r
DATA REPORT
of the
DIURNAL FLUCTUATIONS
of the
DISSOLVED OXYGEN CONTENT
in the
SUSQUEHANNA RIVER
between
HARRISBURG AND COLUMBIA, PENNSYLVANIA
1970
Field Operations Branch
Surveillance & Analysis Division
EPA - Region III
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Data Report
on the
Diurnal Fluctuations of the Dissolved Oxygen Content
in the
Susquehanna River
between
Harrisburg and Columbia, Penna.
1970
I.	INTRODUCTION
The Susquehanna River between Harrisburg and Columbia, Pennsyl-
vania is a shallow stream with numerous rapids caused by
outcropping rock formations across the stream bed. Organic
and nutrient loadings from waste treatment facilities dis-
charging into the Susquehanna River and its tributaries have
provided the environment conducive to the growth of numerous
varieties of aquatic vegetation. The turbulence, caused by
the outcropping rock formations, and photosynthetic cycle
of the aquatic vegetation is the primary source of dissolved
oxygen. However, the photosynthetic oxygen production fluctu-
ates from day to night.
II.	PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to quantify the diurnal fluctua-
tions of the dissolved oxygen content and the pH values of
the Susquehanna River between Harrisburg and Columbia, Penn-
sylvania.
This fluctuation is a measure of the oxygen input caused by
the photosynthetic activity of aquatic vegetation.
III. SCOPE
The scope of the study was limited to a partial survey of two
locations on the Susquehanna River during August, 1968.
Sample traverses were made at the Market Street Bridge (US 11)
in Harrisburg and at the Columbia Bridge (US 30) between
Columbia and Wrightsvi1le, Pennsylvania. Water quality para-
meters sampled included pH, water temperature, specific con-
ductance, stream flow and dissolved oxygen content.
U.S. EPA ftegion ill
i"ZteT,brBa"mnm™*>
iS? ^Street (3PM52)
Philadelphia. PA 1

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^ Horrisburg
market street
BRIDGE
Scole in Miles
I ¦ .
0
j	L


Columbia
COLUMBIA
BRIDGE
O
c
JO
STUDY AREA and BRIDGE LOCATIONS

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III.
Scope (cont'd.)
Table 1 shows the diurnal fluctuations at the Columbia Bridge
and Table 2, the diurnal fluctuations at the Market Street
Bridge. See figure 2 for sample station locations at each
bridge.
IV.	PROCEDURE
Stream conditions in the Susquehanna River at the time of
sampling were ideal for a diurnal type of study. The stream
flow was low and there had been no fluctuations in river
stage for more than a month prior to the survey. Cloud
cover had been minimal and the air temperatures were generally
in the upper 80's which, in turn, resulted in very favorable
water temperatures for the growth of aquatic vegetation.
The samples were taken according to routine field methods and
analyzed according to methods outlined in the publication
"Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Wastewater"
12th ed., 1965.
V.	STATION DESCRIPTION
Stations included in this study are described below. (See
Figure 1)
Station	River Mile
Market Street Bridge	67
Station Description
Susquehanna River at Market
Street Bridge (US 11) at
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Columbia Bridge
43
Susquehanna River at Colum-
bia Bridge (US 30) at
Columbia, Pennsylvania

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BRIDGE
PILING
To Horrisburg
-a	
C IT y ISLAND
10
12
13
IS 16 17 |8
19
MARKET STREET BRIDGE
20 21 22 23 24 2S 26 27 28 29 30 31	32
t NUMBER OF BRIDGE	SUPPORT
	pillars; used to	locate
SAMPLE STATION
To Columbia
ABC
I 2 3 4 S 6 7 8 9 10 II 12 13 14 15 16
COLUMBIA BRIDGE
To Wrightsville
o
4	 SAMPLE STATIONS
1—1—1			1	BRIOGE
PILING
I	**
17 IB 19 20 21 22 23 24 23 26
SAMPLE STATION LOCATIONS
(schematic detail)
o
c
X
ro

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TABLE 1
Diurnal Dissolved Oxygen Fluctuations
Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania
Diurnal Study - Susquehanna River
(Columbia Bridge @ Columbia, Pa.)
Stations Time Date Temp.	pH Spec.	D.O.	/&(approx.)	Q river
1968 (°F) Conduct,	mg/l	Saturation	(cfs)
	mhos
a 09I5 B7l2 Bo	77S 355	7T9 98	5,780
A	1048	8/12	8l	8.3	350
A	1255	8/12	8l	8.45	360	10.0	125
A	11+55	8/12	82	8.20	380	11.1	i42
B	9:05	8/12	80	7.8	368	7.7	96
B	10:40	8/12	80.5	8.5	360
B	12:30	8/12	80.5	8.6	370	9.8	122
B	2:40	8/12	82.	8.7	370	11.1	142
C	8:55	8/12	80	8.1	378	8.2	102
C	10:30	8/12	81	8.6	365
C	12:45	8/12	81	8.6	370	9.6	120
C	2:30	8/12	82	8.8	335	10.8	139
D	8:45	8/12	79	8.2	380	8.8	109
D	10:20	8/12	79	8.4	380
D	1:00	8/12	80.5	8.3	370	10.7	133
D	2:15	8/12	81.5	8.7	375	11-3	143

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TABLE 2
Diurnal Dissolved Oxygen Fluctuations
Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania
Diurnal Study - Susquehanna River
(Market Street Bridge @ Harrisburg, Pa.)
itions
Time
Date
Temp.
pH
Spec.
D.O.
/&( appro.


1968
(°F)

Conduct.
mg/l
Saturat





mhos


A
0745
8/5
72
6.8
335
8.1
92
A
0900
8/5
73
6.2
500
9-8
101
A
1128
8/5
74
6.5
475
-
-
A
1250
8/5
76
6.4
480
11-3
135
A
i44o
8/5
78
6.8
510
-

A
1555
8/5
79
6.5
510
10.9
135
B
8:02
8/5
72
8.3
350
8.1
92
B
9:10
8/5
73
6.5
370
8.3
95
B
11:22
8/5
74
6.5
375
-
-
B
1:00
8/5
76
6.6
385
9.8
117
B
2:50
8/5
78
8.0
380
-
-
B
4:00
8/5
79
7.8
385
10.6
131
C
8:10
8/5
73
6.5
335
7-2
83
C
9:15
8/5
73
7.2
300
8.5
98
C
11:17
8/5
74
6.4
290
-
-
C
1:10
8/5
76
8.1
295
-
-
C
3:00
8/5
78
8.8
305
10.4
127
C
4:10
8/5
80
9.0
300
-
-
D
8:24
8/5
73
8.5
335
8.3
95
D
9:20
8/5
74
7.2
280
8.5
99
D
11:10
8/5
75
7-2
280
-

D
1:21
8/5
78
9.1
280
11.5
140
D
4:26
8/5
80
9.1
275
11-3
140
E
9:25
8/5
73
7.6
295
8.7
100
E
11:00
8/5
74
8.7
280
-
—
E
1:30
8/5
75
8/4
280
10.6
126
E
3:20
8/5
78
8.9
280
-
-
E
4:30
8/5
80
8.7
280
11.7
145
F
10:50
8/5
74
7.5
300
7.9
92
P
1:40
8/5
75
7.8
340
9-8
117
F
3:26
8/5
78
7.5
300


F
4:40
8/5
79
8.8
280
11-7
144
Q river
(cfs)
6280

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