SUMMARY
of
WATER QUALITY EVALUATIONS
BOSTON HARBOR AND TRIBUTARIES
JULY & AUGUST 1967
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
FIDtHAL WATIM POLLUTION CONTROL ADMIHIiTHATIOM
Northeast Water Quality Management Center
240 Highland Avenue
Needham Heights , Massachusetts
02194
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INTRODUCTION
The New England River Basins Comprehensive Program of the
federal Water Pollution Control Administration has completed
extensive water quality investigations of the Charles River and
Boston Harbor. These investigations were conducted as a joint
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effort with the Metropolitan District Commission and the Mass-
achusetts Division of Water Pollution Control from July H. -
August 18, 1967. The work is part of an action program for
water quality control and management, and is designed to advance
the pollution control program that is already underway by state
and local agencies. The goal of this program is to restore
these waters for all legitimate uses including swimming, boating,
and shellfish harvesting.
Numerous sampling stations were established on the Charles
River and Boston Harbor and their tributaries. Samples were
collected to test the dissolved oxygen content of the waters,
the number of coliform and salmonella bacteria, the level of
suspended solids, color and turbidity of the waters, and nitrogen
and phosphorus concentrations. In total, over seven hundred
water samples were taken during the one-month period. Samples
of bottom material were also analyzed for biological character-
istics. The resulting data is being used to evaluate existing
water quality and to provide a basis for solutions to the complex
water quality problems in the Charles River Watershed and Boston
Harbor.
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CHARLES RIVER WATERSHED
Dissolved Oxygen
'in important indicator of water quality is the dissolved
oxyjren level. It is often used as a general measure of clean or
dirty waters. Large concentrations of oxygen-demanding pollutants,
such as sewage or industrial wastes, reduce the amount of dissolved
oxygen in the water causing the loss of desirable aquatic life
and fish population. Five milligrams of oxygen per liter, (mg/1),
of water is the accepted minimum for maintaining a good fish
habitat. If a complete depletion of the available dissolved
oxygen occurs, offensive odors result.
During the evaluation, the minimum observed dissolved oxygen
value was 3.1 mg/1 which occurred upstream of Milford at Station
C-l. (See Figure 1) Values less than 5.0 mp/1 were observed at
eight out of the 15 stations located on the main river. Average
and minimum dissolved oxygen contents are shown on the attached
Figure 2.
Bacteria
.mother important indicator of pollution is the number of
coliform bacteria detected in the samples. Coliform bacteria
are a proup of several different kinds of bacteria, usually of
intestinal origin, which are detected by a specific standard test.
These bacteria, while not usually harmful in themselves, indicate
the probable presence of pathogenic or disease-causing bacteria.
If ingested, these pathogenic bacteria can cause Castro-intestinal
disease.
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.i co-ant of 1,000 organisms per 100 milliliters is the generally
accepted maximum if swimming is to be permitted. Counts in excess
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of this number were encountered at all sampling points in the
Charles River Watershed. The highest counts occurred at the John
Weeks Toot Bridge (C-16) in Cambridge, which averaged 220,000
•^.
organisms per 100 milliliters during the test period. A rrraph
showinr the average coliform counts at each station is attached
as Figure 3. Coliform amounts, however, varied widely from day to
day as a result of overflows fron combined sewer systems in the area.
Tests were also made for the presence of Salmonella, which is
one of the most common disease-producing organisms. One-half of
the test results were positive indicating the serious nature of
pollution in the watershed.
Biological Studies
Analysis of bottom organisms, aquatic plants, nutrients,
bacteriological and chemical factors in the Charles River revealed
water quality degradation from Milford, Massachusetts through
Medfield, Massachusetts, a distance of 32 miles. -.Jater quality
in the middle reaches of the river from Medfield to Wellesley,
Massachusetts was less degraded, but nutrients from upstream sources
caused dense growths of aquatic plants, including phytoplankton
(suspended algae), in these areas. An over-abundance of aquatic
plants can cause unsightly conditions, reduce dissolved oxygen
contents and limit water resource potentials.
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Below Wellesley the river was characterized by a reduction
of organisms associated with clean water and an increase in .the
population of sludgeworms which are characteristic of polluted
waters. In the Lower Charles River Basin itself, no bottom
organisms were found at the John Weeks Foot Bridge (C-16), and at
the Longfellow Bridge (C-17). The absence of such organisms
suggests that toxic conditions have even prevented the establish-
ment of pollution tolerant animal life on the bottom.
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SAMPLING
STATION
LOCATIONS
CHARLES RIVER WATERSHED
CHMUS MVEI, MASSACHUSETTS
FIGURE 1
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BOSTON HARBOR
Water quality analyses of Boston Harbor revealed that all
reaches of the Harbor and each of its tributary streams, except
the inland marine reaches of the Weymouth Back and Weir Rivers,
were polluted. About one-third of the Harbor's area was grossly
polluted by municipal and industrial waste discharges and combined
sewer overflows to the Harbor. In addition, combined sewers
discharged wastes to the reaches of the Ifystic, Maiden, Chelsea,
Weymouth Fore, and Neponset Rivers nearest the Harbor. Extensive
deposits of decayed organic matter and oil residues covered much
of the Harbor bed. High bacteria counts, the over-abundance of
pollution-associated organisms, and the near absence of aquatic
life in these tributary streams were indications of severely
polluted waters.
Dissolved Oxygen
Dissolved oxygen contents in the Harbor varied widely from
point to point and from day to day. They ranged from a minimum
of 2.4. mg/1 to a maximum of 16.0 mg/1. Values less than 5.0 mg/1
occurred at all harbor stations at some time during the evaluation,
With few exceptions, low levels at each station in the Harbor
occurred following rainfall. This indicates the water of the
Harbor is well mixed and that overflows from combined sewers and
storm runoff exert a strong influence.
Values in the tributary streams were generally lower rangin."
from a minimum of 0.3 mg/1 to a maximum of 9.6 mg/1. The Mystic,
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Maiden, Chelsea and Neponset Rivers all had minimum values of
less than 2.5 mg/1.
Bacteria
High coliform bacteria counts appeared throughout the Harbor
and tributaries with the exception of Hull Bay and Weymouth Back
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River. Again vide variations were found at almost all locations
with the highest totals occurring in the Mystic River, the Chelsea
River, the Inner Harbor and adjacent to Deer Island.
In addition to the tests for total and fecal coliforms, tests
for the detection of Salmonella bacteria were performed by placing
swabs in the Harbor and selected tributaries. Of the 12 swabs
that were placed in these waters, 11 were recovered and 6 were
positive for Salmonella which indicates contamination by disease-
producing organisms.
The location of sampling stations, and data on dissolved
oxygen and coliform bacteria are shown on Figure 4..
Nutrients
High concentrations of nutrients such as ammonia, nitrogen
and soluble phosphorous caused by the discharge of waste waters,
were found throughout the Harbor including the Weymouth Back and
Fore Rivers and salt water reaches of the Chelsea, Charles, Maiden
and Mystic Rivers. This condition caused an over-enrichment of
the water which stimulated the growth and development of dense
populations of undesirable aquatic organisms such as algae rrowths
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and sea lettuce. These organisms cause noxious conditions in
parts of the Harbor which prevent swimming, cause unsightly growths
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at marine facilities and increase maintenance costs associated
with buoys and piers.
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CONCLUSION
The degraded water quality of the Charles River and Boston
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Harbor significantly reduces the use and value of these vaters
which must serve a surrounding metropolitan area.
The data gathered through this investigation on water quality
in the Charles River and Boston Harbor have provided much needed
information for the development of an effective and adequate pol-
lution control program. Mathematical models will be developed
to help delinate a framework for action. The models will simulate
the response of the waters to various pollutional loads, tidal and
flow variations and temperatures. They will be used to project
future conditions, evaluate alternates and to help determine the
additional measures necessary to restore the quality of the waters
of the Charles River and Boston Harbor for total community use
including recreational, educational and commercial purposes.
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