WATER QUALITY ANALYSIS OF SURFACE WATER IN THE GREATER NEWBURGH, NEW YORK AREA

The objective of this research was to perform a water quality analysis of ten bodies of surface water in the greater Newburgh, New York area. The samples occur in an area that is predominantly Ordovician shale bedrock, with a region of dolomitic limestone. The entire area is composed of a silty loam soil that is formed from glacial till. Field measurements were taken of each sample utilizing handheld field probes to test for pH, conductivity and dissolved oxygen. Additional experimentation and data collection was done in the lab using a spectrophotometer and an ion chromatograph. This analysis was performed to determine the common anion, cation and total organic carbon concentrations of the samples. Results revealed the quality of the water tested and gave insight into influence by anthropogenic, biologic and geologic effects. The dominant human effects were higher levels of nitrates from the use of fertilizers and sodium chloride due to the use of rock salt. Geologic influence seems to show relatively higher levels of calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate in bodies of water located in proximity to an area of dolomitic limestone which is within an area of predominantly Ordovician shale bedrock. The results reflect signatures typical of the underlying dolomitic geology. The bodies of water tested primarily fall within acceptable ranges of water quality. Although there are many factors that control the surface water quality, it is concluded that the human influence on water quality can be the most detrimental but the most manageable.