Water Analysis of Abbott Run, North Attleboro, MA

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2014 Water Analysis of Abbott Run, North Attleboro, MA

Recommended Citation North Attleborough High School, North Attleborough, Massachusetts (2014). Water Analysis of Abbott Run, North Attleboro, MA. In Watershed Access Lab Projects. Project 146. Available at: http://vc.bridgew.edu/wal_projects/146

This item is available as part of Virtual Commons, the open-access institutional repository of Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, Massachusetts. * *

*The purpose of our study on the Abbott Run River was to compare it’s data to that of a Class A river. We collected data such as pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, benthic-macro invertebrate diversity, river flow, river depth, nitrates, and the river’s specific conductivity at two separate sites. *It is important that Abbott Run is Class A water, as it is the source of drinking water for Pawtucket, RI. The MassDEP states that in order for a river to be used as drinking water, it must be classified as a “Class A” source. These standards state: * The dissolved oxygen be no less than 6.0 mg/L unless background conditions are lower. * The temperature shall not exceed 28.3 degrees Celsius in warm water. * The pH shall be in the range of 6.5 through 8.3 standard units but not more than 0.5 units outside of the background range. * The Fecal Coliform Bacteria shall not exceed an arithmetic mean of 20 organisms per 100 mL in and representative set of samples, nor shall 10% of the samples exceeds 100 organisms per 100 mL. * * *

*Abbott Run is the primary water source for Pawtucket and Cumberland, Rhode Island. *During the Revolution, cannons were made here at a factory named Iron Rust. *Robin Hollow, one of Cumberland’s first manufacturing plants, was built in the early 1800’s, on Abbott Run. *At Shady Pines, site B, there had been a Girl Scout camp there for forty years, beginning in 1940. *In 2006, the construction of a new bridge began on Abbott Run. The concrete used may have affected the pH.

* *

Site B

Site A * *

Average of 0.75 feet deep 2013 Depth 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 -0.1

-0.2

-0.3

-0.4

-0.5

Depth(Ft) -0.6

-0.7

-0.8

-0.9

-1 Segments-2 ft * Site A, Cushman Road Looking downstream * *

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 2013 Depth

-0.2 Average of 0.89 feet deep

-0.4

-0.6

Depth(Ft) -0.8

-1

-1.2

-1.4 Segments-2 ft * Site B, Shady Pines Looking Upstream *

*There was Seven Day Precipitation for North Attleboro, Oct. 24-30, 2013 only .01 inch 0.012

of rain within the week. 0.01

0.008

Precipitation

0.006 Precipitation Precipitation (in) 0.004

0.002

0 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Date Average Flow, Total Discharge, Average Stream Width, Average Depth, and Bottom Composition of Site A, 10/30/13

Average Total Average Average Bottom Flow Discharge Stream Width Depth Composition

1.35 ft/sec 22.53 CFS 23 feet 0.75 feet rocky

Average Flow, Total Discharge, Average Stream Width, Average Depth, and Bottom Composition of Site B, 10/30/13

Average Total Average Average Bottom Flow Discharge Stream Width Depth Composition

1.27 ft/sec 24.83 CFS 14 feet 0.89 feet sandy * *The percent dissolved oxygen cannot be less than 75% *Dissolved Oxygen shall not be less than 6 mg/L *The temperature cannot exceed 68° F (20° C) in cold water fisheries unless naturally occurring. It cannot exceed 83°F (28.3°C) in warm water fisheries. *The pH must be in the range of 6.5 through 8.3 standard units but not more than 0.5 units outside of the natural background range. There shall be no change from natural background conditions that would impair any use assigned to this Class. *Fecal coliform must not exceed 20 fecal coliform organisms per 100 ml in all samples taken in any six month period, or total coliform shall not exceed 100 organisms per 100 ml in 90% of the samples taken in any six month period.

*The water in both Site A and B did not show any fecal coliform bacteria colonies. The water was too cold at the time for any colonies to grow.

pH Comparison, Abbott Run, Sites A & B 10/30/13-10/31/13

7.05

6.95 Site A

6.9

Site B pH

6.85

6.8

6.75

6.7

Time (hr) pH Comparison Over Time, Abbott Run, Site A, 2005-2013 10

9.5

8.5 2005

2006

pH 2007 2008 2009 7.5 2010 2011 7 2013

6.5

Time (hrs) pH Comparison Over Time, Abbott Run, Site B, 2005-2013 11

10.5

9.5

9 2005

2006

8.5

pH 2007 2008 8 2009 2010 7.5 2011 2013

6.5

Time (hrs) DO Comparison of Sites A & B of Abbott Run 10/30/13 - 10/31/13 Class A: Dissolved Oxygen shall not be less than six mg/l unless background conditions are lower. 11.8

11.6

11.4

11.2

11 (mg/L)

DO DO Site A Site B 10.8

10.6

10.4

10.2

Time (hours) DO Comparison Over Time, Abbott Run, Site A, 2005-2013 15

2005 12 2006 2007

11 2008 DO (mg/L) DO 2009 2010 10 2011 2013

Time (Hrs) DO Comparison Over Time, Abbott Run, Site B, 2005-2013 15

2005 14 2006

13 2007

2008 12 2009

11 2010 DO (mg/L) DO

2011 10

2013

Time (Hrs) Temperature Comparison of Sites A & B,

Abbott Run,10/30-10/31/13

10 The temperature cannot not exceed 68° F (20° C) in cold water fisheries unless naturally occurring. It cannot exceed 83°F (28.3°C) in warm water fisheries. 9.5 Site A 9 Site B

8.5

(Celsius)

7.5 Temperature Temperature 7

6.5

Time (hours) Temperature Comparison Over Time, Abbott Run, Site A, 2005-2013 14

)

12 2005

Celsius 2006 11 2007

10 2008

2009 9 2010

8 2011

Temperature (degrees (degrees Temperature 2013 7

Time (Hrs) Temperature Comparison Over Time, Abbott Run, Site B, 2005-2013 14

13 )

12 Celsius

11 2005 2006 10 2007 2008 9 2009 2010 8 2011 2013

Temperature (degrees (degrees Temperature 7

Time (Hrs) %DO Comparison, Abbott Run, Sites A & B, 100 10/30-10/31/13

Class A Standard: %DO not less than 75% Site A Site B 98

94 % DO (Saturated) DO %

Time (hr) %DO Comparison Over Time, Abbott Run, Site A, 2005-2013 125

120

2005 115 2006

110 2007

2008 105 2009

100 2010

2011 %DO (Saturated) %DO 95 2013

Time (Hrs) %DO Comparison Over Time, Abbott Run, Site B, 2005-2013 120

115

2005 110

2006

105

2007

100 2008

95 2009

%DO (Saturated) %DO 2010 90

2011 85 2013

Time (Hrs) %DO and Temperature Comparison,

100 Abbott Run, Site A 10/30-10/31/13 9.5

99 9

%DO Temp °C

8.5

8 % DO (Saturated) DO % 96

7.5

95 Celsius) (Degrees Temperature

94 7

Time (Hours) %DO and Temperature Comparison, Abbott Run, Site B, 10/30-10/31/13 97 10

96 9.5

%DO 94 Temp 8.5

93 %DO %DO (Saturated)

8 Temperature Temperature (Degrees Celsius) 92

7.5 91

90 7

Time (Hours) Specific Conductivity Comparison, Abbott Run, Sites A & B, 10/30-10/31/13 194.5 “…natural conductivity level without human

194 influence would be around 50 µS/cm or less. The levels in the 300 – 400 µS/cm range indicate likely contamination from salt and 193.5 or wastewater.” –Doug Heath, EPA, 2005 email

193

µS/cm 192.5 Site A Site B

192

191.5

191

Time (hours) Specific Conductivity Comparison Over Time, Abbott Run, Site A, 2005-2013

220

210

200

190

180 2013 2011 170 2010 2009 160 µS/cm 2008

150 2007 2006 140 2005

130

120

0:00:00 1:00:00 2:00:00 3:00:00 4:00:00 5:00:00 6:00:00 7:00:00 8:00:00 9:00:00

13:00:00 12:00:00 14:00:00 15:00:00 16:00:00 17:00:00 18:00:00 19:00:00 20:00:00 21:00:00 22:00:00 23:00:00 10:00:00 11:00:00 12:00:00 13:00:00 Time (Hours) Specific Conductivity Comparison Over Time, Abbott Run, Site B, 2005-2013 220

210

200

190

180

2013

2011 170 2010 µS/cm 2009 160 2008 2007 150 2006 2005 140

130

120

Time (hours) Abbott Run Ranges and Averages

10/30/2013

Temperature (°C) pH (units) SpCond (µS/cm) LDO%(Sat) LDO(mg/l)

Range Average Range Average Range Average Range Average Range Average

Site A Cushman 11.02- Rd. 7.49-9.17 8.4208 6.81-6.92 6.8538 192-193 192.8 94.9-99 96.3 11.59 11.2688

Site B Shady 10.68- Pines 7.58-9.43 8.5017 6.82-6.99 6.8708 193-193 193.0 90.6-96.2 93.0625 11.09 10.8671 Soluble Reactive Phosphorus per Liter, Abbott Run, 10/30-10/31/13

0.009

0.008

0.007

Site A 0.006

Site B

0.005

Detection mg/L Limit 0.004

0.003

0.002 Class A Water Standards: SRP less than .05 mg/L 0.001 High Detection for P: 0.326 mg/L 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Nitrogen-Nitrate per Liter, Abbott Run, 10/30-10/31/13 0.35

0.3

0.25

0.2

Site A

Site B mg/L 0.15 Detection Limit

0.1

0.05

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Nitrogen and SRP Loads, Abbott Run, Sites A & B, 10/30-10/31/13 200000

180000 176408.7

160000

140000

120000

100000

80000 Loads (g/day) Loads

60000

40000 19076.99 20000 4410.2 486.04 0 Site A Site B N Load P Load Percentage of Major Group Bug Types, Abbott Run, Site A, 10/30–10/31/13

MGBI: 3.47 Excellent 0.4% Trichoptera 3.8% 6.4% Ephemeroptera

7.7% Plecoptera

8.1% Diptera

53% Coleoptera 8.1%

Odonata

12.4% Megaloptera

Oligochaeta Percentage of Major Group Bug Types, Abbott Run, Site B, 10/30-10/31/13

.5% MGBI: 7.65 1% Ephemeroptera Very Poor 7%

Plecoptera 9%

Trichoptera Diptera

10.4% Odonata

Megaloptera 2.5% .5% Coleoptera 1.5% 67.7% Amphipoda

Oligochaeta * *pH levels are similar to previous years at the usual level for water which is close to 7 *Dissolved Oxygen Levels and water temperature for both sites are similar to other years *Site A had more N-NO3 than Site B, but the SRP is the limiting factor for fresh water. *The number of Net-Spinning Caddisflies in Site A have increased while Net-Spinning Caddisflies in Site B have decreased *In previous years more net Spinning Caddisflies were found in Site B than in Site A *Net-Spinning Caddisflies are more tolerant to pollution than Case Building Caddisflies. *Oligochaeta is the majority group of BMIs in Site B which hasn’t been seen in previous years *The MGBI for Site B is very poor which hasn’t been seen in previous years.

*Continue to monitor the Benthic Macro-invertebrate communities for both sites. *Perhaps next year’s class can identify bugs to family instead of just order/class. *Check specific conductivity to see if 2013-2014’s snowfall increases the values. *Continue monitoring the N-NO3 and SRP loads to see if land use causes any changes.

*Laura Ebraico *Brian Gariepy Executive Producers… *Andria Grant Laura Ebraico Andria Grant *Cameron Grieves Nicole Hastry *Ruth Hanan *Shane Hanrahan *Nicole Hastry *Andrew Hoffman *David Howlett *James O’ Connor *Patricia Pitassi *Jacob Rivello *Siddarth Senthilkumaran *Alec Swanson *Thomas Van