i ;
JRVEY
LIS3ON I4ILLS coB 0 T
LISBON FPIjLS,
OCTOB 6, 19’71

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LISBON MIL lS, INC.
LISBON FALLS, MAINE
OCTOBER 8, 1971
On October 8, 1971, at the request of the U. S. Attorney for Maine,
and with permission of Mr. Rainville, the president of Lisbon Mills, Inc.,
Donald Porteous and David Austin from the Environmental Protection Agency,
Region I (New England), Needham, Massachusetts, sampled the discharge
from the mill’s two effluent pipes which discharge into the Androscoggin River
and, the Androscoggin River upstream of the mill (see Figure 1 and Table 1).
Lisbon Mills, Inc .
A brief reconnaissance showed that there were two major outfalls:
one containing the wool wash water, the other spent water from the dye
process.
The outfall for the dye process (LF-Oi) and, the effluent from the
wool wash process (LF-02) were sampled (Figure 2). Both the wool wash
and dye operations are batch processes. The effluents were sampled during
the dumping of some of these batches. Flows were determined using the
California Pipe Method.
Androscoggin River
The Androscoggin River was sampled in Lisbon Falls, Maine, directly
upstream of Lisbon Mills, Inc. (Figure 3). The upstream sample (LF-Ol )
was obtained off the comp 3 wneL..bxidge connecting the town road with
the main office of the mill.
Sampling Procedures
Samples were collected at all stations for bacteria, dissolved oxygen
(DO), biochemical oxygen demand. (BOD), and total nonfi] .terable residue
analyses. The Androscoggin River samples were also analyzed for total

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phosphorus. The temperature of each sample was taken in the field using
a metal thermometer. All samples were returned to the Needham lab for
analysis the same day as the sampling.
The Lisbon Mills samples were hand-dipped in their shipping and
storage containers.
The Androscoggin River samples were collected by means of a Keum erer-
type sampler and divided into their shipping and storage containers.
Sample Preservation
The DO samples were preserved using 2 ml inanganous sulfate and 2 ml
alkali-azide reagents. The total phosphorus samples were preserved with
5 in]. chloroform reagent. All samples were iced.
Sample Identification
Each sample was tagged with one chain of custody tag indicating
collecting agency, lab number, time, date, source of sample, collector’s
signature and title, witness’ a signature and title, plus information on
the transfer of the sample. In addition, a pre-numbered. field data card
was filled out for each collection time to record the temperature of the
sample and the sampling location.
Results
The results of the effluent and river water analyses are s n n s rized
in Tables 2 and 3.
The company discharges at a rate of over 1 OO pounds per day of suspended
solids to the Androscoggin River. Total nonfilterable residue is a
measure of the suspended solids in the sample.
Suspended solids discharged in the raw waste from a wool textile
mill usually include wool fibers, foreign matter cleansed from the wool and
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miscellaneous particulate matter washed into the sewer during clean-up
operation. In the stream, the suspended solids interfere with the normal
stream ecolo r by preventing light penetration. Some of the suspended
solids settle out covering the bottom with a layer of sludge, idiling the
benthic organisms and thus eliminating an important food supply for fish.
In addition, the organic solids which settle out, decompose causing an
oxygen demand on the overlying water that may result in a hostile environment
for clean water organisms.
The oxygen demand, of sewage and industrial wastes, as measured by the
biochemical oxygen demand test (BOD), indicates the waste’s potential for
reducing the dissolved oxygen content of the receiving water. Adequate
dissolved oxygen levels are necessary to support fish and other aquatic
life. If dissolved, oxygen becomes totally depleted, hydrogen sulfide
gas is produced creating obnoxious odDrs and unpleasant environments for
persons living or working nearby. The hydrogen sulfide given off may turn
nearby houses, bridges or other painted structures black. The averages
of the effluent BOD’s from Lisbon Mills were higher than the normal BOD
of raw domestic sewage.
Since the mill operates as a batch process system, the effluent
samples will vary in consistency depending upon when the samples were
taken.
The dye process effluent (LF-o1) was purple and t had colored. the
ground around the outfall a deep purple.
-3-

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TABLE 1
STATION LOCATION
Station Latitude Longitude Description
p I 0 I IT
LF-O1 1 3 59 141 70 03 140 Dye effluent, Lisbon Nills, Inc.
LF-02 ti3 59 14]. 70 03 140 Wool wash effluent, Lisbon
Mills, Inc.
LF-0 1 4 113 59 145 70 03 142 Androscoggin River upstream of
mill on bridge connecting the
main office of the mill with the
road.

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TABLE 1
STkTION LOCATION
Station Latitude Longitude Description
p i U p t u
LF-O1 11.3 59 lii 70 03 1 0 Dye effluent, Lisbon Mills, Inc.
LF- 02 1 .3 59 1 ] 70 03 Wool wash effluent, Lisbon
Mills, Inc.
LF-0 1 4 1 3 59 11.5 70 03 11.2 Androscoggin River upstream of
mill on bridge connecting the
main office of the mill with the
road.

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SAMPLE ANALYSES
ABBREVIATIONS AND UNITS OF ASURE
Analyses Reported
Temperature
DO
BOD 5-day
Coliforins total
coliforms fecal
Depth
Total nonfi iterable
residue
Fixed nonfilterabie
residue
Description
Sample temperature
Dissolved oxygen
5-day biochemical oxygen
demand incubated at 20°C
Total coliforms bacteria
Fecal coliforms bacteria
Sampling depth
Suspended solids
Fixed suspended solids
Measured In
Degrees centigrade (°c)
Milligrams per liter (rag/i)
mg/i
per 100 milliliters (ml)
per 100 ml
in feet (ft.)
mg/i
mg/i
Letters preceding a reported value denote the following:
J - estimated as, value not accurate
K - less than
L - greater than

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ThBLE 2
SUMMARY OF SAMPLES
ANDROSCOGGIN RIVER
LISBON, MAINE
OCTOBER 8, 1971
BOD Total
Depth DO 5-day Coliforms/100 ml. Norifilterable Residue* Phosphorus
Stati9n Lab No. Time Temp. °C ft. mg/i mg/i Total Fecal Total nig/1 Fixed mg/i mg/i
LF-Oii 29660 1135 15.0 5 5.3 1.8 29,000 350 1.3 0.5 .10
29661 iilO 15.0 5 5.1 1.7 3,O0O 970 2.5 1.0 .10
29662 1155 15.0 5 5.0 1.8 5’ ,OOo 370 2.0 0.5 .08
* - a measure of suspended solids

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TABLE 3
SUMMARY OF SAMPLES
LISBON MILLS, INC.
LISBON FALLS, MAINE
OCTOBER 8, 1971
BOD
DO 5-day Coliforins/100 ml Nonfilterable Residue*
Station Lab No. Time Temp. °C mg/i mg/i Total Fecal Total mg/i
LF-OL 29651 0825 140.5 i. i 2140 10 K1O 13.0
29652 0835 30.0 5. i 250 230 10 19.6
29653 0850 28.0 6.li ili O 14200 i O 12.1
LF-02 296514 0935 17.0 3.3 1350 1700 K100 25.0
29655 0950 17.0 3.5 500 214,000 K100 88.8
29656 0957 18.5 6.2 330 28,dOO K100 119.3
K - signifies recorded value less than actual value
* - a measure of suspended solids

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LISBON MILLS INC.
LISBON FALLS, MAINE
TURBINE ROOM
FIGURE 1

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Lisbon Mills, Inc., Lisbon Falls,
Maine, October 8, 1971 LF-Ol
Figure 2
• • -7
.4 • A — -
‘.li.
. 4 1 . . - -
.4 -
‘ J 4
:
Ti
Lisbon Mills, Inc., Lisbon Falls,
Maine, October 8, 1971 L7-02
r

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I Androscoggin River upstream of - -
I Lisbon Mills, Inc., October 8, 1971
LF-Ol

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