Boone Reservoir bacteriological assessment

Technical Report · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6575209

Crouch, H A

Since 1984, the bacteriological water quality of Boone Reservoir has improved. The actual reservoir pool consistently meets State bacteriological criteria for fecal coliform. Areas of the reservoir that remain impacted by high fecal coliform densities are the riverine portions upstream from SFHRM 35 on the South Fork Holston arm and WRM 13 on the Watauga River am of the reservoir. Improvements have resulted from a combined effort of water resource agencies, local municipalities, and private citizens. Both TVA and the TDHE have conducted monitoring programs over the last six years to assess the condition of the reservoir. Wastewater treatment facility improvements have been made by the cities of Bristol, Tennessee and Virginia, Bluff City, Elizabethton, and Johnson City to increase treatment efficiency and thereby improve Boone Reservoir water quality. Storm runoff events were correlated with elevated fecal coliform measurements in the Boone River watershed, with the greatest impact observed on the Watauga River arm and in the upper portion of the South Fork Holston River arm of the reservoir. Storm events increased the occurrence of wastewater bypasses from the Elizabethton STP and are primarily responsible for the high fecal coliform counts on the Watauga arm. However, nonpoint sources of pollution including animal waste and effluent from malfunctioning septic tank systems may also have a significant impact on Boone Reservoir water quality.

• Research Organization: Tennessee Valley Authority, Chattanooga, TN (United States). Water Quality Dept.
• Sponsoring Organization: TVA; Tennessee Valley Authority, Knoxville, TN (United States)
• OSTI ID: 6575209
• Report Number(s): TVA/WR-92/19; ON: DE93008998
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540310* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
ANIMALS
BACTERIA
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
COLIFORMS
CONTROL
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ESCHERICHIA COLI
FLOOD CONTROL
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
HYDROLOGY
MATERIALS
MICROORGANISMS
MONITORING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
POWER PLANTS
SAMPLING
SEWAGE
SEWAGE SLUDGE
SLUDGES
SURFACE WATERS
TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTES
WATER QUALITY
WATER RESERVOIRS
WATER TREATMENT