Source water protection is important to maintain public health by keeping harmful pathogens out of drinking water. Non-point source pollution is often times a major contributor of pollution to surface waters, and this form of pollution can be difficult to quantify. This study examined physical, chemical, and microbiological water quality parameters that may indicate pollution and may help to identify sources of pollution. These included measures of organic matter, particles, and indicator organisms (fecal coliforms and E. coli). The parameters were quantified in the West Boylston Brook, which serves as a tributary to the Wachusett Reservoir and is part of the drinking water supply for the Metropolitan Boston area. Water quality was determined over four seasons at seven locations in the brook that were selected to isolate specific land uses. The water quality parameters were first analyzed for trends by site and by season. Then, a correlation analysis was performed to determine relationships among the water quality parameters. Lastly, ANOVA analyses were used to determine statistically significant variations in water quality along the tributary.

Creator

• Elbag Jr., Mark A.

Contributors

• Dudle, Jeanine

Degree

• MS

Unit

• Civil & Environmental Engineering

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Language

• English

Identifier

• etd-050306-155834

Keyword

• Source Water
• Particle Counts
• surface water protection
• source water protection
• Turbidity
• pH
• Conductivity
• Fecal Coliforms
• Dissolved Oxygen
• E. coli
• Total Organic Carbon
• Wachusett Reservoir
• Dissolved Organic Carbon
• West Boylston Brook
• Surface Water
• UV absorbance

Advisor

• Plummer, Jeanine D.

Defense date

• 2006-05-03

Year

• 2006

Date created

• 2006-05-03

Resource type

• Thesis

Rights statement

• In Copyright