Regional Water Quality NEWSLETTER DATE: Report for August 2016 A Tempe, Glendale, Peoria, Chandler, Phoenix, ADEQ, CAP, SRP, Epcor NSF Central Arizona-Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research ASU Regional Water Quality Partnership http://faculty.engineering.asu.edu/pwesterhoff/research/regional-water-quality-issues/ SUMMARY 1. Taste and Odor compounds were all below the threshold levels of 10 ng/l in the canals and water treatment plants. Quarterly reservoir samples demonstrated attenuation of taste and odor compounds with the highest average values in Roosevelt and levels just above detection limits (2 ng/l) in Canyon Lake. coliform results as compared to previous sampling events. 5. SAVE the date. Friday September 23 rd will be the 2016 ASU Regional Water Quality Workshop at the Pera Club from 8:15-11:30. 2. A solution to the DOC technical difficulties has been found but not in time to process the August samples. The UV absorbance values were similar to the values observed in June and July. Historically, UV absorbance values have tracked DOC concentrations which were 2-3 mg/l at most canal and water treatment plant sampling points in June. Quarterly reservoir samples demonstrated that water quality throughout the reservoir system with respect to organic matter has been better than historical samples for the summer. 3. The primary source of surface water was the Salt River at the time of sampling. CAP diversions to the Arizona Canal continue while groundwater pumping is primarily on the South Canal. Total dissolved nitrogen values in the South Canal were above 2 mg/l at the Chandler Water Treatment Plant. 4. Microbial concentrations were similar to concentrations observed in the previous two months. Rain events did not impact the 1
Topics Du Jour Microbial Water Quality Data Over the years the regional water quality center has collected data on numerous different topics but very little data has been collected on basic microbial water quality. Therefore, we have initiated microbial sampling for E. Coli, total coliforms and mycobacterium in the canal system to determine potential impacts on both water quality and sources of possible contamination. The values in the tables below for sampling in August are consistent with the previous two summer months (July and June). Recent rainfall events did not significantly increase the coliform levels. All Values are cfu per 100 ml Sample E. coli Coliform Blank Average 0 0 AZ Canal at Highway 87 average 4 1424 South Canal below CAP Cross- connect average 49 1024 Cap Canal at Cross-connect average 16 1552 AZ Canal at 56th St. average 31 944 AZ Canal- Central Avenue average 63 976 Pima Average 2 1192 AZ Canal above CAP Cross-connect average 16 1392 Waddell Canal average 0 1696 Verde River @ Beeline average 96 1352 AZ Canal below CAP Cross-connect average 22 1160 head of the Consolidated Canal average 45 832 Middle of Consolidated Canal average 102 912 Head of Tempe Canal average 76 848 Mycobacterium (July) colonies Blank 0 AZ Canal at Highway 87 4 South Canal below CAP Cross- connect 2 Cap Canal at Cross-connect 0 AZ Canal at 56th St. 34 AZ Canal- Central Avenue 2 AZ Canal at Pima 3 AZ Canal above CAP Cross-connect 0 Waddell Canal 1 Verde River @ Beeline 38 AZ Canal below CAP Cross-connect 3 head of the Consolidated Canal 20 1
Middle of Consolidated Canal 1 Head of Tempe Canal 11 CONT Contaminated with other bacteria 2
Source Trend in supply Discharge to water supply system Salt River Verde River Reservoirs at 51% full Reservoirs At 42% full Quick Update of Water Supplies for August, 2016 (during day of canal/wtp August 2, 2016 ) Flow into SRP Canal System Dissolved organic carbon Concentration (mg/l) ** 647 cfs 496 cfs into Arizona 2.9 mg/l Canal 106 cfs 584 cfs into South Canal 3.0 mg/l 271 cfs of CAP water into Arizona Canal Colorado River Lake Pleasant is 71.1% full (Lake Powell is 61.8% full) Lake Pleasant is* releasing 378 cfs Groundwater Pumping *** 269 cfs pumping by SRP 269 cfs Groundwater Pumping into SRP Canals *CAP is releasing 0 cfs from Lake Pleasant which was 0% of the total flow **Concentration of DOC in the terminal reservoir ***CAP water is being delivered to the Arizona Canal. 3.8 mg/l 0.5 to 1 mg/l Data from the following websites: http://www.srpwater.com/dwr/ http://www.cap-az.com/departments/water-operations/lake-pleasant http://lakepowell.water-data.com/ 3
The following views are from SRP website, and show which wells are operating along the various canals. 4
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Dissolved Organic Carbon In Reservoirs and Treatment Plants DOC = Dissolved organic carbon UV254 = ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (an indicator of aromatic carbon content) SUVA = UV254/DOC TDN = Total dissolved nitrogen (mostly nitrate from groundwater) August 2016 Data Reservoir Samples - August 1st-2nd, 2016 Sample Description Location DOC (mg/l) UV254 (l/cm) SUVA (L/mgm) TDN (mg/l Havasu (March) N/A 0.046 #VALUE! 0.3667 Lake Pleasant (March) Epilimnion N/A 0.043 #VALUE! 0.3640 Hypolimnion N/A 0.043 #VALUE! 0.2162 Verde River at Tangle N/A n/a #VALUE! n/a Verde River at Beeline Highway N/A 0.093 #VALUE! 0.3063 Bartlett Reservoir Epilmnion N/A 0.067 #VALUE! 0.2841 Hypolimnion N/A 0.076 #VALUE! 0.3711 Epilimnion N/A 0.065 #VALUE! 0.3471 Saguaro Lake Epi - Duplicate N/A 0.069 #VALUE! 0.4302 Hypolimnion N/A 0.067 #VALUE! 0.3715 Salt River at Blue Point Bridge N/A 0.058 #VALUE! 0.2133 Salt River above Roosevelt N/A 0.000 #VALUE! n/a Roosevelt Reservoir Point 1 Epilmnion N/A 0.077 N/A 0.3725 Hypolimnion N/A 0.079 N/A 0.4434 Roosevelt Reservoir Point 2 Epilmnion N/A 0.059 N/A 0.3370 Hypolimnion N/A 0.066 N/A 0.5211 Apache Reservoir Point 1 Epilmnion N/A 0.062 N/A 0.3474 Hypolimnion N/A 0.064 N/A 0.6447 Apache Reservoir Point 2 Epilmnion N/A 0.058 N/A 0.3629 Hypolimnion N/A 0.060 N/A 0.6264 Canyon Reservoir Point 1 Epilmnion N/A 0.066 N/A 0.4341 Hypolimnion N/A 0.067 N/A 0.6321 Canyon Reservoir Point 2 Epilmnion N/A 0.062 N/A 0.3891 Hypolimnion N/A 0.063 N/A 0.4075 6
Organic Matter in Canal & Water Treatment Plants Water Treatment Plants- August 1st-2nd, 2016 Sample Description DOC (mg/l) UV254 (l/cm) SUVA (L/mg-m) TDN (mg/l Union Hills Inlet n/a 0.043 #VALUE! 0.3775 Union Hills Treated n/a 0.028 #VALUE! 0.2970 Tempe North Inlet n/a 0.054 #VALUE! 0.3194 Tempe North Plant Treated n/a 0.024 #VALUE! 0.5649 Tempe South Inlet n/a 0.041 #VALUE! 1.250 Tempe South Plant Treated n/a 0.021 #VALUE! 1.274 Greenway WTP Inlet n/a N/A #VALUE! N/A Greenway WTP Treated n/a N/A #VALUE! N/A Glendale WTP Inlet n/a 0.057 #VALUE! 0.3002 Glendale WTP Treated n/a 0.025 #VALUE! 0.2425 Anthem WTP Inlet n/a 0.042 #VALUE! 0.3790 Anthem WTP Treated n/a 0.043 #VALUE! 0.3425 24th Street WTP Inlet n/a 0.054 #VALUE! 0.3133 24th Street WTP Treated n/a 0.023 #VALUE! 0.2277 Chandler WTP Inlet n/a 0.043 #VALUE! 2.103 Chandler WTP Treated n/a 0.027 #VALUE! 2.003 Rivers and Canals- August 1st-2nd, 2016 Sample Description DOC (mg/l) UV254 (l/cm) SUVA (L/mg-m) TDN (mg/l Waddell Canal n/a 0.044 #VALUE! 0.3414 Anthem WTP Inlet n/a 0.042 #VALUE! 0.3790 Union Hills Inlet n/a 0.043 #VALUE! 0.3775 CAP Salt-Gila Pumping Station (June) n/a 0.049 #VALUE! 0.3528 CAP Mesa Turnout (June) n/a 0.045 #VALUE! 0.3305 CAP Canal at Cross-connect n/a 0.059 #VALUE! 0.2940 Salt River @ Blue pt. Bridge n/a 0.058 #VALUE! 0.2133 Verde River @ Beeline n/a 0.093 #VALUE! 0.3063 AZ Canal above CAP Cross-connect n/a 0.045 #VALUE! 0.3252 AZ Canal below CAP Cross-connect n/a 0.052 #VALUE! 0.2817 AZ Canal at Highway 87 n/a 0.056 #VALUE! 0.2893 AZ Canal at Pima Rd. n/a 0.055 #VALUE! 0.2779 AZ Canal at 56th St. n/a 0.052 #VALUE! 0.3437 7
AZ Canal - Central Avenue n/a 0.053 #VALUE! 0.2963 AZ Canal - Inlet to Glendale WTP n/a 0.057 #VALUE! 0.3002 AZ Canal - Inlet to Greenway WTP n/a N/A #VALUE! N/A South Canal below CAP Cross-connect n/a 0.061 #VALUE! 0.2459 Head of Tempe Canal n/a 0.055 #VALUE! 0.4681 Tempe Canal - Inlet to Tempe's South Plant n/a 0.041 #VALUE! 1.250 Head of the Consolidated Canal n/a 0.056 #VALUE! 0.4505 Middle of Consolidated Canal n/a 0.040 #VALUE! 2.162 Chandler WTP - Inlet n/a 0.043 #VALUE! 2.103 8
Taste and Odor MIB, Geosmin and Cyclocitral are compounds naturally produced by algae in our reservoirs and canals, usually when the water is warmer and algae are growing/decaying more rapidly. They are non toxic, but detectable to consumers of water because of their earthy-musty-moldy odor. The human nose can detect these in drinking water because the compounds are semi-volatile. Since compounds are more volatile from warmer water, these tend to be more noticable in the summer and fall. The human nose can detect roughly 10 ng/l of these compounds. Our team collects samples from the water sources and raw/treated WTP samples. Table 1 - Water Treatment Plants August 1, 2016 Sample Description MIB Geosmin Union Hills Inlet Union Hills Treated Tempe North Inlet Tempe North Plant Treated Tempe South WTP Tempe South Plant Treated Anthem Inlet Anthem Treated Chandler Inlet Chandler Treated Greenway WTP Inlet Greenway WTP Treated Glendale WTP Inlet Glendale WTP Treated 24th St. WTP Inlet 24th St. WTP Outlet 5.1 <2.0 5.5 <2.0 9.8 2.5 7.3 2.6 2.0 <2.0 <2.0 <2.0 4.2 <2.0 4.2 <2.0 2.4 <2.0 2.2 <2.0 ns ns ns ns 7.7 2.1 <2.0 <2.0 9.1 3.1 2.7 <2.0 9
Table 2 - Canal Sampling August 1, 2016 System Sample Description MIB Geosmin CAP Waddell Canal 5.0 <2.0 AZ Canal Union Hills Inlet 5.1 <2.0 CAP Canal at Cross-connect 6.0 <2.0 Salt River @ Blue Pt Bridge 2.1 <2.0 Verde River @ Beeline 7.3 6.2 AZ Canal above CAP Crossconnect 6.2 <2.0 AZ Canal below CAP Crossconnect 5.5 <2.0 AZ Canal at Highway 87 6.2 3.3 AZ Canal at Pima Rd. 5.8 2.5 AZ Canal at 56th St. 10.8 3.0 AZ Canal - Central Avenue 9.7 3.6 AZ Canal - Inlet to Glendale WTP 7.7 2.1 Head of the Consolidated Canal 3.1 2.0 Middle of the Consolidated Canal 2.1 <2.0 South South Canal below CAP Crossconnect 3.4 2.5 Tempe Head of the Tempe Canal 3.0 2.4 Canals Tempe Canal - Inlet to Tempe's South Plant 2.0 <2.0 Salt-Gila (July) 5.7 <2.0 Mesa Turnout (July) 5.0 <2.0 10
Table 3 - Reservoir Samples August 2, 2016 Sample Description Location MIB Geosmin Lake Pleasant Eplimnion 3.5 <2.0 Lake Pleasant Hypolimnion 10.9 3.0 Verde River @ Beeline 7.3 6.2 Bartlett Reservoir Epilimnion 6.6 2.9 Bartlett Reservoir Epi-near dock 7.8 2.7 Bartlett Reservoir Hypolimnion 3.0 2.0 Salt River @ BluePt Bridge 2.1 <2.0 Saguaro Lake Epilimnion 3.8 2.2 Saguaro Lake Epi - Duplicate 3.6 2.4 Saguaro Lake Epi-near dock 3.1 2.4 Saguaro Lake Hypolimnion 2.0 <2.0 Lake Havasu (July) 2.1 4.3 Verde River at Tangle Creek ns ns Roosevelt at Salt River Inlet ns ns Table 4 - Quarterly Lake Sampling - August 2-3, 2016 Sample Description Site Location MIB Geosmin Roosevelt Lake Site 1A Eplimnion 11.8 <2.0 Roosevelt Lake Site 1B Hypolimnion 9.9 <2.0 Roosevelt Lake Site 2A Eplimnion 18.6 <2.0 Roosevelt Lake Site 2B Hypolimnion 2.5 <2.0 Apache Lake Site 1A Eplimnion 14.2 <2.0 Apache Lake Site 1B Hypolimnion 4.6 <2.0 Apache Lake Site 2A Eplimnion 6.6 <2.0 Apache Lake Site 2B Hypolimnion <2.0 <2.0 Canyon Lake Site 1A Eplimnion 2.8 <2.0 Canyon Lake Site 1B Hypolimnion 2.0 <2.0 11
Canyon Lake Site 2A Eplimnion 2.3 <2.0 Canyon Lake Site 2B Hypolimnion 2.1 <2.0 12