Rural Water - Quarter 1, 2009 - (Page 32)

can occur day to day, but also show how variations in ﬂow from one year to the next can be dramatic. This data comes from the United States Geological Survey gauging station located on the Barren River in Bowling Green, Kentucky. While 2006 was drier than average for much of the year, ﬂows were much higher than the near record drought year of 2007. Indeed, the lowest ﬂow ever recorded at this site occurred in 2007. Remember these graphs are logarithmic with major divisions at 10, 100, 1,000, and 10,000 cubic feet per second. If the graphs were drawn linearly, the peaks and valleys would appear much more dramatic. As a source of raw water, rivers also face a considerable number of problems. As stated earlier, the characteristics of the water within a river are highly dependent upon the land use within a river’s watershed. During heavy rainfall, runoff from industrial, urban and residential areas can quickly ﬂow into streams and rivers. This can create a temporary increase in pollutants arriving at water UFR1500 Circle Lock One restraint for both C900 and IPS PVC Enhanced 4" - 12" The Ford Meter Box Co., Inc. www.fordmeterbox.com 260-563-3171 treatment plant intakes. Kentucky rivers face other problems as well. Livestock frequently have direct access to rivers and thus can urinate and defecate directly into the river itself. Straight pipes and malfunctioning septic systems can bring raw sewage directly from homes to the adjacent creeks, often dramatically increasing levels of pathogens such as Cryptosporidium and E.coli. Further, coal mining, much of which is surface mining, is a large industry in Kentucky. Runoff from coal mine areas and dangers associated with coal waste impoundments affect dozens of water utilities in the state. Finally, another issue affecting water treatment plants with river sources is the danger posed by emergency or illegal spills. A tractor trailer accident spills diesel fuel in a river, a barge accident spills chemicals or illegal dumping is occurring up stream. Accidental or illegal spills can bring toxic chemicals to a treatment plant intake with little or no warning. Having a detailed understanding of the potential threats to a water treatment plant (locations of bridges, factories, chemical storage facilities, etc.) is crucial to dealing with any emergencies that arrive. As the quote by Heraclitus at the beginning of this article states, rivers are always changing. Water treatment plant operators need to have a good knowledge of the river they use as a water source because the water entering their treatment plant is always changing. Modern technology, not available to Greek philosophers, allows us to monitor changes in temperature, ﬂow, water chemistry etc. so there are few reasons for not knowing the characteristics of your river source. Further, modern computer mapping resources makes knowing potential threats to your river easier than ever before. Finally, regulations governing drinking water are only getting more stringent, and having as much knowledge of your source as possible will help make meeting new regulations easier. Paying attention to the changes within your river source and knowing what is going on within the watershed is now more important than ever. Reprinted with the permission of the Kentucky Rural Water Association. 32 • First 403724_Ford.indd 1 Quarter 2009 10/14/08 8:32:51 AM http://www.fordmeterbox.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Rural Water - Quarter 1, 2009

Rural Water - Quarter 1, 2009 Contents From the President Question & Answer: Water Conservation in the Home Avoiding the Humpty Dumpty Approach to Data Backup From the CEO What the Future Holds Asset Management for Small Communities Understanding Your Surface Water Source: The Rivers Hydraulic Models Expeditionary Water Packaging System Graces Delta The Rural Water Rally in April Training in Hawaii Regulatory Update Rural Water Releases Report on Water Infrastructure Projects and Economic Stimulus Legislation Throwing My Loop Advertisers.com Index to Advertisers

Rural Water - Quarter 1, 2009

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