Levels of Total Dissolved Solids Spike in Monongahela
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
15 October 2009
By Don Hopey
For the third time in the past 12 months, dissolved contaminants in the
Monongahela River have spiked well above federal and state water
quality standards for taste and odor, and the situation is expected to
get worse.
The state Department of Environmental Protection announced yesterday
that high levels of total dissolved solids, or TDS, in the river began
showing up two weeks ago near the town of Crucible in Greene County.
Since then, additional violations of the 500 parts per million TDS
standard have been recorded in 46 miles of the river to Elizabeth in
Allegheny County, where levels peaked on Saturday at about 600 parts
per million.
"This is the second time we've noted high TDS levels this fall and
that's telling us that this is a problem," said DEP spokeswoman Helen
Humphreys. "We'll be continuing to monitor the situation, but there's
no reason to think that levels will not go higher again. There's no
question we have a challenge before us."
Last fall TDS levels exceeded water quality standards in more than 90
miles of the river and peaked at more than 900 parts per million.
The Monongahela River is the water supply for 350,000 people and the 11
public water treatment facilities that draw water from the river are
not equipped to remove TDS, which is a measure of all elements
dissolved in water, including carbonates, chlorides, sulfates,
nitrates, sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium.
For most, high TDS levels will make the water smell and taste bad and
spot dishes and glasses but do not make an affected water source unsafe
to drink. But individuals allergic to sulfates can be sickened, and the
DEP has once again advised concerned residents to use bottled water for
drinking and cooking until river flows increase and TDS levels return
to normal.
Sources of TDS include sewage treatment plants, drainage from abandoned
and active mines, power plant scrubber and coolant water discharges and
wastewater from oil and gas well drilling operations.
Don Hopey can be reached at dhopey@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1983.
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