Studies of Microbiological Contaminants in surface and ground water in Pennsylvania

 
(click thumbnails for larger images)

Background:
Blue Marsh Lake was constructed in 1979 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It is located on the Tulpehocken Creek, a tributary of the Schuylkill River, approximately 6.4 miles upstream from Reading in Berks County, PA. Blue Marsh Lake provides the public with activities that include swimming, boating, fishing, water skiing, and sailing. Occasionally, fecal coliform concentrations in the lake have exceeded recreational water-quality standards.

Objective:
The preliminary study will focus on the distribution of fecal contamination by measuring selected bacterial concentrations in the lake itself, the perennial tributaries that flow into the lake, and sand samples from the beach at the swimming area
Data will be collected under baseflow and stormflow conditions

• Lower Susquehanna River Basin (NAWQA) (Bruce Lindsey blindsey@usgs.gov)
• Viruses in water from wells used for noncommunity supply (Bruce Lindsey blindsey@usgs.gov)
• Relation between Well-Construction Practices and Occurrence of Bacteria in Private Household-Supply Wells in Southeastern Pennsylvania (Tammy Zimmerman tmzimmer@usgs.gov)
• Blue Marsh Lake (Michele Zimmerman mlzimmer@usgs.gov)
• Helicobacter pylori (Michele Zimmerman mlzimmer@usgs.gov)

• Lower Susquehanna River Basin (NAWQA)
  
• Viruses in water from wells used for noncommunity supply
  
• Relation between Well-Construction Practices and Occurrence of Bacteria in Private Household-Supply Wells in Southeastern Pennsylvania
  
• Blue Marsh Lake bacteria source identification pilot project (ongoing project)
  
• Helicobacter pylori
• Bacteria in the Brandywine Creek Watershed