|
 |
| [navi_head.htm] |
|
|
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 PARAMETERSDuring 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