. One of these locations was on the East Branch of the Cass River
near its confluence with the Cass River. The only waste source in this
area is the Marlette sewage treatment plant, quite a distance upstream.
This location was sampled on a monthly basis from May to October. The
51
-------
results are summarized on Table 12.
The data at the first location, East Branch Cass River, indicate the
relatively good quality of the waters, with the exception of chloride
levels and a moderate amount of phosphates.
The second location is the Cass River below Caro about four miles
downstream from the Caro sewage treatment plant effluent. This location
was sampled on a semimonthly basis from September to December 1965. The
results are summarized on Table 12. The data indicate moderate levels of
pollution. Bacterial densities indicate relatively good quality water.
Chloride levels were about the same as those found upstream at Marlette;
nitrate levels increased. Dissolved oxygen levels were high, although the
high temperature low flow period was not included in this particular
sampling study. BOD levels indicated a moderate amount of pollution.
The third location was sampled routinely by the FWPCA in 1965 on a
semimonthly basis. This location is the Cass River at Bridgeport, and
is 10 miles below the Frankenmuth sewage treatment plant effluent. The
results are summarized on Table 12.
The data indicate significant increases in nitrate level, and a
moderate increase in phosphate levels. Bacterial levels indicate
excessive pollution. The chloride concentration was approximately the same
as it was at the upstream station at Marlette. The data indicated a
significant depression of DO that occurred at this station in the warm
weather months. All other parameters indicated only moderate levels of
pollution.
A special intensive OXSAG survey was conducted in 1965. Thirteen
stations on the main stem of the river, and four locations on the tributaries,
were sampled every four hours for 24 hours. DO and temperature determinations
52
-------
were made on each sample and composites were prepared for other parameters
and analyzed. Samples for bacteriological analysis were collected on one
of the six runs. The data indicated only moderate levels of bacterial
pollution, with the exception of immediately below the City of Frankenmuth
effluent. Moderate levels of chlorides were found below the confluence of
the South Branch Cass River and below Cass City. These levels were reduced
in the river below the City of Caro due tp the influence of tributaries
which have less chloride concentration. The chloride concentrations
increase significantly below the City of Frankenmuth. Excessive levels of
oxidizable nitrogen and of phosphates were found below the City of Franken-
muth. The critical DO levels and the highest BOD and COD values were also
found below the City of Frankenmuth.
There was significant diurnal variation in DO in many locations
along the river. Variations of approximately 8 mg/1 were found at four
locations in the stream. Maximum variation in the Cass River found during
the survey was approximately 12 mg/1 observed about two miles above its
confluence with the Saginaw River in the Shiawassee Flats area. Average
DO level was below 5 mg/1 in the stream reach below the Frankenmuth
sewage treatment plant. Minimum values of 0 mg/1 were found in the location
immediately below the Frankenmuth sewage treatment plant outfall. This
situation was previously reported in 1960 by the Michigan Water Resources
Commission in their study on oxygen relationships in the Cass River.
During the 1965 survey, significant degradation of quality was
evident in the Cass River below Frankenmuth. Similar conditions existed
in 1966 and in previous years as reported by others (1960). Evidence of
photosynthetic activity was shown in the upstream areas also; although
53
-------
the effect of this activity was not as great as in the lower reach. The
apparent cause of the degradation below Frankenmuth is the brewery wastes ~
which are treated at the municipal plant. This secondary biological treat-
ment plant with a sewered population of 1,700 persons discharges wastes
equivalent to the raw discharge of 30,000 people. Studies are being
undertaken to maximize waste removal.
Municipal and industrial water supplies, support of aquatic life, and
recreation are the principal quality-demanding uses of these waters. The
City of Frankenmuth and the Michigan Sugar Company at Caro (a seasonal
operation) are presently the only large users of surface waters in the
basin. A limitation to the increased use of the Cass River for water
supply is the low dependable flow.
54
-------
Table 12. Water Quality
CASS RIVER
1965
Parameters
Dissolved Oxygen
5-day BOD
BH3-N
Org-N
NOo-N
H02-N
Total P01*
Total Sol. POi^
Total Solids
Suspended Solids
Vol. Susp. .Solids
cr
Phenol
pH
X695 East Branch
US
0
0
*
k
5
1*
5
5
k
5
2
5
0
5
Avg Low High
.
- -
0.20 0.07 0.31*
0.27 0.13 0.66
o.i o.o 0.3
0.01 0.00 0.02
;- . .£.0.1 i.o
;. - ^-0.1 0.9
593 5ll* 667
1* 0 12
2 0 >
52 28 76
7.9 7-3 8.6
X670 below Caro
KS
6
6
6
5
6
1
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
Avg Low HiRh
10.2 5.8 ll*.7
6 1* 11
°-59 o;oo l.io
0.1*7 0.19 0.66
0.3 O.l 0,6
0.01 - : -
s. .
oA 0.3 0.5
0.3 0.2 b.U
U6o 1*30 1*93
11 5 17
-5 0 .:./ j9
M 37 ^3
»* 37
8.0 7.8 8.2
X6lO at Bridgeport
NS
10
7
12
12
13
9
13
13
13.
13
12
15
Ik
15
Avg Low Hi eh
8.9 3-^ 12.6
1* 2 6
).56 0.19 0.93
0.27 0.07 0.70
1..0 0.2 1.6
0.02 0.01 O.Ql*
0.5 0.2 1.3
0.1* 0.1 1.2
1*69 218 581*
35 8 12l*
9 2 29
Ul 7 91
1* V "." 8
7.8 7.^: 8A
-------
Table 12. Water Quality (cont'd)
CASS RIVER
1965
Parameters
Total Iron
Sodium
Potassium
Calcium
Magnesium
Sulfate
Total Hardness
Conductivity
Total Coliform
Fecal Coliform
Fecal Strep
Total Plate Count 20°<
Total Plate Count 35°C
X695 East Branch
NS
1
2
2
2
3
*
0
5
0
f
0
o
0
0
Avg Low High
100
30 19 itl
10 7 12
8U 76 92
30 20 38
176 lltO 220
'-"'-.
8Uo 7^0 920
i
.
: - -
-.' ' ' "
-
NS
6
it
k
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
0
0
X670 below Caro
Avg Low High
T ; .£100 200
25 8 32
10 :8 10
76 61t 90
25 17 29
73 50 ..... 90
292 2W 32U
650 600 720
\
21*5 180 7,800
60 10 MX)
90 ^.5 260
.
x^
NS
13
11
11
13
13
13
lit
16
*.
12
12
0
0
O at -fir-id export-
Avg Low High
2,200 100 10,800
32 It 82
10 5 i5
73 30 9^t
23 6 36
82 20 135
279 9V 361
606 200 83c
6it,ooo 900 > 3,000,000
1,350 100 28,000
250 20 19,000
.'...
-------
NOTES
for
WATER QJALITY TABLES
US ........ .... Number of samples
Chemical Parameters
Cl ... ......... Chloride Mg ............ Magnesium
Fe ............ Iron Na ............ Sodium
SOU ....... ..... Sulfate K ............ Potassium
SI ............ Silica 003 ...... ..... . Carbonate
Ca ..... ....... Calcium HCOg ...... ...... Bicarbonate
Total hardness: reported as CaC03
Nitrogens: ammonia (NH3), organic, nitrates (^3), and
nitrites (NC>2) reported as nitrogen equivalent (N)
Phosphates: reported as
Total phosphates include: ortho, poly, biological, and organic
Total soluble phosphates Include: soluble ortho, soluble poly, and
soluble organic
pH: reported in standard units
All results recorded in milligrams per liter (mg/l) except:
phenols and iron ............ miorograms per liter (ug/1)
conductivity «........».. mlcromhos per centimeter (umhos/cm)
Microbiological Parameters
Total Collform )
Fecal Coliform ) reported as organisms(MF)/100 ml
Fecal Streptococcus ).-
Total Plate Count: number of bacteria/ml
Median value is used for "average" statistic except as noted.
Indeterminate values (less than^- or greater than.> ) not used
in calculating average
------- |