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| Title | Survey of Metals Concentrations in the Similkameen River. Memo to Jim Milton, Central Regional Office, December 31, 1997. | |||
| Month-Year Published | December 1997 | |||
| Online Availability |
1045 kilobytes, requires version 4.0 or later of Adobe Acrobat Reader Software get Acrobat Reader
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| Short Description |
Copper, zinc, nickel, lead, cadmium, silver, arsenic, chromium, mercury, and selenium were analyzed in water and sediment samples collected from four sites in the Similkameen River during low flow in August 1995 and spring runoff in April 1996. Data on general water quality, as well as iron, aluminum, manganese, and grain size in the sediments, were also obtained. (Also see abstract below) | |||
| Publication Number | 97-e10 | |||
| Author(s) | Johnson, A. | |||
| Print Availability |
Not maintained in stock. Copy must be made from archive version.
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| Number of pages | 37 pp. | |||
| Keywords | aluminum, arsenic, bill, cadmium, Canada, chromium, copper, drinking water, fish, flow, lead, mercury, metals, river, runoff, sediment, silver, soil, water, water quality, zinc | |||
| Subject Waterbodies |
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| Abstract | Long Description |
Copper, zinc, nickel, lead, cadmium, silver, arsenic, chromium, mercury, and selenium were analyzed in water and sediment samples collected from four sites in the Similkameen River during low flow in August 1995 and spring runoff in April 1996. Data on general water quality, as well as iron, aluminum, manganese, and grain size in the sediments, were also obtained. All metals concentrations in the water column were within EPA criteria for protection of aquatic life criteria and within state drinking water standards. Copper (0.51 - 2.6 ug/L; parts per billion), arsenic (2.0 - 7.0 ug/L), and mercury (<0.001 - 0.006 ug/L) were the predominant metals of interest in the water column, with peak concentrations occurring in the spring. From a statewide perspective, mercury concentrations were high in spring runoff samples and, in a few cases, approached the EPA chronic water quality criterion of 0.012 ug/L. Review of Environment Canada routine monitoring data for total recoverable metals shows potential for occasional violations of the EPA chronic criterion for dissolved copper when peak concentrations of copper coincide with low hardness conditions during spring runoff events. A similar peak also occurs for arsenic and may be related to mine tailings in Canada. The sources of metals may also be natural, due to highly mineralized soils. Arsenic concentrations in the Similkameen River exceed the EPA human health criteria of 0.14 ug/L (consumption of fish) and 0.018 ug/L (consumption of fish and water). Although other rivers in Washington commonly exceed these very low criteria, the arsenic levels in the Similkameen River are higher than typically encountered. Copper (22 - 60 mg/Kg, dry; parts per million) and arsenic (12 - 46 mg/Kg) were also elevated in Similkameen River sediments. Arsenic concentrations exceeded a level shown to have a severe effect on benthic invertebrate communities. |
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