Ambient Water Monitoring in Ames, Iowa

1
Ambient Water Monitoring in Ames, Iowa

• 4th Annual Water Monitoring Conference
• Scheman Building in Ames, Iowa
• February 19, 2004

Maryann Ryan, Lab Supervisor
Laboratory Services Division W PC Department
2
Motivations for Collection of Ambient Water
Quality Data

• Be part of the solution not part of the problem
• Environmental concerns
• Legislation/Regulations
• Potential addition to NPDES permits
• Public demand
• Lack of scientific data

3
Be Part of the Problem

• The earth is doomed!
• Do nothing!
• Wait for someone else to do it.
• React

4
Be Part of the Solution

• Professionals collect data and make educated
  assessments of environmental needs
• Act
• Participate in IDNR/UHL studies
• IOWATER
• Collect ambient water quality data
• Promote watershed improvements
• Support science based standards and
  implementation plans

5
Scope of Sample Collection

• Skunk River - 3 sites
• Upstream of Wastewater Plant Outflow
• Downstream 0.3 miles
• Downstream 1.3 miles
• Urban Streams 5 sites
• Skunk River
• Squaw Creek
• Clear Creek
• College Creek
• Worle Creek

6
Skunk River Sampling Sites
7
Parameters

• Regulated parameters
• Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
• Volatile Suspended Solids (VSS)
• Biochemical Oxygen Demand (CBOD5)
• Temperature in degrees Celcius
• Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
• pH
• Nutrients
• Total Phosphorus as Phosphorus (Total P as P)
• NitrateNitrite as Nitrogen (NO3NO2)
• Ammonia as Nitrogen (NH3-N)
• Total Keldahl Nitrogen (TKN)

8
2003 Skunk RiverTotal Suspended Solids
9
2003 Skunk RiverBiochemical Oxygen Demand
10
2003 Skunk RiverTemperature
11
2003 Skunk RiverDissolved Oxygen
12
2003 Skunk RiverpH
13
2003 Skunk RiverTotal Phosphorus
14
2003 Skunk RiverNitrate Nitrite
15
Urban Stream Sites
16
Skunk River
17
Squaw Creek
18
Clear Creek
19
College Creek
20
Worle Creek
21
Urban StreamFecal Coliform Bacteria
22
Water Monitoring Ambitions

• Microbiology analysis on Skunk River
• Better tracking of rainfall and river levels
• Additional parameters added to urban stream
  monitoring
• Training of personnel

23
Questions?

• Maryann Ryan Contact Information
• Email mryan_at_city.ames.ia.us
• Phone [phone]
• Laboratory Services Division
• 300 East 5th Street
• Ames, Iowa 50010