WATER QUALITY CONTROL STUDY
. NEW YORK STATE
BARGE CANAL SYSTEM
AND
LAKE CHAM PL A IN
NEW YORK AND VERMONT
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, REGION II
NEW YORK, N. Y.
JUNE '965
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WATER QUALITY" CONTROL STUDY
NEW YORK STATE BARGE CANAL SYSTEM
AND
LAKE CHAMPLAIN
NEW YORK AND VERMONT
Water of satisfactory quality for the desired water uses can be assured
now and in the future if (l) secondary waste treatment is provided and if
(2) the available 7-day mean low flow once in twenty years for navigation
is made available for water quality control. Gross evaluations of municipal
and industrial water supply requirements indicate the barge canal system
will not pre-empt current or future sources of supply. Municipal and
industrial water demands are expected to be met in the future by greater
utilization and development of the existing surface and ground water sources.
These conclusions are based oh the results of economic and demographic
studies regarding population and industrial growth.
Prepared for
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
U. S. Army Engineer District, New York, New York
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
Public Health Service, Region II
New York, New York
June 1965
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Page
LIST OF TABLES iv
LIST OF FIGURES iv
1. INTRODUCTION 1
Authority 1
Purpose and Scope 1
Acknowledgements 2
II. SUMMARY" OF FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS, AND
RECOMMENDATIONS 3
Findings and Conclusions 3
Recommendations 6
III. PROJECT DESCRIPTION 7
Existing Canal System 7
Proposed Canal Improvements ..... 7
IV. STUDY AREA DESCRIPTION 9
V. THE ECONOMY ...» 10
Introduction 10
Study Areas 10
Present 10
Future 11
VT. - CURRENT WATER QUALITY CLASSIFICATIONS 13
VII. MAJOR WATER USES lb
Water Supply . lU
Municipal ill-
Industrial . 1*1
Recreation, Fish, and Wildlife 15
Waste Disposal 15
ii
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (Cont'd)
Section Page
VIII. WATER SUPPLY REQUIREMENTS 16
General 16
Municipal 16
Industrial l8
Sources of Supply 18
Champlain Canal 19
Lake Champlain 19
Eastern Section Erie Canal 20
Western Section Erie Canal 21
IX. WATER QUALITY 22
Introduction 22
Evaluation and Forecast Considerations 22
Future Levels of Waste Treatment 22
Water Quality Criteria 23
Design Flow and Temperature 25
Reaeration Rate 25
General Recommendations 25
Waste Loadings . . 26
Champlain Canal 26
Fort Edward Problem Area 29
Lake Champlain 31
Eastern Section Erie Canal 32
Schenectady Problem Area 33
Utica Problem Area , 3^
Oswego Canal Problem Area 35
Western Section Erie Canal 35
Seneca Falls Problem Area 36
Newark Problem Area 37
Western End Problem Area 3&
X. BIBLIOGRAPHY 39
iii
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LIST OF TABLES
Number Title Page
III-l Alternative Canal Dimensions 8
V-l Present Population Within The Study Area 11
V-2 Future Population Within The Study Area 12
VIII-1 Present and Future Water Demands In The Study Area . IT
IX-1 Present and Future Ultimate Biochemical Oxygen
Demand Loadings In The Study Area ......... 27
IX-2 Present and Future Ultimate Biochemical Oxygen
Demand Loadings In Problem Areas '28
LIST OF FIGURES
Number Title Following Page
1-1 Study Area Map „ 38
iv
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1
I. INTRODUCTION
Authority
By letters dated July 29, 1963 and Mayr20, 196h, the New York
District of the Corps of Engineers indicated the need for a water
quality study and report by the Public Health Service on the New
York"Barge Canal System and Lake Champlain', as a part of the Corps'
survey investigation of the factors requiring consideration prior
to the possible improvement and transfer of the canal system to the
Federal Government.
This study has been made under the provisions of (l) the
Memorandum of Agreement, dated November k, 1958? between the
Department of the Army and the Department of Health, Education and
Welfare relative to Title III of P.L. 85-500, as amended by P.L. 87-
88 and (2) the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended
(33 U.S.C. V66 et seq.).
Purpose and Scope
The Corps of Engineers, is considering five alternative plans
of '"improvement for the canal, and has established that existing
storage reservoirs owned arid operated by New York State or local
interests have sufficient capacity to satisfy current and future
navigation-water supply needs. Through an exc.ha.nge of correspond-
ence, it was agreed that a water quality report of survey scope
concerned solely with the waters of the canal system (exclusive of
the Finger Lakes.) and Lake 'Champlain., as opposed to a consideration
of the various associated drainage basins, was required. It was
further agreed that a preliminary evaluation of municipal and
industrial water supply requirements and flow regulation for quality
control 'was -needed.
The studies conducted as 'a part >of this investigation were
limited to canal 'and channelized river sections of the canal system
and -all of Lake" Champlain, as requested by the Corps. However,
recognizing the need to consider water supply and pollution control
jieeds as they may "-affect the carnal and lake, the specific study area
for -economic and-water supply and pollution control evaluations was
defined"as the area.within ten miles of each side of the canal system
and lake,-.primary consideration being given to the drainage basin
within the study area. The study area is illustrated in Figure 1-1,
following page 38.
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The canal system studied in this report has a total length of
•4Uo miles with 56 locks, excluding the Finger Lakes and Lake Champlain.
Lake Champlain, which was studied to the international "boundary, is'
117 miles in length. The design year considered in this report was
2020.
Under Section 2 (a) of P.L. 8^-660, the Public Health. Service
has in progress two comprehensive water pollution control investi-
gations covering all drainage areas tributary to the New York State
Barge Canal System and Lake Champlain. These are as follows:
1. The Great Lakes-Illinois River Basin Comprehensive Project.
2. The Hudson-Champlain and Metropolitan Coastal Comprehensive
Water-Pollution Control Project.
These comprehensive studies will include water supply and pollution
control evaluations of greater depth than were possible or consistent
with the type study requested by the Corps of Engineers.
Acknowledgements
The assistance and cooperation of the agencies who provided
data'for this report is gratefully acknowledged. These include:
1. New York State Department of Public Works
2. "New York State Health Department
3; New York State Water Resources Commission
k. U.S. Corps of Engineers
5. U.S. Geological Survey
6. U.S. Weather Bureau
7. Alexander Potter and Associates, Consulting Engineers
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II. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AM) CONCLUSIONS,
AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Findings and Conclusions
1. The Corps of Engineers, as part of a survey study concerned with
the possible transfer of ownership from New York State to the
Federal Government, has proposed five alternative plans of im-
provement for the New York State Barge Canal System, and has
established that existing storage is adequate to satisfy antici-
pated navigational water supply needs, i.e., existing storage
can provide 7-day mean low flows at a recurrence interval of
twenty years,which may vary from lock to lock.
2. By comparison with Alternative Plans 1, 2, 3> and '*?> Alternative
Plan k proposes the most extensive increases in widths and depths
and was thus selected for major consideration as regards water
quality in this report.
3- The study area is that part 'Of the drainage basin lying within
ten miles of each side of the canal system (excluding the Finger
Lakes) and Lake Champlain and is illustrated in Figure 1-1 follow-
ing page 38.
U. The 196^ population of the study area was approximately 2/000,000
of which 63 percent was urban..
5. Municipal water supplies physically located in the study area
served approximately 1,320,000 people with 210 mgd in 196 3>
indicating an ^average per capita use of 160 gallons per day.
Available data does not indicate any municipality using canal
waters as other than an emergency source of supply; however,
Lake Champlain is used by several communities as a source of
domestic supply..
6. In 196U the total known -municipal waste loading discharged
following existing treatment directly to the canal or to tribu-
taries within the s't-uely area leading directly to the canal was
equivalent to approximately 680,000 people or 1^0,000 pounds
of ultimate biochemical oxygen demand.
7. Industrial water use in the study area in 196^ was estimated
to be about 730 mgd of which about 40 percent was for cooling
purposes.
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b
8. Based on an evaluation of economic information, it is estimated
that the total industrial waste loading discharged, following
existing treatment, within the study area (i.e., direct discharges
to the canal or to tributaries influencing the canal) was about
1,380,000 pounds of ultimate biochemical oxygen demand in 1964.
9- By. the year 2020 the population of the study area will approach
5,080,000 of which 82. percent will be urban.
10. Municipal water supplies physically located in the study area
in 2020 will serve approximately 4,470,000 people a total of
about 890 mgd-.
11. Industrial water use in the study area in 2020 will approximate
1,^50 mgd of which 47 percent will be cooling water.
12. None, of the alternative plans for improvement proposed by the
Corps pre-empt the current or future use of sources of supply
available for municipal and industrial.water supplies. The
municipal and industrial water demands in 2020 are expected to
be met by the greater utilization and development of existing
surface and ground water, sources.
13. Future municipal waste discharges to the study area following
secondary treatment and disinfection will be about 120,000
•pounds.of ultimate biochemical oxygen demand per day in 2020
as compared with 170,000 pounds in 1964.
14. Industrial waste loads, following secondary biological treat-
ment 'or equivalent and disinfection of sanitary wastes, dis-
charged in the study area will-be about 370,000 pounds of
ultimate biochemical oxygen demand per day in 2020 as. compared
with about 1,380,000 pounds currently.
15. The design flow used to evaluate current and future water quality
conditions for this feasibility report was the 7-day mean low
flow once in 20 years. This flow is available for navigational-
purposes from existing structures.
16. Except for the problem areas noted in 17 below, water quality
is currently satisfactory and will be satisfactory in 2020 with
or without the proposed canal improvements, throughout the barge
canal system including Lake Champlain-..
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IT- Although the total municipal and industrial waste loading will
be less in 2020 than in 1964, detailed evaluation of the water
quality data indicated the need for consideration of the follow-
ing water quality problem areas:
A. The -Champlain Canal
B. The.Schenectady, Utica, and Oswego stretches of the
Eastern Section Erie Canal.
C. The Seneca Falls, Newark and the "60-mile level" of
the Western Section Erie Canal.
l8. Evaluation of the problem areas indicates that:
A. Because of inadequate waste treatment in the areas cited,
water quality problems currently exist and would continue
to occur if any one of the five- alternative plans are
implemented.
B. Water of satisfactory quality for the desired water uses
can be provided now and in the future if secondary waste
treatment, including disinfection of sanitary wastes, is{
provided and if the available 7-day mean low flow with a -
20-year recurrence interval for navigation is made avail-
able for' water quality control from existing structures.
19- Provision of satisfactory water quality for the desired water
uses in the canal will enhance the recreational opportunities
(swimming, fishing, and boating) for oyer 2,000,000 people
living in the study area in 1964. Riparian owners and other
users will enjoy improved aesthetics as a result of clean surface
waters and satisfactory public health conditions in the water
related environment. Industry will be attracted to the area if
satisfactory water quality is provided, other factors being equal.
20. The water supply and pollution control evaluations reported herein
are subject to review and revision by the comprehensive studies
presently being conducted by the Public Health Service in the
Great Lakes and Hudson River-Lake Champlain Basins.
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Recommendations
1. By comparison with the general assessments for the length of the
New York State Barge Canal System and. Lake Champlain reported herein,
which are consistent with the depth and scope of the survey investi-
gation requested by the Corps of Engineers, more detailed water
quality investigations will be required if the Corps of Engineers is
authorized to proceed on detailed project design studies for improve-
ments to specific locks or canal sections.
2. In those stretches where flow in the canal is totally dependent
on lockages (i.e., summit pools and canal sections paralleling
river sections) sufficient flow should be passed through the canal
to prevent stagnation or ponding. Flow requirements will require
additional studies, see Recommendation 1.
3. In the design of new locks or modification of existing structures,
excess flows and/or lockage flows should be wasted via free-fall
discharge rather than submerged piping whenever possible to promote
improvements in water quality by reaeration.
k. Facilities for accepting solid and liquid wastes from vessels
should be provided at various locks and lake ports throughout the
canal system.
5. Additional policing should be provided to assure vigorous enforce-
ment of existing regulations on pumping bilge water to the canal
and Lake Champlain.
6. Regardless of canal ownership, at least the 7~day mean low flow with
a 20-year recurrence interval (available from existing structures
for navigational purposes) should also be made available for water
quality control provided that secondary waste treatment is implemented.
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III. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Existing Canal System
The New York State Barge Canal System consists of four major
interconnecting canals: Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca
Canals, as noted in Figure 1-1. The canal follows channelized
portions of many rivers while traversing five major river basins:
Erie-Niagara, Genesee, Oswego, Mohawk, and Hudson. There are
512 miles of canals and navigable lakes, 10 miles of harbor area,
and 57 locks and appurtenances¦including dams, water supply
reservoirs and feeder canals.
Proposed-Canal Improvements
The Corps of Engineers is currently engaged in a feasibility
study concerned with current and future operations of the canal
system. Five alternative plans for navigation- improvements are
under preliminary study as regards desirable modifications to the
canal system in the event that ownership is transferred to the
Federal Government.
Table III-l presents both the dimensions of rthe three major
existing canal sections and the dimensions proposed under Alterna-
tive Plans 1, 2, 3) and 5- As can be seen from this table,
Alternative Plan 1+ affects the locks and depth and width of the
canal to a. greater extent than Alternative Plans-1, 2, 3; an<^ 5-
It should' also be noted that proposals have been made to
increase the navigational water supplies at both the Rome and Fort
Edward summit levels (Eastern Section Erie Canal and Champlain Canal,
respectively). An increase in the Rome summit level supply is
proposed under Alternative Plan ^ and an increase in the Fort Edward
summit level supply is proposed under all five alternatives. Specific
discussion, of the alternative plans is presented in appropriate sec-
tions of the text.
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Table III - 1
Alternative Canal Dimensions
Existing
Alternative
Alternative
Alternative
Alternative
Alternative
Canal Section
Dimensions
Canal
Plan 1
Plan 2
Plan 3
Plan 4*
Plan 5
Feet
Feet
Feet
Feet
Feet
Feet
CHAMPLAIN
Depth
12
Same
14
14
14
12
Waterford to
Width
Whitehall
River Sections
200
as
200
200
200
200
Earth Sections
75
150
150
200
150
Rock Sections
9k
existing
150
150
200
150
Locks
45 x 300
45 x 600
45 x 300
92 x 600
45 x 300
ERIE-EAST
Depth
14
Same
l4
14
14
14
a) Waterford to
Width
Three Rivers
River Sections
200
as
200
200
200
200
b) Oswego Canal
Earth Sections
104
150
150
200
150
Rock Sections
120
existing
150
150
200
150
Locks
45 X 300
45 x 600
45 x 300
92 x 600
45 x 300
ERIE-WEST
Depth
12
Same
l4
14
14
12
a) Three Rivers
Width
to Tonawanda
River Sections
200
as
200
200
200
200
b) Cayuga-Seneca
Earth Sections
75
150
150
200
150
Canal
Rock Sections
94
existing
150
150
200
150
Locks
45 x 300
45 x 600
45 x 300
92 x 600
45 x 300
*This Plan would also reduce the number of locks from 57 to 44.
All other Plans retain the existing locks.
oo
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IV. STUDY AREA DESCRIPTION
The specific study area for this report is defined as the ten
miles of land on either side of the New York State Barge Canal System
and Lake Champlain (Figure I-l).
The study area does not include such major cities as Buffalo,
Tonawanda, Rochester, Albany and Troy since they neither secure
water supply from nor discharge wastes to the barge canal system.
The barge canal system passes through a natural low-elevation
route between the North Atlantic seaboard and the Great Lakes. The
topography of the area adjacent to the eastern section of the canal
system is generally hilly and mountainous, consisting of an almost
continuous repetition of hills and valleys. The western section
is characterized by the relatively level plain bordering Lake
Ontario.
(2)
Lake Champlain lies in the northern part of a great ttough
extending from New York Harbor to the St. Lawrence River. A rugged,
mountainous topography adjoins the lake area.(l8)
There are presently twenty-four' lakes and reservoirs associated
with the canal system. Thirteen of these are being used as feeders
for the canal. At most of the U. S. Geological Survey gaging stations
in the canal drainage basin some form of upstream regulation or di-
version is practiced.^9) Reservoir storage and regulation allows
nearly complete control of the runoff from the drainage area "contrib-
uting to the canal.
The average monthly temperature in the study area varies from
a high of 71in. July to a low of 21°F in January. The average
amount of precipitation is about 36 inches per year.
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V. THE ECONOMY
Introduction
Economic data presented in this section serve as a basis for
estimating future municipal as well as present and future industrial
water requirements and waste loadings as presented in Sections VIII
and IX.
The principle industries in the study area are manufacturing,
agriculture, • and dairying. Some of the major manufactured products are
machinery, firearms, electrical appliances, foundry products, furniture,
insulating materials, paper and paper products, clothing, textiles, and
dairy food products.
Study Areas
While the specific water quality study area was defined as that
portion of the basin within ten miles of the canal and lake, demographic
and economic estimates were prepared first for the seventeen counties
adjacent to the canal system and the seven counties adjacent to Lake
Champlain. These counties are illustrated in Figure 1-1. Recognizing
the need for data specific to the ten mile strip on either side of the
canal and lake, the county data were broken down to correspond to the
study area.
Present
As shown in Table V-l the area within ten miles on either side of
the canal and lake had a population of about 2,000,000 in 1964 of which
63 percent was urban. This is exclusive of the previously mentioned
population centers which neither secure water supplies from nor dis-
charge wastes to the barge canal system or its tributaries. There were
290,000 people employed in manufacturing accounting for 15 percent of
the total population. Water-using industries made up 3^ percent of all
manufacturing employment.
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Table V-l
¦Present Population Within The Study Area*
196iv
Urban
Rural
Total
Champlain Canal
66,200
58,900
125,100
Lake Champlain
113,800
1^5,000
258,800
Eastern Section Erie Canal
537,600
191,900
729,500
Western Section Erie Canal
550,700
3^1,800
892,500
Study Area Total
1,268,300
737,600
2,005,900
*Excludes Albany,, Troy, Rochester,
Buffalo, and
Tonawanda,
see text.
Future
Projection Considerations
Population projections as shown in Table V-2 were developed directly
from projections made "by the Corps of Engineers for each county. Manu-
facturing employment projections were developed from industrial analyses
of each economic complex.
Available employment data were evaluated and forecasts prepared
using Standard Industrial Classifications.
Demographic and Economic Projections
As shown in Table V-2, by 2020 the population within the area con-
fined to ten miles on either side of the canal and lake is projected to
be about 5>080,000 of which 82 percent will be urban.
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Table V-2
Future Population Within The Study Area*
2020
Urban Rural Total
Champlain Canal
241,900
28,500
270,400
Lake Champlain
353^00
163,300
516,700
Eastern Section Erie Canal
1,364,400
244,300
1,608,700
Western Section Erie Canal
2,214,500
473,400
2,687,900
Study Area Total
4,174,200
909,500
5,083,700
*Excludes Albany, Troy, Rochester, Buffalo, and Tonawanda, see text.
In 2020 manufacturing employment is projected to total approximately
540,000 amounting to 12 percent of the total population. Employment in
the water-using industries is expected to account for 31 percent of all
manufacturing employment.
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VI. CURRENT WATER QUALITY CLASSIFICATIONS
To assure high levels of public health, industrial development with
associated economic benefits, recreational activities, and a suitable
environment for fish and aquatic life, adequate water quality for each
use must be provided. Accordingly, various agencies and groups have
developed water quality goals which recognize varying levels of quality
required by desired current and future water uses.
The States of New York and Vermont have established water quality
requirements and currently have progressive classification programs in
operation. In a report entitled "Classifications and Standards of Water
Quality and Purity", New York State outlines its water quality objectives
and describes its classification system.
(3) Title 10 of the Vermont
Statutes Annotated, Section 902, provides legislative authority for
enactment of the water quality objectives developed by the "New England
Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission. "(l^)
The State of New York has classified the waters of each river basin
through which the barge canal system passes. (1A-1K) rjr^g classification
reports set forth various information including the existing character
of district, current water use, statutory future best use according to
New York State law, 'and classification (Class "A", "B", "C", or "D")
typifying water quality consistent with the highest level of desired
water use. For instance, in those cases where the State has determined
that the best "future use (highest level of future use) of a designated
stretch of stream is for public water supply, a Class "A" designation
has been established. Five percent of the barge canal system waters are
classified as "A", 51 percent "B" (swimming), .41 percent "C" (fishing),
and 3 percent "D" (agricultural and industrial water supply). Classi-
fications "A", "B", and "C" require the maintenance of at least 4.0 mg/l
of dissolved oxygen. Similarly, the New York State portion of Lake
Champlain is classified "AA", "A", "B", "C". Class "AA" requires a
better water quality than all other classes.
The State of Vermont has classified all of the major tributaries
to Lake Champlain and is in the process of classifying waters within the
Lake Champlain Drainage Basin. The portion of the Vermont side of Lake
Champlain which has been classified is designated as Class "B". The
highest level of future use under this classification is public water
supply.(lQ)
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•VII. MAJOR WATER USES
Major water uses in the study area are primarily for navigation,
water supply, power and. recreational purposes. Other uses include waste
disposal and agricultural needs. This section summarizes quantitative
inventory-data as regards the principal municipal and industrial water
supplies and waste discharges within the study area along with a
description of recreational uses.
Water Supply
Municipal
In 1963 the principal municipal water supply systems located within
ten miles of each side of the New York State Barge Canal System and
Lake Champlain served approximately 1,320,000 people with an average of
210 mgd. Therefore, municipal water use averaged about 160 gallons per
capita per day.
It should he noted that the municipal water supply inventory does
not indicate a single municipality using the New York State Barge Canal
as a source of drinking water supply. Lake Champlain, however, is a
source of domestic supply for several communities. Before a municipality,
industry, or private group may use the waters in the canal sections (as
opposed to channelized river and lake sections) of the barge canal they
must secure a permit from the New York State Department of Public Works.
These permits must be renewed annually. In 19&3? ?8 permits were issued
to communities for fire protection, sewage dilution, or emergency water
supply.
Industrial
There were 39 permits issued for industrial water supply uses of
the barge canal. Data available for 21 of the 39 permits indicates a
right to withdraw a total of 80 cfs. If the rights were exercised
completely, most of the 80 cfs would be withdrawn from and returned to
the Western Section Erie Canal. Further estimates of industrial water
use in the study area are presented in Section VIII.
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Recreation, Fish, and Wildlife
Recreational boating is another major use of the waters in the
study area. With regard to the "barge canal, permits must be obtained
seasonally from the New York State Department of Public Works to secure
passage through locks. There has been a fourfold increase, 1,9^-0 to
7,772 in the past twelve years. It is estimated that the number of
pleasure boats currently using Lake Champlain is about 38,000.
In 1963 the New York State Department of Public Works also issued
4l marina permits and 1,275 permits for summer cottages and small boat
docks along the barge canal system.
Along the lake shores, private' and public bathing beaches are
numerous.
The fish and wildlife resources associated with the canal system
are extremely significant, particularly in central New York and in the
south end of Lake Champlain. The canal and Lake Champlain support an
abundance and variety of fish and wildlife species.
Fishing in the study area is an important activity.throughout the
s
year. On Oneida Lake, for example, counts in excess of 10,000 fishermen
have been made even on winter days. The waterfowl resource is signifi-
cant in many portions of the study area, especially during the migration
season. Counts of over 100,000 ducks and 1+6,000 geese have been made
in the Montezuma area alone.
Waste Disposal
There are at least 3^0 municipal and industrial waste sources
within the study area. Of these sources, 29 percent provide at least
primary waste treatment, k-6 percent provide no treatment while informa-
tion on the waste treatment practices of the remaining 25 percent was
not available to the Public Health Service. Many of these municipalities
and industries do not discharge their wastes directly to the barge canal
or. the lake but their discharges are close enough to the mouth of the
tributaries to potentially affect these waters. Further discussions of
these data will be found under Water Quality, Section IX.
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VIII. WATER SUPPLY REQUIREMENTS
General
This section is concerned with current and future water: demands and
sources of supply for municipalities and industries located within ten
miles of each side of Lake Champlain and the New York State Barge Canal
System. Table VIII-1 presents current and future summary data on water
demands for the entire study area. The future water demands presented
in this section were based on the demographic and economic projections
discussed in Section V, The Economy.
The remainder of Section VIII discusses current and future water
demands and sources of supply for municipalities and industries in the
three major canal sections (Champlain Canal, Eastern Section Erie Canal
and Western Section Erie Canal) and Lake Champlain.
Municipal•
The municipal water demand as presented in this section includes
residential, commercial, public, light industrial (_i.e., industrial uses
which can reasonably be reflected in a per capita use figure), and
unaccounted for (leaks and other uncontrolled losses) uses. As indicated
in Table VIII-1, municipalities currently serve approximately 1,320,000
people an average of 210 mgd, or about 160 gallons per capita per day.
Based upon the present demand and trends from past data, an estimate
of 200 and 175 gallons per capita per day for the barge canal and Lake
Champlain areas, respectively, was used for projecting demands to 2020.
An increased per capita water demand has been used since higher standards
of cleanliness, larger numbers of plumbing fixtures, increased use of
domestic appliances, more lawn and garden sprinkling, car washing, and
air conditioning, associated with an expected increasing standard of
living, result in heavier use of water. Further, this increased per
capita demand reflects an allowance for expansion of those light industrial
and commercial establishments which are served by municipal water supply
systems. Based on this estimate, municipalities within the study area
will serve about U,U70,000 people an average of 885 mgd in 2020
(Table VIII-1).
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Table VTII-1
Present* and Future Water Demands in The Study Area
1964
2020
Population*
Municipal*
Industrial
Population
Municipal
Industrial
Served
mgd
mgd
Served
mgd
mgd
Champlain Canal
76,000
12
115
275,000
55
165
Lake Champlain
168,000
22
1+0
U85,000
85
95
Eastern Section Erie Canal
500,000
85
285
1,270,000
255
^35
Western Section Erie Canal
571,000
91
290
2,1+35,000
1+90
750
Study Area Total
1,315,000
210
730
1+, 1+65,000
885
1,^5
*Based on existing inventory - all other figures based on economic estimates and projections.
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As previously noted, in Section VII, no municipality presently uses
the barge canal as a source of water supply. This indicates municipalities
have frequently foregone the development of a supply in the lower reaches
of canal tributaries and the canal itself due to the availability of high
quality water in upstream tributaries and the availability of ground water.
The primary reason for this appears to be related to the more dependable
nature of the upstream.and ground water supplies in terms of their quality.
Industrial
The industrial water demands as presented in this section include
only demands for water supply exerted by the heavy water-using industries
which are generally self-supplied. Other manufacturing enterprises which
are not heavy water users will most likely be supplied by municipal water
systems.
No comprehensive data are available for self-supplied'industrial
water demand along the barge canal system and Lake Champlain. As a
result of this void of information, current and future estimates of in-
dustrial water demands are based on two factors: (l) Known and projected
employment in various water-using industries in the States of Vermont and
New York and (2) Average water use characteristic of the northeastern
region of the United States for major water-using industries.
As indicated in Table VIII-1, the industrial water demand within
the study area is currently estimated to be 73^ mgd.
By 2020 the anticipated industrial expansion is expected to result
in an increase in self-supplied industrial water demand to about 1^50 mgd.
Cooling water demands make up bo percent of the 1963 requirement and
increase to 48 percent of the demand in 2020.
Sources of Supply
It has been determined throughout the study area that the proposed
alternative improvements will not pre-empt either surface or ground water
sources presently available to municipalities and industries. Further,
the projected water demands (Table VIII-l) in the study area are expected
to be met by the full utilization of present sources'and the development
of new ones.
Following is a discussion of the current and future sources of supply
in the four sub-areas of the study area.
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Champlain Canal
Within the ten mile study area along the Champlain Canal, 78 percent
of the population is currently served by municipalities obtaining their
water supplies from surface sources including springs, lakes, reservoirs
and small streams. The remaining 22 percent is served from ground water
sources.
Industrial establishments currently obtain water from surface sources
including the Champlain Canal and Hudson River and their tributaries, and
from ground water sources.
Surface water is relatively abundant and available for development
as a source of supply. Major canal tributaries are fed by the Adirondack
Mountains in New York and the Green Mountains in Vermont. Sources of
supply for municipal purposes (such as the Hudson River, Sacandaga Reser-
voir, Hoosick River, and Batten Kill) will not be affected by any of the
proposed alternatives for improvement of the Champlain Canal.
After municipal use, water is generally returned to the Champlain
Canal and Hudson River and their tributaries. Since consumptive losses
from municipal use are relatively low (by comparison with some industrial
uses) there will be no major effect on the quantity of water available
in the river and canal. Therefore, the river and canal will continue to
serve as sources of supply for industry. These sources are expected to
provide adequate supply since the 7-day mean low flows with a recurrence
interval of 20 years in the Champlain Canal (mean 290 mgd), generally
exceed the 2020 self-supplied industrial demands (165 mgd).
Ground water is also expected to continue to be an available source
of supply for both municipalities and industries in many areas along the
Champlain Canal since the proposed improvements will not affect this source.
Lake Champlain
Within the ten mile study .area along Lake Champlain, about 85 percent
of the population is currently served by municipalities which obtain their
supply from surface sources. Ground water sources supply the remaining
15 percent.
Among the major municipal water supplies using Lake Champlain are
Burlington and St. Albans, Vermont and Rouses Point and Wellsboro, New
York. These communities serve approximately 63,000 people with about J mgd
and are all in close proximity of Lake Clianiplain„
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20
Future demands will be met by the expansion of existing supplies and
the development of additional ground or surface supplies. The relatively
unlimited source of Lake Champlain is expected to meet most of the antici-
pated municipal and industrial water demands in the study area.
Eastern Section Erie Canal
Sixty-four percent of the population within the ten mile study area
along the Eastern Section Erie Canal is currently served by municipalities
obtaining their water supply from surface sources, including springs, lakes,
reservoirs, and small streams. Ground water sources supply the remaining
36 percent.
Industries currently obtain water from such surface sources as the
barge canal and Mohawk River and their tributaries, and from ground water
sources.
Surface water is relatively abundant and available for development
as a source of supply. Many tributaries to the Eastern Section Erie Canal
are fed by the water-rich Adirondack Mountains to the north. There is
opportunity for municipalities in the future to develop new sources of
supply on tributaries to the canal (including West Canada Creek, Schoharie -
Creek, Fish Creek and the Mohawk River). In addition to these tributaries,
about three miles of the canal in the Cohoes area have been set aside for
future municipal water supply. Although the future best use of Oneida Lake
is recreation, based on Mew York State classifications, it could possibly
be reclassified for municipal water supply if this were deemed necessary.
Lake Ontario will provide an unlimited water supply for those municipali-
ties situated along the Oswego Canal.
In this canal section, as in the Champlain Canal section, it is
expected that the canal and Mohawk River will continue to serve as sources
of supply for industry. These sources are expected to provide sufficient
supply since J-day mean low flows with a recurrence interval of twenty
years in the Eastern Section Erie Canal (58 to 990 mgd) exceed the 2020
self-supplied industrial demands (5h to 18U- mgd) in each of the economic
complexes.
Ground water is also expected to continue to be an available supply
for both municipalities and industries in many areas along the Eastern
Section Erie Canal since the proposed improvements will not affect this
source. As mentioned above, ground water is presently utilized rather
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21
extensively along the Eastern Section Erie Canal. The most notable ground
water supplies are the neighboring well fields of the City of Schenectady
and Township of Rotterdam located in the lower Mohawk River Valley. An
average of about 20 mgd is pumped from the two well fields. The yields
of wells in many areas along the Eastern Section Erie Canal vary greatly.
Yields from bedrock vary widely depending in part on the type of overburden.
However, the median well yields in all formations seem to be about the
same, from 2 to k gallons pej- minute (gpm). Yields from wells in sand and
gravel areas range from 2 to 1500 gpm and average 280 gpm.
Western Section Erie Canal
Within the study area along the Western Section Erie Canal 99 per-
cent of the population is currently served by municipalities which obtain
their water supply from surface sources including the Finger Lakes, Lakes
Erie and Ontario, springs and a few small streams. The other one percent
of the population is served from ground water sources.
Surface water is very abundant and readily available for development
as a source of supply. The entire Western Section Erie Canal is only
about ^en miles from the unlimited source of Lake Ontario. The extreme
western end of this canal section is presently served and is expected to
continue to be served from the Niagara River which is fed by the unlimited
source of Lake Erie. The Cayuga-Seneca Canal links the large water sources
of Cayuga and Seneca Lakes. Finger Lakes,•other than Cayuga and Seneca,
may also serve as future sources of supply.
Although existing sources such as springs and small streams will
continue to be utilized, it is expected that the relative proximity to
the above-mentioned virtually unlimited sources will be attractive to
municipalities in the future.
It is anticipated that industrial establishments will continue to
use barge canal waters and canal tributaries as sources of supply. These
waters are expected to provide sufficient supply since the 7-day mean low
flows with a recurrence interval of 20 years in the Western Section Erie
Canal (100 to 920 mgd) exceed the 2020 self-supplied industrial demands
in each of the economic complexes (0 to 330 mgd).
The availability of ground water along the Western Section Erie Canal
is somewhat limited. Therefore,'ground water is not expected to serve
municipalities and industries to any great extent in the future.
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IX. WATER QUALITY
Introduction
In the sections which follow, evaluation and forecast considerations
are presented first. Then several general recommendations, applicable to
the canal system, are presented in regard to the design and operation of
new structures and/or canal modifications. These are followed by a
summary of current and future waste loadings discharged within the study
area.
The remainder of Section IX is devoted to consideration of water
quality in the previously designated three major canal sections and Lake
Champlain, as well as current or potential water quality problem .areas
located within the study area.
Evaluation and Forecast Considerations
Future Levels of Waste Treatment
It is expected that in the future secondary biological treatment or
equivalent, including disinfection of sanitary wastes, will be .provided
by all municipalities and industries as well as commercial vessels and
recreational craft.
Provision of secondary biological waste treatment plants by munici-
palities and industries will permit removal of about 85 percent of the
oxygen demanding organic pollutants and.remove the suspended and settle-
able solids sufficiently to prevent nuisances. The disinfection of
domestic tastes- will substantially reduce bacteriological pollutants so
that Waters can usually be used for recreation such as swimming.
Further, just as municipalities and industries are responsible for
their wastes and are expected to provide waste treatment, vessel owners
and operators should disppse of wastes in a satisfactory manner. Two
systems are now available: Treatment and disinfection aboard the vessel
prior to discharge, and containment, with subsequent discharge to shore-
based treatment facilities.
Thus, ¦frhi'le current waste loadings and resultant water quality con-
ditions were evaluated in terms of existing levels of waste treatment,
evaluations of future water quality were made based on at least secondary
treatment or equivalent plus disinfection of domestic wastes regardless
of the waste source.
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Water Quality Criteria
As mentioned in Section VI quality determines the various uses of
water. The acceptability of a waterway for its intended use is frequent-
ly determined by such indicators as concentrations of dissolved oxygen,
solids, and bacteria and temperature.
In the study area the future best use, as determined by the States
of New York and Vermont, of nearly all of the waters is recreation -
swimming and fishing.
The criteria used in this report in evaluating water quality condi-
tions, in the study area are based on extensive recreational use of the
waters, the standards of quality established by the States of New York
and Vermont, and criteria used by the Public Health Service.
For the protection of aquatic life the minimum water quality level
adopted must be suitable for maintenance of satisfactory fish life and
fish-food organisms. One criterion is therefore based on the environ-
mental requirements of the fish in the study area. Tests by the Public
Health Service have indicated that for a well-rounded warm water fish popu-
lation, dissolved oxygen concentrations should not fall below 5mg/l for
more than 8 hours of any 2^-hour period and at no time below 3 mg/l.^^^
As discussed previously, the States of New York and Vermont have estab-
lished minimum allowable dissolved oxygen concentrations in waters to be
used for recreation - 4 mg/l._ Therefore, for purposes of this feasibility
report the maintenance of not less than ^ mg/l of dissolved oxygen,
except for seven consecutive days once ,in twenty years, has been used
to estimate the effects of the proposed alternative plans on current and
future water quality and to estimate the effectiveness of existing waste
treatment facilities.
For protection of waters used for swimming, bacterial pollution is
of major concern. Present knowledge and technical procedures are not
sufficient to permit the development of precise quantitative.standards
to distinguish between waters which are safe and not safe. Despite this
limitation many regulatory agencies have set standards for waters accept-
able for swimming. These coliform concentration standards vary widely
from 50 to 3000 bacteria per 100 ml.(9) p0r purposes of this report no
specific coliform concentration level has been selected; however, it is
expected that with effective disinfection of all domestic wastes coliforms
will generally be at acceptable levels to enable the use of waters for
desired uses.
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2k
A healthy aquatic environment includes adequate quantities of
nutritional materials; however, the presence of excessive nutrients may
hasten the eutrophication of lakes and also fertilize flowing streams
with the resultant production of heavy plankton blooms. These and
associated water plants may clog water channels and cause other undesir-
able conditions thus interfering with various recreational uses of water
including swimming, fishing and boating.(9) Nutrient loads will be an
increasing water quality problem in the future but are not expected to
be affected by the proposed alternative plans. Accordingly, they are not
considered hereafter but will be taken into account by-the Public Health
Service comprehensive projects.
The upper limit of the Public Health Service Drinking Water Stand-
ards of 1962 is 250 mg/l for chlorides in finished waters.^5/ While
water having higher concentrations is being used in many areas, when no
other water is economically available, such use is not considered desir-
able. In the case of drinking water supplies, the primary concern is
generally palatability requirements and economic damage. Many industrial
processes require much lower concentrations for certain products. In the
case of- fish the propagation of certain species is curtailed due to high
chloride concentrations. Since chlorides are not removed by normal water
treatment processes, a criterion of 250 mg/l for chlorides, as an upper
limit, is employed in this report where waters are to be used as a water
supply.
Potentially toxic materials from industrial processes should be
limited to the levels set forth in the Public Health Service Drinking
Water Standards. Numerous chemicals used for insect control, weed control,
and other agricultural purposes have been developed in recent yeaVs.
Since these chemicals are often extremely toxic to aquatic life and con-
stitute a potential hazard to humans, their concentration should be
limited in the waters to protect aquatic life and at river water intakes
to protect municipal users. As a general limitation on potentially
hazardous organics the Public Health Service Drinking Water Standards of
1962 recommended that carbon chloroform extractables in finished water
be limited to 0.2 mg/l. However, available data are inadequate to estab-
lish minimum levels for separate constituents. With development of the
chemical industry in the study area, the particular chemicals may change
radically so that continual evaluation will be necessary.
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Design Flow and Temperature
The design flow and temperature must also be specified for purposes
of evaluating current and future water quality. Subsequent "evaluations
are based on the minimum 7-day flow once in twenty years as provided by
the Corps of Engineers.( ) This flow frequency is more conservative
than the 7-day once in 10-year frequency used by New York State.
The second factor, a design temperature of 2U°C, was selected after
reviewing records which indicated that 2k°C commonly occurs during low
flow conditions during late summer and early fall.
Reaeration Rate
The waste assimilation capacity of a stream or canal is dependent
upon many variables including the reaeration rate. This rate is a function
of several variables including flow, velocity, and cross-sectional area.
As noted in Section III, Alternative Plan b proposes the greatest increase
in cross-section of the canal. For the same flows, such an increase in
cross-sectional area will reduce the velocity and reaeration rate; hence
the waste assimilation capacity of the canal will also be reduced. As
a result, Alternative Plan 4 was considered to have the most adverse
effects upon future water quality in the barge canal system.
General Recommendations
As mentioned previously, the reaeration rate of a stream or canal
is a function of the velocity. For example, if the velocity is decreased
the reaeration rate will be reduced, all other things being equal. It
is noted that the once in twenty year frequency flows are based upon
continuous passage through the locks. Although this is conservative as
far as the calculation of navigational water requirements are concerned,
it does not necessarily hold true for water quality. It is recognized
that in the future navigation will probably increase and may attain the
continuous passage level. However, if this level is not approached it
is recommended that flows be diverted through the canal sections
(non-river sections) to increase the velocity and reaeration rate, thereby
avoiding stagnation or ponding and possible poor water quality conditions
in these canal sections.
Calculations of the current and future water quality conditions
considered the reaeration of canal flows as they passed over existing
dams 'and- locks. ^ This means of discharging excess flows has a benefi-
cial effect upon the quality of the canal waters, since reaeration is
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26
encouraged. If new structures are installed or existing structures
modified, it is recommended that excess flows "be discharged in this same
manner as opposed to submerged discharges.
As previously mentioned, vessel owners and operators are expected
to treat their liquid wastes just as municipalities and industries. Two
methods of handling vessel wastes are available: Containment of wastes
with eventual discharge to land-based treatment facilities or treatment
of wastes on vessels with direct discharge to the canal and lake. It is
recommended that facilities for accepting wastes from vessels be provided
at various places throughout the study area.
The effects of oil discharges and spills from vessels on navigational
waterways are not easily evaluated quantitatively. However, degraded
water quality conditions do occur. Oily waters constitute a costly problem
in treating water for domestic and industrial uses and provide an unnatural
habitat for fish and wildlife. The States of Vermont and New York and
the Corps of Engineers presently have prohibitive regulations in effect
regarding waste discharges and bilge water. Additional policing should
be provided to assure vigorous enforcement of these regulations in view
of potential pollutional problems that may result.
Waste Loadings
The quantity of wastes discharged to a waterway determine in large
measure the resultant water quality. Table IX-1 presents estimates of
current and -future levels of waste loadings discharged within the study
area, i.e., directly to the canal, tributaries influencing the canal,
and Lake Champlain.
For the total study area it is estimated that the waste loading
will fall, assuming that adequate treatment is provided, from 1,5^3*000
pounds of ultimate BOD per day in 1'964 to about 490,000 pounds in 2020.
Notwithstanding the large reduction in waste loading by the year
2020," within each of the four major sub-areas, several local water quality
problem areas exist within-the study, area. Current and future data for
six local problem areas are presented in Table IX-2.
Champlain Canal
The Champlain Canal passes through channelized sections and land
cuts from Waterford, New York on the Hudson River northward to a summit
level near Fort Edward, New York, then to the southern end of Lake Champlain
at Whitehall, New York, a distance of 6l miles.
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Table IX-1
Present and Future Ultimate Biochemical Oxygen Demand Loadings
In The Study Area
Municipal*
lbs/day
1964
Industrial
lbs/day
Total
lbs/day
Municipal
lbs/day
2020**
Industrial
lbs/day
Total
lbs/day
Champlain Canal
10,000
505,000
515,000
10,000
85,000
95,000
Lake Champlain
23,000
45,000
6tJ,000
16,000
16,000
32,000
Eastern Section Erie Canal
72,000
435,000
510,000
47,000
100,000
150,000
western Section Erie Canal
62,000
390,000
450,000
46,000
170,000
215,000
Study Area Total
167,000
1,375,000
1,54-3,000
119,000
371,000
492,000
*Based on existing inventory - all other figures based on economic estimates and projections.
**After secondary biological waste treatment or equivalent, including disinfection Qf domestic wastes.
ro
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Table IX-2
Present and Future
Ultimate Biochemical Oxygen Demand Loadings
In ~
Problem Areas
Based on
1964
Existing Inventory Based
1963
on Field Data
Based
2020 a
on Projections
Municipal
Industrial*
Total
Total
Municipal
Industrial
Total
lbs/day
lbs/day
lbs/day
lb s /day
lbs/day
lbs/day
lbs/day
b
Fort Edward
6,300
3,500
9,800
340>000
4,000
60,000
64,000
c
Schenectady
14,900
X
14,900
120,000
10,000
30,000
40,000
d
Utica
27,400
1,700
29,100
75,000
5,200
14,000
19,200
Seneca Falls e
2,000
X
2,000
12,000
1,000
2,000
3,000
Newark ^
500
X
500
32,000
200
5,500
5,700
cr
Western section
100
X
100
54,000
0
16,000
16,000
* - Based on available information in published reports.
X - Unknown
a - After secondary "biological waste treatment or equivalent, including disinfection of domestic wastes
b - Located in Champlain Canal
c - Located in Eastern Section Erie Canal
d - Located in Eastern Section Erie Canal
e - Located in Western Section Erie Canal
f - Located in Western Section Erie Canal
g - Located in Western Section Erie Canal
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Present and Future
Municipal waste facilities currently serve an estimated population
of 72,700 within the Champlain Canal study area. Approximately 84 percent
of the wastes from this population receive at least primary treatment
while the remaining 16 percent receive no treatment. There are eleven
known industrial establishments in the study area, nine of which are known
to be discharging their wastes without providing any treatment. These are
primarily the paper and allied products industries.
The known ultimate BOD loading discharged to the Champlain Canal by
municipalities is .10,000 pounds per day as shown in Table IX-1. Approxi-
mately 1/3 of these municipal wastes is chlorinated. The industrial waste
loading in the Champlain Canal study area is estimated to be 505,000 pounds
of ultimate BOD per day.
In general, the water quality in the Champlain Canal, as determined
by the Public Health Service, was satisfactory with the exception of the
stretch downstream from Fort Edward. This stretch has been designated a
water quality problem area and is further discussed in the section entitled
Fort Edward Problem Area.
With secondary waste treatment including disinfection of domestic
wastes, the total waste loading discharged in the Champlain section of the
study.area in 2020 is estimated to be about 95'j000 pounds of ultimate BOD
by comparison with a total of 515,000 in 1964, as shown in Table IX-1.
Fort Edward Problem Area
Present
As a result of the total organic waste loading of 3^0,000^pounds of
ultimate BOD per day as indicated in Table IX-2, a notable change in water
quality was observed in the Fort Edward area during the Public Health
Service field trip. The flow in.the Hudson River at this time was esti-
mated to be 2870 cfs. Where the upper Hudson River joins the Champlain
Canal, the dissolved oxygen dropped from a level of above 8 mg/l to a low
of 4.7 mg/l in about six miles. A rise in total coliform and fecal
streptococci densities, and chemical oxygen demand also occurred.
Of the BOD loading mentioned above four municipalities contribute
about 6,000 pounds per day, while paper mills and other industries on the
upper Hudson contribute to the remainder.
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Future
Based on a waste loading of 64,000 pounds in 2020/ and the design
flow, 2160 cfs, the dissolved oxygen in the Fort Edward area "will exceed
6 mg/l at the'critical deficit point in the streamfor all five alternative
plans proposed "by the Corps of Engineers mainly as a result¦of higher levels
of waste treatment.
Although water quality is expected to be satisfactory at and below
(south) the confluence of the Hudson River and the Champlain Canal, consid-
eration was also given to the stretch from Fort" Edward to the north - the
summit pool through to Lake Champlain. At present, the summit'level is
supplied by good quality water from the Glens Falls Feeder.- The dissolved
oxygen from Fort Edward to 'Whitehall on Lake Champlain is'satisfactory and
does not indicate a problem. However, three proposals for increasing the
navigational water supply at the summit level, as a part of Alternative
Plans 1/ 2, 3,-4, and 5> required evaluation: (l) Improvement of the
present Glens Falls Feeder, (2) Construction of a tunnel from the Hudson
River at Hudson Falls, New York, in lieu of the present feeder, and
(3) Construction of a pumping station on the Hudson River at Fort Edward
in lieu of the present feeder.
(10)
An evaluation was made of the effects of the tunnel upon.the water
quality in the Champlain Canal. Projections of municipal.and industrial
waste loadings discharged following secondary treatment (including disin-
fection of domestic wastes) indicate that.70,000 pounds ,of .ultimate BOD
per day will be present in the Hudson River at Hudson Falls. Based on
this future loading and the design flow, 2160 cfs, at Hudson Falls, the
dissolved oxygen will not drop below b mg/l at the critical deficit point
in the stream, south of the summit level for all five alternative plans.
Based on the same estimates and considerations, the dissolved oxygen north
of the summit level will not drop below 6 mg/l at the critical deficit
point for all five alternative plans.
Investigations indicate that use of the modified feeder -would provide
slightly better quality than the tunnel, both south and north of the summit
level. Use of the pumping station, by comparison with the tunnel, would
provide similar water quality south of the summit but.somewhat .poorer
quality to the north. However, due -to the paucity of data no water quality
benefits for the modified feeder and no water quality costs for the pumping
station scheme can be cited.
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Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain, "bordering Vermont and New York .extends from the south-
ern tip near Whitehall to the international boundary, a navigational dis-
tance of 111 miles, and covers ^35 square miles.
Present and Future
Within the Lake Champlain study area, municipal waste facilities
currently serve an estimated population of 128,700. .Approximately 8l per-
cent of the wastes from this population receive at least primary treatment
and the remaining 19 percent receive no treatment.
The ultimate BOD loading known to "be discharged "by all communities
within ten miles of Lake Champlain is 23,000 pounds per day. The industrial
loading is estimated to be 45,000 pounds of BOD per day.
Lake Champlain waters in the broad and open reaches are considered.
to.be of good quality. The waters are generally used for recreational
purposes including fishing, boating and bathing. The States of New York
and Vermont are cognizant of local isolated shore pollution problems and
conduct sampling surveillance programs.
Hie waters in the narrow part of the lake, that part south of the
Lake Champlain toll bridge near Bullwaga Bay, are subject to-algal blooms
and high turbidities. The waters at the outlet end.(north end) present
definite evidence of pollution. The shbre line waters, outside of the
zones around stream mouths, boat anchorages and concentrations of popula-
tion show no sign of sight or odor nuisance.
Specific areas, where observed effects of discharges were noted, have
been described in various State reports. Many municipalities and industries
have been cited as needing new or improved treatment facilities.
Assuming secondary waste treatment including disinfection of domestic
wastes, the total waste loading discharged in the Lake Champlain study
area is estimated to be 32,000 pounds of ultimate BOD per day in. 2020 as
compared to the estimated 68,000 pounds currently. As indicated in
'Table IX-1, about half of the total waste discharged in 2020 would be
contributed by industries. This reduction in waste loading is a result
of providing secondary waste treatment.
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Based on these future loadings and the design flow in the Champlain
Canal, it is expected that the proposed five alternative plans will have
no adverse effect upon take Champlain water quality, with dissolved
oxygen exceeding b mg/l.
Eastern Section Erie Canal
The Eastern Section Erie Canal, 184 miles, passes through channelized
sections and land cuts from Waterford, New York, on the Hudson River
westward to a summit at Rome, then to Three Rivers, and thence to Oswego,
New York on Lake Ontario via the Oswego Canal.
Present and Future
Municipal waste facilities in the Eastern Section study area are known
to serve an estimated population of about 380,000. Approximately 53 percent
of the wastes frcra these municipalities receive at least primary treatment
while the remaining kj percent discharge raw wastes. There are at least
ninety industries discharging wastes to this section of the canal. No
information is available for 55 percent of these industries while 17 percent;
provide at least primary treatment and 28 percent are known to provide no
treatment.
Municipalities contribute 72,000 pounds ultimate BOD per day to the
Eastern Section Erie Canal. Chlorination is practiced to a very limited
extent. The- total estimated industrial waste loading is 1*35,000 pounds
of BOD per day.
During the Public Health Service field survey, water quality in the
Eastern Section Erie Canal was generally satisfactory with the exception
of three local sections below the Cities of Schenectady and Utica, and on
the Oswego Canal.
The total waste loading discharged in the study area in 2020,
assuming secondary treatment and disinfection is estimated to be 150,000
pounds of ultimate BOD compared with a total of 510,000 pounds in 196^•
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33
Schenectady Problem Area
Present
Of the 510,000 pounds of BOD discharged per day to the Eastern
Section, approximately 120,000 pounds per day are discharged "by munici-
palities and industries in the vicinity of Schenectady. This loading
occasioned a notable change in water quality in the Schenectady area
during the Public Health Service field trip. Below the City of
Schenectady there was a depletion in the dissolved oxygen from 9 mg/l to
,a low of 5*6 mg/l. A corresponding rise in total coliform and fecal
streptococci densities, and chemical oxygen demand also occurred.
The drop in dissolved oxygen in this area is caused by pollutants
from the Cities of Schenectady and Scotia and from industrial establish-
ments in the area. Of the above-mentioned BOD loading the two cities
contribute about 15,000 pounds per day while industries in the area
contribute the remaining BOD loading. The high bacteriological densities
are mainly attributed to a lack of disinfection of domestic wastes.
Future
Municipal and industrial waste loadings discharged following
secondary treatment (including disinfection of domestic wastes) in the
Schenectady area in 2020 are estimated to be lj-0,000 pounds of ultimate
BOD.per day with municipal treatment plants contributing 10,000 pounds
and industrial treatment plants discharging 30,000 pounds.
Based on the future loading and the design flow of 850 cfs, the
dissolved oxygen will exceed 4 mg/l at the critical deficit point in the
stream. Although the once in twenty-year frequency flows are lower than
those during the Public Health Service field trip by about 600 cfs, the
dissolved oxygen.is estimated to be at or above a satisfactory level in
the future due to higher levels of waste treatment.
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3^
Utica Problem Area
Present
A radical change in water quality was observed in the Utica area
during the Public Health Service field trip, because of waste discharges
including 75,000 pounds of ultimate BOD per day.
In the Utica area the barge canal and the Mohawk River flow parallel
to each other for about eleven miles to their confluence. Above the
canal-river junction, the dissolved oxygen in the canal was above 7 mg/l;
however, at the junction the dissolved oxygen suddenly dropped and remained
at between 0 and'2 mg/l for approximately six miles with the flow'at about
1+30 cfs. Total coliforms, fecal streptococci, and the chemical oxygen
demand rose. Biological sampling revealed numerous sludge worms in the
area. Undesirable conditions prevailed for twelve miles below the junction.
The New York State "Classifications and Standards of Quality and
Purity"'were being contravened. There is a definite need for additional
waste treatment by municipalities and industries.
Future
Municipal and industrial waste loadings discharged following secondary
treatment to the canal and tributaries in. the Utica area in 2020 are esti-
mated to be 23,000 pounds of ultimate BOD per day, including 10,000 pounds
of treated municipal wastes. Based on this future loading and a design
flow of 520 cfs the dissolved oxygen will exceed *1- mg/l in the barge canal
near Utica or in the Mohawk River downstream from its confluence with the
canal. It is noted that the once in twenty-year frequency flows are
greater than those during the Public Health Service field trip by about
90 cfs. In this case the dissolved oxygen levels are estimated to be at
or above a satisfactory level in the future due to this slight increase
in flow as well as improved levels of waste treatment.
Although water quality is expected to be satisfactory in the canal
near Utica in 2020, there is another potential area of concern at the Rome
summit level. At present the summit level is supplied mainly by regulated
reservoirs and water quality at the summit level is satisfactory and does
not present a problem. Two proposals for increasing the navigational water
supply at the summit level as a part of Alternative Plan k are being con-
sidered: (l) Construction of additional reservoir capacity, and (2) Con-
struction of a pumping station on the western end of the summit level to
recirculate water from the Oneida Lake level.
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The additional reservoir water supply, by comparison with the pumping
station, would most likely provide better water quality in the summit level
in the future. However, due to the paucity of data no water quality "benefits
for the additional reservoir capacity can be cited. As regards the pump
station proposal, based upon a future loading of 800 pounds of ultimate
BOD per day and the minimum 7-day flow once in twenty years (including the
pumping station flows), the summit level water quality will continue to
be at satisfactory levels.
Oswego Canal Problem Area
Present
During the Public Health Service field trip high concentrations were
noted in the Oswego Canal. Throughout this canal, chlorides ranged between
530 9J1Q- 630 mg/l. Conductivity ranged between 1780 and 2320 micromhos per
centimeter (umhos cm). Chlorides were also high in the Western Section
Erie Canal from Onondaga Lake Outlet to the Oswego Canal, ranging from
2h0 to 730 mg/l.
The high chloride concentrations are due to the salt mine operations
in the Onondaga Lake area.
As previously mentioned high chloride concentrations are detrimental
to such water uses as municipal and industrial water supplies and fishing.
Future
The water quality problem in the Oswego Canal area is primarily the
high chloride concentrations. While the best future uses of the Oswego
Canal, according to New York State law, do not include water supplies,
chloride concentrations in the range found may be detrimental to fish and
aquatic life. It is assumed that technological advances will reduce the
chlorides to acceptable levels and thereby improving water quality.
Western Section Erie Canal
The Western Section Erie Canal passes through channelized sections
and land cuts from Three Rivers, New York, westward to Tonawanda, New York
on the Niagara River. This section also includes the Cayuga-Seneca Canal
from Montezuma, New York to Geneva, New York. The total length of the
Western Section Erie Canal is 195 miles.
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Present and Future
Municipal waste facilities in the Western Section of the Erie Canal
study area currently serve an estimated population of 540,000. About
98 percent of the wastes from this population receives at least primary
treatment while the remaining 2 percent receives no treatment. There are
one hundred twenty known industrial establishments in this study area.
As regards industrial waste treatment practices, no information is avail-
able for 34 percent,. 16 percent provide at least primary treatment and
50 percent provide no treatment.
The ultimate BQD known to be discharged to the Western Section Erie
Canal by municipalities is about 62,000 pounds per day. Approximately
l/6 of the municipal wastes is chlorinated. The industrial waste loading
in the Western Section study area is estimated to be 390*000 pounds of
ultimate BOD per day.
Water quality in October 1963 "was generally satisfactory with the
exception of the three following problem areas: Cayuga-Seneca Canal near
Seneca Falls, downstream from Newark, and the 60-mile stretch in the western^
end between Rochester and Lockport.
Assuming secondary waste treatment including disinfection of sanitary
wastes, the total waste loading discharged in the Western Section study
area in 2020 would be about 220,000 pounds of ultimate BOD by comparison
with a total of 4-50,000 in 1964, Table IX-1.
It is noted that in the Western Section Erie Canal the conveyance
capacity of the existing canal is 1,350 cfs which by treaty can be diverted
from the Niagara Biver for navigational purposes. It is assumed that in
the future this flow will be required due to the intensity of navigation
and therefore available for water quality control.
Seneca Falls Problem Area
Present
A significant change in water quality was observed in the Seneca
Falls area during the Public Health Service field trip. The dissolved
oxygen dropped over a three mile stretch from a level of around 10 mg/l
to a low of 2.2 mg/l. The flow in the canal during the field trip was
about 200 cfs. A rise in total coliform and fecal streptococci and chemi-
cal oxygen demand was also observed.
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The drop in dissolved oxygen in this area is influenced by pollutants
from Seneca Falls and Waterloo and from industrial establishments in the
area. To produce the observed dissolved oxygen drop a calculated loading
of 12,000 pounds of ultimate BOD per day must have been present. Of this
BOD Seneca Falls and Waterloo contribute about 2,000 pounds per day while
-industries contribute the remainder.
The New York State "Classifications and Standards of Quality and
Purity" were being contravened. There is a definite need for additional
waste treatment by municipalities and industries.
Future
Municipal and industrial waste loadings discharged in the Seneca Falls
area in 2020 are estimated to be 3;000 pounds of ultimate BOD per day as
shown in Table IX-2. Based on this loading and a design flow of about
160 cfs, the dissolved oxygen will exceed 6 mg/l at the critical deficit
point in the canal. Even though the once in 20-year frequency flows are
about i+0 cfs lower than those during the October 1963 field study, the
dissolved oxygen level will be substantially improved due to increased
waste treatment.
Newark Problem Area
Present
Because of an organic loading of 32,000 pounds of ultimate BOD per
day, the dissolved oxygen dropped from a level of about 8 mg/l to a low
of 0 mg/l in about two miles in the canal near Newark and remained at this
low level for approximately four miles. The flow in the .canal, during the
field trip was about 450 cfs. Total coliforms and fecal streptococci rose
in the same area.
The dissolved oxygen drop in this area is influenced by pollutants
from Newark and the industrial establishments in the area. To produce the
observed dissolved oxygen drop a calculated loading of 32,000 pounds of
ultimate BOD per day was present, Table IX-2.
The New York State "Classifications and Standards of Quality and
Purity" were being contravened thus requiring additional waste treatment
by municipalities and industries.
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Future
With the provision of adequate treatment, municipal and industrial
waste loadings discharged in the Newark area in 2020 are estimated at
5700 pounds of ultimate BOD per day. With this future loading and the
7-day mean low flow once in twenty years, 9^0 cfs, the dissolved oxygen
will exceed 7 mg/l in the stream.
Western End Problem Area
Present
For approximately sixty miles between the Genesee River and the
Tonawanda Creek-barge canal junction, the dissolved oxygen generally
varied between 5 and 6 mg/l with the high and low points being 7*1 and
k.k mg/l, respectively. The flow in this stretch was about 690 cfs
during the field trip. Total coliforms and fecal streptococci rose to
highs near Spencerport and Holley, respectively. The chemical oxygen
demand in the western end remained relatively constant.
The relatively uniform concentrations of dissolved oxygen as men-
tioned above are indicative of a fairly uniform loading along the western
end problem area. To maintain the nearly constant dissolved oxygen in this
sixty mile stretch of canal a calculated loading of 5^000 pounds of ulti-
mate BOD was present. It is significant that the western end of the canal
is higher than the surrounding terrain and as a consequence only one small
municipality discharges about 100 pounds of ultimate BOD per day to the
canal. The remaining 53>900 pounds are from unknown sources. The land
adjacent to this section of the canal is used extensively for agricultural
purposes. As a result there are several seasonal food industries in the
area. During the field study food processing was taking place and these
sources probably contributed a substantial amount of the 53;900 pounds.
Future
As previously mentioned, the field data indicates a fairly uniform
loading currently exists in the western end. This loading condition is
expected to continue even though adequately treated food processing wastes
will be a major contributor on a seasonal basis.
Based on the estimated future organic loading following adequate waste
treatments, 16,000 pounds of BOD per day, and the design flow, 1,080 cfs,
the dissolved oxygen will exceed 6 mg/l throughout the sixty mile western
end.
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39
X. BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. New York State Department of Health Reports:
A. Mohawk River Drainage Basin Survey Series Report No. 2;
Mohawk River Drainage Basin (except Sauquoit Creek, West
Canada Creek, East Canada Creek and Schoharie Creek)
B. Oswego River Drainage Basin Survey Series Report No. 2;
Oneida River Drainage Basin
C. Oswego River Drainage Basin Survey Series Report No. 3;
Oswego River and Lower Seneca River Drainage Basin
D. Oswego River Drainage Basin Survey Series Report No. 1;
Finger Lakes Drainage Basin
E. Lake Ontario Drainage Basin Survey Series Report No. 2;
Irondequoit Bay Drainage Basin
F. Genesee River Drainage Basin Survey Series Report No. 1;
Lower Genesee River Drainage Basin
G. Lake Ontario Drainage Basin Survey Series Report No. k;
Lake Ontario (Including Specified Tributaries)
H. Lake Ontario Drainage Basin Survey Series Report No. 3i
Eighteenmile Creek Drainage Basin (and other Tributaries
Entering Lake Ontario Between Niagara River and
Eighteenmile Creek)
I. Lake Erie-Niagara River Drainage Basin Series Report No.
Lake Erie (East End) - Niagara River Drainage Basins
J. Upper Hudson River Drainage Basin Survey Series Report No. 2;
Upper Hudson River Drainage Basin (Except Hoosic River
Drainage Basin)
K. Lake Champlain Drainage Basin Report
2. State of New York, Department of Conservation, Water Resources
Division, Ground Water in New York, by Ralph C. Heath,
'U. S. Geological Survey, Bulletin GW-51, 196b.
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3. New York State Department of Health, Water Resources Commission
Rules and Classifications and Standards of Quality and
Purity for Waters of Hew York State.1
New York State Department of Public Works, Division of Operations
and Maintenance, Rules and Regulations Governing Navigational
Use of the New York State Barge Canal System.
•5. Fair, Gordon Maskew and John Charles Geyer, Water Supply and
Waste Disposal, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 195^+-
6. Gameson, A. L. H., Weirs and the Aeration of Rivers, Journal of
the Institution of Water Engineers, Vol. 11, No. 6, Office of
the Institution, Parliament Mansions, London, England, 1957-
7. Garber, W. F., Bacteriological Standards for Bathing Waters,
Sewage and Industrial Wastes, 1956.
8. Arthur D. Little, Inc., The Effects on the Economy of Upper New
York State of Modernization of the New York State Barge Canal,
March 19&3-
9- McKee, Jack Edward and Harold W. Wolf, Water Quality Criteria,
The Resources Agency of California, State Water Quality Control
Board, Publication No. 3-A, 1963.
10. Alexander Potter Associates, Consulting Engineers,
Report on Water Supply Investigation New York Barge Canal,
November 1963 •
11. Printing Media Incorporated, 1964 Annual New York State
Industrial Directory, New York, I96H-0
12. Tarzwell, Clarence M., Water Quality Criteria for Aquatic Life,
Biological Problems in Water Pollution, U.S. Public Health Service,
Sanitary Engineering Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1957*
13. Select Committee on National Water Resources, United States Senate,
Future Water Requirements Municipal Use, January I96O0
1^. U„ S. Army Engineer District, New York,
Great Lakes to Hudson River Waterway, New York,
Interim Report No. 1, July 1962.
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41
15. U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare,
Public Health Service, Drinking Water Standards, 1962.
16. U. So Department of Health, Education and Welfare,
Public Health Service, Oxygen Relationships in Streams,
Technical Report W58-2, 1958,
17. U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare,
Public Health Service, Pollution-Caused Fish Kills,
1961, 1962 and 1963.
18. U. S„ Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Public Health
Service, Region II, New York, New York, Water Quality Control Study,
Champlain Waterway, New York and Vermont, June 1965*
19. TJ. S. Department of Interior, Geological Survey - Water Resources
Division, Surface Water Records of New York, 1963-
20. U. S. Department of Interior, Geological Survey Water Supply
Paper 1499-D, Water Resources of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy
Area, New York, by H. N. Halberg, 0. P„ Hunt, and F„ H. Pauszek,
196^.
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