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Reconnaissance of water-quality characteristics of streams in the city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, North Carolina: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report

Water-Resources Investigations Report 84-4308
By W.H. Eddins and J.K. Crawford

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Abstract

In 1979-81, water samples were collected from 119 sites on streams throughout the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and were analyzed for specific conductance, dissolved chloride, hardness, pH, total alkalinity, total phosphorus, trace elements, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, silver, and zinc and biological measures including dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, fecal coliform bacteria, and fecal streptococcus bacteria. Sampling was conducted during both low flow (base flow) and high flow. Several water-quality measures including pH, total arsenic, total cadmium, total chromium, total copper, total iron, total lead, total manganese, total mercury, total silver, total zinc, dissolved oxygen, and fecal coliform bacteria at times exceeded North Carolina water-quality standards in various streams. Runoff from non-point sources appears to contribute more to the deterioration of streams in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County than point-source effluents. Urban and industrial areas contribute various trace elements. Residential and rural areas and municipal waste-water treatment plants contribute high amounts of phosphorus.

Eddins, W.H., and Crawford, J.K., 1984, Reconnaissance of water-quality characteristics of streams in the city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, North Carolina: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 84-4308, 105 p.