See the latest Water Quality Data from the FoRR Monitoring Team!

Once per month, the FoRR Monitoring Team tests water quality at three sites along the Reedy River.

Site #1: Reedy River along the Swamp Rabbit Trail, downstream of Swamp Rabbit Cafe

Site #2: A small tributary of the Reedy River in Falls Park 

Site #3: Reedy River behind the ReWa headquarters (near our new office!)

The pH and bacteria coliform results this month were consistent with last month's sampling events at all five of our reported sites. Neither showed any significant change with the exception of the Greenville Tech Brashier site, which boasts reduced bacteria levels.

Conductivity for all five sites was lower this month than in October. The most likely explanation for this is that there are fewer dissolved solids in the water due to the low flows as a result of the recent decrease in rainfall.

The most noticeable changes this month were the dissolved oxygen (DO) levels at all five of our monitored sites. On average, our sites increased 2.02 mg/L from their levels last month! This is likely due to the much cooler temperatures we have been experiencing in the upstate over the last month. As temperature decreases, capacity for dissolved oxygen increases. Not only this, but lower temperatures also result in lower activity levels and slower metabolic rates for water-dwelling organisms, leading to reduced oxygen consumption. This then results in higher quantities of dissolved oxygen in the water!

All results this month were within state standards and typical for this time of year. 

Data from November 2021:

 

 

 

 

 

• pH is a way of measuring the H+ ions in a water sample, or if the sample is acidic or basic. pH is influenced by the concentration of acids in rain, and the types of soils and bedrock present in the watershed. Ideally, rivers will have a neutral pH, or a value of 7.
• The available dissolved oxygen (DO) in a water sample is important for fish health and life within a body of water. DO can increase in lower temperatures, turbulence in the water, photosynthesis in the stream, and diffusion from the atmosphere. DO can decrease in higher temperatures, in slow-moving and deep water, and in the presence of decaying organic matter.
• Conductivity is the ability of the water to pass an electric charge and shows the presence of ions in the water, such as salt, nitrate, phosphate, and many others. The bedrock in the watershed can also affect conductivity
• Bacteria counts are found by incubating a water sample that was placed on a medium, then counting the number of coliform forming units. These values are higher in areas where animals are present so always remember to pick up after your pets and don't feed the geese in the park!

The FoRR Monitoring Team uses SC Adopt-a-Stream techniques and has its own monitoring kit, thanks to Ivy Salon!

 

Sign up to join the FoRR Monitoring Team HERE!

See the upcoming SC Adopt-a-Stream workshops HERE!