ANTHROPROGENIC EFFECTS ON SOIL AND WATER CHEMISTRY IN THE MIDDLE SCHUYLKILL RIVER WATERSHED, MONTOGMERY CO, PA

On July 10^th, 2015, surface water samples were taken as part of a study of the water quality and soil chemistry of Perkiomen Creek and the Schuylkill River to show the effects of different types of land use on stream chemistry. We collected surface water samples and in situ data near the confluence of the two streams just east of Phoenixville, PA. We collected six samples in all, three in a transect across each stream. At each sample site in situ data included pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and conductivity. Conductivity of both streams fell between 262 to 444 µS/cm. The pH of both streams were near neutral (between 7-8). Temperatures of the streams were between 24°C to 26° C during the sampling period. After being put on ice, water samples were filtered and analyzed in the field in triplicate for alkalinity and acidity. Turbidity was analyzed on each unfiltered sample in the field then triplicate unfiltered subsamples collected for later analysis of selected metals (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, Ni, and Zn). Water samples were filtered in the field and triplicate subsamples collected for later metal analyses and additional triplicate samples collected and frozen for analysis of major cations and anions. Nitrite, Nitrate, Chloride and Sulfate were detected in those subsamples. Na and Mg were the major cations present above detectable limits. On July 23^rd, 2015, soil samples were taken from two islands upstream of the surface water sampling sites in each stream. Samples were preserved and brought back to the lab to be analyzed. Samples were dried in an oven at 75°C for more than 24 hours to a constant weight. Later they were powdered and analyzed using an X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer. Bulk densities ranged from 1 to 2 g/cm³. The pH values for the soils in the Perkiomen Creek samples ranged from 5.09 to 5.23 and those of the Schuylkill River alluvial samples ranged from 5.52 to 6.38. Further testing was run for 8 weeks on bulk soil samples to determine what anions were suspended when the soil is full hydrated in order to predict what might occur when the water table is interacting with each of the soil horizons from the Perkiomen Creek and Schuylkill River. The differences in soil chemistry will help us to understand the influences of the soils on water chemistry of the streams.