Program and Data Specifics
Q. How many monitors collect data?
A. The Colorado River Watch Network (CRWN) has approximately 120 certified water quality volunteer monitors who consistently provide LCRA with water quality test results.
Q. What do you do with the data?
A. Once the data is received from the monitors, professionals review it for areas of potential concern, then the data are entered into the CRWN database and are available on the CRWN water quality data site. The test results collected by the Colorado River Watch Network are used as an early warning system for potential threats to water quality.
If an area of concern is identified, the information is communicated to LCRA water quality staff, who take appropriate follow-up action. The results are also sent to the Texas Stream Team statewide volunteer monitoring program on a quarterly basis. Texas Stream Team places the data on its Web site periodically, and communicates any areas of concern to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
The results provide supplemental information to LCRA professional monitors, and are used in the monthly LCRA Water Quality Index. The water quality index report provides a measurement of water quality that is distributed to news media in 14 riverside communities in the lower Colorado River basin. Volunteer monitors also provide cumulative baseline data from sites that may otherwise be unassessed.
Q. How many sites are tested?
A. Volunteer monitors submit data for approximately 120 sites each year, with an average annual total of roughly 1000 monitoring events reported.
Q. Do you need more monitors?
A. Though the CRWN program is currently at capacity, interested potential volunteers may be placed on a waiting list which is reviewed as openings occur. The program strategically assigns volunteers to provide water quality data throughout the river basin. Visit the Get Involved page to learn more.
Q. What is a stream segment?
A. These are streams and water bodies that have been individually defined by TCEQ and assigned unique identification numbers. Because they have relatively similar chemical, physical and hydrological characteristics, segments provide a basic unit for assigning site-specific standards and for applying water quality management programs.
Q. Is the historic information important, or just the most recent data?
A. It's important to understand that water quality can vary simply because local conditions may change. In fact, the results of a single measurement of a water body's properties are actually less important than looking at how the properties vary over time. Some CRWN sites only contain historic data while others are active and reporting currently. Some of the data may reflect different detection levels or methods of sampling procedures that have changed over the years.
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How to Get Involved and Learn More
Q. How do I get involved with water quality monitoring?
A. Given the significant time commitment needed to serve as a volunteer, we ask that you be willing to volunteer as a monitor for at least two years (learn more about the training process). Limited resources, quality assurance, and data management make it essential for monitors to serve as long as possible. If you're interested, please fill out the CRWN application and send to Robin Berry. You will be notified of training opportunities in your area. For other ways to participate in water quality protection and to learn more about the training process, explore the Get Involved page.
Q. Where can I learn more about water quality and other volunteer monitoring programs?
A.
• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
• The Environmental Protection Agency: Monitoring and Assessing Water Quality
• The U.S. Geological Survey's Water Basics site
• The Water Quality Association
• EPA: Volunteer Monitoring
• Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Resources and LCRA Water Quality Data
Q. Where can I find basic information on water quality in my area?
A. If you live on or near the lower Colorado River, see State of the River. This is where LCRA publishes its monthly water quality index with data from 14 key locations along the Colorado River and tributaries.
If you live along the upper portions of the Colorado, see the Texas Clean Rivers Program's water quality data for the Upper Colorado or the Concho River basin at waterquality.lcra.org. You can also get data on most all Texas water bodies at TCEQ's water quality viewer.
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Pollution Concerns
Q. How can I tell if a water body is polluted?
A. The answer depends on many factors, including the intended use of the water, such as drinking, fishing or boating. For example, after a heavy rainfall, the water may be unsafe for close human contact. That's because heavy rain will increase the amount of runoff, potentially causing a spike in bacteria and pollutants.
Under the federal Clean Water Act and the Texas Water Code, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has the authority to develop and enforce statewide surface water quality standards. For each water body, TCEQ defines how the water will be used and sets upper and lower limits for common water quality criteria. The definition is based on four categories: protection of aquatic life; fishing; contact recreation such as swimming; public water supply. (A water body may be assigned more than one of these uses.)
Bodies of water that don't meet state water quality standards are found on the state's 303(d) List, which refers to a section in the Clean Water Act. See the latest draft of the 303(d) List found on TCEQ's site.
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Dissolved Oxygen Testing
Q. My starch indicator bottle seems to be clogged. Can I use a sharp pointed sterile object to unclog it?
A. No, it's best to attempt to dislodge the clog by squeezing the bottle over the waste container. If that doesn’t resolve the problem, request a replacement bottle of starch indicator.
Q. Even though the titrated solution turned clear, there were blue specks remaining in the vial. What should I do?
A. Swirl the titration vial thoroughly to attempt to dissolve them. It's possible that the starch indicator has degraded. Report DO at the point the solution became clear, indicate the concern in the comments section and request a replacement starch indicator.
Q. What is the chemical reaction that occurs during the dissolved oxygen test?…in layman’s terms please.
A. When the first two reagents are added to the water sample (manganous sulfate and alkaline potassium iodide), a white floc or precipitate is created that will eventually sink to the bottom of the sample container, as each oxygen atom binds with a manganese ion to form a manganous hydroxide complex.
The addition of sulfuric acid converts manganic hydroxide to manganic sulfate and the iodine is simultaneously oxidized, releasing free iodine into the water (turning the sample a yellow-brown color) in an amount directly proportional to the amount of oxygen present.
When sodium thiosulfate is added, it reacts with the free iodine to produce sodium iodide. A starch indicator is added, creating a dark blue color to enhance the final endpoint. When all the iodine has been converted the sample becomes colorless.
We can determine how much iodine was in the solution from the amount of thiosulfate added, because each iodine molecule was produced by the reaction of a single oxygen atom. The amount of thiosulfate added indicates how much oxygen was in the sample.
Q. How long can I wait to titrate my sample after it has been fixed?
A. It is optimal to titrate the dissolved oxygen samples as soon as possible. However, if testing conditions are unfavorable, after the DO sample has been fixed with sulfuric acid you may complete other measurements and field observations, leave the test site and resume the titration at another location. The remainder of the procedure may be completed up to four hours from this point without affecting DO levels. In this case, the fixed dissolved oxygen samples should kept on ice until you are able to finish the procedure.
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Monitoring When There is Little or No Streamflow
Q. Should I submit data even if my site is dry?
A. Many streams in Texas shrink to a trickle in dry months and then swell to a raging torrent with a single rain event. Since baseline monitoring includes samples collected over a range of flow conditions, it is important to submit data regardless of flow.
Q. In dry conditions, is it all right to sample in a pool that is separated from the stream?
A. If there is no flow at a stream site, and accessible, isolated pools remain in the stream bed, collect and report data as normal making sure to comment on the low to no flow of the stream. Pools may represent natural low-flow conditions in Texas streams, and the chemistry of these pools will reveal natural background conditions.
Additionally, if your normal monitoring site is dry but there is a pool up or downstream from your usual monitoring location, you may monitor there IF IT IS SAFE and within 1/4 of a mile.
Q. What if there is no water at all? What should I report then?
A. If you are unable to collect other water quality parameters because the stream bed holds no water, submit date, time and the air temperature and indicate flow severity as dry (6).
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E. coli Monitoring
Q. Who should monitor for E. coli?
A. TCEQ suggests that all surface waters are considered “contact recreation” and would thus be appropriate for E. coli testing. CRWN recommends that bacteria testing be conducted by volunteers sampling at popular swimming spots, WQI sites used for monthly reporting and by monitors who specifically express a concern about bacteria. E. coli is introduced to volunteers who have been certified for at least 6 months and wish to expand their participation.
Q. How much time is involved in E. coli monitoring?
A. In addition to the core water quality parameters, collecting and plating a bacteria sample takes about 30 minutes. You also must be available 24 hours later to read the plates after incubation. Counting the E. coli colonies, treating the petri dishes and documenting results could take up to an hour, but usually only requires 15-20 minutes once monitors become familiar with the procedure.
Q. The Coliscan Easygel box indicated it must be frozen for storage, but when I opened the box, the medium was thawed and liquid. Is this a problem?
A. No, the medium can be thawed for 2-3 weeks at room temperature with no adverse effects. Just put the bottles of liquid Coliscan Easygel in the freezer and they will be fine. Also, if you happen to thaw too many to use, they can be re-frozen without any problem.
We have kept Coliscan Easygel for a month at room temperatures without noticeable negative effects, but for long term storage life, it is best frozen as the chromogenic substrates slowly lose their brilliant color over time at high temperatures.
Q. I forgot to thaw the Coliscan Easygel ahead of time. Can I microwave the Coliscan Easygel or place it in warm water if it is still frozen?
A. You can stand it in hot (up to boiling) water which will unfreeze it very quickly. We don't recommend microwaving as it may overcook. Shaking the Coliscan Easygel bottle may introduce unwanted bubbles to the Petri dish, so swirl gently instead.
Q. Where is the best place to collect the sample?
A. If you can safely enter the stream, you should obtain your sample where the main current is flowing. As you are wading into the water, try to disturb as little sediment as possible so that the sample is not contaminated by bacteria attached to the substrate. You should position yourself downstream of the sampling point (i.e. hold the whirlpak bag upstream of your body) so that if sediments are stirred up they won’t affect your sample. If a stream site is curved, sample near the outside of the curve. Before entering the water, make sure your whirlpak is labeled correctly. If possible, do not take the sample at the stream bank’s edge since the water may be stagnant or not well mixed with the rest of the water. Try to sample where there is no debris on the surface, or clear the debris with a sweeping motion of your hand.
Q. Can I collect my sample with a bucket?
A. Since a bucket may contain contamination, it is best to sample directly from the stream. This may not be possible at all sites. If you must use a bucket, keep it stored in a location that is less susceptible to contamination. For instance, store the bucket upside down in your garage.
To collect with a bucket, it is best to first obtain sample water and complete the chemistry analysis. When all other tests are complete, rinse the bucket three times with sample water, then collect a full bucket of water and collect using the whirlpak instructions. Or collect the bacteria samples before other samples. Immediately, take whirlpak sample from bucket at site, using whirlpak bag, so E. coli doesn’t have much time to settle. Place sample bag on ice, pour water from bucket downstream, fill bucket again for testing of other parameters.
Q. Should I use two sample bags when collecting samples for E. coli testing?
A. The River Watch protocol utilizes a testing design called single grab, which requires that you only use one whirlpak bag for each monitoring event. Taking two samples from one bag provides the replication necessary for accuracy and offers a long-term assessment of bacteria at each site.
Q. How long can a sample be kept before plating?
A. After a water sample has been collected in the whirlpak bag, it should be placed on ice within 10 minutes after collection. The sample can be kept on ice or in a refrigerator up to six hours prior to plating, but ideally you should aim to plate samples as soon as possible after collection.
Q. Which sample size is best? 1 mL, 3 mL or 5 mL?
A. You have to experiment or use past experience. When using Coliscan Easygel with surface waters such as lakes and rivers, we suggest starting with 5 mL/plate. If there has been a heavy rain within 3 days prior to sampling event, it is best to use 1 mL sample size for creek and river sites or 3 mL sample size for lake sites. Make sure to plate two of the same sample size. For instance you should have two 1 mL samples, versus one 3 mL sample and one 5 mL sample.
If a 1mL E. coli colony reading results in zero or only a few colonies, the sample volume should be increased to 3 mL or 5 mL for subsequent monitoring events. Conversely, if the 5 mL sample results in more than 60 colonies, the sample size should be reduced to 1mL or 3 mL during the next sampling event.
Q. How should I collect the sample with the pipette?
A. Shake whirlpak bag vigorously before opening. Open two sterile pipettes from the bulb end of the bag, taking care not to let the tips touch anything outside of the bag. Holding the bulbs of both pipettes, simultaneously squeeze the bulbs and lower them into the whirlpak bag, then release the bulbs while the pipettes are under water. Remove one pipette from the water and adjust water volume in the pipette to the exact marking. Make sure there are no air bubbles influencing your reading. Repeat with the second pipette.
Q. There is condensation on the petri dish? Will that affect my results?
A. It isn’t unusual for condensation to form on the gel or on the lid, especially in warm weather when plates may have been transported in the heat and then stored in a cool building. The petri dishes are sterile, and results should not be influenced by this condensation.
Q. Once I plate a sample, how long should I wait before placing the Petri dish in the incubator?
A. Plated samples may be immediately placed into the incubator if it is on a level surface. Otherwise, place the Petri dishes on a level location out of direct sunlight for 45 minutes to 1 hour. The mixture will solidify on the bottom of the Petri dish and can then be placed in the incubator.
Q. How should I count the colonies?
A. After 24 hours but not more than 36 hours, count the dark purple and dark blue colonies on the plate. A white background, grid paper, and something to point with can aid in the counting process. If you are unable to identify a colony with your naked eye, you may use a magnifier to clarify color or size of the colony. Colonies should have an intense dark blue or purple center and be at least the size of a pinhead.
If there are numerous colonies on a plate, split up the plate into 4 quadrants by outlining the dish on a white piece of paper and then drawing two perpendicular lines through the center of the circle. You can then count the colonies in each of the four quadrants and add them up to get your total count. It is also very helpful to have a source of bright light above you or a light table beneath the dishes so that you can easily see the colonies.
Q. What should I do if my count reveals more than the state water quality standard of 394 colony forming units per 100mL?
A. Consider the conditions at your site. Recent rainfall? Stagnant? Wildlife or pets? Scum? Also look at sample technique. Did you sample from the shore? Stir up the sediment? In general, these circumstances may create higher bacteria counts, especially a rainfall event that produces runoff. Sample again and report results if still higher than the standard.
Q. How many colonies on a Petri dish are considered too numerous to count?
A. If there are more than 200 colonies per plate, report this as “too numerous to count” TNTC since the colonies are not considered distinct enough for an accurate reading. You may need to consider a smaller sample size (1 mL or 3 mL) for your next monitoring event.
Q. Should I use bleach or alcohol when disposing of the Petri dishes?
A. After counting the bacteria colonies on the plates, add ¼ teaspoon of household bleach or 70-90% isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) to each plate and swirl to cover the entire gel surface. Place the plates in an airtight sealable plastic bag and seal it shut. Finally dispose of the bag in the trash. If you wish to instead preserve the plates to read again in the future, use 90% isopropyl alcohol on the plates, seal in an airtight bag and place in the freezer.
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