The document summarizes a report card on the health of the Jackson Creek watershed in Peterborough, Ontario. It delineates the watershed area and notes that monitoring its health is important as it runs through an urban center. The report card evaluates the watershed based on 2016 data on factors like benthic invertebrates, phosphorus levels, and E. coli levels from sampling sites. It gives the watershed an overall grade of B for these measures but notes some areas could be improved. Maintaining the ecological integrity of the watershed requires involvement from various stakeholders and continued monitoring through annual report cards.
“What makes a river so restful to people is that it doesn’t have any doubt - it is sure to get where it is going, and it doesn’t want to go anywhere else.”
Ecosystem Services and Perception of Water Quality of Lake Barombi Kotto, Cam...ijtsrd
This study carried out in BarombiKotto was aimed at assessing ecosystem services provided by Lake BarombiKotto and its riparian vegetation and to determine the level of awareness of this community to threats to degradation of water quality and riparian vegetation. Two hundred semi structured questionnaires were administered to the inhabitants of BarombiKotto village using the purposive sampling method. The Likert rating method was used to derive quantitative data that was further analysed using SPSS version 17. Results revealed that, respondents depended on the lake and vegetation for the provision of water for drinking, domestic purposes, irrigation, transport, recreational and cultural activities and also on forest benefits like wood for fuel, construction and medicinal plants. Significant associations were found between age group, level of education and respondentsawareness about the threats to water quality and sustainable practices. Agriculture, harvest of wood for construction, high fishing rates, increasing abundance of aquatic weeds were identified as major threats to Lake BarombiKotto and its surrounding vegetation. Water quality attributes like reduced transparency, lake depth, and other parameters such as aquatic weeds and fish stocks have changed in Lake BarombiKotto. The absence of conventional waste management facilities in BarombiKotto community and poor sanitary conditions of toilets could be responsible for the contamination of this lake and hence the high prevalence of typhoid, dysentery and other gastrointestinal infections among respondents. Awo Miranda Egbe | Beatrice Ambo Fonge | Pascal Tabi Tabot ""Ecosystem Services and Perception of Water Quality of Lake Barombi Kotto, Cameroon"" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-3 | Issue-3 , April 2019, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd23529.pdf
Paper URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/biological-science/ecology/23529/ecosystem-services-and-perception-of-water-quality-of-lake-barombi-kotto-cameroon/awo-miranda-egbe
Ecosystem Services and Perception of Water Quality of Lake Barombi Kotto, Cam...ijtsrd
This study carried out in BarombiKotto was aimed at assessing ecosystem services provided by Lake BarombiKotto and its riparian vegetation and to determine the level of awareness of this community to threats to degradation of water quality and riparian vegetation. Two hundred semi structured questionnaires were administered to the inhabitants of BarombiKotto village using the purposive sampling method. The Likert rating method was used to derive quantitative data that was further analysed using SPSS version 17. Results revealed that, respondents depended on the lake and vegetation for the provision of water for drinking, domestic purposes, irrigation, transport, recreational and cultural activities and also on forest benefits like wood for fuel, construction and medicinal plants. Significant associations were found between age group, level of education and respondentsawareness about the threats to water quality and sustainable practices. Agriculture, harvest of wood for construction, high fishing rates, increasing abundance of aquatic weeds were identified as major threats to Lake BarombiKotto and its surrounding vegetation. Water quality attributes like reduced transparency, lake depth, and other parameters such as aquatic weeds and fish stocks have changed in Lake BarombiKotto. The absence of conventional waste management facilities in BarombiKotto community and poor sanitary conditions of toilets could be responsible for the contamination of this lake and hence the high prevalence of typhoid, dysentery and other gastrointestinal infections among respondents. Awo Miranda Egbe | Beatrice Ambo Fonge | Pascal Tabi Tabot ""Ecosystem Services and Perception of Water Quality of Lake Barombi Kotto, Cameroon"" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-3 | Issue-3 , April 2019, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd23529.pdf
Paper URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/biological-science/ecology/23529/ecosystem-services-and-perception-of-water-quality-of-lake-barombi-kotto-cameroon/awo-miranda-egbe
Specific physicochemical parameters influence on the plankton structure in ag...Innspub Net
The continuous discharge of effluents into Warri River, impacts on its water quality parameters as well as plankton species which requires commensurate surveillance. This study focuses on its physicochemical characteristics and their influence on plankton composition and abundance. The surface water samples and plankton collected monthly from June to November 2014 were analyzed using standard methods. The physicochemical parameters showed variations among the stations. The ANOVA results revealed that water temperature, transparency, turbidity, TDS, conductivity, pH, acidity, Dissolved Oxygen and phosphate were significantly different (P <0.05) among the studied sites. A total of 849 plankton species identified; 814 species were phytoplankton consisting of four groups (Bacillariophyta> Chlorophyta> Euglenophyta> Cyanophyta, arranged in order of dominance. While zooplankton had 35 species grouped into 5 groups; Rotifera> Copepoda> Protozoa> Cladocera> Arachnida, in order of dominance. Pearson correlation revealed a significant correlation between different Plankton species population and some parameters (p<0.05). The principal component analysis labelled acidity, organic load, mineralization, nutrient, and organic pollution as influential factors governing plankton abundance in the studied area. These factors identify with materials from industries and human activities along the river, which results in the alteration of plankton composition, particularly Melosira granulata (Ehrenberg) Ralfs,1861. Inferred biological indicator of the water body. Diversity indices ranged from 0.28 to 1.39; Station 2 had the highest (1.39) and Station 1 the lowest species richness, a highly polluted river.
ASSESSMENT OF WASTE WATER TREATMENT IN CANAANLAND, OTA, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA.O...Felix Oginni
Effluent from a sewage treatment plant in Covenant University, Canaanland is made to pass through a series of constructed wetland before discharging into a gully that drains into River Iju (also known as Atuara). This river is used as a source of drinking water and also provides food in form of fish for hundreds of thousands of people downstream and eventually enters the lagoon, some 60km away. Effectiveness and adequacy of the wastewater treatment facility in place was assessed in order to improve sanitation within this watershed, thereby alleviating environmental challenges in this coastal region of Nigeria. Waste water is gravity drained to the southwest portion of the campus where the solid is removed and the liquid is allowed to flow through six sets of constructed wetlands, each with four chambers. Within each chamber are water hyacinth plants put in place to remove nutrients from the waster water.
A quick survey of the facility shows the system to be effective in reducing and removing solids and dissolved solids from the waste water. The pH ranged between 6.6 and 6.8, conductivity from 530 to 600, and total dissolved solids (TDS) ranged from 360 – 400 ppm. The data obtained indicate that some modifications need to be made as the waste water treatment system is not very efficient in reducing the amount of TDS and nutrients. The flow rate is considered to be very high from cell to cell, thereby not allowing time for the plants and microbes to reduce the TDS. It is suggested that some method be devised to slow down the flow rate to allow the plants and microbes to work on reducing the TDS. Parameters also also considered included DO, E. Coli. Nitrate and Phosphates.
This is a pamphlet I made for the Hui Aloha O Kiholo community group in Kona that describes the current findings of research I am conducting at Kiholo Bay.
Slaughter waste effluents and river catchment watershed contamination in Caga...Angelo Mark Walag
Slaughterhouse waste products are commonly known globally to pollute nearby communities and receiving bodies of water. The main aim of this study was to analyze the effluents disposed by Cagayan de Oro City Slaughterhouse to river catchment watershed. Standard methods were utilized in sampling and analyzing water quality parameters to determine the levels of nitrates, BOD, COD, total coliform, and lead. It was found out that the majority of wastes produced are internal organs, blood and urine mixtures, and manures. The study also revealed that all parameters tested crossed the permissible limits set by the government for effluent and inland water except for BOD and nitrates, in the river watershed. It was also determined that during wet seasons, major contaminants like lead and nitrates were diluted resulting to lower levels when compared to national standards. The result of this study also revealed the need for further remediation of the river water quality and intervention strategies to sustainably manage and prevent disposal of untreated effluents.
1. Prepared by: Evan Barton,
Juliana DeNardi, Kristen
Glass, Adrienne Parsons,
& Rebekah Short
2. The Jackson Creek watershed is an approximately
114 km2
drainage area that passes through downtown
Peterborough (Hibbert, 2003). The headwaters of the
Jackson Creek watershed are located in the Oak
Ridges Moraine and drains to the Otanabee River that
runs through Peterborough. Figure 1 (below) shows a
delineation of the Jackson Creek Watershed.
Monitoring the health of the Jackson Creek water-
shed is of significant importance as it runs through an
urban centre, making it more susceptible to pollutant
accumulation. This report card will summarize the
health of the watershed based on data collected in
2016.
Figure 1: Jackson Creek Watershed Delineation (County of Peterborough, 2010)
Watersheds are the areas of land that drain
rainwater or snow into streams, lakes and wet-
lands. As the water travels through grasslands and
forests they act as nature’s filters, helping to keep
erosion and pollution from flowing into our water
supply (Nature Conservancy, 2015). Watershed re-
porting helps communicate baseline information on
watershed health, identify local and regional differ-
ences, and show us where to target our efforts for
the best impact (Conservation Ontario, n.d.).
What is a Watershed?
What is a Watershed
Report Card?
Watershed Report Cards:
Allow us to measure and report on surface
water quality, forest conditions, and groundwa-
ter quality (Conservation Ontario, n.d.)
Designed to provide on-going updates on the
health of your watershed
Can be used to assist municipalities, agen-
cies, communities, and other stakeholders
Provide important technical data and analysis
to communicate an evaluation of local water-
shed health (Conservation Ontario, n.d.)
Jackson Creek Watershed
(Trails and Greenways, 2012)
(Microsoft Publisher, 2015) (Microsoft Publisher, 2015)
(Microsoft Publisher, 2015)
(Short, 2016)
3. Table 2: Showing recorded data for all sites at the
sample location for benthic invertebrates (Hilsenhoff),
Total Phosphorus, and E Coli.
Sampling Site
Scoring Summary
Scoring system
A—Excellent
B—Good
C—Fair
D—Poor
F—Very Poor
Year: 2016
Hilsenhoff
Total
Phospho-
rus E Coli
Sample #
Index Mg/L
CFU/100m
l
Urbanized
Site
(Dalhousie
Street)
1 3.96 0.020 52
2 4.50 0.062 69
3 4.65 0.020 46
4 3.83 0.021 62
5 4.90 0.036 62
6 4.51 0.025 43
7 5.34 0.033 59
8 4.78 0.161 19
9 4.81 0.019 55
10 4.53 0.031 22
11 N/A 0.020 59
Mean 5 0.04 49
Grade B C B
Over all ScoreTable 1: Showing values used to determine score and
grade for average values of collected data (Conservation
Onatrio, 2011)
Peterborough interactive Map, 2016
4. Watersheds are a key component in sustaining life for
countless species. It is imperative that the ecological integrity of
the Jackson Creek Watershed be protected and restored. This
can be accomplished using a number approaches outlined in
the Principles of Ecosystem Health. An important aspect in
maintaining the Jackson Creek Watershed is using a transdisci-
plinary approach which requires a cohesiveness between stake-
holders. The health of the watershed is monitored by scientists
but without involving the community of the Kawartha Lakes and
decision makers of this area, sustaining this watershed would be
very difficult. The results of the watershed report cards allows
both the community and decision makers a deeper insight into
the health of the watershed and allows each stakeholder to give
input on how to conserve and maintain the watershed. This
would involve a knowledge to action approach. Once stakehold-
ers are aware of the health concerns of the Jackson Creek Wa-
tershed, policies and management strategies can be implement-
ed to preserve the health of this ecosystem. It is imperative that
annual watershed report cards on the Jackson Creek Water-
shed are continually completed to ensure the most up to date
technical data is available for stakeholders. The Jackson Creek
Watershed is a source of ecological and social importance for
the Kawartha Lake Region and it is imperative that the health of
this watershed is sustained now and for future generations.
Phosphorus acts as an important nutrient in aquatic sys-
tems and, if maintained at naturally occurring levels, it provides
beneficial services to the ecosystem; but when it exceeds the
ideal level some issues can arise. Ecosystems that are over-
saturated with phosphorus experience degraded health as the
phosphorus contributes to algal blooms and unstable fish com-
munities (Healthy Lake Huron, 2016). Sampling reveals that
Jackson’s Creek has an average of 0.04mg/L phosphorus, which
classifies the stream quality as fair, relative to what the ideal lev-
els are. This means that action should be taken to reduce phos-
phorus levels to increase stream health.
E coli (Escherichia coli) is used in watershed monitoring to
assess a stream for the presence of harmful bacteria, such as
giardia. Possible sources for E. coli include fecal contamination
of the water, agricultural runoff, wastewater treatment plants, or
on-site septic systems (Lewis, 2016). Instances of heavy precipi-
tation can cause this potentially harmful bacteria to be washed
into the stream. E coli levels exceeding the permissible limits
may result in boil water advisories for public drinking water or
recreational water body access being shut off by municipalities.
The water sample analysis from the site indicated that the levels
were within an acceptable limit, with a scoring of B, but there is
still room for improvement.
Benthic invertebrates are very diverse and abundant in
stream ecosystems and each family group has different toler-
ance levels for contaminants in the water (Covich, Palmer, &
Crowl, 1999) . As a result of this, the presence or absence of
specific family groups recorded after an OBBN (Ontario Benthos
Biomonitoring Network) assessment, can indicate the overall
health of that specific stream. The results of the kick and sweep
performed at the Dalhousie St site indicate that it is probable that
there is some organic pollution (Conservation Ontario, 2011), so
there is room to improve the health of the stream.
Discussion Recommendations Sources
Charron, D. (2012). Ecohealth Research in Practice: Innova-
tive Applications of an Ecosystem Approach to Health. Otta-
wa, ON: Springer.
Conservation Ontario (2011) Guide to Developing Conserva-
tion Authority Watershed Report Cards.
Conservation Ontario. (n.d). Frequently Asked Questions
About Conservation Authority Watershed Report Card. Re-
trieved March 18th 2016, from Watershed Checkup: http://
watershedcheckup.ca/images/FAQs.pdf
County of Peterborough (2010) City of Peterborough Water-
shed Map.
Covich, P., Palmer, M., & Crowl, T. (1999) The Role of Ben-
thic Invertebrate Species in Freshwater Ecosystems: Zooben-
thic Species Influence Energy Flows and Nutrient Cycling.
Bioscience. 49(2): 119-127.
Healthy Lake Huron (2016) Why is too much Phosphorus an
Issue? Retrieved from: http://healthylakehuron.ca/
news_item.php?NewsID=87.
Hibbert, A. (2003) Peterborough Torrential Storm and Flood
Report. ORCA Community Based Research Project.
Lewis, L. (2016) Health Implications of Escherichia coli (e.
coli) in Recreational and Drinking Water. The Water Project.
Retrieved from: https://thewaterproject.org/health-implications
-of-e-coli.
Nature Conservancy (2015) What’s Up with Watersheds?
Retrieved from: http://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/what-
you-can-do/learn-more/watersheds.html
Trails and Greenways (2012) Trans Canada Trail - Ka-
Short, 2015 Short, 2015