SOURCE APPORTIONMENT AND RISK ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS IN WETHERSFIELD COVE

The Wethersfield Cove was formed in 1692 due to a flooding event experienced in the area. It is currently connected by a narrow passageway to the Connecticut River, an important water source. Today, the Cove is used for recreational boating and fishing, which makes it an important destination within the central Connecticut. In 1997, an accidental release of twenty-one million gallons of raw sewage was reported flowing into the Cove over the course of 8 days. The current observation of dead fish on the shore of the cove in recent years has raised questions about possible contamination of the aquatic system, and the quality of Cove water and its usability. To this effect, this project continues to assess the impact of human activities on the chemical signature of trace elements in both the Cove sediments and the corresponding water columns. A total of 20 sediment samples were initially collected and analyzed for acid-extractable, and basic soil parameters such as particle size variation, organic matter contents, and soluble salts. In addition, water samples are being monitored from four locations for both the cations and anions on a bi-weekly basis for the next three months. Using an overlay of GIS land use map, calculation of multivariate statistical analysis, principal component analysis, cluster analysis, and geoaccumulation index, the geochemical data obtained from both the sediments and water will be examined to determine their potential sources, overall fate, and transport as well as their implication on the ecosystem.