Assessment of Variation in the Water Quality of Impaired

Streams during Storm Events in Sumner County, Tennessee

Kyle Nagy, Maria White, and Parris Powers
Community College

Volunteer State

Abstract

Conclusion

Data/Observations

An established partnership between city municipalities of Goodlettsville and Millersville, in

Sumner County Tennessee and Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin Tennessee,

Viewing the information relating to TDS and rain fall, its evident that there are drastic increases as well

An initial physical survey was conducted for over 50 miles of stream segments to locate and identify all point

collaborated in the development of a longitudinal study that would analyze over fifty-six miles of

as decreases in the amount of dissolved material. Comparing this data with gauge height data from

source and non point source discharge locations. The GPS locations of all discharge sites were then placed into

impaired streams in the Old Hickory Lake Watershed of the Cumberland River Basin. Physical

upstream it seems that the stream is only temporarily diluted when the gauge height is nearly double

Google Earth mapping software. This provided a 3-Dimentional geospatial, interactive map with topographical

observations and GIS tools were used in the delineation of impaired segments within the
watershed to find points of discharge. Severity was determined by physical factors for testing at
several collection sites. Over the course of several months, measurements including DO %, NH 4+,

overlay for analysis of hydrological effect as well as photographs and data sheets for every location. Geological

the normal height. As the height decreases the amount of TDS steadily increases as residual runoff

effects were taken into consideration as well as land use in nearby areas when selecting a site for storm runoff

continues to flow from upstream.

Then pH, temperature, and ammonium levels

were evaluated to obtain an approximation of

analysis.

pH, turbidity, conductivity, hardness, TDS, and precipitation were collected for each site. Using

the unionized nitrogen or ammonia content.

GIS software, the data was entered into a 3-Dimensional Geospatial map. The result of this shows

Using a predesigned ammonia calculator, the

discharge sites with baseline readings compared to storm event studies

values below were obtained.

0.03

Calculated ammonia value

0.02

Introduction

0.01

Figure 6. Test site Man 1T. Chosen for close

proximity to business and interstate, appears
to have a healthy riparian zone.

supported by CCURI (Community College Undergraduate Research Initiative) and the National
Science Foundation are working in efforts to restore impaired stream segments in Sumner County, TN.
permits for MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System). A primary cause of impairment of these
streams is due to siltation caused by excessively polluted storm water runoff which affects many
factors of the streams health such as a reduction in DO, increase in TDS, as well as an increase in the
nitrogen containing compounds from agricultural use. One cause of excessive runoff is due to high
population and development areas where concrete and asphalt do not allow toxic chemicals to

NH4+
mg/l
precip
itatio
n (in)

October
Precipitation
0.45

vs. TDS & NH4+

0.4
0.35

1.6
1.4

0.3

1.2

inches

0.25

0.8

0.15

0.6

0.1

0.4

0.05
0

0.2
1

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
October

20

0.35

Figure 5. Shows data

collected at testing site Man
1T during a rain event in
the month of October 2014

0.35

0.25

0.25 NH4+ mg/l

0.2

10

0.15

0.2

0.05

0.1

0.05
0

0.1

0.15

10

12

13

14

15

Day of October
41940

41941

41942

pH

Temp

causing an elevated level of pollutants that are

toxic to fish and other wildlife. Elevated levels of
ammonia can also be an indicator of sewage
leaking into the stream and causing pathogenic
contamination. Elevated levels of coliform bacteria

NH4+

NH4+

Figure 8. Shows data collected after

more than 72 hours of dry weather.

during a storm event high levels of storm runoff is

0.3

15

0.3

TDS

collected on the asphalt over a long duration of time can washed into the streams in a matter of hours.

the primary source of drinking water for the Nashville

Based on the data collected it is apparent that

0.4

0.2

4191941920419214192241924419254192641927

Figure 11. Shows calculated amount of

ammonia based on NH4+

0.45

25

0.4

1.8

permeate through the soil to be filtered before entering the water supply. Instead, chemical pollutants

Cheatham lake watershed of the Cumberland river basin is

NH3 Determining Factors

Two Weeks After Storm Event

TDS
(g/L)

0.01

Figure 10. Shows USGS data for gauge

height of Manskers Creek during a storm
event.

Figure 7. A car located upstream of

testing site. Most likely deposited in
May of 2010 during record rainfall and
flooding event.

A collaboration between VSCC (Volunteer State Community College) and local municipalities,

The streams monitored are on the EPAs 303d list and the cities are in the process of renewing NPDES

NH3

0.02

Figure 12. Shows data used to

calculate NH3 level, pH,
temperature, and NH4+ concentration
(mg/L)

have also been detected in this stream (EPA)

confirming a possible sewage leak.

Damage to the riparian zone is also a factor in the pollution rate of this stream. Because the runoff

metropolitan area (over 1.5million). Streams in the Sumner

water cannot be properly filtered before it enters the stream causing major fluctuations in the

County region have been rated as highly susceptible to

composition of the water. Left untreated, the erosion rate will increase, increasing the amount of

penitential contamination based on geological factors and

sediment as well as potential for even greater variances in water composition.

human activities.**
Figure 1. Depicts the path of
rain fall and proportionate
amount filtered rain water.

Figure 2. Destruction of riparian zone by

human activities.

Figure 3.
Bottom image
shows TN,
with
watershed
green. Middle
image shows
watershed
and the green
portion is a
subunit of the
watershed.
Top image is
enhanced
area of
subunit.

Sources
2014 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report. PDF file.
TDEC. "Cheatham Lake Watershed of the Cumberland River
Basin." Tn.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
http://www.tn.gov/environment/water/watersheds/cheatham
-lake.shtml.

Figure 4. Screen shot of Mansker and

Madison Creeks with outfall data
pinned into google earth allowing
ease of access to information
regarding location sites.
Figure 9.Three images of adjacent locations that have been under high
stress from runoff water causing erosion and siltation of the stream.