S&A/TSB-l
SUMMARY OF A WATER QUALITY SURVEY
GREELEY, COLORADO
November 16-19, 1971
TECHNICAL SUPPORT BRANCH
SURVEILLANCE AND ANALYSIS DIVISION
U. S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
REGION VIII
July 197X
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page No.
I. Introduction 1
II. Description of the Area 1
III. Applicable Water Quality Criteria 2
IV. Survey Methods 5
V. Analysis of Results 8
A. Waste Discharges (Chemical) 8
B. River Stations (Chemical) 10
C. Sampling Stations (Microbiological) 13
D. Dissolved Oxygen Profile 13
VI. Summary and Conclusions 17
VII. Recommendations 18
Appendix A - Laboratory Analysis 19
Appendix B - Field Data 21
Appendix C - Microbiological Data 23
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LIST OF TABLES
Table Page No.
1. Station Locations and Descriptions 6
2. Laboratory Results - Greeley Wastewater
Treatment Plant 9
3. Laboratory Results - Great Western - Period 1 ... 9
4. Laboratory Results - Great Western - Period 2 ... 10
5. River Stations - Selected Parameters - Period 1 . . 11
6. River Stations - Selected Parameters - Period 2 . . 11
7. River Stations - Dissolved Oxygen - Period 1 .... 12
8. River Stations - Dissolved Oxygen - Period 2 .... 12
9. Microbiological Data 14
10. Dissolved Oxygen Profile Data 16
A-l Laboratory Data - First Compositing Period 19
A-2 Laboratory Data - Second Compositing Period .... 20
B-l Field Data - First Compositing Period 21
B-2 Field Data - Second Compositing Period 22
C-l Microbiological Data 23
ii
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure Page No.
1. Map of Survey Area 7
2. Dissolved Oxygen Profile Stations 15
iii
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I. Introduction
A water quality survey was conducted on the Cache La Poudre
River and on selected waste discharges in the Greeley, Colorado,
area during the period from November 16 to November 18, 1971. The
purpose of the survey was to assess the effect of Great Western's
sugar factory on the Cache La Poudre River and to determine the
characteristics of the waste discharged from this plant. Because
of the close proximity of Great Western's factory to the Greeley
wastewater treatment facility, and because of other possible
sources of wastes (i.e. feedlots) in the area, the water quality
survey included the entire Greeley area.
II. Description of the Area
The Cache La Poudre River flows through portions of the City
of Greeley and is bounded by agricultural lands, marshy areas,
gravel pits, feed lots, a city park, residential areas, junk yards,
a packing plant, a livestock truck washing operation, a sugar beet
factory, a wastewater treatment facility, etc. This development
that has taken place on the flood plain provides a high potential
for waste materials to enter the river during periods of runoff.
There are, however, only a limited number of direct discharges to
the river. In addition to the discharge from the Greeley wastewater
facility and the two discharges from Great Western's factory, there
were observed several small drainage ditches, which appeared to be
carrying surface water, and several storm sewer outfalls. Only two
discharges were sampled during the water quality survey: the
effluent from the Greeley wastewater treatment facility and the
spent flume water from Great Western's factory.
The Greeley wastewater treatment facility consists of an old
and a new plant located immediately adjacent to each other. The
older plant is a trickling filter facility which had not been in
operation for several months. Prior to discontinuing use of the
filters, the facility was used to treat the wastes from the large
packing plant located in Greeley. Future plans are to abandon the
filters completely and treat the packing house wastes at a new
facility to be constructed east of Greeley. In the meantime the
filters were scheduled to be placed back into operation during the
first part of December 1971.
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The new plant uses the activated sludge process to provide
secondary treatment. This plant was originally designed to treat
only the domestic wastes from the City of Greeley. During the
survey, this plant was receiving both the domestic and packing
house wastes which was severely overloading the facility, resulting
in a very poor quality effluent.
The final effluent is chlorinated prior to discharge to
the Cache La Poudre River. A low head dam has been built on
the river to provide sufficient water elevation for an intake
to the Great Western Sugar factory. The effluent from the Greeley
wastewater treatment plant discharges immediately downstream of
this dam.
Two discharges from the Great Western Sugar factory were
observed during the water quality survey. The smaller of the
discharges is apparently the excess condenser water from the
factory. This effluent is relatively clear, has a high tempera-
ture as evidenced by the steam, has a relatively small flow and
does not continuously discharge.
The other effluent from the Great Western factory consists,
for the most part, of spent flume water. This water is passed
through a "serpentine" ditch to allow for some settling of solids
and is then discharged directly to the Cache La Poudre River.
The effluent to the river is black in color, has a noticeable
high solids content, and gives off an odor characteristic of septic
wastes. The black effluent hugs the south bank of the river for
several hundred feet downstream of the outfall.
The excess condensor water effluent discharges to the river
adjacent to the Greeley wastewater treatment plant and the flume
water discharges approximately one-half mile downstream of this
location.
III. Applicable Water Quality Criteria
A summary of water quality standards that apply to the Cache
La Poudre River in the vicinity of Greeley, as well as those por-
tions of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, that apply to the
Great Western Sugar Company's refinery at Greeley are summarized
briefly below.
As of June 10, 1970, the classification of the lower reaches
of the Cache La Poudre River has been C & D^. This classification
of the river is effective for all waters downstream of the Second
Avenue Bridge in Greeley, which is just upstream of the Greeley
wastewater treatment facility and the discharges from Great Western's
refinery. According to the Water Quality Standards for Colorado,
the following criteria apply to a C & DI stream:
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1. Dissolved Oxygen - Not less than 3 mg/1.
2. pH - Maintained between 5.0 and 9.0.
3. Turbidity - Shall not exist in concentrations that will interfere
with established levels of treatment.
4. Temperature - Not to exceed 93°F.
5. Total dissolved solids (salt) concentrations and the Sodium
Adsorption Ratio computed on a time-weighted monthly mean basis
that exceeds the time-weighted monthly mean for a base period by
more than two standard deviations shall be subject to review by
the Commission.
6. Toxic Material - Free from biocides, toxic, or other deleterious
substances attributable to municipal, domestic, industrial wastes,
or other controllable sources in concentrations or combinations
which are harmful to crop life.
As of September 1, 1971, the State of Colorado set a new stream
classification of A,C,D for the Cache La Poudre at Greeley, Colorado.
However, there is a question as to the procedure used by Colorado in
setting this new stream classification. An "A" classification would
include the following criteria:
1. Fecal Coliform - (MPN or mf) Not to exceed a log mean of 1000 per
100 ml, or not to exceed 2000 per 100 ml in more than 10% of the
samples collected in any 30-day period.
2. Dissolved oxygen - Greater than 4.0 mg/1.
3. pH - Maintained between 6.0 and 9.0.
4. Free from taste and odor-producing materials.
5. Total dissolved solids - Computed on an annual volume weighted
average, not to exceed 500 mg/1.
In addition, Colorado has basic criteria that apply to all
waters which include:
1. Waters of the state whose quality exceeds that quality set in
the Water Quality Standards shall be maintained at existing
quality until it can be demonstrated to the state that a change
in quality is justified for economic and social development.
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2. All wastes shall receive secondary treatment with disinfection
or its industrial equivalent unless it can be demonstrated that
the standards applicable to the classified water can be attained
with a lesser degree of treatment.
3. All waters shall be free from municipal, domestic, or industrial
wastes that will produce objectionable odor, color, taste,
turbidity, objectionable aquatic life; or that will settle to
form unsightly putrescent or odorous bottom deposits; or that
will contribute unsightly floating debris, oil, grease, scum, or
other floating material; and be free from high temperatures,
biocides, toxic, or other deleterious substances sufficient to
be harmful to human or animal life.
For purposes of enforcement of water classification standards,
sampling of the waters shall be done at any point, except for areas
immediately adjacent to outfalls.
In addition to the water quality standards the discharge from
Great Western is controlled by the Refuse Act as outlined below:
"According to the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, it shall
be unlawful to discharge or deposit from a manufacturing
establishment or mill of any kind, any refuse matter of any
kind or description, into any navigable water of the United
States, or any tributary of any navigable water from which
the same shall float or be washed into such navigable water.
It is provided further that the Secretary of the Army, when-
ever in the judgment of the Chief of Engineers, anchorage
and navigation will not be injured thereby, may permit the
deposit of any material within limits, provided application
is made to him prior to depositing such material; and when-
ever any permit is so granted, the conditions thereof shall
be strictly complied with, and any violation is unlawful."
Great Western Sugar Company of Greeley, Colorado, has filed for
a discharge permit. However, the permit section does not feel that
a permit can be issued to Great Western until their method of waste
water treatment has been improved.
1. August, 1969 - Final plans for implementation due (date set in
Colorado Water Quality Implementation Plan).
2. December, 1970 - Abatement date (set in the Colorado Water
Quality Implementation Flan).
3. June, 1971 - Compliance date (set at the South Platte Enforce-
ment Conference, November 10, 1966.)
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Since the Enforcement Conference (1966), the only additions
to the waste treatment at Greeley have been a serpentine ditch
and a vibrating screen for the flume, wash, and condenser water
discharge.
IV. Survey Methods
Nine stations were selected for sampling on the Cache La Foudre
River. Station locations and descriptions are outlined in Table 1,
and station locations are depicted in Figure 1. In addition to the
river stations, samples were also taken of the Greeley wastewater
treatment facility effluent, and of Great Western Sugar Company's
influent, factory effluent and discharge to the Cache La Poudre
River.
To determine what variktions might occur over a 24-hour period,
three eight-hour intervals were selected for composite sampling.
Four uniformly sized samples were to be collected and composited
from each station on a bi-hourly basis. However, the distance
between stations and the number of stations made bi-hourly sampling
difficult, and the first compository period extended beyond the
eight-hour Interval. The first sampling period was from 4:00 p.m.,
until 3:15 a.m., on November 16, 17, 1971. The second sampling pe-
riod was from 8:00 a.m., until 3:30 p.m., on November 17, 1971.
The third sampling interval was scheduled for 12:00 midnight to
8:00 a.m., on November 18, 1971; however, no samples were collected.
Field measurements of pH, dissolved oxygen, and temperature
were determined on the majority of grab samples collected. All
laboratory analyses, except collform determinations, were made by
the EPA Region VIII laboratory. Collform determinations were made
by the Colorado State Department of Health.
Previous state data from the Cache La Poudre in the Greeley
area Indicated that collform contamination was occurring upstream
of the Second Avenue Bridge (CLP-4) , and downstream of sampling
station CLP-6 (see Figure 1). An attempt to "bracket" this sus-
pected bacterial pollution was made by collecting grab samples for
bacterial analysis only at stations 5A, B, C, and D. Grab samples
for bacteriological analyses were collected from the other sampling
stations on November 16, 17, 18, 1971.
In addition to the composite sampling and grab sampling, a
dissolved oxygen profile was run on a portion of the river on
November 18, 1971. The profile was run on stations downstream of
Greeley and Great Western's factory. The profile extended to the
confluence of the Cache La Poudre River with the South Platte River.
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TABLE I
Station Locations and Descriptions
Greeley - Cache La Poudre Survey
November 16 = 18, 1971
Station Number __ Station Dsscript: ign
CLP - 6 Cache La Poudre River at bridge south of Seeley
Lake*
CLP - 5A Cache La Poudre River at foot bridge adjacent to
Island Grove Park.
CLP - 5B Cache La Poudre River at 8th Avenue Bridge.
CLP - 5C Cache La Poudre River at 6th Avenue Bridge.
CLP - 3D Cache La Poudre River at 5th Street Bridge.
CLP - 4 Cache La Poudre River at 2nd Avenue Bridge.
CLP - 3 Cache La Poudre River at first bridge downstream
of lowhead dam.
CLP - 2 Cache La Poudre immediately upstream of Great
Western's "serpentine ditch" discharge
(south bank).
CLP - 1 Cache La Poudre River at bridge south of airport
(USGS GAGE).
CLP - 7 Greeley Wastewater Treatment Facility chlorinated
effluent.
CLP - 8 Great Western Sugar Company's water supply intake
(source - Cache La Poudre River).
CLP - 9 Great Western Sugar Company's factory effluent.
CLP - 10 Great Western Sugar Company's effluent to Cache
La Poudre River.
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PAGE NOT
AVAILABLE
DIGITALLY
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V. Analysis of Results
The survey results are selectively presented in the following
section. Appendix A - Laboratory Analysis, Appendix B - Field
Data, and Appendix C - Microbiological Data, present a complete
listing of the survey data. Data in this section are presented
for both compositing periods. Compositing Period #1 will desig-
nate the data determined from samples collected on November 16-17,
1971, from 4:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. Period #2 will designate the
data determined from samples collected on November 17, 1971, from
8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
A. Waste Discharges
1. Greeley Wastewater Treatment Facility
Table 2 presents the effluent data obtained from the Greeley
wastewater treatment facility. The high values indicated in
the Table emphasize the poor quality of the treated effluent.
This poor quality is a direct result of the extremely over-
loaded condition of the plant. Flow at the plant was not
determined for each compositing period and, therefore,
loadings to the Cache La Poudre River cannot be calculated.
The total flow through the plant on November 16, 1971, was
6.9 million gallons and on November 17 it was 7.0 million
gallons. It is anticipated that Greeley's plans to start up
the trickling filter portion of their plant will alleviate
some of the overloaded condition and show an improvement in
the effluent quality.
2. Great Western Sugar Factory
Tables 3 and 4 present the data obtained from the influent
and effluent samples collected from the "serpentine ditch"
of the Great Western Sugar factory.
Table 3 presents the data on influent and effluent quality
as well as percentage reduction of selected parameters for
compositing Period 1. Low reductions are indicated since
at night the strength of the influent decreases while the
effluent reflects the day's load due to the four to eight-
hour detention time in the "ditch". Table 4 shows the
same information as Table 3 for compositing Period 2. This
Table shows increased percentages of reduction; however,
the ineptness of the serpentine ditch as a treatment system
is well reflected in the poor (low) removal efficiencies.
The waste discharged from the Great Western factory is sig-
nificantly a higher strength waste than that discharged
from the overloaded wastewater treatment facility. (See
Tables 2, 3, and 4). The high total suspended solids (TSS)
in the Great Western Effluent are capable of causing
sludge banks in the Cache La Poudre River. Indeed, sludge
8
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banks may have been present at the time of this survey but
they were not observable due to the high turbidity of the
water in the river. It is noted in Tables 3 and 4 that
the volatile suspended solids (VSS) are only a small
percentage (less than 25%) of the TSS. This reflects the
"mud" characteristics of the beet flume or transport water,
The rapid depletion of dissolved oxygen (from greater
than 4 to 0 in the four to eight hours detention time
in the serpentine ditch) indicates the rapid oxygen uptake
rate for the sugar waste.
Table 2
Laboratory Results - Greeley Wastewater Treatment Plant
Greeley - Cache La Poudre Survey
November 16-18, 1971
Period 1
Period 2
BOD5
mg/1
145
177
TSS
mg/1
194
108
VSS
mg/1
104
84
Total
Carbon
mg/1
108
116
Turb.
JTU
94
90
D.O.*
mg/1
2.60
2.15
^Average of grab samples
Table 3
Laboratory Results - Great Western - Period 1
Greeley - Cache La Poudre Survey
November 16-18, 1971
Station
BODs
mg/1
TSS
mg/1
VSS
mg/1
Total
Carbon
mg/1
Turb.
JTU
D.O.*
mg/1
CLP-9 (Inf.) 345 1908 252 126 720 4.15
CLP-10 (Eff.) 465 1556 260 146 560 0.00
% Reduction 0 18.5 0 0 22.2
^Average of grab samples
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Table 4
Laboratory Results - Great Western - Period 2
Greeley - Cache La Poudre Survey
November 16-18, 1971
Station
BOD5
mg/1
TSS
'mg/1
VSS
mg/1
Total
Carbon
mg/1
Turb.
JTU
D.O.*
rag/1
CLP-9 (Inf.)
CLP-10 (Eff.)
% Reduction
*Average of grab samples
555
315
43.3
1168
992
15.1
232
204
12.1
231 500 4.12
148 400 0.00
35.9 20.0
Tables 3 and 4 indicate that Great Western was dis-
charging an effluent containing waste materials that
could be classified as refuse.
B. River Stations
A summary of selected water quality parameters for the
composited river stations is shown in Table 5 (Period 1) and
Table 6 (Period 2). A trend can be established from this
data. In all cases the water quality, as indicated by the
selected parameters, decreased as it progressed downstream.
The decrease in water quality ties in directly with the two
major waste discharges.
Station CLP-4 was located in the backwater of the low
head dam and the data suggests that this pond was behaving
as a lagoon, causing a reduction in BOD^ and an increase in
solids and turbidity due to biological growth.
The conclusion that can be drawn from the data presented
in Tables 5 and 6 is that the waste discharges from the Greeley
wastewater treatment plant and Great Western's sugar refinery
did cause an impact on the water quality in the Cache La
Poudre River and degraded this quality to the degree indicated
by the values in the Tables.
Tables 7 and 8 indicate the dissolved oxygen values obtained
during each compositing period. The dissolved oxygen concentra-
tion decreased progressively in the downstream direction.
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Table 5
River Stations - Selected Parameters - Period 1
Greeley - Cache La Poudre Survey
November 16-18, 1971
BOD5
Station mg/1
CLP-6
CLP-4
Greeley Eff. — >
CLP-3
CLP-2
Great Western Effr->
CLP-1 "
6
1
|
CLP-3
CLP-2
Great Western Eff^r>
CLP-1 ^
5
3
o
(0
S 13
(D
» 15
r 13
TSS
mg/1
25
50
119
80
87
VSS
mg/1
3
5
34
15
15
Total
Carbon
mg/1
46
53
50
56
56
Turb.
JTU
7
15
19
21
24
11
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Table 7
River Stations - Dissolved Oxygen - Period 1
Greeley - Cache La Poudre Survey
November 16-18, 1971
D.O. A
D.O.*
Station mg/1
CLP-6
CLP-4
Greeley Eff . >
CLP-3
CLP-2
Great Western Eff.— >
CLP-1 ^
9.2
8.2
e
i
S 9.0
n
n
3 8.8
f 7.9
* Aver age of two grab samples.
**Average of four determinations.
Table 8
River Stations - Dissolved
Temp**
°C
5.5
6.2
6.9
7.5
7.5
Oxygen -
Saturation
tng/1
12.6
12.4
12.2
12.0
12.0
Period 2
D.O.
mg/1
3.4
4.2
3.2
3.2
4.1
Greeley - Cache La Poudre Survey
November 16-18
D.O.*
Station mg/1
CLP-6
CLP-4
Greeley Eff. — >
CLP-3
CLP-2
Great Western Eff/— >
CLP-1
10.2
9.6
o3
Cfl
3 9.2
m
% 9.0
' 7.8
, 1971
Temp**
°C
4.3
4.7
5.2
5.7
5.1
D.O.
Saturation
mg/1
13.0
12.9
12.7
12.6
12.8
A
D.O.
mg/1
2.8
3.3
3.5
3.6
5.0
*Average of two grab samples.
**Average of four determinations.
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As above, the results at station CLP-4 can be explained by the
sample being collected in the backwater of a low head dam.
It is shown in Tables 7 and 8 that the depression of dissolved
oxygen concentration below that of saturation also increased as one
progressed downstream. This reflects the impact of the waste dis-
charges. The rapid uptake of oxygen exerted by the sugar refinery
waste is evidenced by the larger drop in dissolved oxygen concentra-
tion below Great Western's outfall.
It is noted that despite the dissolved oxygen depression, the
concentration of dissolved oxygen in the stream did not fall below
the 3.0 mg/1 water quality standard.
C. Sampling Stations - Microbiological
The microbiological data are presented in Table 9. As can be
seen in this Table, again there was a degradation of water quality
as one progressed downstream.
The coliform concentrations in the chlorinated Greeley waste-
water treatment plant effluent (CLP-7) were extremely high. The
high solids content of the effluent was apparently interfering with
the effectiveness of the chlorination.
Great Western's effluent (CLP-10) also had high coliform
concentrations (210,000 to 300,000 MPN per 100 ml).
It is noted that the CLP-5A through 5D stations were used in
an attempt to bracket areas of bacterial pollution upstream of the
low head dam (CLP-4). The data collected on 11/18/71 for station
CLP-5C indicate that an upstream source of bacterial pollution
exists. Visual observations were made to try and reveal this
source but no conclusions were made. A more detailed study will
be required in this stretch of the river.
Below station CLP-4 or the 2nd Avenue bridge no coliform stan-
dard exists for the Cache La Poudre River so that the high concen-
trations observed do not violate water quality standards as they now are
established.
D. Dissolved Oxygen Profile
On November 19, 1971, a dissolved oxygen profile was run on the
Cache La Poudre River below the Great Western outfall. The sampling
station locations are depicted in Figure 2. The data are tabulated
in Table 10.
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Table 9
Microbiological Data **
Greeley.- Cache La Poudre Survey
November 16-18, 1971
Station
Number Station Description 11/16/71 11/17/71 11/18/71
CLP-6 Cache La Poudre 2,400* 2,200 2,200
Upstream Station 150 300 2,200
CLP-5A Cache La Poudre 960
Adjacent to 300
Island Grove Park
CLP-5B Cache La Poudre at 2,400 2,200
8th Avenue Bridge 300 150
CLP-5C Cache La Poudre at - 2,400 22,000
6th Avenue Bridge - 300 22,000
CLP-5D Cache La Poudre at - - 22,000
5th Street Bridge - - 220
CLP-4 Cache La Poudre at 220,000 240,000 220,000
2nd Avenue Bridge 2,200 2,200 5,000
CLP-7 Greeley S.T.P. 22,000,000 2,400,000 2,200,000
Chlorinated Effluent 22,000 22,000 22,000
CLP-3 Cache La Poudre at
First Bridge 2,400,000 150,000 220,000
Downstream of 2,400,000 22,000 220,000
Greeley S.T.P. Eff.
CLP-2 Cache La Poudre 2,200,000 88,000 220,000
Upstream of Great 300,000 22,000 220,000
Western Effluent (Bank)
CLP-8 Great Western's Water 2,200 2,200 24,000
Intake from Cache 300 300 1,500
La Poudre River
CLP-10 Effluent from Great 2,200,000 2,200,000 22,000,000
Western Sugar Plant 300,000 210,000 300,000
CLP-1 Downstream Station on 2,200,000 300,000 220,000
Cache La Poudre Near 2,200,000 50,000 22,000
USGS Gage
* Values in Table are presented with total colifonn counts (MPN) on top and
fecal colifonn counts (MPN) on the bottom.
** Values determined by the Colorado Department of Health.
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DISSOLVED OXYGEN PROFILE STATIONS
FIGURE 2
GREELEY - CACHE LA POUDRE, SURVEY
NOVEMBER 16-18, 1971
WELD COUNTY
CIPAL AIRPORT
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Table 10
Dissolved Oxygen Profile Data
Greeley - Cache La Poudre Survey
November 19, 1971
Station
1
2
3
4
5
6
^
NS*
ss**
NS
SS
S1 NS
| SS
0)
S NS
| SS
NS
SS
NS
f SS
D.O.
mg/1
9.9
8.1
10.0
7.1
9.5
8.5
8.9
8.8
8.8
8.7
6.2
6.2
Temp
°C
4.9
9.0
4.2
8.0
4.5
4.5
4.5
4.5
4.9
4.9
6.0
6.0
D.O.
Saturation
mg/1
12.8
11.6
13.1
11.9
13.0
13.0
13.0
13.0
12.8
12.8
12.5
12.5
D.O.
mg/1
2.9
3.5
3.1
4.8
3.5
4.5
4.1
4.2
4.0
4.1
6.3
6.3
* Northside of River at North Quarter Point
** Southside of River at South Quarter Point
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As can be seen by the differences in dissolved oxygen concentra-
tions for stations 1, 2, and 3, the effluent from the Great
Western factory stayed on the south side of the river. The data
also indicate that downstream of station 3 the contents in the
river were completely mixed.
As the flow progressed downstream the depression of dissolved
oxygen concentration below that of saturation increased to 6.3
mg/1 at the confluence of the Cache La Poudre with the Platte
River. Although this represents a significant reduction in
dissolved oxygen concentration, the standard of 3 mg/1 was not
violated.
It is noted that the depression of dissolved oxygen concen-
tration is due to the combination of wastes from Great Western
and Greeley.
VI. Summary and Conclusions
The results of the survey and the observations made are summarized
below:
1. The Greeley wastewater treatment facility was overloaded and was
not producing a satisfactory effluent. The start-up of the
old (trickling filter) portion of the plant may alleviate a
portion of this overloaded condition.
2. The Great Western Sugar Refinery was discharging high strength
waste that had received a minimal amount of treatment.
3. The waste discharges from the Greeley wastewater treatment facility
and Great Western's factory had an adverse effect on the water
quality of the Cache La Poudre River. Chemical parameters,
microbiological parameters, and dissolved oxygen concentrations
all indicated the adverse impact on river water quality.
4. Despite the adverse effects of the waste discharges from Greeley
and Great Western, existing water quality standards were not
violated.
5. Coliform contamination was indicated upstream of the Greeley and
Great Western discharges.
6. The discharge from Great Western's factory may be considered
as refuse matter and, therefore, they are in violation of the
Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899.
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VII. Recommendations
1. The loading on the Greeley wastewater treatment facility must be
reduced either through use of the old plant or plant expansion
so that the plant can perform in a satisfactory manner and
reduce the pollutional load to the Cache La Poudre River.
2. Great Western must provide wastewater treatment facilities
at its Greeley factory in order to provide an effluent that
will be suitable for discharge to the Cache La Poudre River.
3. Further investigations should be made in the Greeley area to
determine the sources of bacterial pollution that apparently
exist upstream of Greeleyfs and Great Western's discharge.
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APPENDIX A
LABORATORY ANALYSIS
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Table A-l
Laboratory Data - First Compositing Period
Greeley - Cache La Poudre Survey
November 16-18, 1971
Para-
meter
Sta-
tion BODc;
CLP-1
CLP- 2
CLP-3
CLP- 4
CLP-6
CLP- 7
CLP- 8
CLP- 9
CLP-10
28
19
11
1
6
145
8
345
465
DO
7.70
8.05
8.90
8.75
8.95
9.10
9.10
7.40
9.05
9.35
2.60
2.60
9.40
8.95
4.15
4.15
0.00
0.00
PH
6.50
6.40
6.40
6.40
6.50
6.50
6.55
6.80
6.70
Conduc-
tivity
M-MHOS
CM
1508
1508
1479
1531
1380
939
1479
1380
1479
Turbi-
dity
JTU
26
19
17
23
15
94
9
720
560
Alka-
linity Chlor-
mg/1 ides
as mg/L Total
CaCO-} Cl Carbon
242
241
228
229
211
253
232
441
556
63
61
59
56
52
108
56
126
146
Total
Inorg.
Carbon
57
57
55
53
52
71
54
98
114
Total
Dissolved
Solids
mg/L
1035
999
985
1030
888
513
966
705
910
Total
Suspended
Solids
mg/L
101
114
97
108
66
194
56
1908
1556
Volatile
Suspended
Solids
mg/L
28
17
9
11
5
104
1
252
260
-------
Table A-2
Laboratory Data - Second Compsiting Period
Greeley - Cache La Poudre Survey
November 16-18, 1971
Para-
meter
Sta-
tion
CLP-1
CLP-2
CLP-3
CLP-4
CLP-6
CLP-7
CLP-8
CLP-9
CLP-1 0
BOD5
13
15
13
3
5
177
0
555
315
DO
7.70
8.00
8.80
9.30
8.75
9.75
9.65
10.25
2.15
8.60
8.20
4.05
4.20
0.00
0.00
PH
6.50
6.35
6.00
6.20
6.30
6.30
6.65
6.20
6.30
Conduc-
tivity
M-MHOS
CM
1450
1479
1363
1508
1392
986
1479
1479
1508
Turbi-
dity
JTU
24
21
19
15
7
90
8
500
400
Alka-
linity
mg/1
as
CaC03
241
240
211
225
210
268
239
335
457
Chlor-
ides
mg/L Total
Cl Carbon
20
23
21
17
17
18
20
64
66
70
57
53
116
60
231
148
Total
Inorg.
Carbon
56
56
50
53
46
78
53
104
108
Total
Dissolved
Solids
mg/L
1034
1031
917
1040
921
664
1016
1056
943
Total
Suspended
Solids
mg/L
87
80
119
50
25
108
19
1168
992
Volatile
Suspended
Solids
mg/L
15
15
34
5
3
84
0
232
204
-------
APPENDIX B
FIELD DATA
-------
Table B-l
Field Data - First Compositing Period
Greeley - Cache La Poudre Survey
November 16-18, 1971
Station
Number
CLP-1
CLP-2
CLP-3
CLP-4
CLP-6
CLP- 7
CLP-8
CLP-9
CLP-10
Time
4:00 P.M.
8:25 P.M.
10:17 P.M.
12:06 A.M.
5:55 P.M.
4:25 P.M.
10:52 P.M.
1:21 A.M.
6:25 P.M.
9:40 P.M.
11:02 P.M.
1:46 A.M.
7:23 P.M.
10:05 P.M.
11:33 P.M.
2:45 A.M.
7:55 P.M.
3:14 A.M.
7:05 P.M.
9:55 P.M.
11:21 P.M.
2:25 A.M.
6:45 P.M.
9:47 P.M.
11:15 P.M.
2:07 A.M.
4:35 P.M.
8:43 P.M.
10:31 P.M.
12:40 A.M.
5:35 P.M.
9:17 P.M.
10:45 P.M.
1:00 A.M.
Temp
°F
43
46
46
47
46
45
46
45
46
45
44
44
45
44
44
43
42
42
60
62
60
60
45
46
46
45
75
84
88
83
75
78
78
76
Field
pH
6.05
6.4
6.0
7.6
6.7
6.5
6.0
7.0
6.2
8.7
6.7
6.8
6.7
6.3
6.5
6.5
6.7
6.3
Probe
D.O.
mg/1
8.6
9.3
8.0
8.2
7.5
7.2
6.8
8.7
7.8
8.1
7.5
10.0
7.8
7.9
6.6
9.0
8.2
11.0
3.2
2.7
2.5
4.0
7.7
7.7
6.8
8.6
4.5
7.0
4.0
4.2
0.4
0.6
0.7
0.5
Remarks
Grab for Lab D.O.
Grab for Lab D.O.
Grab for Lab D.O.
Grab for Lab D.O.
Grab for Lab D.O.
Grab for Lab D.O.
Grab for Lab D.O.
Grab for Lab D.O.
Grab for Lab D.O.
Grab for Lab D.O.
Grab for Lab D.O.
Grab for Lab D.O.
Grab for Lab D.O.
Grab for Lab D.O.
Grab for Lab D.O.
Grab for Lab D.O.
Grab for Lab D.O.
Grab for Lab D.O.
21
-------
Table B-2
Field Data - Second Compositing Period
Greeley - Cache La Poudre Survey
November 16-18, 1971
Station
Number
CLP-1
CLP- 2
CLP- 3
CLP- 4
CLP- 6
CLP- 7
CLP- 8
CLP- 9
CLP- 10
Time
8:30
11:40
1:15
2:15
9:40
12:05
1:30
2:35
10:20
12:15
1:45
2:50
11:00
12:35
2:05
3:10
11:20
12:50
3:20
10:45
12:30
1:55
3:05
10:30
12:25
1:50
3:00
9:20
11:55
1:25
2:25
9:55
12:10
1:35
2:30
A.M.
A.M.
P.M.
P.M.
A.M.
P.M.
P.M.
P.M.
A.M.
P.M.
P.M.
P.M.
A.M.
P.M.
P.M.
P.M.
A.M.
P.M.
P.M.
A.M.
P.M.
P.M.
P.M.
A.M.
P.M.
P.M.
P.M.
A.M.
A.M.
P.M.
P.M.
A.M.
P.M.
P.M.
P.M.
Temp
°C
4
5
6
5
5
6
6
5
5
6
5
5
5
4
4
4
5
4
4
14
15
15
15
5
5
5
5
24
29
27
25
21
21
20
20
.0
.5
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.8
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.5
.5
.8
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
Field
PH
6.2
6.4
6.5
6.9
6.5
6.4
6.4
6.4
6.3
6.2
6.9
7.3
7.4
6.8
6.9
6.6
7.4
6.7
7.2
6.8
8.5
8.2
8.7
8.0
7.5
6.7
6.2
6.4
7.0
Probe
D.O.
mg/1
8
9
9
9
10
10
10
10
10
9
10
10
11
10
11
11
11
11
10
3
2
2
2
9
9
9
9
6
6
7
5
3
2
1
1
.7
.2
.2
.2
.3
.0
.6
.6
.0
.6
.6
.6
.1
.8
.2
.6
.0
.6
.6
.8
.8
.5
.6
.3
.4
.6
.5
.3
.4
.0
.7
.0
.1
.7
.4
Remarks
Grab
Grab
Grab
Grab
Grab
Grab
Grab
Grab
Grab
Grab
Grab
Grab
Grab
Grab
Grab
for
for
for
for
for
for
for
for
for
for
for
for
for
for
for
Lab
Lab
Lab
Lab
Lab
Lab
Lab
Lab
Lab
Lab
Lab
Lab
Lab
Lab
Lab
D.O.
D.O.
D.O.
D.O.
D.O.
D.O.
D.O.
D.O.
D.O.
D.O.
D.O.
D.O.
D.O.
D.O.
D.O.
22
-------
APPENDIX C
MICROBIOLOGICAL DATA
-------
Table C-l
Microbiological Data **
Greeley - Cache La Poudre Survey
November 16-18, 1971
Station
Number Station Description 11/16/71 11/17/71 11/18/71
CLP-6 Cache La Poudre 2,400* 2,200 2,200
Upstream Station 150 300 2,200
CLP-5A Cache La Poudre 960
Adjacent to 300
Island Grove Park
CLP-5B Cache La Poudre at 2,400 2,200
8th Avenue Bridge 300 150
CLP-5C Cache La Poudre at - 2,400 22,000
6th Avenue Bridge - 300 22,000
CLP-5D Cache La Poudre at - - 22,000
5th Street Bridge - - 220
CLP-4 Cache La Poudre at 220,000 240,000 220,000
2nd Avenue Bridge 2,200 2,200 5,000
CLP-7 Greeley S.T.P. 22,000,000 2,400,000 2,200,000
Chlorinated Effluent 22,000 22,000 22,000
CLP-3 Cache La Poudre at
First Bridge 2,400,000 150,000 220,000
Downstream of 2,400,000 22,000 220,000
Greeley S.T.P. Eff.
CLP-2 Cache La Poudre 2,200,000 88,000 220,000
Upstream of Great 300,000 22,000 220,000
Western Effluent (Bank)
CLP-8 Great Western's Water 2,200 2,200 24,000
Intake from Cache 300 300 1,500
La Poudre River
CLP-10 Effluent from Great 2,200,000 2,200,000 22,000,000
Western Sugar Plant 300,000 210,000 300,000
CLP-1 Downstream Station on 2,200,000 300,000 220,000
Cache La Poudre Near 2,200,000 50,000 22,000
USGS Gage
* Values in table are presented with total coliform counts (MPN) on top and
fecal coliform counts (MPN) on the bottom.
** Values determined by the Colorado Department of Health.
23
GPO 642 -882
------- |