WATER ANALYSIS OF BOW CREEK FEN NEAR MOUNTAIN TOP (LUZERNE COUNTY), PA

As part of a continuing water monitoring program, sampling was performed on Bow Creek Fen near Mountain Top (Luzerne County), PA on 5 October, 2007. The summer and early fall were a period of drought and a section of Bow Creek upstream of the confluence with the stream draining the wetland was dry. This gave us the opportunity to assess the effect of the wetland on Bow Creek. Five sampling sites included: two stream sites upstream of the wetland, one site at the head of the wetland, one site near the middle of the wetland, and one site in the stream draining the wetland above the confluence with Bow Creek. Temperature, pH, conductivity, and oxidation-reduction potential were measured in situ. Water samples were collected for lab analyses of acidity, alkalinity, hardness, trace metals (As, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb), and presence of trichloroethylene (TCE). Acidity, alkalinity, and hardness were all performed using Hach methods. Acidity ranged from 7.2 to 16.3 mg/L as CaCO₃ and alkalinity ranged from 13.2 to 22.0 mg/L as CaCO₃. In both cases, the highest value was at the middle fen site. Hardness ranged from 3.6 to 7.1 mg/L as CaCO₃. These low values for alkalinity and hardness are expected considering the lack of limestone bedrock in the surrounding area. Utilizing atomic absorption spectroscopy, traces of calcium and iron were found in all samples with highest concentrations at 2.8 and 0.8 ppm, respectively. Other metals were below detectable limits. A GC/MS analysis method indicated TCE to be below detectable limits. Attempts at mercury analysis by both atomic absorption and by cyclic voltammetry using a carbon nanotube paste electrode were unsuccessful.