, Effects of...Waste Water From

on the Hydrology of 

Glowegee Creek at West Milton 

New York, 1958-61

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1809-N

Prepared in cooperation with the 

U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
Effects of Waste Water From 

A.E.C. Plant on the Hydrology of 

Glowegee Creek at West Milton 

New York, 1958-61

By F. H. PAUSZEK and F. H. RUGGLES

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1809-N

Prepared in cooperation with the 

U.S. Atomic Energy Commission

 JNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1965
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Thomas B. Nolan, Director

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office 

Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price 20 cents (paper cover)
CONTENTS

Page

Abstract__ _____________________________________________________ Nl

Introduction._____________________________________________________ 1

Hydrology of Glowegee Creek before inflow of waste water_____________ 4

Runoff _-_-____-_-__-_______-___ __-__-__-_--_-_--__-__--__-_- 4

Chemical quality._____________________________________________ 4

Water temperature_____-____-_-__-__________-___-___-_-_------ 7

Waste water discharged into Glowegee Creek _________________________ 7

Runoff_______________________________________________________ 7

Chemical quality______________________________________________ 11

Water temperature.__________________--_-__-_--___---_-_-_--__ 15

Hydrology of Glowegee Creek at West Milton_______________________ 15

Runoff.____-_-___________________________________ 15

Chemical quality_______-_--_______-_-_-__--_-______--_-__----_ 17

Conclusions_ ___-______-__-_________-_______--______-_-----_----_ 24

Selected references___-____-_________-__--_-_-__-_-____--_-___---_ 29

ILLUSTRATIONS

Page 

FIGURE 1. Map of West Milton area._____-_--___---_--__---___-__. N2

2. Frequency distribution of discharge, hardness, and specific 

conductance and dissolved solids, Glowegee Creek at site 1, 

near West Milton, August 1958-June 1961_____________ 5

3. Monthly mean of hardness of water from Glowegee Creek

at site 1, 1959-61 water years__---_---__------------_-_ 6

4. Sketch showing locations of velocity-measurement points in

drainage ditch______________________________________ 9

5. Time of travel in Glowegee Creek from site 2 to site 3__---__ 10

6. Specific conductance and dissolved solids of water in ditch,

site 2, based on weekly samples, 1959-61 water years..--- 12

7. Hardness of water in ditch, site 2, based on weekly samples,

1959-61 water years__________________________________ 13

8. A vertical-temperature profile of water at site 2__ ________ 16

9. Two-dimensional flow net for the weir at site 2___________ 17

10. Monthly ranges of water temperatures of waste water in

ditch at site 2, 1958-61 __-___-__________-_-_--___. 18

11. Duration of flow of Glowegee Creek at site 3, water years

1928-54, 1949-54, and 1959-61__._ _.._._-__-___ ____ 19

12. Duration of flow of Kayaderosseras Creek near West Milton,

water years 1928-54, 1949-54, 1959-61___----_---_-_._ 21

13. Mean monthly values of specific conductance, Glowegee

Creek at West Milton, 1953-56, 1958-61 ________________ 22

m
IV CONTENTS

Page 

FIQTJBE 14. Maximum, minimum and median monthly discharges at

Glowegee Creek, at site 3, water years 1949-|54, and 1959. _ N25

15. Water temperature of Glowegee Creek at W^st Milton and

Kayaderosseras Creek near West Milton, 1903-61 ________ 27

16. Monthly maximum and minimum water temperatures,

Glowegee Creek at West Milton, Mar. 1953-Sept. 1961____ 28

TABLES

Page, 

TABLE 1. Distribution of phosphate concentrations, for Glowegee

Creek at site 1, August 1958-June 1961______.___________ N7

2. Velocity measurements of waste water in drainage ditch._ __ 8

3. Distribution of phosphate concentrations in water at site 2

based on weekly samples.______________________________ 14

4. Computed specific conductance and equivalent values of dissolved solids and hardness (approximate), Glowegee Creek 

at West Maton-___-._ _ _-_ -___- __ __ 15

5. Percentage of days that specific conductance occurred in range 

shown for a given discharge range, Glowegee Creek at West 

Milton (site 3), 1958-61-____-_-__-_------_-------_---__ 20

6. Chemical analyses of water in Glowegee Creek at West Milton

(site 3)-_ -_--__-___-_-__-_-__--.___._______---_-_ 23

7. Distribution of hardness in water from Glowegee Creek at site

3, 1958-61__________________________________ _ ___ _ _ 24

8. Distribution of phosphate concentrations in water samples from

Glowegee Creek at site 3, 1958-61______________ 24

9. pH in water from Glowegee Creek at site 3, 1958-61 _____ 24

10. Temperatures of water from drainage ditch and Glowegee

Creek (upstream and downstream from ditch)____________ 27
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

EFFECTS OF WASTE WATER FROM A.E.C. PLANT ON THE

HYDROLOGY OF GLOWEGEE CREEK AT WEST MILTON,

NEW YORK, 1958-61

By F. H. PAUSZEK and F. H. RUGGLES

ABSTRACT

Glowegee Creek rises in the southwest corner of Saratoga County, about 8 

miles west of the plant operated by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission near 

West Milton, N.Y. During 1958-61 about 288,000 gallons per day of waste water, 

resulting from plant operations was discharged into Glowegee Creek. This 

waste water contained a dissolved-solids concentration that ranged from 116 to 

356 ppm (parts per million) and about 0.3 to 0.7 ton per day of dissolved solids 

was discharged into the creek. The temperature of the waste water ranged 

from 32° to 87' F.

 Because of the inflow of waste water, the discharge pattern at the gaging 

station at West Milton varied from that under natural conditions. At times, 

during low-flow periods, about 66 percent of the flow of Glowegee Creek was 

waste water. During periods of moderate flow, the contribution of waste water 

to the creek was insignificant

The inflow of waste water also affected the chemical quality of water from 

Glowegee Creek. Sixty-one percent of the time the dissolved-solids content, 

measured at West Milton, was higher than would be expected under natural 

conditions. The average dissolved-solids content was about 142 ppm, and the 

average hardness was 119 ppm. The chemical quality fluctuated from day to 

day, but the increase in concentrations of dissolved solids, hardness, or individual 

constituents did not impair the utility of water from Glowegee Creek.

Although warm waste water flowed into Glowegee Creek, thermal equilibrium 

was reached within a short distance downstream from the point of entry. At 

West Milton no significant departure from the normal temperature was 

determined.

INTRODUCTION

Glowegee Creek rises in the southwest corner of Saratoga County, 

about 8 miles west of the plant operated by the U.S. Atomic Energy 

Commission near West Milton, N.Y. (fig. 1). It flows eastward

Nl
N2 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES
EFFECTS OF WASTE WATER ON GLOWEGEE CREEK N3

through heavily wooded areas, crosses the reservation on which the 

plant is located, passes the town of West Milton, and flows into 

Kayaderosseras Creek about 0.8 mile east of West Milton.

Along the way, several small tributaries and overland runoff contribute to the flow of Glowegee Creek. Ground-water inflow, at all 

times, adds to the flow and during low-flow periods is the major component of the creek water. These are natural contributions. In addition, waste water from a plant operated by the Atomic Energy Commission discharges into the creek through a drainage ditch (fig. 1).

This inflow became a point of concern. What effect did it have on 

the hydrology of Glowegee Creek? Specifically three questions required answers. Did the inflow of waste water affect the streamflow 

characteristics of Glowegee Creek ? Was the chemical quality of the 

creek affected? Finally, what effect did the temperature of waste 

water have on the water temperature of Glowegee Creek ?,

The volume of waste water discharged by the plant into Glowegee 

Creek during 1958-61 varied from day to day but averaged about 

288,000 gallons per day.

The waste water contained a dissolved-solids concentration that 

ranged from 116 to 356 ppm (parts per million) and about 0.3 to 0.7 

ton per day of dissolved solids were discharged into the creek. Generally, this range in concentration was greater than that of the raw 

water supply (ground water), which averaged 120 ppm and was of 

moderate hardness about 97 ppm.

To prevent scaling and to control the buildup of dissolved solids, 

the raw water was treated before passing into the plant distribution 

system. Hydrated lime was added to precipitate calcium as calcium 

carbonate. Sodium hexametaphosphate was also added to the raw 

water as an inhibitor; it forms a complex with the residual calcium 

in solution and prevents precipitation of the calcium as calcium carbonate. The sludge of precipitated calcium carbonate was then 

collected in a cooling-water basin and discharged periodically, along 

with the overflow from the cooling tower, into a drainage ditch leading 

to Glowegee Creek (fig. 1).

The temperature of the waste water flowing into the creek ranged 

from 32° to 87° F.

Because of the questions just mentioned, the U.S. Geological Survey was requested by the Atomic Energy Commission to determine and 

report on the effects of waste water on the hydrology of Glowegee 

Creek.

Among those who participated in the planning of the program were: 

B. M. Ball, and B. F. Knapp, and W. J. Scheiber of the Atomic Energy 

Commission and L. J. Cherubin, health physicist, General Electric Co.
N4 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

In this report, the hydrology of Glowegee Creek and the drainage 

ditch will be discussed in the following order:

1. Hydrology of Glowegee Creek before inflow of waste water. A 

site was selected about 20 yards upstream from the drainage ditch 

to determine streamflow, chemical quality, and water temperature of Glowegee Creek prior to inflow of waste water from the 

drainage ditch. For convenience, this location was designated 

and is referred to in this report as site 1 (fig. 1).

2. The quantity and quality of waste water flowing into Glowegee 

Creek. The flow, chemical quality, and temperature of waste 

water were measured at a point referred to as site 2 (fig. 1).

3. The hydrology of Glowegee Creek at West Milton (location of 

gaging station and site 3). This location is about 2.7 miles downstream from the confluence of the drainage ditch and the creek. 

Here, too, streamflow, chemical quality, and temperature measurements were made. Data obtained at this location were compared with those at site 1 in order to appraise the effects of 

waste water on the hydrology of Glowegee Creek.

HYDROLOGY OF GLOWEGEE CREEK BEFORE INFLOW 

OF WASTE WATER (SITE 1)

RUNOFF

At site 1, Glowegee Creek drains an area of 21.5 square miles (fig. 1). 

At this location, streamflow of Glowegee Creek was not recorded on 

a continuous basis. However, as previously reported by Mack and 

others (1964), there is a good correlation between discharge at site 1 

and the gaging station at West Milton (site 3), about 2.7 miles downstream. The discharge at site 1 is 0.83 times that at site 3. At least 

0.3 cfs (cubic feet per second) can be expected all the time at site 1, 

and 13 cfs can be expected 50 percent of the time. The figure of 0.3 

cfs represents at least 135 gallons per minute of water that is available 

for dilution of plant effluent draining from the ditch. At low flows 

(less than about 10 cfs) the discharge relationship between site 1 and 

site 3 is affected by the inflow of waste water, which may be a large percentage of the flow at site 3. To correct for this effect, the discharge 

from the ditch, measured at site 2, should be subtracted from the 

discharge at site 3.

CHEMICAL QUALITY

Calcium and bicarbonate are the principal constituents in solution 

that make up the dissolved-solids content of water collected from 

Glowegee Creek at site 1. Limestone and some dolomite, which consist respectively of calcium carbonate and of calcium and magnesium
EFFECTS OF WASTE WATER ON GLOWEGEE CREEK N5

carbonate, occur in the drainage basin and are the source of the calcium 

and bicarbonate.

The concentration of dissolved solids fluctuated from 84 to 167 ppm 

(based on specific conductance measurements and an average ratio 

of 0.6 ppm per unit micromho of specific conductance). Only a few 

of the water samples contained concentrations of dissolved solids in 

the lower part of the range; 98 percent of the time the dissolved-solids 

content exceeded 104 ppm. The average for the period of record 

was 136 ppm with a standard deviation of 16.1 ppm.

The frequency distribution of specific conductance values (and 

equivalent concentrations of dissolved solids) was greatest in the range 

of 210 to 250 micromhos (about 125 to 150 ppm of dissolved solids) 

(fig. 2). This clustering of values is a reverse image of the discharge 

pattern of Glowegee Creek (fig. 2).

This distribution is significant insofar as the chemical quality of 

Glowegee Creek is concerned. At any time, stream discharge consists 

of surface runoff and ground-water inflow. During high flow, the 

contribution from ground water is an insignificant part of the total 

discharge. It becomes more significant during periods of moderate 

runoff and during base flow is the sole component of streamflow.

DISSOLVED SOLIDS AND HARDNESS

IN PARTS PER MILLION 

60 72 84 96108120132144156168 ,,

60

50

40

30

20 v>

O V>

10

100 150 200

DISCHARGE, IN CUBIC FEET 

PER SECOND

120 160 200 240 280

cc o

LU

m

5

D

SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCE,IN 

MICROMHOS AT 25° C

FIQUBE 2. Frequency distribution of discharge, hardness, and specific conductance and dissolved solids, Glowegee Creek at 'site 1, near West Milton, 

August 195S-June 1961. 

762-905 O 65 2
N6 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

Because discharge was in the lower range (20 cfs or less) about 55 

percent of the time, a large part of the flow consisted of ground water. 

Because ground water in the basin is more mineralized than surface 

water, its inflow tended to increase and sustain the dissolved-solids 

content of water from the creek at the level of 125 to 150 ppm.

Because of the high concentrations of calcium (and to a lesser extent 

of magnesium), water from Glowegee Creek at site 1 was moderately 

hard. The average hardness was 119 ppm with a standard deviation 

of 13 ppm. In contrast to the distribution pattern of the concentrations for dissolved solids, that for hardness showed only a slight negative skewness (fig. 2). Fluctuation of the monthly mean hardness 

suggests a seasonal variation (fig. 3). However, streamflow conditions are directly responsible for this variation, as previously discussed, the lowest hardness occurring during the spring when surface 

runoff from snowmelt produces the highest stream discharges of the 

year.

140

< 100

90

80

1959 water year 

130

120

110 water year

OCT NOV DEC JAN FEE MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT

FIGURE 3. Monthly mean of hardness of water from Glowegee Creek (samples 

collected weekly), at site 1,1959-61 water years.
EFFECTS OF WASTE WATER ON GLOWEGEE CREEK N7

Since calcium and bicarbonate were the principal constituents, 

water from Glowegee Creek was alkaline. About 99 percent of the 

time, the pH ranged from. 7.1 to 8.8.

To provide data for comparison of phosphate in water from Glowegee Creek before and after inflow of the waste water, phosphate 

determinations were made in water samples collected at site 1. The 

phosphate concentrations usually ranged from 0.00 to 0.11 ppm. 

Those higher than 0.11 ppm were determined in water samples collected in September through December 1958 and 1959, and one sample 

collected January 30, 1961, had a concentration of 0.32 ppm. The 

time of the year suggests that drainage from decaying vegetation may 

add to the phosphate content of water from the creek; phosphate is 

an essential element in the growth of plants. Table 1 shows the 

frequency of phosphate concentrations in water samples collected at 

site 1.

TABLE 1. Distribution of phosphate concentrations, for Glowegee Creek at site 1,

August 195 8-June 1961

Range 

(ppm)

0.00-0.03.. _-.-.._.

.04r- .07_________.

.08- .11__. _.__._.

.12- .15_._ _ ___

.16- .19_________

Number

of, 

samples

92

....__._. 62

_________ 19

_________ 5

_________ 3

Range 

(ppm)

0.20-0.23_._ __ --__

.24r- .27---. -

.28- .31_._ _ _._.

.32- .35___.______

Number

of, 

samples

_________ 1

_________ 0

_________ 3

_________ 1

WATER TEMPERATURE

Usually, Glowegee Creek is a shallow stream; and except during 

periods of freezing air temperatures, water temperatures correlate 

with average daily air temperatures. Temperature of water from 

Glowegee Creek at site 1 was determined periodically prior to May 4, 

1961. Since that date, a continuous recorder has been in operation. 

The data accumulated from that date to June 30,1961, are insufficient 

for analysis.

WASTE WATER DISCHARGED INTO GLOWEGEE 

CREEK (SITE 2)

RUNOFF

The quantity of waste water discharged into the ditch and flowing 

into Glowegee Creek varied with the extent of plant operation. At 

site 2 (location of stage recorder) the mean daily discharges ranged 

from 0.1 to 2.1 cfs. However, all the water passing this point was 

not from plant operation. The ditch also received water from a storm
N8 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

sewer, overland runoff, and ground-water inflow; the contributions 

from these sources were not determined.

One question that may be raised in regard to the discharge of waste 

water is: What is the time of travel of the waste water from the point 

of entry into the ditch to the stage recorder, a distance of about 2,100 

feet? It ranged from 18 to 50 minutes, depending on the discharge 

into the ditch. For a discharge of O.T cfs, the time of travel would 

be about 30 minutes based on velocity measurements in the ditch 

(table 2). Figure 4 shows locations of measuring points in the ditch.

TABLE 2. Velocity measurements, in feet per second, of waste water in drainage

ditch

Observed discharge

at site 2 (cfs)

0.37.............................

1.04.............................

. TO............................

1

0.5

1.0

.7

2

0.6

1.2

3

0.7

1.4

1.0

Locations

4

0.8

1.6

1.1

6

n o

1.8

1.3

7

1.0

2 1

1.5

8

1.2

2.3

1.7

After the waste water enters Glowegee Creek, what would be the 

elapsed time before a mass of water would reach the gage at West 

Milton, site 3? Time would be an important factor if waste water 

containing a critical contaminant had been released inadvertently, and 

this water should be prevented from flowing downstream from West 

Milton. (The dilution factor, which would be another important 

consideration, and the means of containment are not discussed here.)

For estimating the time of travel between sites, two dye experiments 

and records of flood peaks passing the sites are available. At flows 

of 8 and 95 cfs, fluorescein dye was introduced at site 2 and the elapsed 

times until the first definable dye passed site 3 were noted. This 

approximated the fastest flow in the stream for the discharge at which 

the experiment was run; the time of travel for the peak dye concentration, which would have represented the average stream velocity, 

would have been considerably longer. At flows above 300 cfs flood 

peaks on Glowegee Creek also are recorded at site 2, and therefore 

time of travel of flood peaks from site 2 to site 3 could be determined 

from recorded graphs at those sites. This represents a lower limiting 

value for time of travel, because flood peaks are known to travel at a 

faster rate than the mass of water. The relation between time of 

travel and discharge, based on the dye experiments and the recorded 

flood peaks, is shown in figure 5.

To utilize the time-of-travel curve, the discharge at the gage at West 

Milton must be known. Then, it is possible to enter the curve and de-
EFFECTS OF WASTE WATER ON GLOWEGEE CREEK N9

FIGURE 4. Locations of velocity-measurement points in drainage ditch.

termine the time of travel of a mass of water from the mouth of the 

ditch to the gaging station at West Milton. For a discharge of 8 cfs,
N10 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

15

XL 10

200 400 600 800 1000 1200 

DISCHARGE OF GLOWEGEE CREEK AT SITE 3 (GAGING STATION), 

IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

FIGURE 5. Time of travel in Glowegee Creek from site 2 to site 3.

the time of travel from site 2 to site 3 would be about 16 hours, 

a flood discharge of 500 cf s about 3.8 hours would be required.

At
EFFECTS OF WASTE WATER ON GLOWEGEE CREEK Nil 

CHEMICAL QUALITY

The concentrations of dissolved solids in waste water in the ditch 

were very erratic (fig. 6). This condition is not unusual in view of the 

water treatment previously described and the varying quantities of 

water discharged from the plant. In addition, some of the calcium 

carbonate precipitated in the ditch may be redissolved by overland runoff and adds to the dissolved-solids content. The approximate ranges 

of dissolved solids (computed from the specific conductance) in water 

samples from the ditch are given below:

Dissolved

Water year solids 

(Oct. 1-Sept. 30) (ppm)

1959 ___________________________________ 106-289

1960 __________________________________ 134-356

1961 __________________________________ 134-236

In tons per day the maximum discharges of dissolved solids were:

Maximum

dissolved-solids Water

Water discharges discharge

year (tons per day) (of*)

1959 ________________________ 0.3 0.37

1960 ________________________ .7 .74

1961 ________________________ .3 .50

Minimum load figures are not available for water years 1959 and 

1961. During water year 1960, the minimum load was 0.4 ton per day; 

the water discharge from the ditch at the time was 1.12 cfs.

The hardness of water discharged from the ditch was equally 

erratic as the waste water consisted of varying quantities of sludge 

discharged from the cooling basin (fig. 7).

Because of the large concentrations of calcium carbonate, the pH 

of water in the ditch was alkaline at all times. The following table 

gives ranges of pH that were determined:

Number of Percent 

pH range determinations of total

7.0-7.4.__...__.___..___..__._____.__._ 11 7

7.5-7.9-.__________.-.____.__._..._.__. 39 25

8.0-8.4._______-_____._...___.___.___._ 43 28

8.5-8.9__________._____________________ 34 22

9.0-9.4__.....___._....._______________ 26 17

9.5-9.9____--__._._______.__._...__.. 2 1

155 100

Because sodium hexametaphosphate was used in the treatment, 

water from the ditch was analyzed for its phosphate content. The 

concentrations of phosphate were also erratic and ranged from 0.00 to 

3.2 ppm. Table 3 shows the frequency distribution of concentrations 

of phosphate. Eighty-three percent of the water samples contained 

less than 2.0 ppm of phosphate.
N12 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

SOHIAIOdOIIAI Nl '30NViOnQNOO OIJI03dS

NI '(a3iviAiiiS3) sanos a3Aiossia
260

240 -

220

:? 200 -

180 -

160 -

140

120

100

80-

OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR 

FIGURE 7. Hardness of water in ditch, site 2, based on wee
N14 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

As is apparent from the preceding discussion, the chemical quality 

of waste water in the ditch varied considerably. Because of this wide 

variation what would be the concentration of dissolved solids that could 

be expected in water from Glowegee Creek at West Milton ? Of course, 

the information is already at hand for the period 1958^61 and will be 

discussed later in this report. However, if such information would be 

required for some future date, the dissolved-solids content could be 

computed, within limits, from the following factors: The chemical 

quality and discharge of the creek water upstream from the effluent 

ditch, the chemical quality and discharge of water in the ditch, and 

the chemical quality and discharge of ground-water inflow in the 

stretch between sites 2 and 3. The effects of the last two factors are 

assumed to be of lesser importance.

TABLE 3. Distribution of phosphate concentrations in water at site 2 based on weekly

samples

Range (ppm) 

0. 00-0. 19.

. 20- . 39.

. 40- . 59.

. 60- . 79.

. 80- . 99. 

1. 00-1. 19. 

1. 20-1. 39. 

1. 40-1. 59. 

1. 60-1. 79. 

1. 80-1. 99.

er of 

les

8

1?

13

8

20

3

18

19 

23

7

Percent 

5. 1

7.6

8. 2

5. 1

12.7

1. 9

11. 4

12.0 

14. 6 

4.4

Range (ppm) 

2. 00-2. 19 --

2. 20-2. 39 -_

2. 40-2.59 ---

2. 60-2. 79 _-

2. 80-2. 99 -

3.00-3. 19 

3.20-3. 39 --_

Number of

samples

11

6

5

1

3

0

1

Percent

7.0

3.7

3. 2

.6

1.9

.0

.6

158 100. 0

The relationship of the several factors is expressed in the following 

equation (specific conductance is used as a measure of dissolved solids) :

where

SO 3= specific conductance at site 3,

SO '2 = specific conductance at site 2,

/SCi= specific conductance at site 1,

Qz= water discharge at site 2, and

$1= water discharge at site 1.

A comparison of the computed and measured values of specific conductance shows excellent agreement; correlation coefficient was 0.8.

Then, using the computed conductance, the approximate range of 

concentrations of dissolved solids and hardness that can be expected 

in water from Glowegee Creek at West Milton can be obtained from 

the nomograph (based on the relationships of specific conductance and 

on dissolved solids and hardness) shown in table 4. For example, if 

the computed conductance for water from Glowegee Creek, at site 3
EFFECTS OF WASTE WATER ON GLOWEGEE CREEK N15

is 280 micromhos, the approximate ranges of concentrations of dissolved solids and hardness are 161 to 175 ppm and 129 to 155 ppm, 

respectively.

TABLE 4. Computed specific conductance and equivalent values of dissolved solids

and hardness (approximate), Glowegee Creek at West Milton 

[Results for dissolved solids and hardness are within ±7 and ±13 ppm of actual values, respectively]

280

210

Dissolved 

pecific conductance solids 

licromhos at 86° C) (ppm)

___ _________ 168

_.___.___.__- 163

__._____--__. 157

 ___ _ 152

 _ 147

 _ __ 141

 _--____--__ 136

_____-_.____._ 130

Hardness as 

CaCOs 

(ppm)

142

137

132

126

121

116

110

105

Specific conductance 

(micromhos at 25° C)

200.. _ __---.--_

190 __ _ -

170 --------

160 --------

150 ---------

140 

130 ----------

Dissolved 

solids 

(ppm)

125

120

114

109

103

98

93

87

Hardness as 

CaCO3 

(ppm)

99

94

88

83

78

72

67

62

WATER TEMPERATURE

The temperature of the water in the ditch was measured continuously 

at site 2. Initially, the sensing element was installed within the intake 

pipe leading to the recorder well, about 10 feet above the weir and near 

the bottom of the pool. A plot of the temperature at the bottom and 

top of the weir plate showed that a temperature gradient was present 

(fig. 8). At the top the temperature was 68 °F and at the bottom, 

62° F. A schematic two-dimensional flow net indicates the source of 

the stratified layers (fig. 9). The gradients were a result of diurnal 

water temperature variations, evaporation, the insulating effect of the 

upper layer of water within the pool, and cooler water entering from 

below. Because of the location of the sensing element, the temperatures recorded during the period September 4 to October 8, 1958, represented only one stratified layer. This situation was remedied by 

reinstalling the sensing element downstream from the weir. At this 

location, the average temperature of water entering Glowegee Creek 

was recorded. Monthly ranges of water temperatures are shown in 

figure 10. Although monthly variations are apparent, the trend was 

repetitive for the period 1958-61.

HYDROLOGY OF GLOWEGEE CREEK AT WEST 

MILTON (SITE 3)

RUNOFF

At West Milton, Glowegee Creek drains an area of 26.0 square miles. 

However, the area of concern in this report is that extending from site 

1 to site 3. Within this reach, the flow of the creek can be either sluggish or rather fast ; several small tributaries as well as the waste water 

from tjbe ditch contribute to the flow in the creek.
N16 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

Because of the contribution from the ditch, the discharge pattern 

will vary from that under natural conditions. On many days during 

the summer months of 1959, waste water entering Glowegee Creek 

was more than 50 percent of the total flow at site 1. On July 27, for 

example, when the measured discharge at site 1 was 1.1 cfs, the discharge from the ditch was 0.8 cfs, and the mean daily discharge of 

the ditch for that day was 1.12 cfs.

The duration of flow curve for Glowegee Creek at site 3 also illustrates this effect (fig. 11). The observed duration of flow for the 

period 1949-54 is plotted in this figure. This relationship has been 

adjusted to the longer period 1928-54 on the basis of the long period of

0.6

0.5

O

CD

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

Average temperature= 66.6°F

60 62 64 66 

TEMPERATURE, IN DEGREES FAHRENHEIT

FIGURE 8. A vertical-temperature profile of water at site 2.

68
EFFECTS OF WASTE WATER ON GLOWEGEE CREEK N17

streamflow records for Kayaderosseras Creek. To show the effect of 

the ditch inflow, the duration of flow curve for 1959-61 has been plotted 

in the figure. For discharges lower than that at the 90-percent point, 

the discharge during 1959-61 was observed to be higher than would be 

expected on the basis of past records at this site. To further study the 

low-flow characteristics of Glowegee Creek for this period, curve B has 

been plotted. This curve represents the duration of daily discharges 

for 1959-61 at site 3 adjusted by subtracting the mean daily inflow from 

the ditch. In effect, this is the discharge that would have occurred 

without the ditch being in use. Evidently, below about the 98-percent 

point the 1959-61 discharge is higher than that of past records, but 

the difference is much less significant than it was before the subtraction of the ditch discharge.

To determine if the period 1959-61 differed hydrologically from the 

long-term record, the duration of flow for Kayaderosseras Creek was 

plotted for the same periods as for Glowegee Creek. The curves in 

figure 12 show virtually the same pattern as was observed for Glowegee 

Creek. The discharge for the period 1959-61 was generally lower than 

that indicated by the long-term records, but the creek had a better 

than usual sustained flow below the 98-percent point. Thus, overall, 

the discharge for 1959-61 was somewhat lower than usual, but it was 

not drastically low.

CHEMICAL QUALITY

The dissolved-solids content of water from Glowegee Creek at site 

3 was less than 167 ppm (based on specific conductance) 99 percent of 

the time during 1958-61. Although the dissolved-solids concentrations were higher in several samples, they did not exceed 180 ppm. 

The average dissolved-solids content was about 142 ppm with a 

standard deviation of about 17 ppm.

FIGURE 9. Two-dimensional flow net for the weir at site 2.
N18 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

X

r x

i . v

ld3S

"onv 

"Ainr 

3Nnr

adv

03Q 

" AON 

" 100 

~id3S

Ainr g 

3Kinr 2 

AVIAI ~HdV

93d

" Nvr

03Q 'AON

"ld3S

"onv 

"Ainr 

3Nnr 

"AVIAI

93d

_ Nvr

03Q 

_AON g

100 2 

ld3S

H3HN3HHVd 5338930 Nl '3yniVH3dlAI31
EFFECTS OF WASTE WATER ON GLOWEGEE CREEK N19

1000

100

y 10

CO

13

o

1.0

0.1

1959-61

I I I I I I II I I I I I I I II I I I I I

1928-54, 

(Adjusted)

Curve B-1959-6L 

(Adjusted for diversion)

O OOOOOOO

PERCENT OF TIME INDICATED DISCHARGE WAS EQUALED OR EXCEEDED

FIGURE 11. Duration of flow of Glowegee Creek at site 3, water years 1928-54,

1949-54, and 1959-61.
N20 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

Table 5 shows the percentage distribution pattern of specific conductance for 11 ranges of discharge. When streamflow was less than 

25 cfs, the specific conductance ranged from 181 to 300 micromhos; this 

range would be equivalent to a dissolved-solids content of about 109 to 

180 ppm. Even at a discharge of about 35 cfs, the specific conductance 

ranged from 181 to 280 micromhos. The effect of dilution is apparent. 

However, at the higher discharges in the range of 86 to 155 cfs; about 

89 percent of the measurements were less than 181 micromhos. 

Throughout the several ranges of discharge, fluctuations in the quality 

of waste water flowing into Glowegee Creek account for the wide scatter of dissolved-solids concentrations.

TABLE 5 Percentage of days that specific conductance occurred in range shown for 

a given discharge range, Glowegee Creek at West Milton (site 8), 1958-61

Discharge

(cfs)

0 - 6.0

6.1-16

16 -26

26 -36

36-45

46-66

66-65

66 -85

86 -155

156 -240

241 -360

361 -425

426 -599

600

Perce

<100

3

3

3

ioo

int of da;

101-120

3

5

67

67

100

rsin whi

121-140

23

45

33

33

ch speci£

141-160

1

10

6

10

35

45

C condiu

161-180

14

1341

31

23

10

stance oc

181-200

9

2

9

35

36

54

45

25

8

curredln

201-220

13

8

43

31

29

20

6

25

3

the rang

221-240

17

43

30

21

13

3

9

3

50 of mici

241-260

41

38

14

11

8

omhosii

261-280

18

8

2

1

idieated

281-300

2

1

2

The curve of the mean monthly values of specific conductance shows 

the seasonal fluctuations during 1958-61 (fig. 13). It reflects periods 

of low and high flows in the Creek. Although for the period 1958-61 

there is no apparent trend, a comparison with the curve for 1953-56 

shows that the mean monthly values of specific conductance for 

1958-61 are somewhat higher.

Because of the large concentrations of calcium and magnesium in 

solution, water from Glowegee Creek was moderately hard; 91 percent 

of the time hardness in water from Glowegee Creek equaled or 

exceeded 100 ppm. As stream discharge increased, dilution was effective in reducing the concentrations of calcium and magnesium and 

computed hardness, based on these concentrations, was also reduced. 

For example, the hardness of one water sample was 75 ppm; at the 

time of sample collection the mean daily discharge was 131 cfs (table 

6). For the period 1958-61, the average hardness was 119 ppm with 

a standard deviation of 13 ppm. Table 7 shows the distribution of 

hardness concentrations at site 3.
EFFECTS OF WASTE WATER ON GLOWEGEE CREEK N21

1200

1000-

100-

PERCENT OF TIME INDICATED DISCHARGE WAS EQUALED OR EXCEEDED

FIGTJBE 12. Duration of flow of Kayaderosseras Creek near West Milton, 

water years 1928-54,1949-54,1959-61.
C 25° AT MICROMHOS IN CONDUCTANCE, SPECIFIC 

_ 2. i 

,7, t± w 

- rt Q 

ox ani, AOOIOHQAH io anx aaxixn saxvxs 
TABLE 6. Chemical analyses of water in Glowegee Creek a

[Chemical constituents in parts per million]

Date of collection

June 24, 1952 ___ ___

Aug. 20, 1957-. .. ____

Dec. 17, 1957... _ . __

Mar. 30, 1958..... _

June 30, 1958.. ...

Sept. 30, 1958.. _ ... . __

Dec. 30, 1958 _ .. ____ -

Mar. 30, 1959... . __ 

July 1, 1959... ____ . _ ..

Mean discharge 

(cfe)

13 

1.8 

14 

131 

4.0 

6.3 

9.3 

62 

2.6

Silica (SiOa)

5.7 

5.3 

7.4 

5.2 

6.3 

7.7 

7.9 

6.1 

6.9

Iron (Fe)

0.00 

.09 

.17 

.01 

.11 

.14 

.09 

.06 

.19

Calcium (Ca)

28 

28 

30 

19 

28 

30 

30 

22 

30

jl

10 

9.9 

9.5 

6.7 

10 

12 

12 

8.4 

11

Sodium (Na)

2.4 

2.8 

3.5 

2.4 

2.4 

4.5 

3.6 

3.6 

4.1

Potassium (K)

0.8 

.8 

.7 

.8 

.7 

1.0 

.7 

.8 

1.1

Bicarbonate (HCOa)

126 

128 

98 

67 

122 

121 

123 

94 

136

Sulfate (SO4)

11 

10 

34 

16 

11 

25 

18 

15 

12

Chloride (Cl)

2.4 

3.5 

5.9 

5.3 

4.5 

6.0 

7.0 

6.0 

5.0
N24 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

TABLE 7. Distribution of hardness in water from Glowegee Creek at site 8, 1958-61

Number 

Range (ppm as CaCOj) of samples Percent

65- 749____-.__ 2 0.9

75- 84 9..______ 2 .9

85- 949........ 8 3. 5

95-104 9_.___.._ 21 9.2

105-114 9__...... 38 16.7

115-124 9._.._-.- 74 32.4

Range (ppm as CaCOa) 

125-1349 --- 

135-1449 ---- 

145-1549- ---

Number 

of samples

68

13

2

228

Percent

29.8

5.7

. 9

100. 0

In water samples collected at site 3, 98.6 percent of the samples 

had phosphate concentrations that ranged from 0.00 to 0.23 ppm; 

concentrations in three samples were higher (table 8).

Concentrations of bicarbonate increased more with an increase in 

dissolved solids than any other constituent in water from Glowegee 

Creek. Because of the large concentrations of bicarbonate, water 

from the creek was alkaline above pH 7.0. The usual range was 7.4 

to 8.2, but a pH as high as 8.8 was determined also in one water sample 

(table 9).

TABLE 8. Distribution of phosphate concentrations in water samples from Glowegee

Creek at site 3, 1958-61

Percent

4.6

.9

.5

Range (ppm) 

0.00-0.03 --.

.04- .07 .--

.08- .11 -.-

.12- .15 --.

.16- .19 --.

TABLE

Range 

7.0-7.19-.----.

7.2-7.39. ------

7.4-7.59. _..--_.

7 fi-7 70

7.8-7.99-------

8.0-8.19-.-.---.

Number of 

analyses

63

64

27

98

21

9. pH in wa

Number of 

samples

7

19

49

40

64

34

Percent 

29.2 

29.6 

12.5 

13.0 

9.7

ter from G

Percent 

3.1 

8.4 

21.6 

17.6 

28.2 

15.0

Range (ppm) 

0. 20-0.23.. ______

.24- .27 --..-

.28- .31 --..-

lowegee Creek at site 8,

Range 

8.2-8.39----------

8.4-8.59. ___-----.

8.6-8.79-___------

Numher of 

analyses

10 

2 

1

216

1958-61

Number of 

samples

9 

4 

1

227

100.0

Percent

3.9

1.8

.4

100.0

CONCLUSIONS

Figure 11 clearly shows that waste water from the ditch materially 

increases the flow of Glowegee Creek when the discharge is less than 

that indicated for the 90-percent point. The amount of this increase 

will be about 10 percent at the 90-percent point and more than 100 

percent at the 99.9-percent point.

To further illustrate the effects of the plant effluent on the discharge 

of Glowegee Creek, the mean monthly discharge for 1959 was plotted 

on the curves of maximum, minimum, and mean monthly discharge
EFFECTS OF WASTE WATER ON GLOWEGEE CREEK N25

for the long-term period 1949-54. Even with the increased flow 

augmenting Glowegee Creek, the discharge during the months of June, 

July, and August was below or near the lowest of record. If there 

were no augmentation, the flow of Glowegee Creek would have been as 

shown in the curve for 1959 in figure 14.

Although, as previously shown, the duration of flow below the 90- 

percent point has been affected by the discharge from the ditch, a 

statistical analysis of the mean discharge for the period 1959-61 was 

also made to determine if the mean discharge was different from that

200

100

Observed discharge for 1959 adjusted by subtracting mean discharge of the drainage ditch

OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT

FIGTTBE 14. Maximum, minimum, and median monthly discharges at Glowegee 

Creek at site 3, water years 1949-54, and 1959.
N26 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

for the period 1949-58. There is no significant evidence that the 

mean discharges for the two periods are different.

From the duration-curve data and the analysis of means, it is concluded that on a day-to-day basis the streamflow of Glowegee Creek 

was materially altered but that the yearly mean discharge was not 

significantly affected.

Did release of the waste water into Glowegee Creek affect the chemical quality of water downstream at site 3 ? To answer this question, 

the ratio of specific conductance at West Milton (site 3) to that at 

site 1 was taken as a measure of the extent of the effect of waste water. 

Generally, if the ratio was 1.00 or less, the chemical quality was 

assumed to be the same at both locations; and the introduction of waste 

water had no significant effect on the chemical quality of Glowegee 

Creek at site 3. The converse assumption also is believed to be valid.

Sixty-one percent of the time the specific conductance at site 3 

equaled or exceeded that at site 1. Most of the ratio values ranged 

from 0.95 to 1.15; the average ratio was 1.03 with a standard deviation 

of 0.08. This information indicated that the waste water did affect 

the chemical quality of Glowegee Creek water. During the period 

of record, however, the dissolved solids at site 3 never increased by 

more than 20 percent over those at site 1. In other words, if specific 

conductance were 200 micromhos at site 1, it would be about 240 

micromhos at site 3. The dissolved-solids concentrations would be 

about 120 ppm and 144 ppm at sites 1 and 3, respectively. The actual 

dissolved-solids content (based on specific conductance) did not exceed 

about 180 ppm. The average dissolved-solids content was about 142 

ppm with a standard deviation of about 17 ppm.

Similarly, the ratio of hardness of water from Glowegee Creek at 

site 3 to that at site 1 indicates that the hardness of water at site 3 

was affected by inflow of waste water into the creek. The percentage 

frequency was about the same as that for specific conductance. Sixty 

percent of the time, the ratio was greater than one; and 40 percent 

of the time (the ratio was less than one), waste water had no affect 

on the hardness. During the period of record, the hardness at site 3 

ranged from 67 to 154 ppm and averaged 119 ppm.

Initially, the water temperature of Glowegee Creek rose with inflow 

of warm waste water from the ditch. Within a short distance, however, dilution and thermal exchange with the air lowered the water 

temperature of the creek. As would be expected, the lowering took 

place more rapidly during high flow than during low flow, as well as 

during periods of cold weather (table 10).

At West Milton no significant departure from the normal temperature was determined. For this purpose, the temperature data obtained
EFFECTS OF WASTE WATER ON GLOWEGEE CREEK N27

TABLE 10. Temperatures, in degrees Fahrenheit, of water from drainage ditch and 

Glowegee Creek (upstream and downstream from ditch)

Site

Glowegee Creek. 20 yards above ditch (site 1). __ ____

Ditch, at weir (site 2)...- . 

At West Milton (site 3)__._ 

Discharge, Glowegee Creek at West Milton (site 3)...cfs_-

10-25-61

44

67

66

53

50

47

25-63

3.0

11-16-61

38

58

56

45

43

37

18-51

6.2

Date

1-4-62

32

4Q

49

32

32

32

5-38

9.3

4-4-62

34

59

59

35

34

37

15-50

90

4-26-62

61

83

83

65

61

61

37-82

23

for Kayaderosseras Creek near West Milton was used as a base for 

comparison. Both creeks are subject to the same climatic conditions 

but differ in the size of their drainage area: 26 square miles for Glowegee Creek at West Milton and 90 square miles for Kayaderosseras 

Creek near West Milton. The agreement of water temperatures for 

these two streams for the period 1953-57 was excellent, and no significant departures were evident for the period 1958-61 (fig. 15).

80

70

60

50

40

30

 1954-55 

+ 1955-56 

X 1956-57

 1957-58 

A 1958-59 

O 1959-60

 X- 1960-61

Line of best fit of data for 1953-54 N

30 40 50 60 70 80 

TEMPERATURE OF KAYADEROSSERAS CREEK, IN DEGREES FAHRENHEIT

FIGURE 15. Water temperature of Glowegee Creek at West Milton and Kayaderosseras Creek near West Milton, 1953-61.
N28 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

ld3S

re J

H33S O5

- O 

HJnr o> tl

T33S

. 3HDT O>

TdlS

- i

I

8

in pFnr o> 3

-H 4J

[IAI S

Ta 3 

	S

HIS ^

l^ in -S jjvinr o> e8

a

3aas -g

 if) O

- a

cj

zr * «

_ if> g

~5FiAi >C5

Iffls,

H3HN3dHVJ 

S33d03Q Nl '3dniVd3dW31
EFFECTS OF WASTE WATER ON GLOWEGEE CREEK N29

Monthly maximum and minimum temperatures for Glowegee Creek 

at West Milton are shown in figure 16 for the period 1953-61. Each 

year a typical sine curve is reported, and no change in the trend is 

evident.

SELECTED REFERENCES

Mack, F. K., Pauszek, F. H., and Crippen, J. B., 1964, Geology and hydrology of 

the West Milton area, Saratoga County, New York: U.S. Geol. Survey 

Water-Supply Paper 1747,110 p.

U.S. Geological Survey, 1960, Compilation of records of surface waters of the 

United States through September, 1950, part 1-B, North Atlantic slope basins, 

New York to York Biver: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 1302, 

679 p.

 1964. Compilation of records of surface waters of the United States, October 1950 to September 1960, part 1-B, North Atlantic slope basins, New 

York to York Biver: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 1722, 578 p.

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 196S O 762-905