Wheeling Creek is a tributary of the Ohio River and is very typical of the upper Ohio River Valley. Based on collected data, Wheeling Creek is obviously suffering from significant water pollution that has been detrimental to water quality. I suspect sewage as the primary contributor to this water pollution with runoff being its mode of transport.
Sewage runoff results in effect of harsh weather conditions including a heavy rainfall. Due to the excess water, storm water runoff floods the sewage treatment plant. The plant must then open a system of gates that releases the mixture of rainwater and raw sewage into Wheeling Creek. The other obvious source of sewage runoff is from seeping septic systems of the houses which neighbor the tributary. The sewage leaking into Wheeling Creek immediately contaminates the water supply.
Wheeling Creek is highly polluted throughout the stretch between Site E and Site F. This pollution then flows downstream polluting the rest of the creek. According to the Site Description Page, the combined sewage outflow is derived from Site E. This is supported by a number of graphs provided by the case study.
Chemically, the oxygen levels in the water significantly drop from Site E to Site F. This is an indication of the presence of different types of bacteria which live and strive in the sewage. As the sewage decomposes, oxygen is depleted as the bacteria consume the dissolved oxygen in the water.
Biologically, the pollution in the stream was apparent. Macroinvertebrates were used as indicators of water quality. Mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies, and beetles were used in the study. These macroinvertebrates are very intolerant to pollution. Their populations at sites E and F are drastically decreased. The overall number of organisms per square meter at the sites was also pivotal biological data that indicated sewage spilling at Site E. The data stated that at Site D 88,808 organisms were counted, yet at Site F only 17,799 organisms were tracked. This drastic decrease is the epitome of the effect of water pollution on organisms.
Only time will reverse the devastating effects of water pollution. Through the institution of laws and modification of sewage plants, the pollution may be better controlled.
