Screening for contaminants of emerging concern in waters of the Northern Colorado Plateau Network: 2015 surface water data
Weissinger R, Battaglin W, Bradley P. 2016. Screening for contaminants of emerging concern in waters of the Northern Colorado Plateau Network: 2015 surface water data. Natural Resource Report. NPS/NCPN/NRR—2016/1239. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
In 2015, as part of an ongoing screening program for contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency Region 8, surface waters at 18 locations in or near seven National Park Service units within the Northern Colorado Plateau Network were sampled for nutrients, pharmaceuticals and drugs, personal care products, pesticides and pesticide degradation products, hormones and phytosterols, and other wastewater indicators. Most sites were sampled in spring (May or June) and fall (September). The Colorado River at the Potash boat ramp site, just upstream of Canyonlands National Park, continued to show chronic contamination by caffeine, the pesticide 2,4-D, and prescription drugs (gabapentin, lamotrigine, metformin, and sulfamethoxazole). About 14 miles upstream of this long-term sampling location, samples taken at the effluent outflow pipe of the Moab wastewater treatment plant showed a high number and concentration of contaminants entering the river. Samples from the Colorado River 400 m downstream of the effluent pipe had decreased numbers and concentrations of contaminants, indicating relatively quick dilution by the river. However, some contaminants persisted at the Potash boat ramp site downstream. The wastewater treatment plant is the nearest point source for CECs upstream of the Potash boat ramp. Patterns of detections at other sampling locations will be explored in future reports. This is an interim report. Limited sampling will continue in 2016 at selected sites in coordination with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). A final report is expected upon completion of the USGS project in 2017.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Weissinger, Rebecca; Battaglin, William; Bradley, Paul
- Date of Issue
- 2016-06
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- ARCH , BRCA , CANY , CARE , DINO , NCPN , NRSS , TICA , ZION
- Keywords
- CEC analytes, contaminants of emerging concern, NCPN Water Quality Monitoring, Water Quality