INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Concentrations of Escherichia coli in Streams 

in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River 

Watersheds in Indiana, June-September 1999

Water-Resources Investigations Report 01-4018
Concentrations of Escherichia coli in Streams

in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River

Watersheds in Indiana, June–September 1999

By Cheryl A. Silcox, Bret A. Robinson, and Timothy C. Willoughby

Water-Resources Investigations Report 01–4018

Prepared in cooperation with the

Indiana Department of Environmental Management

Indianapolis, Indiana

2001

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

GALE A. NORTON, Secretary

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

CHARLES G. GROAT, Director

The use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only

and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

For additional information, write to:

District Chief

U.S. Geological Survey

5957 Lakeside Boulevard

Indianapolis, IN 46278-1996

Copies of this report can be purchased from:

U.S. Geological Survey

Branch of Information Services

Box 25286

Federal Center

Denver, CO 80225-0286
 Contents iii

Contents

Abstract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Purpose and Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Description of the Study Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Study Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Selection of Sampling Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Field Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Collection of Samples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Processing of Samples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Geometric Mean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Statistical Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Quality-Assurance and Quality-Control Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Filter Blanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Process Blanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Field Blanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Duplicate Samples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Concentrations of Escherichia coli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Relation between Concentrations of Escherichia coli and Streamflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Relation between Concentrations of Escherichia coli and Turbidity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

References Cited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Supplemental Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Figures

1.–2. Maps showing:

1. Location and principal streams of the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds in

Indiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

2. Location of Escherichia coli sampling sites in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River

Watersheds in Indiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

3. Graph showing concentrations of Escherichia coli measured in the environmental samples and

duplicate samples and the natural log percent difference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

4.–5. Maps showing:

4. Ranges in concentrations of Escherichia coli for sampling sites, June–September 1999. . . . . . . . . . 14

5. Five-sample geometric mean Escherichia coli concentration determined for sampling sites,

June–September 1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
iv Concentrations of Escherichia coli, Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, Indiana, June–September 1999

Contents—Continued

6.–10. Graphs showing:

6. Concentrations of Escherichia coli and five-sample geometric means for Group 1 sites in the

Kankakee River Watershed in Indiana, June–July1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

7. Concentrations of Escherichia coli and five-sample geometric means for Group 1 and Group 2

sites in the Lower Wabash River Watershed in Indiana, June–September 1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

8. Stream discharge and concentrations of Escherichia coli at selected Group 1 sites in the

Kankakee River Watershed in Indiana, June–July 1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

9. Stream discharge and concentrations of Escherichia coli at selected Group 2 sites in the

Lower Wabash River Watershed in Indiana, August–September 1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

10. Turbidity and concentrations of Escherichia coli measured in samples collected at sites in the

Kankakee and the Upper and Lower Wabash River Watersheds in Indiana, June–September

1998 (wet year) and 1999 (dry year) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Tables

1. Sites in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds in Indiana at which water samples were

collected during June and July 1999 for analysis of Escherichia coli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

2. Sites in the Lower Wabash River Watershed in Indiana at which water samples were collected during

August and September 1999 for analysis of Escherichia coli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

3. Water-quality data for sampling sites, June–September 1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

4. Quality-assurance data associated with the Escherichia coli samples collected, June–September

1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Contents v

Conversion Factors and Abbreviations

Multiply By To obtain

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer

square mile (mi2) 2.590 square kilometer

cubic foot per second (ft3/sec) 0.02832 cubic meter per second

pound per square inch (lb/in2) 70.307 gram per square centimeter

Temperature is given in degrees Celsius (°C), which can be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) by use of the

following equation:

°F = 1.8(°C) + 32

Abbreviated water-quality units used in this report: Chemical concentrations and water temperature are given

in metric units. Chemical concentration is given in milligrams per liter (mg/L) or micrograms per liter (μg/L).

Milligrams per liter is a unit expressing the concentration of chemical constituents in solution as weight (milligrams)

of solute per unit volume (liter) of water. One thousand micrograms per liter is equivalent to one milligram per liter.

For concentrations less than 7,000 mg/L, the numerical value is the same as for concentrations in parts per million.

Concentrations of bacteria are given in colonies per 100 milliliters (col/100 mL).

Specific conductance of water is expressed in microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius (μS/cm).

This unit is equivalent to micromhos per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius (μmho/cm), formerly used by the

U.S. Geological Survey.

Volumes of water-quality samples are given in liters (L) and milliliters (mL).

Abstract 1

Concentrations of Escherichia coli in Streams in the

Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds in Indiana,

June–September 1999

By Cheryl A. Silcox, Bret A. Robinson, and Timothy C. Willoughby

Abstract

Water samples collected from 58 surface-water sites in the Kankakee and Lower

Wabash River Watersheds from June through

September 1999 were analyzed for concentrations of Escherichia coli bacteria. Each site was

sampled five times in a 30-day period. Twentynine sites were sampled during June and July,

and 29 different sites were sampled during

August and September. A five-sample geometric mean of concentrations was computed for

each site. Concentrations of Escherichia coli

(E. coli) in 126 of the 289 samples exceeded

the State of Indiana single-sample standard of

235 colonies per 100 milliliters for waters used

for recreation. Concentrations in samples from

38 of the 58 sites exceeded the State of Indiana

standard for a five-sample geometric mean of

125 colonies per 100 milliliters for waters used

for recreation.

Ten of the 58 sites were at or near

U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging

stations. Based on records from the streamflowgaging stations, 18 percent of the samples

collected at these sites were collected at

streamflows above the median daily discharge

for each station.

E. coli concentrations and turbidity measurements collected during 1999 were analyzed

in concert with similar concentration and

turbidity data collected in 1998 at streams

within the Upper Wabash River Watershed

in Indiana to investigate the relation between

concentrations of bacteria and turbidity. The

analysis indicated a statistically significant

correlation between concentrations of E. coli

and turbidity. If the turbidity was greater than

83 nephelometric turbidity units, the E. coli

concentration always exceeded the singlesample standard. If, however, the turbidity

was less than 83 nephelometric turbidity units,

concentrations of E. coli were not always below

the single-sample standard.

Introduction

The presence of E. coli in water is direct

evidence of the presence of fecal contamination

from warm-blooded animals and indicates the

possible presence of pathogens (Myers and Sylvester, 1997). E. coli is one of the two preferred

indicator bacteria used by the U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency (USEPA) to determine the suitability of surface waters for recreational use. The

water-quality standards for E. coli in recreational

waters in Indiana require the concentration of

E. coli to be less than the single-sample standard

of 235 colonies per 100 mL (milliliters) and less

than the geometric mean of 125 colonies per

100 mL computed from five samples collected

within a 30-day period (Oddi, 1995).
2 Concentrations of Escherichia coli, Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, Indiana, June–September 1999

The Indiana Department of Environmental

Management (IDEM) is responsible for monitoring

watersheds in Indiana and reporting the quality of

the State’s waters to Congress through the State’s

Report to Congress on Water Quality, 305B Report.

As part of this statewide watershed assessment program, IDEM entered into a cooperative agreement

with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to measure concentrations of the bacteria Escherichia coli

(E. coli) in the Upper Wabash River Watershed in

1998 (Silcox and others, 2000). Continuing the program in 1999, the USGS measured concentrations

of E. coli at 58 surface-water sites in the Kankakee

and Lower Wabash River Watersheds from June

through September.

Purpose and Scope

This report documents the concentrations of

E. coli measured in samples from selected streams

in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds from June through September 1999. The

report also discusses the relation between concentrations of E. coli and streamflow at sites where

streamflow records were available and examines

the relation between concentrations of E. coli and

turbidity. Quality-assurance data for the E. coli

samples are presented. Field measurements of

water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, specific

conductance, and turbidity collected at the same

time as the samples analyzed for E. coli also are

presented.

Description of the Study Area

Samples were collected in the Kankakee

River and Lower Wabash River Watersheds (fig. 1).

Within the Kankakee River Watershed, samples

were collected from the Indiana-Illinois state line

upstream to sites east and north of Plymouth, Ind.

The Kankakee River Watershed drains 1,920 mi2

(Hoggatt, 1975) in Indiana. Major tributaries to

the Kankakee River from which samples were collected include the Little Kankakee River, Pine

Creek, Singleton Ditch, the Yellow River, and the

Iroquois River. Within the Iroquois River Watershed, which discharges to the Kankakee River in

Illinois, samples were collected from 5 mi east of

the Indiana-Illinois state line upstream to sites east

of Rensselaer, Ind. This watershed drains 661 mi2

in Indiana.

The remaining samples were collected from

the Lower Wabash River Watershed, which, for the

purposes of this study, extends from Lafayette, Ind.,

to that point at which the Wabash River discharges

to the Ohio River in southwestern Indiana. Major

tributaries to the lower Wabash River from which

samples were collected include Big Pine Creek,

Coal Creek, Sugar Creek, and Big Raccoon Creek.

At its mouth, the Wabash River drains 23,921 mi2

in Indiana.

The study area falls within three distinct

physiographic areas (Schneider, 1966) and can be

divided roughly into thirds. The northern third of

the study area, including the Kankakee River and

the Iroquois River Watersheds, falls within the

Northern Moraine and Lake Region. This region

includes broad moraines composed of glacial till

and expansive valleys underlain by thick and topographically subdued sand deposits.

The middle third of the study area, from

southern White and Benton Counties in the north

to northern Vigo County in the south, falls within

the Tipton Till Plain physiographic unit. This

physiographic unit is nearly flat in most areas and

shows appreciable relief only where river valleys,

like the Wabash, have dissected the till plain.

The southern third of the study area, from

Terre Haute to the mouth of the Wabash River, is

entirely within the Wabash Lowland physiographic

unit. In this area, the Wabash River Valley is broad

and underlain by thick glacial-outwash deposits.

Uplands are described as undulating to rolling and

typically stand 100 to 150 ft above the adjacent

valley floors (Schneider, 1966).

Study Methods

Selection of the sampling sites, the procedures used to collect the samples to meet a 6-hour

sample-holding time limit, and the methods used

to measure field parameters are described. Methods
POSEY

GIBSON

KNOX

SULLIVAN

VIGO

PARKE

PUTNAM

FOUNTAIN

WARREN

BENTON

NEWTON

LAKE

PORTER

LAPORTE

STARKE

MARSHALL

ST JOSEPH

JASPER

MONTGOMERY

TIPPECANOE

BOONE

CLINTON

VERMILLION

VANDERBURGH

CLAY

Coal Cre ek

Big Pine C reek

River

Kankakee

Ir oquis River

R vi er

W abash

New 

Harmony

Vincennes

Terre 

Haute

Lafayette

Rensselaer

Plymouth

Figure 1. Location and principal streams of the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds in Indiana. ILLINOIS

87

41

86 30'

38

Yellow River

Singleton Ditch

INDIANA

Big

Racc o o n Creek

Sug ar Cre ek

Pine Creek

Little Kank ak ee River

COUNTY BOUNDARY

WATERSHED BOUNDARY

EXPLANATION

Base from U.S. Geological Survey 1:100,000 digital data, 1983

Universal Transverse Mercator projection 

Zone 16

STUDY 

AREA
4 Concentrations of Escherichia coli, Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, Indiana, June–September 1999

used to collect and process the E. coli samples and

the equation used to calculate the geometric mean

are discussed. Statistical methods used to evaluate

the relation between concentrations of E. coli and

turbidity also are outlined.

Selection of Sampling Sites

Sampling sites initially were selected by

IDEM personnel. Responses from a 1987 poll of

local health officials, conservation officers, and

sheriff’s departments regarding known areas of

stream recreational uses provided a core list

of potential sampling sites. Additional sites were

added to improve spatial coverage or to position

sites at existing USGS streamflow-gaging stations.

Site locations were verified on topographic maps

and field verified by USGS personnel prior to sample collection. Where sampling conditions were

unsafe or where site characteristics interfered with

the ability to collect a sample, the site was relocated

as close to the initial site as possible. Changes to

sampling-site locations were agreed upon by USGS

and IDEM personnel.

The 58 selected sampling sites were divided

into two groups so that all sites could be sampled

five times at equally spaced intervals within a

30-day period. Figure 2 shows the locations of

the sampling sites. Table 1 lists the Group 1 sites

(sites 1 through 25, 30, 33, 41, and 42) that were

sampled during June and July 1999. Most of the

Group 1 sites were in the Kankakee River Watershed. Table 2 lists the Group 2 sites (sites 26

through 29, 31, 32, 34 through 40, and 43 through

58) that were sampled during August and September 1999. All of the Group 2 sites were in the Lower

Wabash River Watershed.

Field Measurements

At each sampling site, a multi-parameter

water-quality probe was used to make field measurements of water temperature, dissolved oxygen,

pH, and specific conductance at several locations

across the width of the stream. The probes used

to measure dissolved oxygen, pH, and specific conductance were calibrated daily.

Field determinations of turbidity were made

by collecting samples of stream water in polyethylene bottles and analyzing the samples with

a portable turbidimeter. The measuring range of

the turbidimeter was checked daily with reference

standards. Water temperature, dissolved-oxygen

concentration, pH, specific conductance, and turbidity were measured at the same locations in

the stream where the samples were collected for

analysis of E. coli.

Collection of Samples

Water samples were collected during the

recreational season in Indiana, defined as April

through October. The samples were collected

by two-person field crews in order to expedite

the sampling process and to meet the mandated

6-hour sample-holding time limit prior to processing the samples. Duties at the sampling sites

included

• measuring and recording field parameters,

• measuring and recording water-surfaceelevation data by using a measuring tape

lowered to the surface of the stream from

the top of the bridge or

• documenting the stage levels of streams at

sites where streamflow-gaging stations

were present or nearby, and

• collecting the water samples for analysis

of E. coli.

At the time of sampling, the characteristics of stage

change, water clarity, and weather conditions also

were recorded on the field forms.

Water samples for E. coli determinations

were collected in 300 mL (milliliter) glass bottles

with glass stoppers. Prior to use, the bottles were

washed with detergent, rinsed three times with

tap water and three times with deionized water,

and sterilized by autoclaving. To ensure optimum

growth conditions for E. coli, two solutions were

added to each sample bottle before the bottle was

sterilized. To counter the effects of residual chlorine

or other halogens used in water-disinfection pro-
Figure 2. Location of Escherichia coli sampling sites in the Kankakee and 

Lower Wabash River Watersheds in Indiana. ILLINOIS

87

41

86 30'

38

58

Base from U.S. Geological Survey 1:100,000 digital data, 1983

Universal Transverse Mercator projection 

Zone 16

14

15

16 17 18

2

3

4 1

5 6

7

8 19 13 9

12

11

15

46

20

21

22 24

26

27

28

29

30

33

31

32

34

39 35

36 37

48

38

46

45

47

53

50

51 54 52

55

56

57

44

43

49

41

40

23

25

GROUP (1) ESCHERICHIA COLI SAMPLING SITES--

Sites sampled June and July 1999

GROUP (2) ESCHERICHIA COLI SAMPLING SITES--

Sites sampled August and September 1999

42

10

WATERSHED BOUNDARY

COUNTY BOUNDARY

EXPLANATION
6 Concentrations of Escherichia coli, Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, Indiana, June–September 1999

Table 1. Sites in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds in Indiana at which water samples were

collected during June and July 1999 (Group 1 sites) for analysis of Escherichia coli

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; SR, State Road; CR, County Road; US, U.S. Highway; E, N, and S, denote the geographic directions of east,

north, and south]

Site

number Site location

USGS site

identification

Latitude and

longitude County

1 Kankakee River at SR 4 near North Liberty 413301086304201 41 ̊ 33 ́ 01 ̋ 86 ̊ 30 ́ 42 ̋ Laporte

2 Potato Creek at Walnut Road near North Liberty 413127086283701 41 ̊ 31 ́ 27 ̋ 86 ̊ 28 ́ 37 ̋ St. Joseph

3 Pine Creek at Quinn Road near North Liberty 413111086285501 41 ̊ 31 ́ 11 ̋ 86 ̊ 28 ́ 55 ̋ St. Joseph

4 Little Kankakee River at CR 700E near Stillwell 413236086340601 41 ̊ 32 ́ 36 ̋ 86 ̊ 34 ́ 06 ̋ Laporte

5 Kankakee River at US 6 near South Center 412839086361601 41 ̊ 28 ́ 39 ̋ 86 ̊ 36 ́ 16 ̋ Laporte

6 Travis Ditch at US 6 near South Center 412834086393901 41 ̊ 28 ́ 34 ̋ 86 ̊ 39 ́ 39 ̋ Laporte

7 Kankakee River at SR 39 near Brems 412019086440601 41 ̊ 20 ́ 19 ̋ 86 ̊ 44 ́ 06 ̋ Laporte

8 Kankakee River at Dunns Bridge 05517500 41 ̊ 13 ́ 11 ̋ 86 ̊ 58 ́ 05 ̋ Jasper

9 Kankakee River at US 231 near Demotte 411535087115601 41 ̊ 15 ́ 35 ̋ 87 ̊ 11 ́ 56 ̋ Porter

10 Kankakee River at Shelby 05518000 41 ̊ 10 ́ 57 ̋ 87 ̊ 20 ́ 26 ̋ Lake

11 Kankakee River at CR 700 near Illiana Heights, Ill. 410958087313501 41 ̊ 09 ́ 58 ̋ 87 ̊ 31 ́ 35 ̋ Newton

12 Singleton Ditch at Schneider 05519000 41 ̊ 12 ́ 44 ̋ 87 ̊ 26 ́ 54 ̋ Lake

13 Singleton Ditch at SR 55 near Shelby 411449087203701 41 ̊ 14 ́ 49 ̋ 87 ̊ 20 ́ 37 ̋ Lake

14 Yellow River near Bremen 05516000 41 ̊ 25 ́ 11 ̋ 86 ̊ 10 ́ 14 ̋ Marshall

15 Yellow River at N Jarrah Road near Plymouth 412147086143101 41 ̊ 21 ́ 47 ̋ 86 ̊ 14 ́ 31 ̋ Marshall

16 Yellow River at South Olive Trail near Plymouth 411622086201501 41 ̊ 16 ́ 22 ̋ 86 ̊ 20 ́ 15 ̋ Marshall

17 Yellow River at SR 23 near Ober 411659086312801 41 ̊ 16 ́ 59 ̋ 86 ̊ 31 ́ 28 ̋ Starke

18 Yellow River at Knox 05517000 41 ̊ 18 ́ 10 ̋ 86 ̊ 37 ́ 14 ̋ Starke

19 Yellow River at SR 39 near Knox 411823086441401 41 ̊ 18 ́ 23 ̋ 86 ̊ 44 ́ 14 ̋ Starke

20 Iroquois River at US 231 near Rensselaer 410027087090501 41 ̊ 00 ́ 27 ̋ 87 ̊ 09 ́ 05 ̋ Jasper

21 Iroquois River at Rensselaer 05522500 40 ̊ 56 ́ 01 ̋ 87 ̊ 07 ́ 43 ̋ Jasper

22 Slough Creek near Collegeville 05523500 40 ̊ 53 ́ 30 ̋ 87 ̊ 09 ́ 17 ̋ Jasper

23 Iroquois River near Foresman 05524500 40 ̊ 52 ́ 13 ̋ 87 ̊ 18 ́ 23 ̋ Newton

24 Carpenter Creek at CR 850S near Egypt 405317087112201 40 ̊ 53 ́ 17 ̋ 87 ̊ 11 ́ 22 ̋ Jasper

25 Iroquois River at US 41 near Kentland 404933087260501 40 ̊ 49 ́ 33 ̋ 87 ̊ 26 ́ 05 ̋ Newton

30 Wabash River near West Point 03335680 40 ̊ 24 ́ 43 ̋ 87 ̊ 02 ́ 11 ̋ Tippecanoe

33 Wea Creek at CR 200S near Lafayette 402305086570101 40 ̊ 23 ́ 05 ̋ 86 ̊ 57 ́ 01 ̋ Tippecanoe

41 Sugar Creek at SR 39 at Mechanicsburg 400942086290801 40 ̊ 09 ́ 42 ̋ 86 ̊ 29 ́ 08 ̋ Boone

42 Sugar Creek at County Line Road near

Thorntown

400836086414501 40 ̊ 08 ́ 36 ̋ 86 ̊ 41 ́ 45 ̋ Boone
Study Methods 7

Table 2. Sites in the Lower Wabash River Watershed in Indiana at which water samples were collected during August and

September 1999 (Group 2 sites) for analysis of Escherichia coli

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; SR, State Road; CR, County Road; US, U.S. Highway; I-64, Interstate 64; E, W, and N, denote the geographic directions of east, west, and north]

Site

number Site location

USGS site

identification

Latitude and

longitude County

26 Big Pine Creek at SR 55 at Pine Village 402708087151601 40 ̊ 27 ́ 08 ̋ 87 ̊ 15 ́ 16 ̋ Warren

27 Big Pine Creek at CR 025E at Rainsville 402505087185601 40 ̊ 25 ́ 05” 87 ̊ 18 ́ 56 ̋ Warren

28 Big Pine Creek at CR 100E near Kramer 402025087185101 40 ̊ 20 ́ 25 ̋ 87 ̊ 18 ́ 51 ̋ Warren

29 Big Pine Creek at SR 55 at Attica 401814087154701 40 ̊ 18 ́ 14 ̋ 87 ̊ 15 ́ 47 ̋ Warren

31 Wabash River at Shawnee Bridge near Williamsport 401518087175901 40 ̊ 15 ́ 18 ̋ 87 ̊ 17 ́ 59 ̋ Fountain

32 Big Shawnee Creek at CR 70W near Rob Roy 401448087162701 40 ̊ 14 ́ 48 ̋ 87 ̊ 16 ́ 27 ̋ Fountain

34 Coal Creek at US 41 at Aylesworth 401200087143501 40 ̊ 12 ́ 00 ̋ 87 ̊ 14 ́ 35 ̋ Fountain

35 Coal Creek at US 136 at Veedersburg 400647087152001 40 ̊ 06 ́ 47 ̋ 87 ̊ 15 ́ 20 ̋ Fountain

36 East Fork Coal Creek at US 41 near Veedersburg 400549087143401 40 ̊ 05 ́ 49 ̋ 87 ̊ 14 ́ 34 ̋ Fountain

37 Coal Creek at SR 32 near Perrysville 400306087201601 40 ̊ 03 ́ 06 ̋ 87 ̊ 20 ́ 16 ̋ Fountain

38 Coal Creek at SR 234 near Silverwood 395735087232201 39 ̊ 57 ́ 35 ̋ 87 ̊ 23 ́ 22 ̋ Fountain

39 Wabash River at Covington 03336000 40 ̊ 08 ́ 26 ̋ 87 ̊ 24 ́ 21 ̋ Warren

40 Wabash River at SR 32 at Perrysville 400259087254501 40 ̊ 02 ́ 59 ̋ 87 ̊ 25 ́ 45 ̋ Fountain

43 Sugar Creek at SR 32 at Yountsville 400131086581601 40 ̊ 01 ́ 32 ̋ 86 ̊ 58 ́ 17 ̋ Montgomery

44 Sugar Creek at Deer Mill Bridge near Alamo 395646087033001 39 ̊ 56 ́ 46 ̋ 87 ̊ 03 ́ 31 ̋ Montgomery

45 Sugar Creek at CR 525W at West Union 395117087201001 39 ̊ 51 ́ 17 ̋ 87 ̊ 20 ́ 10 ̋ Parke

46 Sugar Mill Creek at CR 1260N near Grange Corner 395623087123001 39 ̊ 56 ́ 23 ̋ 87 ̊ 12 ́ 30 ̋ Parke

47 Wabash River at Montezuma 03340500 39 ̊ 47 ́ 32 ̋ 87 ̊ 22 ́ 29 ̋ Parke

48 Wabash River at SR 234 near Lodi 395708087251201 39 ̊ 57 ́ 08 ̋ 87 ̊ 25 ́ 12 ̋ Vermillion

49 Big Raccoon Creek at SR 234 at Ladoga 395456086465801 39 ̊ 54 ́ 56 ̋ 86 ̊ 46 ́ 58 ̋ Montgomery

50 Big Raccoon Creek at CR 790N near Morton 394725086573201 39 ̊ 47 ́ 25 ̋ 86 ̊ 57 ́ 32 ̋ Putnam

51 Big Raccoon Creek at SR 59 at Mansfield 394015087061701 39 ̊ 40 ́ 15 ̋ 87 ̊ 06 ́ 17 ̋ Parke

52 Big Raccoon Creek at Coxville 03341300 39 ̊ 39 ́ 09 ̋ 87 ̊ 17 ́ 37 ̋ Parke

53 Big Raccoon Creek at CR 600W at Armiesburg 394533087210401 39 ̊ 45 ́ 33 ̋ 87 ̊ 21 ́ 04 ̋ Parke

54 Wabash River at SR 163 at Clinton 393923087234301 39 ̊ 39 ́ 23 ̋ 87 ̊ 23 ́ 43 ̋ Vermillion

55 Otter Creek at Lafayette Avenue at Terre Haute 393147087221201 39 ̊ 31 ́ 47 ̋ 87 ̊ 22 ́ 12 ̋ Vigo

56 Wabash River at US 40W at Terre Haute 392759087251301 39 ̊ 27 ́ 59 ̋ 87 ̊ 25 ́ 13 ̋ Vigo

57 Wabash River at Lincoln Memorial Bridge

at Vincennes

384156087310701 38 ̊ 40 ́ 53 ̋ 87 ̊ 32 ́ 07 ̋ Knox

58 Wabash River at I-64 near Griffin 381342087590400 38 ̊ 13 ́ 42 ̋ 87 ̊ 59 ́ 04 ̋ Posey
8 Concentrations of Escherichia coli, Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, Indiana, June–September 1999

cesses, 0.3 mL of a 10-percent solution of sodium

thiosulfate was added to the bottles. Residual

chlorine and other halogen compounds act as

bacterial-growth inhibitors; their effects need to

be reduced so that E. coli can fully recover on

the growth medium and produce accurate counts

(Bordner and Winter, 1978; American Public

Health Association and others, 1992). In addition,

0.9 mL of a 15-percent solution of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) was added to

neutralize the effects of trace-element concentrations greater than 10 μg/L (micrograms per liter).

EDTA, a chelating agent, binds particularly with

copper and zinc, making the metals neutral so

that they do not adversely affect bacterial growth

(Britton and Greeson, 1989, p. 5–6; Bordner and

Winter, 1978; American Public Health Association

and others, 1992).

In the field, a weighted hand-line sampler

that held the sample bottle was lowered beneath the

surface of the water. Some samples were collected

by immersing the bottles by hand when the stream

was too shallow for the hand-line sampler. At each

site, the sample was a composite of water from one

to six well-mixed areas of flow, depending on the

width of the stream. The samples were kept on ice

until processed. Duplicate samples were collected

concurrently with the environmental samples at

selected sites.

Processing of Samples

Equipment used to process the samples was

washed with detergent prior to field work, rinsed

three times with hot tap water and three times with

deionized water, and then sterilized with an 8-watt

ultraviolet (UV) lamp having a wavelength of

254 nanometers for a minimum of 15 minutes. Processing equipment included a multi-port manifold

filter stand, stainless-steel filter holders, vacuum

pumps, sterile disposable pipets, and glass graduated cylinders. After the samples were processed,

aluminum-block incubators were used to provide

optimum conditions for bacterial growth.

The USGS Ohio District Microbiological Laboratory prepared and provided fresh

membrane-filter Thermotolerant (mTec) agar on

which the E. coli were grown. The fresh mTec agar

was poured into petri dishes in the USGS Indiana

District laboratory for use in the field. Refrigeration

units were used to keep the mTec agar chilled

before being used. The 2-week holding time for

mTec agar, once it was prepared, was monitored in

the laboratory and field. Urea/phenol red reagent

was obtained from the USGS Quality of Water Services Unit (QWSU), prepared in the field, and used

to confirm the presence of E. coli colonies.

The samples collected for analysis of E. coli

were processed either in hotel rooms or in the

USGS Indiana District laboratory. Surfaces on

which the samples were processed were cleaned

with isopropyl alcohol before the first sample was

processed, between samples, and after the last sample was processed each day. Analysts washed their

hands with bactericidal soap before processing the

first sample, between samples, and after processing

the last sample.

Five to eight different sample volumes,

including one to three different dilutions, were

filtered for each site because the extent of possible

E. coli contamination was unknown at each site.

A range of small to large sample volumes and

dilutions was used for processing. This was done

to obtain at least one sample volume capable of

producing one or more filter plates with sufficient

colony growth to obtain an ideal E. coli colony

count of 20 to 80 colonies per filter plate (Myers

and Sylvester, 1997). Stream conditions at the time

of each sampling and previous colony counts for

each site obtained after the first week of sampling

guided the analysts in determining the quantity and

types of sample volumes to process to obtain one

or more filter plates in an ideal range. Sample dilutions were made by adding 11 mL of sample water

to 99 mL of sterile dilution water for a 1:10 ratio

and 1 mL of sample water to another 99 mL of sterile dilution water for a 1:100 ratio.

Samples were shaken vigorously before each

sample dilution volume was withdrawn to ensure

uniform distribution of the bacteria throughout the

sample. Sterile, disposable 1-mL and 10-mL glass

pipets were used to measure and deliver concentrated sample volumes to dilution bottles and to
Study Methods 9

measure and deliver dilution volumes to the interior

of the funnel filter assembly. For sample dilution

volumes less than 10 mL, about 20 mL of sterile

saline buffer solution was poured into the funnel

before pipetting the sample dilution to evenly distribute the bacteria on the filter. A sterile graduated

cylinder was used to transfer sample dilution volumes greater than 10 mL. A three-port manifold

with funnels or a single-use stainless-steel-filter

system was used to support a 0.45-μm (micron)

filter designed to facilitate colony capture, incubation, and quantification. The water was pulled

through the filter either by a vacuum pump set not

to exceed 5 lb/in2

 or by a hand vacuum assembly.

After filtering each of the sample dilution

volumes, 20 to 30 mL of sterile saline buffer solution were used to flush the sides of the funnel to

ensure that any bacteria present on the funnel walls

were rinsed on to the filter. The graduated cylinders

used to measure and deliver sample dilution volumes to the funnel also were rinsed with sterile

saline buffer solution, and the rinsate was processed

through the filter.

Petri dishes containing the mTec agar used

to encourage growth of E. coli colonies on the

prepared filters were labeled prior to processing

the sample. Undiluted (environmental) samples and

sample dilutions were filtered from smallest to

largest. The filters then were placed in petri dishes

with the mTec agar and placed inverted in a preheated incubator set at 35.0°C for 1.75 to 2 hours,

removed, and then placed in a preheated incubator

set at 44.5°C for 22 to 24 hours. After the second

incubation period was completed, the filter was

transferred to a filter pad saturated with urea/phenol

red reagent. After 15 to 20 minutes at room temperature, the yellow to yellow-brown E. coli colonies

were counted. If the filter plate had a colony count

in the ideal range, verification of the count was

made either by the second crew member or by

rotating the filter 90 degrees and recounting the

colonies. Concentrations of E. coli were calculated

according to the methods described by (Myers and

Sylvester, 1997, p. 31–33-FIB) and recorded on the

field sheet. If more than one dilution were within

the ideal colony count, the concentration of E. coli

was computed as the sum of the colony counts for

each sample volume multiplied by 100 and divided

by the sum of the sample volumes. For example,

if 24 colonies were counted for a sample volume

of 3 ml and 60 colonies were counted for a sample

volume of 10 ml, the concentration of E. coli is

calculated as follows:

Col/100 mL = (24 + 60) x 100/(3 + 10) = 646 (1)

where:

 Col/100 mL = colonies per 100 milliliters;

24 + 60 are the colony counts on two

different filter plates;

 3 + 10 are the sample volumes filtered

for each plate.

Reporting whole numbers as two significant figures for results greater than or equal to 10

resulted in a reporting value of 650 colonies per

100 mL. The same calculation was used if E. coli

colonies were present but none of the dilutions had

concentrations of E. coli within the ideal colony

count. In these cases, all dilutions having colonies

present were used in the calculation and reported

as an estimate (denoted with a “K”). If no E. coli

colonies were present, a value of one colony was

assigned to the largest sample volume filtered and

the same calculation method was used. These calculations, using one colony for the largest sample

volume filtered, were reported as the calculated

number preceded by a less than symbol. Colony

counts were recorded on field sheets labeled for

each site. Concentrations of E. coli were reported

in whole numbers for results less than 10, and results greater than or equal to 10 were reported in

two significant figures (Myers and Sylvester, 1997,

p. 30-FIB). After counting the number of colonies,

petri dishes were filled with chlorine bleach, placed

in sealed plastic bags, and discarded.

Geometric Mean

The five-sample geometric mean was calculated, using equation 2.

(2)

where:

GM is the geometric mean, and

 Si is the concentration of E. coli

measured in each of the five samples.

GM S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 = 5 ⋅⋅⋅⋅
10 Concentrations of Escherichia coli, Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, Indiana, June–September 1999

One field form was lost before the E. coli

concentration could be entered into the data base

for site 16. The sample was collected on June 30,

1999. To compute the five-sample geometric mean

for this site, the value of one colony per 100 mL was

substituted for the lost E. coli concentration. If the

five-sample geometric mean exceeded the standard

after the substitution was made, which it did, any

value selected for substitution would have produced

a five-sample geometric mean that exceeded the

standard.

Statistical Analysis

A Wilcoxon signed-rank test (Helsel and

Hirsch, 1992, p.142) was used to determine if there

were statistically significant differences between

the environmental samples and the concurrent

duplicates. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test measured whether one group of data produced larger

observations than the second group and made no

assumptions regarding how the data were distributed (Helsel and Hirsch, 1992, p.118).

A Kendall’s Tau test (Helsel and Hirsch,

1992, p. 212) for significant correlation was used to

determine if there was a statistically significant

correlation between the concentration of E. coli and

turbidity. For this report, a five-percent level of significance (a=0.05) was identified as the criterion

for the statistical correlation. The p-value is derived

from the data and measures the believability of the

null hypothesis (no correlation exists between concentrations of E. coli and turbidity). The smaller

the p-value, the more likely there is a correlation

between concentrations of E. coli and turbidity and

the stronger the evidence for rejection of the null

hypothesis.

Quality-Assurance and

Quality-Control Procedures

Quality-assurance and quality-control procedures were followed for collection and processing

of the samples. These procedures include frequent

checking and calibration of equipment as well as

collection of additional samples for quality control.

Analysis of the quality-control samples provides

quantitative information not only about the potential for sample contamination during collection

and processing but also about the variability of

sampling.

The pH buffers and specific-conductance

solutions used to calibrate the multi-parameter

probe were quality assured by the QWSU. The

multi-parameter water-quality measuring meter

was calibrated daily for pH, specific conductance,

and dissolved oxygen before any field measurements were made. The measuring range of the

portable turbidimeter used to measure turbidity in

the surface-water samples was checked daily with

reference standards. If parameters measured in the

field were not stable or if they did not have reasonable values, the meters were recalibrated at the

site and field parameters were remeasured.

E. coli fresh substrate media kits were quality

assured by the USGS Ohio District Microbiological

Laboratory. Membrane filters, sterile saline buffer

solution, premeasured sterile dilution water,

petri dishes, and petri dishes with pads also were

quality assured by the QWSU. The incubators

were checked weekly with an American Society

for Testing and Materials (ASTM) certified thermometer to assure that temperature ranges shown

on the internal thermometer in the incubator were

accurate to ±0.5°C. The incubators were inspected

daily to assure they were operating properly.

Quality-control samples consisted of 289

filter blanks, 71 process blanks, 19 field blanks,

and 39 duplicate samples. Results of the qualityassurance and E. coli determinations are presented

in tables 3 and 4 at the back of this report. Blanks

and duplicate samples are discussed separately.

Filter Blanks

Filter blanks were processed before every set

of samples to determine if the equipment used to

process the samples was clean and the saline buffer

solution used to rinse sample-processing equipment

was not contaminated. Filter blanks were processed

for all 289 samples collected and were acquired by

passing 100 ml of the sterile saline buffer solution
Concentrations of Escherichia coli 11

through the filter prior to processing any dilutions

of the environmental samples. While passing the

saline buffer solution through the filter, every attempt was made to have the saline buffer solution

come in contact with every surface that the environmental sample might touch. One filter blank for

site 58 had eight observable E. coli colonies. The

presence of the colonies on the filter blank indicates

that the sample-processing glassware had been contaminated, the saline buffer solution used for the

sample set was contaminated, or the analyst made

a procedural error. The results for site 58 are not

greatly affected, however, because the E. coli concentration for that sample was very low and below

the ideal colony-count range, resulting in the data

being flagged as estimated.

Process Blanks

Process blanks consisted of 100 mL of saline

buffer solution filtered through the same equipment

used to process samples, ensuring the equipment

rinses that followed the filtering of each sample

were adequate. Process blanks were filtered for

one sample daily. Sixteen of the 71 process blanks

contained observable E. coli colonies. The maximum concentration of E. coli measured in the

process blanks was seven colonies per 100 mL.

All of the process blanks that had observable E. coli

colonies contained less than 1 percent of the concentration of E. coli measured in the environmental

samples; therefore, the sample results were not

affected and nothing was done to modify the data.

Field Blanks

Nineteen field blanks were filtered during

the length of the study on randomly selected days

determined by the analysts. Field blanks consisted

of 250 mL of sterile saline buffer solution that was

poured into a sample-collection bottle. The field

blanks were kept chilled and remained with the

samples collected at all sites for that day. The field

blanks were processed by passing 100 mL of the

blank solution through the filter. None of the 19

field blanks had observable E. coli colonies, indicating that there was no contamination resulting

from transporting the samples and that there was

adequate sterilization of the sample-collection

bottles.

Duplicate Samples

Duplicate samples were collected concurrently with the environmental samples at selected

sites. The concurrent duplicates were processed in

the same manner as the environmental samples and

were used to evaluate the natural variability in the

samples.

Figure 3 displays the differences between

concentrations of E. coli measured in the environmental samples and duplicate samples and the

natural log percent difference between the two.

The median natural log percent difference between

the environmental samples and the duplicate samples was 8 percent. No statistically significant

differences between the environmental samples

and the concurrent duplicate samples were determined at the 5-percent significance level. The

significance level obtained by the data, or the pvalue (Helsel and Hirsch, 1992, p.112), was 0.623.

Concentrations of Escherichia coli

The Indiana environmental rules establish

the bacteriological quality standard for waters for

recreational uses (Oddi, 1995). These rules are used

to evaluate waters for full-body-contact recreational

uses, to establish wastewater-treatment requirements, and to establish effluent limits during the

recreational season. The standard states:

E. coli bacteria, using membrane filter

(MF) count, shall not exceed one hundred twenty-five (125) per one hundred

(100) milliliters as a geometric mean

based on not less than five (5) samples

equally spaced over a thirty (30)

day period nor exceed two hundred

thirty-five (235) per one hundred (100)

milliliters in any one (1) sample in a

thirty (30) day period.

Table 3, at the back of the report, lists field

measurements and concentrations of E. coli for
12 Concentrations of Escherichia coli, Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, Indiana, June–September 1999 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL AND DUPLICATE ESCHERICHIA COLI SAMPLES, IN COLONIES PER 100 MILLILITERS

-500

0

500

1000

1500

LOG PERCENT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL AND DUPLICATE ESCHERICHIA COLI SAMPLES 

SITE NUMBER

-200

-100

0

100

200

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55

Figure 3. Concentrations of Escherichia coli measured in the environmental samples and duplicate 

samples and the natural log percent difference. Samples were collected in the Kankakee and Lower

Wabash River Watersheds in Indiana, June–September 1999.
Concentrations of Escherichia coli 13

all 58 sites. The five-sample geometric mean is

shown below the last sample-collection date for

each site. Figure 4 shows the range in concentrations of E. coli for the five samples collected

at each site, and figure 5 shows the five-sample

geometric-mean concentration of E. coli determined for each site.

Concentrations of E. coli at all 58 sites

ranged from less than 1 to greater than 8,000 colonies per 100 mL, with concentrations in 126 of the

289 samples processed exceeding the single-sample

standard in samples from 40 sites. The five-sample

geometric mean of concentrations of E. coli for all

sites ranged from 4 to 1,400 colonies per 100 mL.

The concentrations of E. coli in samples from 38

sites exceeded the five-sample geometric-mean

standard.

Concentrations of E. coli were examined

relative to their location at sampling sites along

several stream reaches in the Kankakee and Lower

Wabash River Watersheds (figs. 6 and 7). Stream

reaches included the Kankakee, Yellow, and Iroquois Rivers in the Kankakee River Watershed and

the Big Pine, Sugar, Big Raccoon, and Coal Creeks

and the Wabash River in the Wabash River Watershed. Fifty-three of 85 samples from 17 sites on the

Kankakee, Yellow, and Iroquois Rivers had concentrations of E. coli that exceeded the single-sample

standard. Concentrations of E. coli exceeded the

standard for the five-sample geometric mean at all

sites (fig. 6).

Twenty of 35 samples from all seven sites (1,

5, and 7–11) on the Kankakee River had concentrations of E. coli that exceeded the single-sample

standard. Concentrations of E. coli in samples from

the Kankakee River ranged from 32 to 2,100 colonies per 100 mL. The five-sample geometric means

ranged from 150 to 370 colonies per 100 mL.

Twenty-one of 29 samples from all six sites

(14–19) on the Yellow River had concentrations

of E. coli that exceeded the single-sample standard.

Concentrations of E. coli in samples from the

Yellow River ranged from 73 to 5,100 colonies per

100 mL. The five-sample geometric means ranged

from 190 to 1,400 colonies per 100 mL.

Twelve of 20 samples from four sites (20, 21,

23, and 25) on the Iroquois River exceeded the

single-sample standard. Concentrations of E. coli

in samples from the Iroquois River ranged from

less than 5 to 3,600 colonies per 100 mL. The fivesample geometric means ranged from 160 to 1,100

colonies per 100 mL.

Eight sites having only one or two sampling

locations on a particular stream are shown as “other

sites in the Kankakee River Watershed” (fig. 6).

Thirty-one of 40 samples collected from these

eight sites had concentrations of E. coli that exceeded the single-sample standard, and all sites

exceeded the five-sample geometric mean. Concentrations of E. coli in these samples ranged from

an estimated 65 to greater than 8,000 colonies per

100 mL. The five-sample geometric means ranged

from 370 to 770 colonies per 100 mL.

Twenty-six of 55 samples from 11 sites on

Big Pine, Sugar, Big Raccoon, and Coal Creeks

and the Wabash River had concentrations that

exceeded the single-sample standard, and seven

of the sites exceeded the standard for the fivesample geometric mean (fig. 7). Five of 10 samples

from two sites (26 and 28) on Big Pine Creek had

concentrations of E. coli that exceeded the singlesample standard, and site 26 exceeded the standard

for the five-sample geometric mean. All 10 samples from two sites on Big Pine Creek (27 and

29) had concentrations that did not exceed the

single-sample standard; however, the five-sample

geometric-mean standard was exceeded at site 27.

Concentrations of E. coli in samples from Big Pine

Creek ranged from 17 to 700 colonies per 100 mL.

The five-sample geometric means ranged from 29

to 400 colonies per 100 mL.

Three of 10 samples from two sites (41 and

42) on Sugar Creek had concentrations of E. coli

that exceeded the single-sample standard. Both

of these sites exceeded the standard for the fivesample geometric mean. Samples from sites 43

through 45 on Sugar Creek did not exceed either

standard. Concentrations of E. coli in samples from

Sugar Creek ranged from 7 to 1,500 colonies per

100 mL, and the five-sample geometric means

ranged from 29 to 280 colonies per 100 mL.
42-160

K130-5,100

K76-K1,600

K180-730

K32-1,300 K370-6,800

K120-2,100

K130-K1,700

220-780

K160-930

80-320 K61-1,300

K57-580

K86-390

<5-730

K93-840

220-600

230-870

K80-1,400

120-K400

380-K520

73-2,200

110-1600

4-160

K110-1,600

K65->8,000

K230-3,600

67-1,500

K7-97

K92-1,500

GROUP (1) ESCHERICHIA COLI SAMPLING SITES--

showing range of colonies per 100 milliliters

GROUP (2) ESCHERICHIA COLI SAMPLING SITES--

showing range of colonies per 100 milliliters

Value estimated from non-ideal colony count 

K66-270

230-700

110-170

36-270

K17-K43

130-440

190-800

K4-K33170-620

<1-K31 K26-160

210-780

87-230

K15-K64 48-250 K13-47

K1-42

K41-140

220-970

K13-420

K4-K30

280-730

<1-240

K4-K64

K3-K61

K33-240

20-39

K18-K68

K45-8,000

K250-2,000

K

Less than value shown

WATERSHED BOUNDARY

COUNTY BOUNDARY

Figure 4. Ranges in concentrations of Escherichia coli for sampling sites in the Kankakee 

and Lower Wabash River Watersheds in Indiana, June through September 1999. ILLINOIS

87

41

86 30'

38

Base from U.S. Geological Survey 1:100,000 digital data, 1983

Universal Transverse Mercator projection 

Zone 16

<

> Greater than value shown

EXPLANATION
1,400*

590*

400*

270* 770*

530* 360*

370*

380*

170*

300*

150*

160*

370*

440

390* 190* 440*

600

160

300

*

530*

460*

1,100*

180*

39*

280*

GROUP (1) ESCHERICHIA COLI SAMPLING SITES--

showing five-sample geometric mean in colonies

 per 100 milliliters

GROUP (2) ESCHERICHIA COLI SAMPLING SITES--

showing five-sample geometric mean in colonies 

per 100 milliliters

160*

400*

130

110

29*

210*

470

16* 300

4* 86*

360

130

29* 82 29*

10*

87*

490

120*

13*

79

430

23*

26*

12*

120*

29*

40*

380*

620*

370

160*

An asterisk indicates geometric mean determined by use of 

one or more samples having non-ideal colony counts

WATERSHED BOUNDARY

COUNTY BOUNDARY

Figure 5. Five-sample geometric mean Escherichia coli concentration determined for sampling sites 

in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds in Indiana, June-September 1999. ILLINOIS

87

41

86 30'

38

Base from U.S. Geological Survey 1:100,000 digital data, 1983

Universal Transverse Mercator projection 

Zone 16

EXPLANATION
16 Concentrations of Escherichia coli, Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, Indiana, June–September 1999

1 5 7 8 9 10 11

10

10,000

20

30

40

50

70

100

200

300

400

500

700

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

7,000

14 15 16 17 18 19

SITE NUMBER

10

10,000

20

50

100

200

500

1,000

2,000

5,000

EXPLANATION

Kankakee River Sites

Yellow River Sites

Single-sample E. coli water-quality standard for full-body contact

Five-sample geometric mean E. coli concentration

Single-sample E. coli concentration

E. coli concentration based upon non-ideal colony counts

CONCENTRATION OF ESCHERICHIA COLI, IN COLONIES PER 100 MILLILITERS

Figure 6. Concentrations of Escherichia coli and five-sample geometric means for Group 1 sites in the

Kankakee River Watershed in Indiana, June–July 1999.

Five-sample geometric mean E. coli water-quality standard for full-body contact
Concentrations of Escherichia coli 17

20 21 23 25

1

10,000

2

5

10

20

50

100

200

500

1,000

2,000

5,000

CONCENTRATION OF ESCHERICHIA COLI,

Iroquois River Sites

Figure 6. Concentrations of Escherichia coli and five-sample geometric means for Group 1 sites in the

Kankakee River Watershed in Indiana, June–July 1999—Continued. IN COLONIES PER 100 MILLILITERS

2 3 4 6 12 13 22 24

SITE NUMBER

10

10,000

20

30

40

50

70

100

200

300

400

500

700

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

7,000

Other Sites in the Kankakee River Watershed

Single-sample E. coli water-quality standard for full-body contact

Five-sample geometric mean E. coli concentration

Single-sample E. coli concentration

E. coli concentration based upon non-ideal colony counts

Five-sample geometric mean E. coli water-quality standard for full-body contact

EXPLANATION
18 Concentrations of Escherichia coli, Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, Indiana, June–September 1999

26 27 28 29

SITE NUMBER

10

1,000

20

30

40

50

70

100

200

300

400

500

700

Big Pine Creek Sites

CONCENTRATION OF ESCHERICHIA COLI, IN COLONIES PER 100 MILLILITERS

Figure 7. Concentration of Escherichia coli and five-sample geometric means for Group 1 and Group 2 sites in the

Lower Wabash River Watershed in Indiana, June–September 1999.

41 42 43 44 45

1

10,000

2

5

10

20

50

100

200

500

1,000

2,000

5,000

Sugar Creek Sites

Single-sample E. coli water-quality standard for full-body contact

Five-sample geometric mean E. coli concentration

Single-sample E. coli concentration

E. coli concentration based upon non-ideal colony counts

Five-sample geometric mean E. coli water-quality standard for full-body contact

EXPLANATION
Concentrations of Escherichia coli 19

49 50 51 52 53

SITE NUMBER

10

1,000

20

30

40

50

70

100

200

300

400

500

700

Big Raccoon Creek Sites

CONCENTRATION OF ESCHERICHIA COLI, IN COLONIES PER 100 MILLILITERS

34 35 37 38

10

1,000

20

30

40

50

70

100

200

300

400

500

700

Coal Creek Sites

Figure 7. Concentration of Escherichia coli and five-sample geometric means for Group 1 and Group 2 sites in the

Lower Wabash River Watershed in Indiana, June–September 1999—Continued.

Single-sample E. coli water-quality standard for full-body contact

Five-sample geometric mean E. coli concentration

Single-sample E. coli concentration

E. coli concentration based upon non-ideal colony counts

Five-sample geometric mean E. coli water-quality standard for full-body contact

EXPLANATION
20 Concentrations of Escherichia coli, Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, Indiana, June–September 1999

SITE NUMBER

CONCENTRATION OF ESCHERICHIA COLI, Figure 7. Concentration of Escherichia coli and five-sample geometric means for Group 1 and Group 2 sites in the

Lower Wabash River Watershed in Indiana, June–September 1999—Continued. IN COLONIES PER 100 MILLILITERS

32 33

100

10,000

200

300

400

500

700

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

7,000

Other Sites in the Lower Wabash River Watershed

30 31 39 40 47 48 54 56 57 58

1

10,000

2

5

10

20

50

100

200

500

1,000

2,000

5,000

Wabash River Sites

Single-sample E. coli water-quality standard for full-body contact

Five-sample geometric mean E. coli concentration

Single-sample E. coli concentration

E. coli concentration based upon non-ideal colony counts

Five-sample geometric mean E. coli water-quality standard for full-body contact

EXPLANATION
Relation between Concentrations of Escherichia coli and Streamflow 21

Seven of 15 samples from three sites (49–51)

on Big Raccoon Creek had concentrations of E. coli

that exceeded the single-sample standard, and

site 49 exceeded the standard for the five-sample

geometric mean. Concentrations of E. coli in

samples from Big Raccoon Creek ranged from

13 to 970 colonies per 100 mL. The five-sample

geometric means ranged from 79 to 490 colonies

per 100 mL. All 10 samples from two sites on Big

Raccoon Creek (52 and 53) had concentrations that

did not exceed the single-sample standard or the

five-sample geometric-mean standard.

Ten of 15 samples from three sites (34, 35,

and 37) on Coal Creek had concentrations that exceeded the single-sample standard. All of these sites

had concentrations that exceeded the five-sample

geometric-mean standard. Concentrations of E. coli

in samples from Coal Creek ranged from 87 to 800

colonies per 100 mL. The five-sample geometric

means ranged from 130 to 470 colonies per 100 mL.

Concentrations for three samples from site

30 on the Wabash River exceeded the single-sample

standard. The five-sample geometric mean for

site 30 also exceeded the five-sample standard.

Site 30 was the only site on the Wabash River to

exceed either the single-sample or the five-sample

geometric-mean standards. Concentrations of

E. coli in samples from the Wabash River sites

ranged from less than 1 to 8,000 colonies per

100 mL. The five-sample geometric means ranged

from 4 to 380 colonies per 100 mL.

Two sites having only one sampling location on a particular stream are shown as “other

sites in the Lower Wabash River Watershed” on

figure 7. Seven of 10 samples from these two sites

had concentrations of E. coli that exceeded the

single-sample standard. One of the two sites had

concentrations of E. coli that exceeded the fivesample geometric mean.

Relation between Concentrations of

Escherichia coli and Streamflow

The relation of concentration of E. coli to

stream discharge was examined for selected sites in

the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watershed

(figs. 8 and 9). Streamflow conditions varied during

the 5-week sample-collection periods, June–July

and August–September. This study was dependent more on collecting samples at the prescribed

sample-collection times (five samples collected

at evenly spaced intervals within a 30-day period)

rather than at particular streamflow conditions.

Stream discharges presented in this report were

taken from data collected at USGS streamflowgaging stations where stage-discharge relations

have been developed. Ten of the 58 sites were at or

near streamflow-gaging stations. Based on records

of streamflow from these stations (Stewart and

others, 2000), 18 percent of the samples collected

at these sites were collected at discharges above the

long-term daily mean discharge. Six of the Group 1

sites were at or near streamflow-gaging stations

and 30 percent of the samples were collected at

discharges above the long-term median daily mean

discharge. Four of the Group 2 sites were at or near

streamflow-gaging stations and none of the samples

were collected at discharges above the long-term

median daily mean discharge reported by Stewart

and others (2000).

Analysis of figures 8 and 9 indicates that

although concentrations of E. coli can exceed

the single-sample standard during low stream

discharge, the standard is always exceeded at discharges greater than the median daily mean.

Relation between Concentrations of

Escherichia coli and Turbidity

To determine if there was a relation between

concentrations of E. coli and turbidity, data for

E. coli and turbidity from samples collected from

1998 (Silcox and others, 2000) and the study in

1999 were combined to provide a larger statistical

base. Sixty-two percent of the samples were collected at discharges above the long-term median

daily mean discharge during 1998, compared to

18 percent during 1999.
22 Concentrations of Escherichia coli, Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, Indiana, June–September 1999

100 200 500 1,000 2,000 5,000 10,000

10

1,000

20

30

40

50

70

100

200

300

400

500

700

100 200 500 1,000 2,000 5,000 10,000

10

1,000

20

30

40

50

70

100

200

300

400

500

700

Site 8: Kankakee River at Dunns Bridge

Site 10: Kankakee River at Shelby

DISCHARGE, IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

CONCENTRATION OF ESCHERICHIA COLI, IN COLONIES PER 100 MILLILITERS

Median daily mean discharge, 1924–1999

Single-sample E. coli water-quality

standard for full-body contact

June 4

July 6

Sample value and date of sample

Value based on non-ideal counts

Median daily mean discharge, 1924–1999

Single-sample E. coli water-quality

standard for full-body contact

June 4

July 6

Sample value and date of sample

Value based on non-ideal counts

July 21

July 8

June 30

July 28

July 14

June 29

July 7

July 27

July 20

July 13

Figure 8. Stream discharge and concentrations of Escherichia coli at selected Group 1 sites in the Kankakee

River Watershed in Indiana, June–July 1999.
Relation between Concentrations of Escherichia coli and Turbidity 23

10 20 30 40 50 70 100

100

1,000

150

200

250

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

100 200 300 400 500 700 1,000

10

10,000

20

30

40

50

70

100

200

300

400

500

700

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

7,000

Median daily mean discharge, 1944–1999

Single-sample E. coli water-quality

standard for full-body contact

June 4

July 6

Sample value and date of sample

Value based on non-ideal counts

Median daily mean discharge, 1949–1999

Single-sample E. coli water-quality

standard for full-body contact

June 4 Sample value and date of sample

DISCHARGE, IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

Site 12: Singleton Ditch at Schneider

Site 18: Yellow River at Knox

June 29

July 7

July 13

July 20

July 27

July 1

July 21

July 28 July 14

July 8

Figure 8. Stream discharge and concentrations of Escherichia coli at selected Group 1 sites in the Kankakee

River Watershed in Indiana, June–July 1999—Continued. CONCENTRATION OF ESCHERICHIA COLI, IN COLONIES PER 100 MILLILITERS
24 Concentrations of Escherichia coli, Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, Indiana, June–September 1999

10 20 30 40 50 70 100 200 300 400 500 700 1,000

10

1,000

20

30

40

50

70

100

200

300

400

500

700

10 20 30 40 50 70 100 200 300 400 500 700 1,000

100

10,000

200

300

400

500

700

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

7,000

Median daily mean discharge, 1949–1999

Single-sample E. coli water-quality

standard for full-body contact

June 4

July 6

Sample value and date of sample

Value based on non-ideal counts

Site 21: Iroquois River at Rensselaer

Site 23: Iroquois River near Foresman

Median daily mean discharge, 1950–1999

Single-sample E. coli water-quality

standard for full-body contact

June 4

July 6

Sample value and date of sample

Value based on non-ideal counts

DISCHARGE, IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

July 28 June 30

July 7

July 21

July 14

July 15

July 29

July 1

July 22 July 8

CONCENTRATION OF ESCHERICHIA COLI, IN COLONIES PER 100 MILLILITERS

Figure 8. Stream discharge and concentrations of Escherichia coli at selected Group 1 sites in the Kankakee

River Watershed in Indiana, June–July 1999—Continued.
Relation between Concentrations of Escherichia coli and Turbidity 25

1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000

1

400

2

3

4

5

7

10

20

30

40

50

70

100

200

300

1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000

1

400

2

3

4

5

7

10

20

30

40

50

70

100

200

300

Median daily mean discharge, 1940–1999

Single-sample E. coli water-quality

standard for full-body contact

Median daily mean discharge, 1928–1999

Single-sample E. coli water-quality

standard for full-body contact

June 4

July 6

Sample value and date of sample

Value based on non-ideal counts

Site 39: Wabash River at Covington

Site 47: Wabash River at Montezuma

DISCHARGE, IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

August 31

August 17

August 3

August 10

August 24

August 2

August 23

August 9

August 30 August 16

Figure 9. Stream discharge and concentrations of Escherichia coli at selected Group 2 sites in the Lower

Wabash River Watershed in Indiana, August–September 1999. CONCENTRATION OF ESCHERICHIA COLI, IN COLONIES PER 100 MILLILITERS

July 6 Value based on non-ideal counts
26 Concentrations of Escherichia coli, Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, Indiana, June–September 1999

30 40 50 70 100 200 300 400

10

1,000

20

30

40

50

70

100

200

300

400

500

700

1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 7,000 10,000

1

1,000

2

3

4

5

7

10

20

30

40

50

70

100

200

300

400

500

700

Site 52: Big Raccoon Creek at Coxville

Site 56: Wabash River at Terre Haute

Median daily mean discharge, 1957–1999

Single-sample E. coli water-quality

standard for full-body contact

June 4 Sample value and date of sample

Median daily mean discharge, 1928–1999

Single-sample E. coli water-quality

standard for full-body contact

June 4

July 6

Sample value and date of sample

Value based on non-ideal counts

DISCHARGE, IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

August 10

August 3

August 26 August 17

August 31

August 5

August 12

August 19

September 2

August 26

Figure 9. Stream discharge and concentrations of Escherichia coli at selected Group 2 sites in the Lower

Wabash River Watershed in Indiana, August–September 1999—Continued. CONCENTRATION OF ESCHERICHIA COLI, IN COLONIES PER 100 MILLILITERS
Summary 27

Figure 10 displays scatter plots of concentration of E. coli versus turbidity for 1998, 1999, and

for 1998 and 1999 combined. Turbidity and E. coli

data were examined for the 2-year period because

they were collected in the same way in both years.

Data collected at these sites represented watersheds

with different land uses and runoff rates and were

sampled at different times.

A locally weighted scatterplot smoothing

technique (LOWESS) was used to generate the line

in the plot for the 1998 and 1999 combined data.

The LOWESS method depicts the relation between

turbidity and E. coli and accommodates outlying

data (Helsel and Hirsch, 1992, p. 48). A statistically

significant correlation (p<0.001) was determined

between concentrations of E. coli and turbidity for

the 2-year data composite. If the turbidity measured

during sample collection was greater than 83 NTU

(nephelometric turbidity units), the sample always

had concentrations of E. coli above the singlesample standard, indicating that runoff is a major

factor affecting E. coli concentrations. If, however,

the measured turbidity was less than 83 NTU, the

concentrations of E. coli were not always below

the single-sample standard, indicating other environmental or anthropogenic factors besides turbidity are influencing the concentrations of E. coli.

Summary

Water samples collected from 58 stream

sites in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River

Watersheds from June through September 1999

were analyzed for concentrations of E. coli. Samples were collected at 29 sites during June and July,

and at 29 different sites during August and September. A five-sample geometric mean was computed

for each site. The five-sample geometric-mean

concentrations ranged from 4 to 1,400 colonies

per 100 mL, and concentrations for 38 sites exceeded the five-sample geometric-mean standard

of 125 colonies per 100 mL. Of the 289 individual

samples processed, 126 exceeded the single-sample

standard of 235 colonies per 100 mL. Concentrations of E. coli ranged from less than 1 to greater

than 8,000 colonies per 100 mL during the study.

Ten of the 58 sites were at or near USGS

streamflow-gaging stations. Based on records from

these stations, 18 percent of the samples collected

at these sites were collected at streamflows above

the median daily mean discharge.

E. coli concentration data and turbidity

measurements collected in 1998 and 1999 showed

a statistically significant correlation. The concentration of E. coli always exceeded the single-sample

standard when the turbidity exceeded 83 NTU;

however, when the measured turbidity was less than

83 NTU, concentrations of E. coli were not always

below the single-sample standard.
TURBIDITY, IN NEPHELOMETRIC TURBIDITY UNITS 

PER 100 MILLILITERS

1

10

100

1,000

10,000

100,000

1,000,000

1

5

1050

500

1,000

5,000

100

1998

1

5

1050

500

5,000

100

1,000

1999

1998 and 1999

1

5

10

50

500

5,000

100

1,000

TURBIDITY, IN NEPHELOMETRIC 

TURBIDITY UNITS 

PER 100 MILLILITERS

1

10

100

1,000

10,000

100,000

1,000,000

Figure 10. Turbidity and concentrations of Escherichia coli measured in samples collected at sites in the

Kankakee and the Upper and Lower Wabash River Watersheds in Indiana, June–September 1998 (wet year)

and 1999 (dry year). ESCHERCHIA COLI, IN COLONIES

ESCHERCHIA COLI, IN COLONIE

S
References Cited 29

References Cited

American Public Health Association, American Water

Works Association, and Water Pollution Control

Federation, 1992, Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater (18th ed.), Parts

9221 through 9225: Washington, D.C., American

Public Health Association, p. 9–1 to 9–73.

Bordner, Robert, and Winter, J.A., 1978, Microbiological methods for monitoring the environment, water,

and wastes: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

EPA 600/8-78-017, 338 p.

Britton, L.J., and Greeson, P.E., eds., 1989, Methods for

collection and analysis of aquatic biological and

microbiological samples: U.S. Geological Survey

Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations,

book 5, chap. A4, 160 p.

Helsel, D.R., and Hirsch, R.M., 1992, Statistical methods in water resources: Studies in Environmental

Science, no. 49, New York, Elsevier Publishers,

Inc., 522 p.

Hoggatt, R.E., 1975, Drainage areas of Indiana streams:

U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division,

231 p.

Myers, D.N., and Sylvester, M.A., 1997, Fecal indicator

bacteria, in National field manual for the collection

of water-quality data: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, book 9,

chap. 7.1, p. FIB 1-38.

Oddi, M.J., ed., 1995, Indiana environmental rules—

Water: Indiana Department of Environmental

Management, p. 19.

Schneider, A.F., 1966, Physiography, in Lindsey, A.A.,

ed., Natural features of Indiana: Indianapolis,

Indiana Academy of Science and Indiana State

Library, p. 40–56.

Silcox, C.A., Voelker, D.C., and Willoughby, T.C.,

2000, Concentrations of Escherichia coli in the

upper Wabash River Watershed in Indiana,

June–September 1998, U.S. Geological Survey

Water-Resources Investigations Report 00-4021,

52 p.

Stewart, J.A., Keeton, C.R., Hammil, L.E., Nguyen,

H.T., and Majors, D.K., 2000, Water resources data,

Indiana, water year 1999, U.S. Geological Survey

Water-Data Report IN-99-1, 386 p.

Supplemental Data

(Tables 3 and 4)
Table 3. Water-quality data for sampling sites in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, June–September 1999

32 Concentrations of Escherichia coli, Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, Indiana, June–September 1999 [Time is in military notation; --, no data; K, values estimated from non-ideal colony counts; <, less than; >, greater than] Site Number Date Time Gage height (feet) Discharge at time of sample collection (cubic feet per second) Water temperature (degrees Celsius) pH (Standard units) Dissolved oxygen (milligrams per liter) Specific conductance (microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius) Tu

(Nep

turbi

1 06-29-99 0850 87.58 -- 18.0 7.8 7.1 704 

07-07-99 1055 87.53 -- 17.0 7.7 7.8 735 07-13-99 0920 87.08 -- 16.0 7.8 8.0 732 07-20-99 0900 87.00 -- 18.5 7.7 7.1 727 07-27-99 1105 86.99 -- 18.5 7.8 7.2 728 Five-sample geometric mean 

2 06-29-99 0910 87.22 -- 20.0 7.9 7.1 455 

07-07-99 1135 86.95 -- 19.5 7.9 8.1 559 07-13-99 0941 86.83 -- 16.0 8.0 9.1 581 07-20-99 0920 86.80 -- 19.5 7.9 7.7 567 07-27-99 1140 86.77 -- 20.5 8.0 8.4 573 Five-sample geometric mean 

3 06-29-99 0925 86.70 -- 19.0 8.0 7.2 540 

07-07-99 1215 86.48 -- 22.0 8.0 8.7 572 07-13-99 1000 86.08 -- 17.0 8.0 9.1 579 07-20-99 0940 86.05 -- 21.0 7.9 6.7 572 07-27-99 1205 85.86 -- 24.0 8.0 7.8 575 Five-sample geometric mean 

4 06-29-99 0830 88.39 -- 17.0 8.0 8.0 545 

07-07-99 1010 88.44 -- 17.0 7.9 8.6 569 07-13-99 0852 88.22 -- 15.0 7.9 9.0 570 07-20-99 0835 88.12 -- 18.0 7.9 8.1 566 07-27-99 1015 88.08 -- 18.0 7.9 8.1 565 Five-sample geometric mean 
Table 3. Water-quality data for sampling sites in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, June–September 1999—Co

Water-Quality Data for Sampling Sites 33

5 06-29-99 0800 82.99 -- 21.0 7.8 6.9 620 

07-07-99 0925 82.69 -- 20.5 7.9 7.1 653 07-13-99 0822 82.00 -- 19.0 7.9 8.0 659 07-20-99 0810 81.76 -- 21.5 7.9 7.4 651 07-27-99 0930 81.55 -- 21.0 7.9 6.8 652 Five-sample geometric mean 

6 06-29-99 0730 85.10 -- 17.5 7.7 6.5 666 

07-07-99 0845 85.08 -- 16.0 7.8 7.2 642 07-13-99 0800 84.80 -- 15.0 7.8 7.7 676 07-20-99 0745 84.88 -- 17.0 7.7 6.8 696 07-27-99 0900 84.73 -- 17.0 7.7 6.3 696 Five-sample geometric mean 

7 07-01-99 1335 88.12 -- 20.0 7.7 7.2 570 

07-08-99 0915 87.28 -- 20.5 7.7 6.9 629 07-14-99 0825 86.33 -- 19.5 7.8 7.2 635 07-21-99 0755 86.04 -- 22.0 7.7 6.8 632 07-28-99 0920 85.72 -- 23.0 7.9 6.3 645 Five-sample geometric mean 

8 06-30-99 0935 4.74 1,260 21.0 7.8 7.1 546 

07-08-99 0855 4.45 1,170 22.5 7.9 6.9 579 07-14-99 0825 3.26 785 21.0 7.9 7.3 577 07-21-99 0805 3.02 716 24.0 7.9 7.1 601 07-28-99 0826 2.45 555 24.5 7.9 6.6 609 Five-sample geometric mean 

Site

Number Date Time

Gage

height

(feet)

Discharge

at time

of samplecollection

(cubic feet

per second)

Water

temperature

(degrees

Celsius)

pH

(Standard

units)

Dissolved

oxygen

(milligrams

per liter)

Specific

conductance

(microsiemens

per centimeter

at

25 degrees

Celsius)

Tu

(Nep

turbi
Table 3. Water-quality data for sampling sites in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, June–September 1999—Co

34 Concentrations of Escherichia coli, Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, Indiana, June–September 1999 9 06-30-99 1100 84.34 -- 21.5 7.9 7.3 550 

07-08-99 0955 84.10 -- 23.0 7.9 7.3 626 07-14-99 0915 83.25 -- 21.0 7.9 7.5 632 07-21-99 0930 83.01 -- 23.5 7.9 7.3 600 07-28-99 0917 82.25 -- 24.5 7.9 6.3 629 Five-sample geometric mean 

10 06-29-99 1155 5.62 1,430 23.5 7.9 7.2 528 

07-07-99 1115 6.25 1,710 25.0 7.9 7.3 586 07-13-99 1040 4.35 914 22.0 8.0 7.3 639 07-20-99 1010 3.66 678 24.5 8.0 7.6 616 07-27-99 1016 3.42 600 26.0 8.0 7.2 620 Five-sample geometric mean 

11 06-29-99 0940 95.41 -- 23.5 8.0 7.1 535 

07-07-99 0855 96.02 -- 25.5 7.9 6.9 592 07-13-99 0845 94.66 -- 21.5 8.0 7.3 646 07-20-99 0815 96.13 -- 24.5 8.0 7.4 669 07-27-99 0815 93.90 -- 25.5 8.0 6.5 599 Five-sample geometric mean 

12 06-29-99 1045 1.31 75 21.5 7.8 7.8 726 

07-07-99 0955 1.16 75 21.5 7.7 6.7 830 07-13-99 0930 .86 51 20.0 7.7 6.9 914 07-20-99 0905 .70 39 23.5 7.7 7.1 973 07-27-99 0849 .60 33 23.5 7.7 7.0 984 Five-sample geometric mean 

Site

Number Date Time

Gage

height

(feet)

Discharge

at time

of samplecollection

(cubic feet

per second)

Water

temperature

(degrees

Celsius)

pH

(Standard

units)

Dissolved

oxygen

(milligrams

per liter)

Specific

conductance

(microsiemens

per centimeter

at

25 degrees

Celsius)

Tu

(Nep

turbi
Table 3. Water-quality data for sampling sites in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, June–September 1999—Co

Water-Quality Data for Sampling Sites 35

13 06-29-99 1125 85.61 -- 21.5 7.9 8.5 766 

07-07-99 1040 85.50 -- 21.5 7.8 8.1 841 07-13-99 1015 85.44 -- 20.0 7.9 10.5 851 07-20-99 0945 85.43 -- 22.5 7.8 7.9 921 07-27-99 0941 85.20 -- 23.0 7.9 9.2 930 Five-sample geometric mean 

14 07-01-99 0725 81.90 -- 19.0 7.8 6.9 576 

07-09-99 0810 81.08 -- 20.5 7.8 6.4 704 07-15-99 0712 80.94 -- 19.5 7.3 6.6 711 07-22-99 0705 80.84 -- 24.0 7.8 5.7 732 07-29-99 0935 80.84 -- 22.5 7.5 3.7 483 Five-sample geometric mean 

15 07-01-99 0800 76.88 -- 21.0 7.9 7.0 563 

07-09-99 0850 76.46 -- 22.0 7.9 6.3 657 07-15-99 0750 76.18 -- 21.0 7.9 6.8 653 07-22-99 0740 76.06 -- 24.5 7.9 6.2 668 07-29-99 0820 76.91 -- 22.5 7.6 5.5 419 Five-sample geometric mean 

16 07-08-99 1235 81.04 -- 21.5 7.9 7.5 727 

07-14-99 1030 -- -- 18.5 7.9 8.4 755 07-21-99 0950 80.73 -- 21.0 7.8 6.8 765 07-28-99 1155 80.70 -- 22.5 8.0 7.4 803 Five-sample geometric mean

(geometric mean for site 16 computed by substituting a value of one colony per 100 milliliters for missing data, as explained on p. 1

Site

Number Date Time

Gage

height

(feet)

Discharge

at time

of samplecollection

(cubic feet

per second)

Water

temperature

(degrees

Celsius)

pH

(Standard

units)

Dissolved

oxygen

(milligrams

per liter)

Specific

conductance

(microsiemens

per centimeter

at

25 degrees

Celsius)

Tu

(Nep

turbi
Table 3. Water-quality data for sampling sites in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, June–September 1999—Co

36 Concentrations of Escherichia coli, Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, Indiana, June–September 1999 17 06-28-99 1220 76.71 -- 22.5 8.0 7.6 586 

07-06-99 1530 76.71 -- 25.5 8.1 7.9 605 07-12-99 1305 76.10 -- 21.5 8.2 9.8 697 07-19-99 1330 76.05 -- 23.5 8.2 10.5 730 07-26-99 1450 75.92 -- 25.0 8.2 8.1 743 Five-sample geometric mean 

18 07-01-99 1310 5.69 380 21.0 8.0 8.0 485 

07-08-99 1055 5.38 263 22.0 8.1 8.0 601 07-14-99 0930 5.15 180 20.0 8.1 8.3 616 07-21-99 0850 5.10 163 23.0 8.1 7.2 623 07-28-99 1040 4.96 120 24.5 8.1 7.4 669 Five-sample geometric mean 

19 07-01-99 1400 82.41 -- 22.0 8.1 8.1 490 

07-08-99 1005 81.97 -- 23.0 8.2 8.2 588 07-14-99 0850 81.52 -- 20.5 8.2 8.2 624 07-21-99 0818 81.52 -- 23.5 8.2 7.5 614 07-28-99 1000 81.33 -- 25.5 8.2 7.6 658 Five-sample geometric mean 

20 06-30-99 1140 84.71 -- 21.0 7.9 9.1 529 

07-07-99 1215 84.61 -- 23.5 7.9 9.1 545 07-14-99 1015 84.37 -- 20.5 8.0 9.4 512 07-21-99 1025 84.46 -- 24.5 7.4 8.1 503 07-28-99 1016 83.34 -- 25.5 7.9 6.2 524 Five-sample geometric mean 

Site

Number Date Time

Gage

height

(feet)

Discharge

at time

of samplecollection

(cubic feet

per second)

Water

temperature

(degrees

Celsius)

pH

(Standard

units)

Dissolved

oxygen

(milligrams

per liter)

Specific

conductance

(microsiemens

per centimeter

at

25 degrees

Celsius)

Tu

(Nep

turbi
Table 3. Water-quality data for sampling sites in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, June–September 1999—Co

Water-Quality Data for Sampling Sites 37

21 06-30-99 1210 4.54 113 21.5 7.8 7.4 550 

07-07-99 1245 4.45 93 24.5 7.8 7.4 570 07-14-99 1050 3.62 35 21.0 7.9 7.7 562 07-21-99 1045 4.00 57 24.5 7.7 6.1 504 07-28-99 1045 3.56 32 26.0 7.9 4.4 566 Five-sample geometric mean 

22 06-28-99 1530 81.84 -- 23.0 7.7 7.0 440 

07-06-99 1325 80.32 -- 25.0 8.0 7.2 633 07-12-99 1300 79.90 -- 21.0 8.0 9.1 580 07-19-99 1230 80.58 -- 24.5 7.9 7.2 630 07-26-99 1218 80.16 -- 26.0 7.9 5.3 620 Five-sample geometric mean 

23 07-08-99 1200 7.28 257 24.5 7.9 6.8 609 

07-01-99 0930 6.19 140 21.5 7.8 7.0 554 07-15-99 0840 4.89 54 22.5 8.0 6.4 635 07-22-99 0810 6.23 143 25.5 7.7 5.6 449 07-29-99 0821 4.98 58 27.0 7.8 4.6 644 Five-sample geometric mean 

24 07-01-99 1020 83.42 -- 23.0 8.1 7.3 612 

07-08-99 1230 83.89 -- 29.5 8.6 15.2 727 07-15-99 0920 82.83 -- 23.5 7.9 4.8 711 07-22-99 0850 83.00 -- 27.5 7.7 4.4 912 07-29-99 0856 83.02 -- 28.0 7.9 3.5 871 Five-sample geometric mean 

Site

Number Date Time

Gage

height

(feet)

Discharge

at time

of samplecollection

(cubic feet

per second)

Water

temperature

(degrees

Celsius)

pH

(Standard

units)

Dissolved

oxygen

(milligrams

per liter)

Specific

conductance

(microsiemens

per centimeter

at

25 degrees

Celsius)

Tu

(Nep

turbi
Table 3. Water-quality data for sampling sites in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, June–September 1999—Co

38 Concentrations of Escherichia coli, Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, Indiana, June–September 1999 25 07-01-99 0855 71.69 -- 22.0 7.8 6.6 558 

07-08-99 1115 70.60 -- 25.0 7.8 5.6 609 07-15-99 0805 69.10 -- 23.5 7.8 5.3 619 07-22-99 0740 71.00 -- 26.0 7.6 4.4 413 07-29-99 0740 69.05 -- 28.5 7.7 3.5 632 Five-sample geometric mean 

26 08-03-99 0930 81.68 -- 22.5 8.1 6.5 600 

08-10-99 0900 81.68 -- 21.5 8.2 7.0 594 08-17-99 0855 81.73 -- 22.5 7.9 6.7 555 08-24-99 0815 81.73 -- 21.5 7.9 6.1 576 08-31-99 0815 81.63 -- 17.5 8.0 6.7 603 Five-sample geometric mean 

27 08-03-99 1010 72.99 -- 22.5 8.3 9.3 579 

08-10-99 0925 73.24 -- 21.0 8.2 8.4 607 08-17-99 0930 73.10 -- 22.0 8.2 8.8 558 08-24-99 0855 73.03 -- 21.0 8.1 7.3 577 08-31-99 0900 72.95 -- 17.5 8.1 7.8 598 Five-sample geometric mean 

28 08-03-99 1100 83.20 -- 24.5 8.4 11.3 486 

08-10-99 1000 83.20 -- 22.0 8.2 9.2 557 08-17-99 0955 83.27 -- 23.0 8.2 9.3 542 08-24-99 0940 83.28 -- 22.0 8.1 7.9 547 08-31-99 1000 83.16 -- 18.5 8.2 8.6 544 Five-sample geometric mean 

Site

Number Date Time

Gage

height

(feet)

Discharge

at time

of samplecollection

(cubic feet

per second)

Water

temperature

(degrees

Celsius)

pH

(Standard

units)

Dissolved

oxygen

(milligrams

per liter)

Specific

conductance

(microsiemens

per centimeter

at

25 degrees

Celsius)

Tu

(Nep

turbi
Table 3. Water-quality data for sampling sites in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, June–September 1999—Co

Water-Quality Data for Sampling Sites 39

29 08-03-99 1200 25.62 -- 25.0 8.2 9.0 519 

08-10-99 1040 25.16 -- 22.5 8.1 8.3 528 08-17-99 1030 25.19 -- 23.5 8.0 8.1 538 08-24-99 1025 25.18 -- 22.5 8.0 7.4 541 08-31-99 1045 25.07 -- 20.0 8.0 8.1 531 Five-sample geometric mean 

30 06-28-99 1330 61.28 -- 26.0 8.3 10.7 533 

07-06-99 1215 61.10 -- 28.5 8.4 12.1 537 07-12-99 1130 55.90 -- 24.5 8.6 13.8 499 07-19-99 1110 60.00 -- 26.5 8.4 12.4 538 07-26-99 1105 60.07 -- 29.5 8.3 12.4 542 Five-sample geometric mean 

31 08-05-99 0915 58.40 -- 25.0 8.5 12.0 519 

08-12-99 0900 58.53 -- 25.0 8.2 10.4 557 08-19-99 0915 58.26 -- 23.5 8.6 11.4 581 08-26-99 0840 58.63 -- 23.5 8.2 13.3 586 09-02-99 0835 58.43 -- 22.5 8.3 13.1 584 Five-sample geometric mean 

32 08-05-99 0955 68.91 -- 20.0 8.2 9.5 578 

08-12-99 0925 68.90 -- 21.0 8.1 7.8 616 08-19-99 0935 68.91 -- 19.0 8.2 9.7 622 08-26-99 0912 69.03 -- 19.5 8.2 9.6 624 09-02-99 0900 68.87 -- 17.5 8.2 9.4 631 Five-sample geometric mean 

Site

Number Date Time

Gage

height

(feet)

Discharge

at time

of samplecollection

(cubic feet

per second)

Water

temperature

(degrees

Celsius)

pH

(Standard

units)

Dissolved

oxygen

(milligrams

per liter)

Specific

conductance

(microsiemens

per centimeter

at

25 degrees

Celsius)

Tu

(Nep

turbi
Table 3. Water-quality data for sampling sites in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, June–September 1999—Co

40 Concentrations of Escherichia coli, Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, Indiana, June–September 1999 33 06-28-99 1205 86.95 -- 23.0 8.1 8.3 506 

07-06-99 1120 86.52 -- 24.5 8.2 10.8 635 07-12-99 1050 86.55 -- 20.0 8.3 12.8 568 07-19-99 1030 86.63 -- 23.0 8.2 10.1 564 07-26-99 1010 86.52 -- 24.0 8.1 9.7 647 Five-sample geometric mean 

34 08-05-99 1030 85.75 -- 22.5 7.9 7.0 514 

08-12-99 0940 85.84 -- 23.0 7.4 5.8 575 08-19-99 1000 85.70 -- 21.0 7.9 7.6 582 08-26-99 0938 85.93 -- 20.5 7.9 7.9 579 09-02-99 0930 85.78 -- 19.5 7.9 7.4 583 Five-sample geometric mean 

35 08-02-99 1410 75.75 -- 25.0 8.1 9.3 555 

08-09-99 1235 75.74 -- 21.0 8.1 9.0 542 08-16-99 1210 75.77 -- 20.0 8.1 9.3 564 08-23-99 1240 75.83 -- 20.5 8.1 9.1 584 08-30-99 1211 75.67 -- 19.5 8.0 8.4 597 Five-sample geometric mean 

36 08-02-99 1345 77.54 -- 28.5 8.5 13.7 554 

08-09-99 1210 77.57 -- 24.0 8.5 12.6 530 08-16-99 1155 77.57 -- 23.5 8.4 12.1 567 08-23-99 1221 77.63 -- 23.0 8.4 11.9 569 08-30-99 1145 77.51 -- 22.0 8.3 11.2 589 Five-sample geometric mean 

Site

Number Date Time

Gage

height

(feet)

Discharge

at time

of samplecollection

(cubic feet

per second)

Water

temperature

(degrees

Celsius)

pH

(Standard

units)

Dissolved

oxygen

(milligrams

per liter)

Specific

conductance

(microsiemens

per centimeter

at

25 degrees

Celsius)

Tu

(Nep

turbi
Table 3. Water-quality data for sampling sites in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, June–September 1999—Co

Water-Quality Data for Sampling Sites 41

37 08-04-99 1030 70.44 -- 23.0 8.2 8.6 690 

08-11-99 0955 70.45 -- 22.5 8.2 7.9 709 08-18-99 1030 70.45 -- 22.5 8.2 9.0 722 08-25-99 1002 70.53 -- 20.0 8.2 8.8 728 09-01-99 1040 70.40 -- 19.0 8.1 9.2 725 Five-sample geometric mean 

38 08-04-99 0855 56.42 -- 22.5 8.1 7.5 647 

08-11-99 0830 56.40 -- 22.5 8.1 7.3 676 08-18-99 0905 56.42 -- 22.0 8.0 7.3 639 08-25-99 1044 56.43 -- 20.5 8.2 4.7 633 09-01-99 0820 56.32 -- 18.0 8.0 7.1 646 Five-sample geometric mean 

39 08-03-99 1340 4.39 1,540 28.0 8.9 -- 490 

08-10-99 1135 4.28 1,460 24.5 8.7 15.2 542 08-17-99 1125 4.48 1,610 25.0 8.8 -- 508 08-24-99 1140 4.23 1,420 24.5 8.6 13.6 542 08-31-99 1315 4.25 1,440 23.0 8.6 14.8 551 Five-sample geometric mean 

40 08-04-99 1145 57.02 -- 27.5 8.7 14.5 491 

08-11-99 1030 57.14 -- 25.0 8.6 14.7 533 08-18-99 1100 57.34 -- 25.5 8.7 15.5 508 08-25-99 0920 57.18 -- 23.0 8.5 12.1 561 09-01-99 1155 56.99 -- 23.0 8.6 14.7 552 Five-sample geometric mean 

Site

Number Date Time

Gage

height

(feet)

Discharge

at time

of samplecollection

(cubic feet

per second)

Water

temperature

(degrees

Celsius)

pH

(Standard

units)

Dissolved

oxygen

(milligrams

per liter)

Specific

conductance

(microsiemens

per centimeter

at

25 degrees

Celsius)

Tu

(Nep

turbi
Table 3. Water-quality data for sampling sites in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, June–September 1999—Co

42 Concentrations of Escherichia coli, Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, Indiana, June–September 1999 41 06-28-99 1003 79.27 -- 24.0 8.0 7.1 626 

07-06-99 1150 78.79 -- 28.0 8.1 8.1 659 07-12-99 1037 78.69 -- 21.0 8.0 7.1 662 07-19-99 1100 78.71 -- 25.0 8.0 7.4 633 07-26-99 1135 78.58 -- 28.5 8.0 6.7 603 Five-sample geometric mean 

42 06-28-99 0915 75.73 -- 24.0 8.1 6.8 629 

07-06-99 1055 72.87 -- 27.0 8.0 7.0 667 07-12-99 0958 75.29 -- 21.5 8.1 8.2 659 07-19-99 1022 75.38 -- 24.5 8.0 8.1 720 07-26-99 1020 75.20 -- 27.5 8.1 7.1 636 Five-sample geometric mean 

43 08-02-99 1235 31.65 -- 26.5 8.3 10.5 660 

08-09-99 1125 31.74 -- 22.0 8.2 9.3 662 08-16-99 1105 31.70 -- 21.5 8.1 9.4 692 08-23-99 1140 31.83 -- 21.5 8.1 8.6 793 08-30-99 1055 31.73 -- 20.0 8.0 8.0 791 Five-sample geometric mean 

44 08-02-99 1055 69.99 -- 25.0 8.3 9.1 611 

08-09-99 1015 69.98 -- 22.0 8.4 9.6 730 08-16-99 0950 70.00 -- 21.0 8.2 10.6 653 08-23-99 1115 66.87 -- 22.5 8.4 11.7 728 08-30-99 1102 69.86 -- 21.0 8.3 13.2 721 Five-sample geometric mean 

Site

Number Date Time

Gage

height

(feet)

Discharge

at time

of samplecollection

(cubic feet

per second)

Water

temperature

(degrees

Celsius)

pH

(Standard

units)

Dissolved

oxygen

(milligrams

per liter)

Specific

conductance

(microsiemens

per centimeter

at

25 degrees

Celsius)

Tu

(Nep

turbi
Table 3. Water-quality data for sampling sites in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, June–September 1999—Co

Water-Quality Data for Sampling Sites 43

45 08-02-99 1300 -- -- 29.0 8.2 8.6 596 

08-09-99 1140 71.56 -- 24.5 8.2 8.8 621 08-16-99 1125 71.85 -- 24.5 8.1 10.1 602 08-23-99 1250 71.80 -- 24.5 8.0 8.3 628 08-30-99 1259 71.80 -- 24.0 8.0 9.6 637 Five-sample geometric mean 

46 08-02-99 1200 76.81 -- 26.0 8.1 8.4 502 

08-09-99 1055 76.79 -- 22.0 8.0 8.4 526 08-16-99 1040 76.79 -- 21.0 8.0 9.6 488 08-23-99 1200 76.77 -- 22.5 8.0 8.3 615 08-30-99 1208 76.76 -- 21.5 7.9 8.1 504 Five-sample geometric mean 

47 08-02-99 1415 3.40 1,810 30.5 8.8 10.6 524 

08-09-99 1215 3.35 1,730 28.5 8.5 9.4 606 08-16-99 1300 3.78 2,400 28.0 8.7 13.3 527 08-23-99 1340 3.26 1,590 29.0 8.2 6.9 573 08-30-99 1425 3.37 1,760 28.5 8.0 7.5 561 Five-sample geometric mean 

48 08-04-99 0930 53.71 -- 26.0 8.4 10.8 525 

08-11-99 0900 53.70 -- 25.0 8.4 10.9 551 08-18-99 0915 53.91 -- 25.0 8.4 12.2 508 08-25-99 1122 53.73 -- 23.5 8.5 12.9 572 09-01-99 0905 53.56 -- 22.0 8.3 9.5 576 Five-sample geometric mean 

Site

Number Date Time

Gage

height

(feet)

Discharge

at time

of samplecollection

(cubic feet

per second)

Water

temperature

(degrees

Celsius)

pH

(Standard

units)

Dissolved

oxygen

(milligrams

per liter)

Specific

conductance

(microsiemens

per centimeter

at

25 degrees

Celsius)

Tu

(Nep

turbi
Table 3. Water-quality data for sampling sites in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, June–September 1999—Co

44 Concentrations of Escherichia coli, Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, Indiana, June–September 1999 49 08-02-99 1135 74.36 -- 24.0 8.0 9.5 552 

08-09-99 1040 75.02 -- 20.5 7.8 7.1 529 08-16-99 1030 75.07 -- 20.0 7.9 7.3 556 08-23-99 1020 75.13 -- 19.5 7.7 5.5 573 08-30-99 0930 75.07 -- 18.5 7.7 5.7 581 Five-sample geometric mean 

50 08-03-99 0900 70.48 -- 23.5 7.9 7.2 542 

08-10-99 0840 70.44 -- 21.5 7.9 7.3 557 08-17-99 0915 70.44 -- 22.5 7.9 8.0 544 08-24-99 0915 70.40 -- 22.5 7.9 6.1 564 08-31-99 1025 70.38 -- 20.0 7.9 8.1 554 Five-sample geometric mean 

51 08-03-99 0820 75.04 -- 21.0 7.8 7.8 477 

08-10-99 0800 75.06 -- 19.5 7.8 7.9 489 08-17-99 0825 75.00 -- 20.0 7.8 9.2 477 08-24-99 0815 76.03 -- 22.5 7.8 7.4 491 08-31-99 0927 75.02 -- 18.5 7.8 8.6 471 Five-sample geometric mean 

52 08-03-99 1250 4.26 68 24.5 8.0 8.2 547 

08-10-99 1045 4.14 57 21.0 8.0 9.0 566 08-17-99 1250 4.14 57 23.5 8.1 11.1 542 08-26-99 0830 4.08 51 20.0 7.9 7.8 576 08-31-99 1355 4.03 47 22.0 8.1 11.7 531 Five-sample geometric mean 

Site

Number Date Time

Gage

height

(feet)

Discharge

at time

of samplecollection

(cubic feet

per second)

Water

temperature

(degrees

Celsius)

pH

(Standard

units)

Dissolved

oxygen

(milligrams

per liter)

Specific

conductance

(microsiemens

per centimeter

at

25 degrees

Celsius)

Tu

(Nep

turbi
Table 3. Water-quality data for sampling sites in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, June–September 1999—Co

Water-Quality Data for Sampling Sites 45

53 08-03-99 1010 69.39 -- 23.0 8.1 7.8 556 

08-10-99 0925 69.28 -- 21.0 8.1 8.3 571 08-17-99 1030 69.27 -- 22.5 8.1 9.5 542 08-24-99 1100 69.16 -- 22.5 8.0 7.8 561 08-31-99 1118 69.06 -- 20.5 8.1 10.0 548 Five-sample geometric mean 

54 08-03-99 1120 72.80 -- 27.5 8.2 7.9 538 

08-10-99 1010 72.35 -- 26.5 8.3 8.1 616 08-17-99 1130 69.02 -- 27.0 8.5 10.9 530 08-24-99 1130 73.49 -- 27.0 7.8 5.5 584 08-31-99 1245 73.46 -- 25.5 7.8 6.8 572 Five-sample geometric mean 

55 08-05-99 0745 77.53 -- 22.5 7.9 7.2 757 

08-12-99 0715 77.45 -- 23.0 7.9 6.9 843 08-19-99 0745 77.39 -- 21.0 7.9 8.8 830 08-26-99 0915 77.40 -- 21.0 7.8 7.7 9 09-02-99 0748 77.28 -- 20.5 7.9 7.8 913 Five-sample geometric mean 

56 08-05-99 0900 .76 2,090 29.0 8.1 8.6 548 

08-12-99 0800 .67 1,970 30.5 8.0 7.1 607 08-19-99 0900 .77 2,100 29.0 8.1 7.8 539 08-26-99 1000 .55 1,810 28.0 7.9 7.0 611 09-02-99 0840 .45 1,680 28.5 8.1 8.4 595 Five-sample geometric mean 

Site

Number Date Time

Gage

height

(feet)

Discharge

at time

of samplecollection

(cubic feet

per second)

Water

temperature

(degrees

Celsius)

pH

(Standard

units)

Dissolved

oxygen

(milligrams

per liter)

Specific

conductance

(microsiemens

per centimeter

at

25 degrees

Celsius)

Tu

(Nep

turbi
Table 3. Water-quality data for sampling sites in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, June–September 1999—Co

46 Concentrations of Escherichia coli, Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, Indiana, June–September 1999

aFive-sample geometric mean was calculated by use of one or more samples having non-ideal colony counts.

57 08-04-99 1415 4.57 -- 29.5 8.7 12.9 515 

08-11-99 1120 4.43 -- 27.5 8.3 11.1 549 08-18-99 1315 4.73 -- 27.5 8.4 10.6 590 08-25-99 1245 4.35 -- 26.5 8.2 8.2 549 09-01-99 1320 4.40 -- 26.5 8.5 12.7 584 Five-sample geometric mean 

58 08-04-99 1115 46.41 -- 29.0 8.1 8.5 566 

08-11-99 0915 46.26 -- 27.5 8.0 8.4 587 08-18-99 1040 46.00 -- 27.0 8.1 9.4 596 08-25-99 1020 -- -- 26.5 8.1 8.1 636 09-01-99 1043 45.88 -- 25.0 8.1 7.7 625 Five-sample geometric mean 

Site

Number Date Time

Gage

height

(feet)

Discharge

at time

of samplecollection

(cubic feet

per second)

Water

temperature

(degrees

Celsius)

pH

(Standard

units)

Dissolved

oxygen

(milligrams

per liter)

Specific

conductance

(microsiemens

per centimeter

at

25 degrees

Celsius)

Tu

(Nep

turbi
Table 4. Quality-assurance data associated with Escherichia coli samples collected in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Wa

June–September 1999

Quality-Assurance Data 47

[Time is in military notation; -- , no data; K, non-ideal colony count; < , less than; > , greater than]

Concentration of Escherichia coli

Site

number Date Time

Environmental sample

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Filter blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Process blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Field blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Conc

dup

(colon

100 m

1 06-29-99 0850 1,300 0 -- -- 

07-07-99 1055 K32 0 -- -- 07-13-99 0920 360 0 -- -- 07-20-99 0900 410 0 -- -- 07-27-99 1105 220 0 -- -- 

2 06-29-99 0910 K1,600 0 -- -- 

07-07-99 1135 K76 0 1 -- 07-13-99 0941 1,500 0 -- -- 07-20-99 0920 820 0 -- -- 07-27-99 1140 480 0 -- -- 

3 06-29-99 0925 K180 0 -- -- 

07-07-99 1215 K580 0 -- -- 07-13-99 1000 520 0 -- -- 07-20-99 0940 730 0 -- -- 07-27-99 1205 270 0 -- -- 

4 06-29-99 0830 6,800 0 -- -- 

07-07-99 1010 K370 0 -- -- K207-13-99 0852 620 0 -- -- 07-20-99 0835 K380 0 0 -- 07-27-99 1015 470 0 -- -- 

5 06-29-99 0800 2,100 0 -- -- 

07-07-99 0925 K120 0 -- 0 07-13-99 0822 280 0 -- -- 07-20-99 0810 350 0 -- -- 07-27-99 0930 240 0 -- 0 2
48 Concentrations of Escherichia coli, Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, Indiana, June–September 1999 Table 4. Quality-assurance data associated with Escherichia coli samples collected in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Wa

June–September 1999—Continued 6 06-29-99 0730 K1,700 0 2 -- 

07-07-99 0845 K130 0 -- -- 07-13-99 0800 390 0 0 -- 07-20-99 0745 670 0 -- -- 07-27-99 0900 710 0 -- -- 

7 07-01-99 1335 370 0 0 -- 

07-08-99 0915 K460 0 -- -- K107-14-99 0825 240 0 0 -- 07-21-99 0755 780 0 0 -- 07-28-99 0920 220 0 -- -- 

8 06-30-99 0935 240 0 0 0 7

07-08-99 0855 320 0 -- -- 07-14-99 0825 K100 0 -- -- 07-21-99 0805 260 0 0 -- 07-28-99 0826 80 0 -- -- 

9 06-30-99 1100 490 0 -- -- 

07-08-99 0955 570 0 1 0 07-14-99 0915 K110 0 -- -- 07-21-99 0930 1,300 0 -- -- 07-28-99 0917 K61 0 -- -- 1

10 06-29-99 1155 580 0 -- -- 

07-07-99 1115 K270 0 -- -- 07-13-99 1040 K57 0 -- -- 07-20-99 1010 K75 0 -- -- 07-27-99 1016 100 0 -- -- 1

Concentration of Escherichia coli

Site

number Date Time

Environmental sample

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Filter blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Process blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Field blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Conc

dup

(colon

100 m
Table 4. Quality-assurance data associated with Escherichia coli samples collected in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Wa

June–September 1999—Continued

Quality-Assurance Data 49

11 06-29-99 0940 390 0 -- -- 

07-07-99 0855 K190 0 -- -- 07-13-99 0845 K140 0 -- 0 07-20-99 0815 130 0 -- -- 07-27-99 0815 K86 0 -- -- 

12 06-29-99 1045 870 0 -- -- 

07-07-99 0955 470 0 0 -- 07-13-99 0930 500 0 -- -- 307-20-99 0905 340 0 0 -- 07-27-99 0849 230 0 0 -- 

13 06-29-99 1125 480 0 0 -- 

07-07-99 1040 340 0 -- -- 07-13-99 1015 220 0 -- -- 07-20-99 0945 320 0 -- -- 07-27-99 0941 600 0 -- -- 

14 07-01-99 0725 K4,000 0 7 -- 

07-09-99 0810 1,200 0 0 -- 07-15-99 0712 K130 0 0 -- K107-22-99 0705 2,000 0 -- -- 07-29-99 0935 5,100 0 4 -- 

15 07-01-99 0800 1,700 0 -- -- 

07-09-99 0850 740 0 -- -- 07-15-99 0750 380 0 -- -- 07-22-99 0740 73 0 0 -- 207-29-99 0820 2,200 0 -- -- 

Concentration of Escherichia coli

Site

number Date Time

Environmental sample

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Filter blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Process blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Field blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Conc

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(colon

100 mi
50 Concentrations of Escherichia coli, Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, Indiana, June–September 1999 Table 4. Quality-assurance data associated with Escherichia coli samples collected in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Wa

June–September 1999—Continued 16 07-08-99 1235 380 0 2 -- 

07-14-99 1030 K400 0 -- -- 07-21-99 0950 K520 0 -- -- 07-28-99 1155 470 0 0 -- 

17 06-28-99 1220 230 0 -- -- 

07-06-99 1530 K400 0 0 -- 07-12-99 1305 K160 0 -- -- K107-19-99 1330 130 0 0 -- 07-26-99 1450 120 0 0 -- 

18 07-01-99 1310 1,400 0 -- -- 

07-08-99 1055 K80 0 -- -- 07-14-99 0930 K300 0 -- -- 07-21-99 0850 910 0 -- -- 07-28-99 1040 290 0 -- -- 2

19 07-01-99 1400 K160 0 -- -- 

07-08-99 1005 K540 0 -- -- 07-14-99 0850 K290 0 -- -- 07-21-99 0818 930 0 -- -- 1,107-28-99 1000 320 0 -- -- 

20 06-30-99 1140 630 0 0 -- 

07-07-99 1215 670 0 -- -- 07-14-99 1015 K77 0 -- -- 07-21-99 1025 <5 0 -- -- 07-28-99 1016 730 0 0 -- 

Concentration of Escherichia coli

Site

number Date Time

Environmental sample

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Filter blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Process blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Field blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Conc

dup

(colon

100 m
Table 4. Quality-assurance data associated with Escherichia coli samples collected in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Wa

June–September 1999—Continued

Quality-Assurance Data 51

21 06-30-99 1210 690 0 -- -- 

07-07-99 1245 670 0 -- -- 07-14-99 1050 K93 0 -- -- K07-21-99 1045 K190 0 -- -- 07-28-99 1045 840 0 -- -- 

22 06-28-99 1530 1,600 0 -- -- K3

07-06-99 1325 560 0 -- -- 07-12-99 1300 350 0 -- -- 07-19-99 1230 K110 0 -- -- 07-26-99 1218 1,200 0 -- -- 

23 07-08-99 1200 870 0 -- -- 

07-01-99 0930 3,600 0 -- -- 07-15-99 0840 K230 0 -- -- 07-22-99 0810 1,200 0 4 -- 07-29-99 0821 1,800 0 0 -- 

24 07-01-99 1020 2,000 0 3 -- 

07-08-99 1230 130 0 -- -- 107-15-99 0920 K65 0 -- -- 07-22-99 0850 K160 0 -- -- 07-29-99 0856 >8,000 0 -- -- 

25 07-01-99 0855 1,500 0 -- -- 

07-08-99 1115 67 0 -- -- 07-15-99 0805 K73 0 -- -- 07-22-99 0740 K73 0 -- 0 K07-29-99 0740 350 0 -- -- 

Concentration of Escherichia coli

Site

number Date Time

Environmental sample

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Filter blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Process blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Field blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Conc

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(colon

100 m
52 Concentrations of Escherichia coli, Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, Indiana, June–September 1999 Table 4. Quality-assurance data associated with Escherichia coli samples collected in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Wa

June–September 1999—Continued 26 08-03-99 0930 230 0 -- -- 

08-10-99 0900 700 0 -- -- 08-17-99 0855 K600 0 -- -- 808-24-99 0815 440 0 0 -- 08-31-99 0815 250 0 -- -- 

27 08-03-99 1010 110 0 -- -- 

08-10-99 0925 110 0 -- -- 08-17-99 0930 170 0 -- -- 08-24-99 0855 110 0 -- -- 08-31-99 0900 160 0 -- -- 

28 08-03-99 1100 36 0 -- -- 

08-10-99 1000 270 0 -- -- 08-17-99 0955 93 0 -- -- 08-24-99 0940 170 0 -- -- 08-31-99 1000 84 0 -- -- 

29 08-03-99 1200 40 0 -- -- 

08-10-99 1040 36 0 -- -- 08-17-99 1030 K43 0 -- -- 08-24-99 1025 K17 0 -- -- 08-31-99 1045 21 0 -- -- 

30 06-28-99 1330 8,000 0 4 -- 

07-06-99 1215 280 0 0 -- 207-12-99 1130 K45 0 -- -- 07-19-99 1110 1,200 0 -- -- 07-26-99 1105 K67 0 -- -- 

Concentration of Escherichia coli

Site

number Date Time

Environmental sample

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Filter blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Process blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Field blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Conc

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(colon

100 mi
Table 4. Quality-assurance data associated with Escherichia coli samples collected in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Wa

June–September 1999—Continued

Quality-Assurance Data 53

31 08-05-99 0915 K43 0 -- -- 

08-12-99 0900 K68 0 -- -- 08-19-99 0915 K45 0 -- -- K08-26-99 0840 K18 0 -- -- 09-02-99 0835 K46 0 -- -- 

32 08-05-99 0955 170 0 -- -- 

08-12-99 0925 440 0 -- -- 08-19-99 0935 180 0 -- -- 08-26-99 0912 K250 0 -- -- 09-02-99 0900 130 0 -- -- 

33 06-28-99 1205 690 0 -- -- 

07-06-99 1120 470 0 -- -- 07-12-99 1050 K250 0 -- -- 07-19-99 1030 2,000 0 2 -- 2,207-26-99 1010 K580 0 0 -- 

34 08-05-99 1030 800 0 1 -- K8

08-12-99 0940 660 0 0 -- 08-19-99 1000 470 0 0 -- 08-26-99 0938 190 0 0 -- 09-02-99 0930 490 0 -- -- 

35 08-02-99 1410 170 0 0 -- 

08-09-99 1235 470 0 0 -- 08-16-99 1210 230 0 1 -- 08-23-99 1240 620 0 -- 0 08-30-99 1211 220 0 1 -- 

Concentration of Escherichia coli

Site

number Date Time

Environmental sample

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Filter blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Process blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Field blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Conc

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(colon

100 m
54 Concentrations of Escherichia coli, Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, Indiana, June–September 1999 Table 4. Quality-assurance data associated with Escherichia coli samples collected in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Wa

June–September 1999—Continued 36 08-02-99 1345 K26 0 -- -- 

08-09-99 1210 160 0 -- -- 08-16-99 1155 83 0 -- -- 08-23-99 1221 140 0 -- -- 1908-30-99 1145 97 0 -- -- 

37 08-04-99 1030 280 0 -- -- 

08-11-99 0955 380 0 -- -- 08-18-99 1030 340 0 -- -- 08-25-99 1002 210 0 0 -- 2209-01-99 1040 780 0 -- -- 

38 08-04-99 0855 110 0 -- -- 

08-11-99 0830 230 0 -- -- 08-18-99 0905 140 0 -- -- 08-25-99 1044 130 0 -- -- 09-01-99 0820 87 0 -- 0 

39 08-03-99 1340 K16 0 0 -- 

08-10-99 1135 K13 0 0 -- 08-17-99 1125 K33 0 0 -- 08-24-99 1140 K4 0 -- -- 08-31-99 1315 K33 0 0 -- K

40 08-04-99 1145 <1 0 0 -- 

08-11-99 1030 K31 0 0 -- 08-18-99 1100 <3 0 0 -- 08-25-99 0920 <3 0 -- -- 09-01-99 1155 K3 0 0 -- K

Concentration of Escherichia coli

Site

number Date Time

Environmental sample

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Filter blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Process blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Field blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Conc

dupl

(colon

100 mi
Table 4. Quality-assurance data associated with Escherichia coli samples collected in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Wa

June–September 1999—Continued

Quality-Assurance Data 55

41 06-28-99 1003 1,500 0 0 -- 

07-06-99 1150 480 0 -- -- 07-12-99 1037 230 0 0 0 07-19-99 1100 120 0 -- -- 07-26-99 1135 K92 0 -- -- 

42 06-28-99 0915 270 0 -- 0 50

07-06-99 1055 K66 0 -- -- 07-12-99 0958 110 0 -- -- 07-19-99 1022 230 0 -- 0 07-26-99 1020 210 0 -- -- 

43 08-02-99 1235 45 0 -- -- 3

08-09-99 1125 53 0 -- -- 08-16-99 1105 59 0 -- -- 08-23-99 1140 97 0 0 -- 08-30-99 1055 K7 0 -- -- 

44 08-02-99 1055 20 0 -- 0 

08-09-99 1015 30 0 -- -- 08-16-99 0950 24 0 -- -- 08-23-99 1115 39 0 -- 0 208-30-99 1102 K36 0 -- -- 

45 08-02-99 1300 32 0 0 -- 

08-09-99 1140 34 0 -- -- 08-16-99 1125 47 0 -- -- 08-23-99 1250 32 0 -- -- 08-30-99 1259 K13 0 -- -- 

Concentration of Escherichia coli

Site

number Date Time

Environmental sample

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Filter blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Process blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Field blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Concu

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(colon

100 mil
56 Concentrations of Escherichia coli, Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, Indiana, June–September 1999 Table 4. Quality-assurance data associated with Escherichia coli samples collected in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Wa

June–September 1999—Continued 46 08-02-99 1200 64 0 -- -- 

08-09-99 1055 48 0 0 0 08-16-99 1040 80 0 -- -- 08-23-99 1200 250 0 0 -- 08-30-99 1208 59 0 0 -- 

47 08-02-99 1415 K1 0 -- -- 

08-09-99 1215 K10 0 -- -- 08-16-99 1300 42 0 0 -- 08-23-99 1340 K8 0 -- -- 08-30-99 1425 K36 0 -- 0 K

48 08-04-99 0930 K15 0 -- -- 

08-11-99 0900 K43 0 -- -- K08-18-99 0915 K33 0 -- -- 08-25-99 1122 K15 0 -- -- 09-01-99 0905 K64 0 -- -- 

49 08-02-99 1135 780 0 -- 0 

08-09-99 1040 340 0 -- 0 08-16-99 1030 520 0 -- 0 08-23-99 1020 970 0 -- -- 08-30-99 0930 220 0 -- -- 

50 08-03-99 0900 310 0 -- -- 

08-10-99 0840 220 0 -- -- 08-17-99 0915 420 0 -- -- 08-24-99 0915 57 0 -- -- 108-31-99 1025 K13 0 -- -- 

Concentration of Escherichia coli

Site

number Date Time

Environmental sample

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Filter blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Process blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Field blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Conc

dup

(colon

100 m
Table 4. Quality-assurance data associated with Escherichia coli samples collected in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Wa

June–September 1999—Continued

Quality-Assurance Data 57

51 08-03-99 0820 K33 0 -- -- 

08-10-99 0800 180 0 -- -- 08-17-99 0825 94 0 -- -- 08-24-99 0815 190 0 1 -- 08-31-99 0927 240 0 -- -- 

52 08-03-99 1250 97 0 0 -- 

08-10-99 1045 160 0 -- -- 08-17-99 1250 72 0 -- -- 08-26-99 0830 67 0 -- -- 08-31-99 1355 42 0 0 -- 

53 08-03-99 1010 73 0 -- -- 

08-10-99 0925 110 0 0 -- 08-17-99 1030 110 0 -- -- 08-24-99 1100 140 0 -- -- 08-31-99 1118 K41 0 -- -- 

54 08-03-99 1120 K15 0 -- -- K

08-10-99 1010 K9 1 -- -- 08-17-99 1130 K4 0 0 -- 08-24-99 1130 K22 0 -- -- 08-31-99 1245 K30 0 -- -- 

55 08-05-99 0745 290 0 -- -- 

08-12-99 0715 280 0 0 -- 08-19-99 0745 670 0 1 -- 08-26-99 0915 730 0 -- -- 09-02-99 0748 380 0 -- -- 

Concentration of Escherichia coli

Site

number Date Time

Environmental sample

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Filter blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Process blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Field blank

(colonies per

100 milliliters)

Conc

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(colon

100 m
58 Concentrations of Escherichia coli, Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Watersheds, Indiana, June–September 1999 Table 4. Quality-assurance data associated with Escherichia coli samples collected in the Kankakee and Lower Wabash River Wa

June–September 1999—Continued 56 08-05-99 0900 240 0 1 -- 

08-12-99 0800 K100 0 -- -- 08-19-99 0900 K31 0 -- -- K08-26-99 1000 <1 0 -- -- 09-02-99 0840 K8 0 -- -- 

57 08-04-99 1415 56 0 0 -- 

08-11-99 1120 32 0 -- -- K08-18-99 1315 K26 0 0 -- 08-25-99 1245 K64 0 -- -- 09-01-99 1320 K4 0 0 -- 

58 08-04-99 1115 K14 0 -- -- K

08-11-99 0915 K4 8 0 -- 08-18-99 1040 K23 0 -- 0 08-25-99 1020 K61 0 0 -- 09-01-99 1043 K3 0 -- -- 

Concentration of Escherichia coli Site number Date Time Environmental sample (colonies per 100 milliliters) Filter blank (colonies per 100 milliliters) Process blank (colonies per 100 milliliters) Field blank (colonies per 100 milliliters) Conc

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(colon

100 mi