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2005 PRW Temperature Data (in degrees C)

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

Site ID	5/21/2005	6/18/2005	7/2/2005	7/16/2005	7/30/2005	8/13/2005	8/27/2008	Max	Min	Avg
P200	11	13	20	22.5	24	24.5	21.5	24.5	11	19.50
P170	10	13.5	21	24	25	25	22	25	10	20.07
P160	10	13.5	21	24	25	25	22.5	25	10	20.14
P150	10	14	22	23.5	25	25	22.5	25	10	20.29
P135	10	13.5	22	24.5	25	25	23	25	10	20.43
P110	11	14	22	24	24.5	25	23	25	11	20.50
P089	11	14	22	23	24	25	23	25	11	20.29
P080	11	14	22	23	24	25	23	25	11	20.29
P065	11	-	21.5	23	25	25	22	25	11	21.25
P055	11	-	22	24	24	25	22	25	11	21.33
P050	-	-	-	-	24	25	22	25	22	23.67
P030	11	13.5	21.5	23	24	25	22.5	25	11	20.07
P020	11	13.5	21.5	24	25	25	22.5	25	11	20.36
P010	10.5	-	-	-	-	-	22	22	10.5	16.25
OB010	11	13	15	17	17	17	13	17	11	14.71
BB010	11	13	15	18	18	18	15	18	11	15.43
DB010	14	18	18	20	20	21	17	21	14	18.29
PL040	13	13	18	21	20	22	19	22	13	18.00
PL030	13	15	18	20	20	20.5	17.5	20.5	13	17.71
PL020	13	15	18	20	20	20	17.5	20	13	17.64
PL010	13.5	15	18	21.5	22.5	22.5	20	22.5	13.5	19.00
BL010	11	27	-	-	18	20	20	27	11	19.20
CW020	11	12	17	19	19	20	16	20	11	16.29
CW010	11	22	23	21	20	20	22	23	11	19.86
DG010	12	12	17	19	18	17	14	19	12	15.57
SA010	9	-	13	-	-	-	-	13	9	11.00
WE010	9	-	15	-	-	-	-	15	9	12.00
NBL010	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
L060	13	14	17	17	17	18	16	18	13	16.00
L050	13	14	18		19	19	16.5	19	13	16.58
L030	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
L020	10	12	15	17	18	19	15	19	10	15.14
L010	12	12	15	19	18	19	16	19	12	15.86
IN010	12	-	29	25	21	20	22	29	12	21.50
M030	15	15	21	24	24	24	21	24	15	20.57
M010	11.5	14	17.5	19	18.5	20	15.5	20	11.5	16.57
PI020	11	12	16	-	-	-	-	16	11	13.00
PI010	11.5	12	23	-	-	-	-	23	11.5	15.50
TA040	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
TA010	10	-	17	-	-	18.5	16	18.5	10	15.38

 

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%.