Water Quality Test Data

Name of Tester: Joel and Jacki Clark Date: 6/29/08 Time: 7:40 PM

Location : Ruth Spring Basin

Recent and Current Weather

We have had daily rains for the past week. It has not rained today, however.

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

The water level in the basin appears to be up a couple of inches from December. The Suwannee flooded in March, covering the basin and surrounding area with tannic water. There are grasses and shrubs on the banks. The county-built retaining wall has been burnt by someone’s campfire, and erosion is evident. There is a new gully leading to the spring, and much new sand has entered the basin and run.

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

The water has algae both in it and on the surface. Minnows and small bass are gulping air at the surface. However, there are children splashing in the spring basin, so I hope the dissolved oxygen levels will be helped by this. Many water boatmen are also present, as are small catfish.

pH: 7.3 (6.5-8.5) Temperature: 22.2 C @ time of test

TDS: 228 ppm ( <500 ppm) Nitrate: 15 ppm (< 10 ppm) Nitrite: 0 ppm (< 1 ppm)

DO: 1.5 ppm ( >2 ppm) Phosphate: .15 ppm (<0.1 ppm) Turbidity: not measured

BOD: unavailable Flow: not measured WQI: 24.56-42.94 which

is fair

*Numbers in parenthesis are acceptable limits.

Cave Species Counts:

The cave was not entered.

Date and Time of E. Coli Count: 7/1/08 @ 5:30 PM E. Coli (purple w/wo pink halo): 980/100 ml

Non-Fecal Coli (pink, light pink): 1000/100 ml Other Bacteria (teal/pale/yellow/clear): 2000/100 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 nitrate levels are concerning, as are the bacterial levels considering the children playing in the water. Further observation is needed.