CHANGES IN WATER QUALITY AT FOUR SITES ALONG THE RONDOUT CREEK

The changes in water quality at four sites along the Rondout Creek in New York State was investigated to see if a correlation exists between aquatic vegetation and discharge from a wastewater treatment plant's effluent pipe. Water samples were collected from four sites along a two-mile stretch of the Rondout Creek. The samples were analyzed for both chemical and general variables of water quality.

Concentrations of nitrates and phosphates were highest at the site of the effluent pipe, where Sample 2 was taken. The maximum values were 5.1 mg/L for nitrate, and 4.04 mg/L for phosphate. These values are well above the accepted levels of 0.6 and 0.1 mg/L, respectively. Sample 2 was 65% saturated with dissolved oxygen at the site of the effluent pipe, which was the lowest out of the four readings. The other three samples were above the healthy level of 75% saturation for natural, non-polluted waters. The conductivity of the water at the effluent pipe was about twice that of the other three sites, but well within the limits for healthy streams. The concentration of calcium (115 mg/L), the alkalinity (104 mg/L), the hardness (122 mg/L), and sulfate (29 mg/L) were all highest at the effluent pipe, but well within the limits for healthy streams. No significant differences were observed between the sites for pH, chlorine, ammonia, iron sulfide, and silica. The implication of the findings in this study will be discussed in an environmental context, with a focus on aquatic life.