EVALUATING THE WATER QUALITY INDEX OF LICK RUN, CENTRE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

The purpose of this study was to examine historical and current water quality data in order to determine the impact of local geology and landuse in Lick Run; a perennial stream draining into the Foster Joseph Sayers Reservoir in Howard, Pennsylvania. The watershed's varied landuse types have the greatest influence on the water quality of Lick Run. From May to September 2017, water samples were collected each month at five locations throughout the study area, focusing on Lick Run and a major tributary to Lick Run. At each field location, the water was tested for pH, DO, temperature, and conductivity. In the laboratory, an additional six parameters were tested. Once collected, the new data were compared to baseline water quality data compiled by the Centre County, Pennsylvania Senior Environmental Corps (CCPaSEC). A weighted matrix of various parameters was used to determine water quality index for the Lick Run watershed. It was determined that the overall water quality index for the study area is 81.24 on a scale of 0 to 100. Based on the observed spatial and temporal variations in water quality, it was concluded that the observed water quality index can be attributed to relatively high concentrations of nitrates and nitrites.