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 Water Monitoring Disclosure

The results indicated on the previous pages are factual and are published by The Town of Nags Head for informational purposes by the reader. The Town of Nags Head will share all of its findings with the appropriate reporting agencies to allow for swimming & other water quality related advisories to be determined. 

Fecal Coliform is bacteria found in the feces of warm-blooded animals and is not a disease-causing agent; rather they indicate disease-causing agents that may be present. Higher concentrations of Fecal Coliform indicate the likeliness of harmful organisms. Fecal Coliform is also naturally found in some bodies of water and may already exist for a number of reasons (wild animals, heavy rains producing runoff). These bacteria can enter a water system through runoff, sewage, trash, animal and human waste. The ocean is not usually prone to high Fecal Coliform levels because of change in tides and the strength of the currents. The state standard is 200 Fecal Coliform per 100 ml for drinking water and swimming advisories.

Although, Fecal Coliform may be an indication of many contributors, the result will be used in comparison with the other testing parameters to further aid the determination of septic leakage, especially through groundwater sampling. The Town of Nags Head will also be able to correlate results of Fecal Coliform to the data collected from the current Dare County Surface Water Program. 

Ammonium (NH+4) is a form of nitrogen, which is present inside the tanks of septic systems. In a properly functioning system, the septic field will be aerobic allowing the presence of oxygen, and causing bacteria to die off leaving Nitrates (NO-3). This process is called nitrification. However, poor drainage conditions result in an anaerobic septic field, (where there is no oxygen present). In such, ammonium will be detected. Detection of ammonium will indicate that a septic system is not functioning properly. 

Nitrate is another form of nitrogen that exists in the septic system through drainage water. A properly operating septic system will indicate the presence of nitrates. However, elevations in nitrates will result in contributing nitrate problems with groundwater and eutrophication problems in surface water. If nitrate levels are consistently above .3 parts per billion (ppm), algae blooms are likely to occur. Currently, there are no state standards for nitrogen-based compounds in tidal or salt waters. However, the state standard for nitrates in groundwater is 10ppm, which is specified for drinking water purposes. 

A combination of testing for ammonium and nitrates will be performed. These parameters tested together will act as a specific indicator to identify the presence of septic leakage. Nitrates found in and around a septic system indicate a properly functioning system since nitrates are automatically produced after the removal of bacteria and the filtration to drainage fields. If bacteria have not been properly removed from the system and nitrification has not occurred, ammonium will be detected.

Phosphorus (Total Phosphates) in the water may come from septic leakage, fertilizers, decaying matter and runoff. Phosphates do not have a set standard in salt or tidal waters. Yet a detection of a significant amount of phosphates, beyond a few feet from the location of a septic system will indicate a leakage problem. Because of the broad range of contributors to phosphate levels, the measure of its level is a more general indication of the quality of water. 

ADDITIONAL PARAMETERS

During groundwater sampling, additional parameters will be included that will correlate the water quality data and the performance of septic systems. These parameters include the measurements of salinity, tides, depth to groundwater, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, pH and temperature. Most of these parameters may be measured using an electronic probe that is lowered into monitoring wells or surface waters.

General climatic data collected will include: air temperature, wind direction, wind velocity and duration, precipitation and evapo-transpiration and will be recorded from a stationary weather station that is located within The Town of Nags Head. Utilization of a this weather data will assist in specifying the fluctuation of the water table through the collection of data for precipitation, the rate of evaporation, and evapo-transpiration.

Click here to get the latest data from the Water Quality Monitoring Program.


Water Quality Data in Excel Format

 

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