Eaton Water Quality Summary • For the one (1) site tested at Long Pond Outlet, Eaton’s water quality overall is good. All parameters tested fall within accepted NH and/or EPA standards for surface waters. However, we understand that we have a limited data set, with only one site in Eaton, to base this on. Things that Eaton can do to help protect its water quality: 1) Encourage residents to get their septic systems checked 2) Continue to perform monitoring on lakes/ponds in Eaton -Either from LL program (UNH) or VLAP program (NHDES) 3) Reduce salt usage in roadways, especially those near or around bodies of water 4) Maintain riparian habitats around bodies of water 5) Use best management practices (BMPs) for any home/business on or near surface waters 6) Monitor the effectiveness of culverts in your town and replace those as needed Report respectfully submitted by J. Emerson, Water Quality Coordinator at GMCG Water Quality Parameters: what are we testing for? Dissolved Oxygen: The amount of oxygen contained in water is commonly expressed as a concentration in terms of milligrams per liter (mg/L), and/or as a percent (%) saturation. Accurate dissolved oxygen readings are dependent on temperature and atmospheric pressure. Gases, like oxygen, dissolve more easily in cooler water than in warmer water. Depletions in dissolved oxygen can cause major shifts in the kinds of aquatic organisms found in water bodies. Turbidity: A measurement of the clarity of a fluid. The greater the turbidity, the murkier the water. High levels of suspended particles, which absorb heat from the sun, increases the water temperature. Suspended solids can clog fish gills, reduce growth rates, decrease resistance to disease and prevent egg and larval development of aquatic life. Temperature: The metabolic rates of organisms increase with increasing water temperature. An increased metabolism increases the need for oxygen. Temperature also influences the amount of oxygen dissolved in water and the rate of photosynthesis by algae and larger aquatic plants. Conductivity: a measure of the ability of water to pass an electrical current. Conductivity in water is determined by the presence of ions that carry a positive or negative charge. Conductivity in some areas, typically those near road, may have higher than average levels due to manmade issues such as road salting during the winter months. Conductivity is also influenced by temperature (warmer water has higher conductivity) and by flow volume. pH: Water contains both hydrogen ions and hydroxyl ions. At a pH of 7.0 (neutral) the concentration of both hydrogen ions and hydroxyl ions is equal. When the pH is less than 7.0 (acidic) there are more hydrogen ions than hydroxyl ions. When the pH is greater than 7.0 (alkaline or basic) there are more hydroxyl ions than hydrogen ions. Generally speaking, the ability of aquatic organisms to complete a life cycle greatly diminishes as pH falls below 5.0 or exceeds 9.0. Total Phosphorus: Of the two nutrients most important to the growth of aquatic plants, nitrogen and phosphorus, it is generally observed that phosphorus is more limiting to plant growth in freshwater systems. Phosphorus is primarily associated with human related activities within the watershed and is therefore important to monitor and control. Water Quality Parameters Guideline Parameter Acceptable Limits Dissolved Oxygen Above 75% saturation; between 6-12mg/L* Temperature No standard Turbidity 10 NTUs or lower; preferably in the 1 NTU range* Conductivity Below 500uS/cm in rural areas; 1500uS/cm in urban areas** Total Phosphorus Below 30ug/L** pH Between 6.5-8; usually around 6.5 unless naturally lower* *NH Rev Stat § 485-A:8 (2016) Standards for Classification of Surface Waters of the State **EPA recommendations GEA-1 Long Pond Outlet Monitored since 2013 Dissolved O2 vs. Temperature 12 Dissolved Oxygen (DO) has an 10 inverse relationship with temperature: as temperature 8 increases DO decreases. The R2 6 values from 2019 (orange) show mg/L a similar value compared to 4 combined 2013-2018 values y = -0.18x + 11.977 y = -0.1782x + 11.674 2 (blue) which indicates not much Volunteer Mark Carbone monitors GEA-1. 2019 2 R2 = 0.78 R = 0.6763 change overall for DO levels. 0 Class A waters in NH require over Parameter Trend Explanation 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 75% percent saturation and/or Temperature (C) pH Stable No significant trends; data show low variability between 6-12mg/L, both criteria Turbidity Stable No significant trends; data show low variability that GEA-1 achieves. Dissolved O2 % Saturation TP Stable No significant trends; data show low variability 110 Trends observed from 2013-2019 show stable levels within appropriate ranges 105 100 95 Conductivity by month 80 90 75 As water levels decrease over the 85 70 summer, conductivity levels tend to Oxygen % 80 65 increase. It is not because the salt 75 60 level increases, but rather the water 70 uS/cm 55 level decreases so the salt is more 2013-2018 2019 65 concentrated. Values observed here 50 60 are well below the EPA 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 45 recommendation of 500uS/cm. 40 May June July Aug Sept Oct Effingham Water Quality Overview Jill Emerson Water Quality Coordinator Green Mountain Conservation Group RIVERS parameters GMCG volunteers tested parameters • Turbidity • Dissolved Oxygen • Clarity of the fluid • Measures ability to support • Higher level of suspended particles = higher life temperature • VBAP school program looks for various macroinvertebrates which are intolerant to low DO readings • Conductivity • Temperature • Ability of water to pass an electrical • Metabolism increases with higher temperatures, charge which can result in lower DO readings • Based on other elements in the water • Different organisms prefer different temperatures that have positive (Mg+, Ca+) or - - negative (Cl , NO3 ) charges • Proxy for road salt (NaCl or CaCl2) • pH • Total Phosphorus (TP) • Pure water is 7.0 • With nitrogen, the two most • Most natural water in NH is slightly acidic important nutrients for plant and • Aquatic life prefers pH between 6.5 and 8.2 microbe life • Environmental increases indicate decomposition (i.e. sewage) • General changes to their site • Road work • New construction/demolition Water Quality Standards – Acceptable limits Either from NHDES or EPA* • Dissolved O2: between 6-11mg/L and between 75% and 120% • Conductivity: below 500uS/cm • pH: between 6-8, preferably close to 6.5, unless naturally occurring as less, then no more than 1 pH shift • Turbidity: less than 10 NTU, unless baseline data indicates naturally occurring turbidity, then standard is less than 10 NTU above background levels (in our cases, there are no sites with naturally occurring turbidity above 10 NTU • Temperature: No standard, but monitored for changes • Total P: under 30ug/L, over this is considered “nuisance levels” Each site we monitor will have naturally occurring differences due to geology, plant life, etc. *The EPA and NHDES have slight differences between their acceptable limits O7*- ME-NH Border in Effingham, NH *Courtesy of SRCC Monitored since 2001 Dissolved O2 % Saturation Temperature vs. Dissolved O2 105 10.50 10.00 100 2013-2018 9.50 95 9.00 2019 90 8.50 85 mg/L 8.00 y = -0.1879x + 12.07 7.50 R2 = 0.9418 80 Above 75% DO 7.00 75 is ideal for life 6.50 y = -0.1818x + 12.11 70 6.00 R2 = 0.981 65 10.00 12.00 14.00 16.00 18.00 20.00 22.00 24.00 26.00 28.00 Temperature (C) 60 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2019 Conductivity by Month 70 60 Year CFUs Rating Parameter Explanation 2017 42.83 Fair 50 pH Stable 2018 47.30 Fair Tubidity Stable 40 2019 45.56 Fair uS/cm 30 20 10 0 May June July Aug Sept Oct Site location GE-1 Pine River (monitored since 2002) 2013-2019 data snapshot Collecting for: pH, turbidity, TP, temperature, conductivity, dissolved O2 Conductivity Effingham volunteer samples this site 110 2019 100 Parameter Explanation pH Slightly worsening but still within acceptable levels 90 Turbidity Stable 80 Total P* Slightly worsening but still within acceptable levels uS/cm 70 2013-2018 *TP data only through 2018 60 50 40 May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Dissolved O2 % Saturation 95 Dissolved O2 vs. Temperature 21 90 19 2 85 R = 0.9626 17 80 15 % 75 13 Above 75% DO Temperature Temperature (C) 11 70 is ideal for life R2= 0.9721 9 65 7 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.5 10 10.5 60 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Oxygen mg/L GE-2 South River (monitored since 2002) Site location 2013-2019 data snapshot Collecting for: pH, turbidity, TP, temperature, conductivity, dissolved O2 Conductivity Freedom volunteers sample this site 90 2019 Parameter Explanation 80 pH Stable Turbidity Slightly improving but still within acceptable levels 70 Total P* Slightly improving but still within acceptable levels 60 *TP data only through 2018 uS/cm 2013-2018 50 40 30 May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Dissolved O2 % Saturation 120 Dissolved O2 vs. Temperature 25 100 R2= 0.9073 20 80 Above 75% DO 15 % 60 is ideal for life R2= 0.9526 10 40 Temperature (C) 5 20 0 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.5 10 0 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Oxygen mg/L GE-3 Ossipee River (monitored since 2003) 2013-2019 data snapshot Site location Collecting for: pH, turbidity, TP, temperature, conductivity, dissolved O2, TN, cations, anions, silica, DOC GMCG staff sample this site Conductivity 60 2019 Parameter Explanation 50 pH Stable 2013-2018 40 Turbidity Stable Total P* Stable 30 *TP data only through 2018 20 10 0 Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct Dec Dissolved O2 vs Temperature 30 Dissolved O2 % Saturation 110 25 105 R2= 0.9629 100 20 95 15 90 Temp.