Possible Contamination of the Sandusky River by Wastewater Discharge by Bucyrus, Ohio

The objective of this study was to determine changes in the chemical composition of water that result from its use by the town of Bucyrus in Crawford County, OH, and to document the effect of the discharge of wastewater on the quality of water in the Sandusky River. The results indicate that the wastewater is enriched in the major elements (Na, K, Mg, Ca, and Sr) compared to tap water in the town of Bucyrus. However, the treated wastewater does not significantly alter the chemical composition of water in the Sandusky River represented by a ten-year average from 1984 to 1994. The concentrations of Mo in raw water and in the wastewater are nearly identical, which means it cannot have an anthropogenic source. The wastewater does not contain P because this element is effectively removed as required by the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. OHIO J SCI 103 (4):84-88, 2003 INTRODUCTION Ohio municipalities use water for domestic, commercial, and industrial purposes as well as for consumption by humans and domestic animals. The water required for these purposes is derived from wells, streams, and reservoirs, and is purified before it is released for human consumption. After use, the wastewater is treated again before it is discharged into the environment. The release of wastewater into streams is a potential source for chemical contamination. Previous studies of this phenomenon in streams in Ohio include the work of: Fortner (2000); Heffelfinger (1999, 1995); Mensing and Faure (1998); Piatak (1998); Essenburg (1997); Petz and Faure (1997); Sainey (1997, 1995); and Hicks (1994, 1992). The purpose of the present study was to track the chemical composition of municipal water in the town of Bucyrus from its source to the discharge of wastewater, and to document the changes that occur in the chemical composition of the Sandusky River downstream of the outfall. The Sandusky River flows north into Lake Erie and therefore is subject to the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. MATERIALS AND METHODS Study Area The Sandusky River (Fig. 1) arises from springs located near Crestline north of the local drainage divide. The drainage basin has an area of 3202 km and a downstream length of 210 km. The geology of the basin upstream from Bucyrus consists of the Columbus and Delaware Limestones overlain by the Ohio Shale, all of which are of Devonian age. The rocks dip to the east at low angles and are covered by till of Wisconsinan age, including the Wabash Moraine which was deposited during the recession of the Laurentide ice sheet prior to about 15,000 year before present (Forsyth 1975; Dawson 1992). The mean monthly discharge of the Sandusky River near Fremont during the 1998/99 water-year ranged from 55-9 mVs during high flow in April to 0.849 mVs during low flow in September of 1999Partial chemical analyses, specific conductance, water temperature, pH, and the concentration of suspended sediment in the Sandusky River are recorded annually by the Water Resources Division of the US Geological Survey (Anonymous 2000). The pH of the water of the Sandusky River near Fremont typically ranges from about 7.0 (neutral) to 8.2 (mildly basic). A comprehensive summary