Water Quality Test Data

 

 

Name of Tester:  Joel and Jacki Clark        Date:  7/05/08    Time:   12:10 PM                

 

 

Location :  Cow Spring Basin

         

Recent and Current Weather

 

We’ve had daily rain in the area for the past 23 days.  It’s sunny and clear today, with temps in the low 80s. 

 

 

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

 

There are erosion control measures in place.  There is little evidence of the drought in the area immediately surrounding the spring.

 

 

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

 

The basin is a clear, Coke-bottle green.  Water levels are about eight feet below the run.  There are few fish visible, but at time of test there were four divers in the water with multiple teams preparing to enter.  The sample was taken from the basin only.

 

pH: 7.0   (6.5-8.5)                                Temperature:  22.2 C @ time of test

 

TDS:  194 ppm  ( <500 ppm)          Nitrate:  5 ppm  (< 10 ppm)            Nitrite: 0 ppm (< 1 ppm)

 

DO:  3 ppm  ( >2 ppm)                       Phosphate:  .15 ppm  (<0.1 ppm)        Turbidity:  clear

 

BOD:  unavailable                           Flow:  not measured                                  WQI:  57.09-75.09 which

                                                                                                                                                 is mid- to high average

 *Numbers in parenthesis are acceptable limits.

 

Cave Species Counts: 

 

The cave was not entered.

 

 

Date and Time of E. Coli Count: 7/07/08 @ 4:00 PM        E. Coli (purple w/wo pink halo): 3200/100 ml

 

Non-Fecal Coli (pink, light pink): 1440/100 ml     Other Bacteria (teal/pale/yellow/clear):  2800/100 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.  Still, I don’t plan to dive here in the near future because of the high bacteria levels in the water.