Map courtesy of Alabama Water Watch

Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment

Of Factory Creek

In Sumter County,

AlabamaBrian BurnesUniversity of West Alabama

Factory Creekitumbi ikbi (Choctaw) - box maker

 

Map courtesy of Alabama Water Watch

Factory Creek

• Lowest 1.86 miles on 303(d) list for exceeding acceptable levels of “Organic Enrichment and Nutrients” (organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus).

• Resample to collect current data and determine possible sources of exceedances.

4142

43

D7

Factory Creek monitoring sites

41

42

43

D7

Is the 2001 data representative of Factory Creek?Factory Creek monitoring sites

Parameter Method

Air Temperature Thermometer

Water Temperature Thermometer/Thermistor

Dissolved Oxygen Modified Winkler/Membrane Electrode

pH Glass Electrode

Specific Conductance Wheatstone Bridge

Turbidity Nephelometer

Stream Flow Modified Cross Sectional

5-day Biochemical Oxygen Demand(BOD-5) EPA 405.1

5-day Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand (CBOD-5) EPA 405.1

Chlorophyll a SM 10200H

Fecal Coliform Membrane Filter

Ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) EPA 350.1

Nitrate/nitrite-nitrogen (NO3+NO2-N) EPA 353.2

Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) EPA 351.2

Ortho-Phosphorus (Ortho-P) EPA 365.3

Total Phosphorus (Total P) EPA 365.4

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

June 3 August 3 October 3 December 3 February 3 April 3

NH

3 (m

g/L)

43

42

41

D7

Storm sample 42

Hammer Mitchell RD

Dan Mitchell RD. E.

FC Pond

Catfish Pond

Dan mitchell RD. W.

EPA Parameter

41 - ADEM 2001

D7- ADEM 2001

Site

Ammonia

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

0.5

June 3 August 3 October 3 December 3 February 3 April 3

TP (m

g/L)

43

42

41

D7

Hammer Mitchell RD

Dan Mitchell RD. E.

FC Pond

Catfish Pond

Dan mitchell RD. W.

EPA Parameter

41 - ADEM 2001

D7- ADEM 2001

Site

Total phosphate

42

43

Water quality at the confluence of Factory Creek with the Tombigbee River exceeds EPA standards for pH,

Conductivity, Turbidity, Ammonia, and Reactive Phosphate(strong correlation to Tombigbee River).

4142

43

D7

Can we find the source of contaminants by finding the source of E. coli in Factory

Creek?

Retention pond

Catfish pond

Pond

Pond

Water quality in Factory Creek exceeds EPA standards for phosphates and fecal coliforms during

high flow(strong correlation to upstream ponds).

4142

43

D7

Factory Creek monitoring sites

Conclusions:

Water quality at the confluence of Factory Creek with the Tombigbee River exceeds EPA standards

for pH, Conductivity, Turbidity, Ammonia, and Reactive Phosphate

(strong correlation to Tombigbee River).

Water quality in Factory Creek exceeds EPA standards for phosphates and fecal coliforms

during high flow(strong correlation to upstream ponds).

Acknowledgements to ADEM, SCSWS