IV p and Irrigation Paper No. 161 Series L, Quality of Water, 13 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR JNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CHARLES D. WALCOTT, DIBECTOB UALITY OF WATER IN THE OHIO RIVER BASIN AND AT ERIE, PA. BY SAMUEL JAMES LEWIS WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1906 Water-Supply and Irrigation Paper No. 161 Series L, Quality of Water, 13 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CHARLES D. WALCOTT, DIRECTOR IN THE UPPER OHIO RIVER BASIN AND AT ERIE, PA. BY SAMUEL JAMES LEWIS Bran<Ji, - Survey, ^ Bex 3106, Capitol Station Oklahoma City WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1906 CONTENTS. Introduction.............................................................. 9 Ohio River basin above Pittsburg, Pa........................................ 10 Allegheny River basin.................................................. 10 Description of basin................................................ 10 Allegheny River basin above Conewango Creek........................ 12 Port Allegany, Pa.......................................... 12 Smethport and Eldred, Pa.................................. 12 Olean,N. Y............................................... 12 Bradford, Pa.............................................. 13 Salamanca, N. Y........................................... 13 Mount Jewett, Pa.......................................... 14 Kane, Pa................................................. 14 Conewango Creek __.________________________ _____.___._...___.____ _ 14 Jamestown, N. Y. ......................................... 14 Allegheny River from Conewango Creek to Oil Creek.................. 15 Warren, Pa............................................... 15 Tidioute and Tionesta, Pa................................... 16 Oil Creek......................................................... 16 Titusville, Pa.............................................. 16 Oil City, Pa............................................... 17 French Creek...................................................... 18 Corry, Pa................................................. 18 Union City, Pa............................................ 18 Cambridge Springs, Pa...................................... 19 Meadville, Pa.............................................. 19 Allegheny River between French Creek and Clarion River............... 21 Franklin, Pa.............................................. 21 Emlenton, Pa............................................. 21 Clarion River...................................................... 22 St. Marys, Pa.............................................. 22 Johnsonburg, Pa........................................... 22 Ridgway, Pa.............................................. 22 Brockwayville, Pa.......................................... 23 Clarion, Pa................................................ 23 Allegheny River between Clarion River and Redbank Creek............. 24 Parker, Pa................................................ 24 Redbank Creek.................................................... 25 Dubois, Pa................................................ 25 Reynoldsville, Pa.......................................... 25 Brookville, Pa............................................. 26 New Bethlehem, Pa........................................ 26 Mahoning Creek................................................... 27 Punxsutawney, Pa......................................... 27 3 4 CONTENTS. Ohio River basin above Pittsburg, Pa. Continued. Page. Allegheny River basin Continued. Allegheny River between Redbank Creek and Kiskiminitas River........ 27 Kittanning, Pa............................................ 27 Ford City, Pa.............................................. 27 Kiskiminitas River basin............................................ 27 Conemaugh River.............................................. 27 Johnstown, Pa............................................. 27 Indiana, Pa............................................... 29 Kiskiminitas River below Conemaugh River....................... 29 Vandergrift, Pa............................................ 29 Allegheny River between Kiskiminitas River and Pittsburg............. 29 Summary of conditions in Allegheny River basin....................... 29 Monongahela River basin............................................... 30 Description of basin................................................ 30 Tygart River above Buckhannon River............................... 31 Elkins, W. Va............................................. 31 Belington, W. Va.......................................... 31 Buckhannon River................................................. 31 Buckhannon, W. Va........................................ 31 Pickens, W. Va............................................ 32 Tygart River below Buckhannon River............................... 32 Philippi, W. Va............................................ 32 Grafton, W. Va............................................ 32 West Fork River..................._.............__..........:...._ 33 Wes|on, W. Va............................................ 34 Clarksburg, W. Va......................................... 35 Salem and Wallace, W. Va.................................. 36 Shinnston, W. Va.......................................... 37 Monongahela River from Tygart River to Cheat River.................. 37 Fairmont, W. Va.......................................... 37 Morgantown, W. Va........................................ 38 Cheat River....................................................... 39 Parsons, W. Va............................................ 39 Tunnelton, W. Va.......................................... 39 ' Point Marion, Pa.......................................... 40 Monongahela River from Cheat River to Youghiogheny River........... 40 Waynesburg, Pa........................................... 41 Fairchance, Pa............................................ 41 Uniontown, Pa............................................ 42 Greensboro to Monongahela, Pa.............................. 43 Monongahela, Pa........................................... 44 Youghiogheny River basin.......................................... 44 Youghiogheny River above Casselman River...................... 45 Oakland,Md.............................................. 45 Terra Alta,Md............................................ 45 Addison and Somerfield, Pa................................. 46 Casselman River............................................... 46 Flaugherty Creek at Keystone Junction, Pa................... 47 Meyersdale, Pa............................................ 47 Meyersdale to Confluence, Pa................................ 48 Confluence, Pa............................................. 48 Youghiogheny River below Casselman River....................... 48 Indian Creek, Pa. ..................... .^.................... 49 Connellsville, Pa........................................... 49 CONTENTS. 5 Ohio River basin above Pittsburg, Pa. Continued. Page. Monongahela River basin Continued. Youghiogheny River basin Continued. Youghiogheny River below Casselman River Continued. West Newton, Pa.......................................... 50 McKeesport, Pa............................................ 50 Monongahela River below Youghiogheny River........................ 52 Greensburg, Pa............................................ 52 Braddock, Pa.............................................. 53 Homestead, Pa............................................ 53 Summary of conditions in Monongahela River basin.................... 53 Agencies commonly supposed to counteract the effects of pollution............... 54 Natural filtration...................................................... 54 General statement.................................................. 54 Filter galleries..................................................... 55 Woburn, Mass............................................. 55 Lowell, Mass.............................................. 55 Indianapolis, Ind........................................... 56 Columbus, Ohio............................................ 56 Findlay, Ohio............................................. 56 Springfield, Ohio........................................... 57 Grand Rapids, Mich........................................ 57 Summary................................................. 57 Filter cribs........................................................ 57 Tarentum, Pa............................................. 57 Montrose near Brilliant, Pa.................................. 57 Hulton, Pa................................................ 59 Sharpsburg, Pa............................................ 60 Etna,Pa.................................................. 60 Millvale, Pa............................................... 61 Wildwood, Pa............................................. 62 Summary. ------------------------------------------------ 63 Filter wells........................................................ 63 General discussion.......................................... 63 Gallipolis, Ohio............................................ 64 Conclusion........................................................ 64 Self-purification ........................................*............... 65 Oxidation, dilution, and sedimentation............................... 65 Acid mine drainage................................................ 69 Public water supply at Pittsburg............................................ 73 Ohio River basin between Pittsburg, Pa.,