Presumpscot River Watch in Maine, USA
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2004 PRW Temperature Data in degrees C

NOTE: These results are preliminary pending a quality control review of data transfer procedures.

Date-->
5/22/2004
6/5/2004
6/19/2004
7/3/2004
7/17/2004
7/31/2004
8/14/2004
8/28/2004
     
SITE
Temp. (C)
Temp (C)
Temp.(C)
Temp.(C)
Temp.(C)
Temp.(C)
Temp.(C)
Temp.(C)
Max Min Avg
P200
16
13
19
20.5
20
22.5
20
22
22.5 13 19.1
P170
-
13
20
21
20
23
23
22
23 13 20.3
P160
-
13
20
21
20.5
22
22
21.5
22 13 20.0
P150
-
13
19
21
21
22
23
21.5
23 13 20.1
P135
17
18
21
22
22
nd
23
22
23 17 20.7
P110
17
10
22
22
22
23
22
21
23 10 19.9
P089
17
13
24
21
21
23
23
21
24 13 20.4
P080
16
13
24
21
21
23
23
21
24 13 20.3
P065
17
13
20
20
21
22
21
22
22 13 19.5
P060
16
13
15
22
21
22 13 17.4
P055
22
21
22
22 21 21.7
P050
-
-
21
22
21
22
21
22
22 21 21.5
P030
9.5
13.5
20
21.5
21
22
21.5
22
22 9.5 18.9
P020
13.5
14
20
21
21
22
21
21.5
22 13.5 19.3
P010
-
-
-
21
17
21
23
22
23 17 20.8
OB010
15
12
18
15
16
18
19
17
19 12 16.3
BB010
15
13
15
17
16
19.5
20
18
20 13 16.7
DB010
17
16
19
17
17
20
22
18
22 16 18.3
PL040
15
14
18
19
18
20
20
19
20 14 17.9
PL030
16
-
18
18.5
18
20
20
18.5
20 16 18.4
PL020
16.5
-
17.5
18.5
18
20
20
18.5
20 16.5 18.4
PL010
17
-
19
21.5
20
20
20
21
21.5 17 19.8
BL010
10
10.5
14.5
15
16
18
18.5
16
18.5 10 14.8
CW020
14
13
15.5
16
16.5
nd
19
17.5
19 13 15.9
CW010
14.5
11
19.5
19
18
20
19
18.5
20 11 17.4
DG010
-
13
18
18
18
29
19
19
29 13 19.1
SA010
-
9
11
12
nd
13
15
13
15 9 12.2
WE010
-
-
13
14
nd
16.5
17
15
17 13 15.1
NBL010
-
11
14.5
14.5
15
nd
18
16.5
18 11 14.9
L030
-
12
13
14.5
17
nd
18.5
16.5
18.5 12 15.3
L020
-
12
18
17
16
19
19
17
19 12 16.9
L010
-
13
16
17
19
18
17
17
19 13 16.7
IN010
16
12
19.5
19
18
20
19
18
20 12 17.7
M030
19
13
23
22.5
20.5
23
20
22
23 13 20.4
M010
9.5
13.5
16
16.5
17
18.5
19.5
19
19.5 9.5 16.2
PI020
14
-
-
17
16.5
19
28
22.5
28 14 19.5
PI010
15
-
-
18.5
17
19
28
19
28 15 19.4
TA010
-
12
18
19
17.5
16.5
19
17
19 12 17.0
TA040
11
10
15
16
14.5
19
nd
nd
19 10 14.3

WHAT DO THESE RESULTS MEAN?

The State Legislature has established statutes that classify Maine surface waters on the basis of water quality standards and intended uses. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is charged with ensuring that these standards are met for all surface waters in the State. The classification scheme and standards for E. coli are as follows:

· Class A: suitable for drinking (after disinfection), swimming and fishing
· Class B: suitable for drinking (after treatment), swimming and fishing
· Class C: suitable for drinking (after treatment), swimming and fishing

The main stem of the Presumpscot River is Class A from the Eel Weir Dam to its confluence with the Pleasant River (just below sample site P150); Class B from the Pleasant River to the Saccarappa Dam (just below sample site P060); and Class C from the Saccarappa Dam to the estuary in Falmouth (just below the former site of the Smelt Hill Dam).

E. coli Standards
· Class A: as naturally occurs
· Class B: between May 15th and September 30th, E. coli may not exceed a seasonal geometric mean of 64 colony forming units (cfu's) per 100 mL or an instantaneous level of 427 cfu's per 100 mL
· Class C: between May 15th and September 30th, E. coli may not exceed a seasonal geometric mean of 142 cfu's per 100 mL or an instantaneous level of 949 cfu's per 100 mL

Class B sample sites are considered to be in violation of the State's water quality standards if the E. coli results are greater than 64 cfu's / 100 mL on any given sampling event or greater than 427 cfu's / 100 mL for the seasonal geometric mean. For Class C sample sites, E. coli cannot exceed 142 cfu's / 100 mL on an instantaneous basis or 949 cfu's / 100 mL for the seasonal geometric mean.

E. coli bacteria indicate the presence of fecal contamination that can originate from a variety of sources. These include point sources such as wastewater treatment plant discharges and combined sewer overflows; and nonpoint sources such as livestock waste from agricultural runoff, failing septic systems, pets and wildlife. E. coli by itself is generally not a threat to human health, but its presence is associated with disease-causing organisms that do pose potential health risks.

Despite the importance of measuring fecal concentrations in surface waters, it is virtually impossible to distinguish between the sources of fecal contamination with conventional test methods like the one used by PRW. However, routine monitoring can identify problem areas where the implementation of best management practices (BMPs) for nonpoint source pollution may help reduce fecal contamination. Such BMPs might include maintaining vegetated buffers along river or stream corridors; implementing erosion or sediment control measures for new construction; installing fencing for livestock; and establishing stormwater management practices to reduce urban and agricultural runoff.

Key to PRW Abbreviations: P = Main stem of Presumpscot River, BB = Baker Brook, BL = Black Brook, CW = Colley Wright Brook, DG = Douglas Brook, DB = Ditch Brook, IN = Inkhorn Brook, L = Little River, M = Mill Brook, N = Nason Brook, OB = Otter Brook, PI = Piscataqua River (not the same as one at ME-NH border), PL = Pleasant River, TA = Tannery Brook.

The "% complete" column indicates the number of samples actually collected compared to the number of samples intended for collection. PRW has 8 sampling events per season, so if only 4 samples were collected for the season the completion rate would be 50%.

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