Water Quality Test Data

 

 

Name of Tester:  Joel and Jacki Clark          Date:  1/25/09    Time:   12:30 PM                

 

 

Location :  Rose Creek Cave System, Station #3, cavern zone of the swallet

         

Recent and Current Weather

 

It’s been below freezing almost every night in the past two weeks… only last night was in the 50s… yesterday the high was in the 60s for the first time in almost two weeks… scattered showers five days ago (unknown if Rose area had rain)… this morning it’s cloudy and mild.

 

Description of Area (Include plant and animal/insect life)

 

Rose is an offset sink just off Highway 47 in Columbia County.  Two gas stations are within 200 yards of the opening.  Rose is a feeder sink to the Itchetucknee Springs State Park.  There is an oil slick on the surface, probably from the quart oil container floating in the water.  There are many different plants around the water, including a reed-type plant that we’ve never seen before.  Many songbirds are nearby,  but no other evidence of land animals (except humans).  The basin has some impressive bowfin fish, but several have been found lying nearby, evidence of possible fishing activity. 

 

 

Description of Water (Include aquatic plant and animal/fish life)

 

This sample was taken at the only T on the swallet line.  We’re only at 45ffw here, and there is a lot of dead organisms and bacterial flakes in the water (see Rose #3, same date).  Again, I’m glad to get the sample and leave this section.

 

pH: 7.6   (6.5-8.5)                                Temperature:  21.9 C @ time of test

 

TDS:  139 ppm  ( <500 ppm)          Nitrate:  .15 ppm  (< 10 ppm)            Nitrite: 0 ppm (< 1 ppm)

 

DO:  5.5 ppm  ( >2 ppm)                    Phosphate:  .15 ppm  (<0.1 ppm)        Turbidity:  about 70’

 

BOD:  unavailable                           Flow:  not measured                                  WQI:  72.18-82.74 which

                                                                                                                                                 is good

 *Numbers in parenthesis are acceptable limits.

 

 

Cave Species Counts: 

 

Nothing alive observed near the sample station.  Many dead organisms, however.

 

 

Date and Time of E. Coli Count: 1/27/09 @ 1:00 PM               E. Coli (purple w/wo pink halo): 0/100 ml

 

Non-Fecal Coli (pink, light pink): 0/100 ml      Other Bacteria (teal/pale/yellow/clear):  20/100 ml

 

Implications and questions:  Because we currently lack enough results to track trends, no true conclusions can be wrought from the data.  As more tests are completed, trends should become visible.  However, the amount of dead organisms suggests that something is amiss.  Since our test resulted in a WQI of average to good, we can only guess the possible causes of the dead organisms.  Further observation is needed.