Pollution of the Ohio River from urban areas is a significant problem. Previous ORSANCO studies have pinpointed elevated levels of bacteria from such sources as combined sewer overflows (CSOs) to be the pollution source most in need of attention. Accordingly, ORSANCO is making its expertise available to government agencies seeking to better understand the local impacts of CSOs and the development of effective bacteria reduction strategies. ORSANCO continues to spearhead wet weather studies in the areas of Cincinnati, Ohio; Louisville, Kentucky; and Wheeling, West Virginia.

Cincinnati
In 1995, ORSANCO initiated a multi-year wet weather study in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area. The study is supported by the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) of Greater Cincinnati; Sanitation District No.1 of Northern Kentucky; and the Cincinnati Water Works. Due to the study's significance as a demonstration project for urban wet weather problems on large rivers, support was also provided by U.S. EPA.

The study involves intensive sampling of the river under both dry and wet weather conditions. Results of this sampling will be used to develop a model of the study area that can be used to evaluate alternative controls of wet weather pollution sources.

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Louisville
The Louisville Wet Weather Study is being conducted in cooperation with U.S. EPA; Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District; Louisville Water Company; the City of Louisville, Kentucky; and the cities of Jeffersonville, Clarksville, and New Albany, Indiana. This study began in 1997 and was designed to utilize approaches developed during the Cincinnati study.

Dry weather sampling for this study was completed in 1999. A wet weather study was completed in 2000.Other activities, including a dye study, also were carried out in order to facilitate further development of a model for the study area.

Hannibal Pool (Wheeling Area)

The Hannibal Pool Wet Weather Study was undertaken to evaluate the impacts of urban wet weather pollution sources in the Wheeling, West Virginia area, as well as the effects of acid mine drainage on tributaries. Study participants include Wheeling Water Pollution Control Department; Eastern Ohio Regional Wastewater Authority; the cities of McMechen, Moundsville, and New Martinsville, West Virginia; the Village of Powhatan Point, Ohio; U.S. EPA Region III (Wheeling office); West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection; and Ohio EPA. Funding was provided by the Virginia Environmental Endowment.

The study was initiated in 1998. In 1999, river sampling was completed and a year one report was prepared. Results showed elevated bacteria levels in some tributaries under both dry and wet weather conditions. In the Ohio River study area, dry weather bacteria levels were acceptable, but elevated levels were found under wet weather conditions.

Parameters Studied: pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, secchi disc, fecal coliform, Fecal streptococci, E. coli, BOD5, CBOD5, total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), total phosphorous, orthophosphate, nitrate-nitrite, total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), ammonia, alkalinity, total hardness, metals (arsenic-As, barium-Ba, beryllium-Be, cadmium-Cd, chromium-Cr, copper-Cu, lead-Pb, mercury-Hg, nickel-Ni, selenium-Se, silver-Ag, thallium-Tl, zinc-Zn), chlorophyll a, and caffeine

Dry Weather Sampling

• Criteria for a dry weather survey: 72-hour dry antecedant period
• Cross sectional sampling: 16 sites; surface samples taken at the left descending bank, midstream, and the right descending bank.
• Tributary Sampling: 3-point cross-section from a bridge on each tributary.
• Longitudinal survey performed 24 hours later using the flow-through system. Fecal coliform and chlorophyll a samples were taken every five miles.

Wet Weather Sampling

• Criteria for a wet weather survey: 48-hour dry antecedent period; at least 0.3" of precipitation in a six hour period
• CSO end of pipe sampling from 6 MSD CSOs
  Tributary sampling: Midstream samples taken from a bridge at each of the four tributaries at regular intervals for 18-48 hours.
• Cross sectional sampling: 16 sites; surface samples taken at the left descending bank, midstream, and the right descending bank. The ORSANCO crew was followed by a MSD crew from 2-24 hours later
• Longitudinal survey performed 48 hours later using the flow-through system. Fecal coliform and chlorophyll a samples were taken every five miles.
• Continuous logging of physical parameter information on three tributaries.

Ohio River Monitoring Page
ORSANCO has numerous ways to sample for water quality, and utilizes boats and stationary monitoring stations.

For more information on the wet weather project, please contact ORSANCO Public Information Department or Mindy Garrison