Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
FIGURE 14.7
Water quality in the Mahoning River. Temperature (°F) ranges for water types are:
1 = 73-79; 2 = 80-86; 3 = 87-93; 4 = 94-100.
b. What is the major source of this sulfate increase?
Warren, Ohio, to the Pennsylvania/Ohio line. Overflows of
combined storm and sanitary sewers during wet weather con-
tribute
Escherichia coli (E. coli)
and nutrients and the sediments
contain toxic organic chemicals from disposal practices prior
to regulation (get additional information at:
http://oh.water
a.
How should the region address the
E. coli
problem in
this river system? (E.
coli
indicates recent fecal contamina-
tion from gastrointestinal tracts of humans or animals
and possible presence of pathogens that may adversely
affect human health.)
8.
What would you expect the chloride concentration to be in
Eagle Creek? Explain.
9.
Do any constituents in the Mahoning River in the
Youngstown area exceed any drinking water quality limits?
If so, which ones?
b. A preliminary study of river sediment by the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (USACE) recommended removal of
750,000 cubic yards of sediment with organic toxins to a
secure waste disposal site to remove the human health
advisory. The proposed
Mahoning River Environmental
Dredging Project
would be the second largest USACE
restoration project (the Everglades is first) and would
require about $35 million in local money (Eastgate Council
of Governments, n.d.). You will find useful information to
help answer parts of this question online (e.g.,
http://
www.eastgatecog.org/
e
nv-mahoningriver.asp, http: / /
www.ysu.edu
/
mahoning_river/river_restoration.htm, or
http: / /
www.lrp.usace.army.mil/
p
m/mahonoh.htm).
10.
Since the 1960s when there was uncontrolled waste dis-
posal from seven steel mills operating in the area, water qual-
ity in the Mahoning River has improved significantly due to
environmental regulations that require wastewater treatment
of effluent from all industries and municipalities. Worldwide
competition from modem steel mills resulted in the closing of
some steel mills here, further improving water quality. In
2005, the river was still one of the five most contaminated
rivers in the United States. Recent measurements of water
quality (Stoeckel and Covert, 2002) show that the limits for
three physical /chemical parameters for healthy desirable
aquatic organisms were only occasionally exceeded (dis-
solved oxygen [DO], pH, and temperature). The river still
does not meet standards for swimming and wading, however.
Two additional factors, sewer effluent and toxic sediments in
the river, result in a human health advisory for the river from
c.
Should the region and the nation expend funds to
remove this environmental hazard, a liability to economic
development? Explain.
