Chemical Quality of 

Surface Waters in 

Pennsylvania

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY [WATER-SUPPLY [PAPER 1619-W

Prepared in cooperation with the 

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 

Department of Commerce and 

Department of Forests and Waters
Chemical Quality of 

Surface Waters in 

Pennsylvania

By CHARLES N. DURFOR and PETER W. ANDERSON

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1619-W

Prepared in cooperation with the 

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 

Department of Commerce and 

Department of Forests and Waters

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1963
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Thomas B. Nolan, Director

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

Washington 25, D.C.
CONTENTS

	Page

Abstract______________________________________. Wl

Introduction. _________________________________________________ 1

Method of investigation...._____________________________ 2

Presentation of data_____________________________ 2

Hydrology __ _ _ 4

Hydrologic cycle_____________________________ 4

Precipitation________________________________ 4

Relation of precipitation to runoff._____________________________ 5

Drainage basins._______.______________________ 5

Factors affecting chemical quality_________________________________ 5

Streamflow_- ________________ 5

Geology and ground water_________________________ 7

Contamination________________________________ 8

Acid mine drainage______________________________________ 8

Well brines_-___._________________________________________ 9

Tidal saline invasion________________________________________ 9

Land use_____________________________________________ 9

Chemical quality of surface water_______________________ 11

Calcium bicarbonate water____________________________________ 11

Limestone and dolomite areas_____________________________ 11

Juniata River basin__________________________________ 13

Swatara Creek basin__________________________________ 15

Glacial drift..._____________________________ 15

Northeastern Pennsylvania.__________________ 15

North-central Pennsylvania_________________ 16

Northwestern Pennsylvania________________________ 17

Other areas_______________________________________________ 17

Delaware River_________________________________ 17

Lake Erie...____________________________ 19

Southwestern Pennsylvania____________________________ 19

Calcium sulfate water_______________________________________ 19

Anthracite coalfields________________________ 21

SchuylkiU River__________________________ 21

Lehigh River basin_________________________ 23

Other basins_______________________________________ 24

Bituminous coal fields____________________________________ 25

Upper Ohio River basin.___________________ 25

Susquehanna River basin____________ ____ _____ 28

Sodium chloride water....__________________________ 31

Well brines..._____________________________ 31

Estuarine brines____________________________________ 31

m
IV CONTENTS

	Page 

Representative chemical analyses of surface water ____________ _ _______ W33

Calcium bicarbonate water___________________________ 33

Calcium sulfate water_______________________________________ 39

Sodium chloride water______________________________________ 44

Selected bibliography ____________________________________ 46

Index ____________________________________. 49

ILLUSTRATIONS

	Page 

FIGURE 1. Chemical quality at sampling stations___________________ W3

2. Drainage basins and runoff at gaging stations_____________ 6

3. Relation between discharge and dissolved solids.__________ 7

4. Areas of similar chemical quality of surface water in

	Pennsylvania. _______________________________________ 10

5. Limestone terranes_____________________________________ 12

6. Juniata RiveT basin___________________________ 14

7. Delaware River basin___________________________________ 18

8. Coal fields and streams affected by acid mine drainage_____ 20

9. Schuylkill River basin_______________________ 22

10. Lehigh River basin_ _ _________________________ 24

11. Lower Allegheny River basin____________________ 26

12. Upper Susquehanna River basin__________________ 30

TABLES

TABLES 1-7. Chemical analyses of water: Page

1. In limestone areas____________________ W33

2. In glacial-drift areas__________________ 36

3. Other calcium bicarbonate waters_______________ 38

4. Draining anthracite-coal areas_________________ 39

5. Draining bituminous-coal areas_________________ 42

6. Draining well-brine areas.________________ 44

7. From estuarine-brine areas__________________ 45
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS IN 

PENNSYLVANIA

By CHAELES N. DURFOR and PETER W. ANDERSON

ABSTRACT

Pennsylvania has an abundant supply of surface water of good quality. The 

average rainfall over the 45,300 square miles in the State is about 42 inches per 

year. Of this amount, about 50 percent appears in the streams as runoff. The 

combined mean annual runoff of the Delaware, Ohio, and Susquehanna Rivers, 

at their farthest downstream measuring points in the State, is in excess of 81,000 

cubic feet per second.

Variations in the chemical quality of the surface waters in Pennsylvania are 

caused by areal differences in geology, urban and industrial development, mining, 

quarrying, land use, and runoff. Waters having the least dissolved solids are 

found in the glaciated northeastern and northwestern parts of the State; waters 

having higher values of hardness are found in the limestone terranes in the southeastern and south-central parts. In the anthracite coal fields in the northeast 

and in the bituminous coal fields in the southwest, many streams receive acid mine 

drainage, which lowers the alkalinity and increases the sulfate content of the waters.

The chemical quality of surface waters in Pennsylvania is discussed in general 

terms. Introductory sections of the report cover the main causative factors 

which influence chemical quality.

INTRODUCTION

Pennsylvania has been abundantly endowed with many flowing 

streams and glacial lakes. The chemical quality of these waters 

has been investigated since 1944 by the Geological Survey in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters and 

the Pennsylvania Department of Commerce. This report summarizes 

these investigations from 1944 and 1957 and evaluates the chemical 

character of surface waters in the Commonwealth.

This report is divided into three sections. The first section is a 

general discussion of the factors influencing the chemical quality of the 

surface water. The second is a discussion, by areas of similar type, 

of the chemical quality of the surface waters in the Commonwealth,

Wl
W2 'CONTRIBUTIONS TO HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

A third section contains tables of chemical analyses and summaries of 

chemical analyses at selected locations throughout Pennsylvania.

The location of the sampling sites for the chemical analyses are 

indicated on figure 1. The number on the map indicates the table in 

which the chemical analyses are presented.

The discussion of the hydrologic cycle, precipitation, and runoff 

was prepared by J. J. Molloy. Messrs. J. R. George and D. R. Rima, 

geologists, U.S. Geological Survey, assisted in the preparation of the 

geologic maps and discussions of the geology.

METHOD OF INVESTIGATION

The investigation consisted of observation and analyses of information from several sources throughout the Commonwealth to determine 

variations in quality, both areally and with time. Some observations 

were made simultaneously; others were made at one locality over a 

period of time to observe the range of concentration.

Water samples were collected daily from the larger streams near 

streamflow gaging stations. Temperature and specific conductance 

were measured on each sample, and pH was determined on samples 

collected from streams influenced by acid mine drainage. Daily 

samples collected during the month were composited into three representative samples, and comprehensive chemical analyses were made 

from these composites. At many locations, streams were not sampled 

at daily intervals. Some streams were sampled weekly, others 

monthly, and a few were sampled only at high and at low discharge 

rates.

Samples were divided into two groups for chemical analysis. One 

group was given a comprehensive analysis consisting of determination 

of color, pH, specific conductance, silica, iron, calcium, magnesium, 

sodium, bicarbonate, sulfate, chloride, fluoride, nitrate, dissolved solids 

and hardness. The other group was given a partial analysis commonly 

consisting of the determination of color, pH, specific conductance, 

bicarbonate, sulfate, chloride, nitrate, and hardness.

PRESENTATION OF DATA

In order to evaluate the chemical data at the daily stations, frequency distributions were determined for the temperature and specific 

conductance of these streams. Relationships were established between 

the specific conductance of the water and the concentrations of many 

dissolved constituents in these streams. On the basis of these empirical relationships and the frequency distribution of specific conductance, the frequency distribution of calcium, magnesium, sodium and 

potassium, bicarbonate, sulfate, chloride, hardness and dissolved 

solids were calculated and summarized in the tables of chemical
CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS IN PENNSYLVANIA W3
W4 CONTRIBUTIONS TO HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

analyses. The daily pH of streams influenced by acid mine drainage 

also was summarized in these tables.

Flow-duration curves were prepared for selected stream locations 

and the streamflow data were summarized with the chemical quality 

data.

The concentrations of chemical constituents that equaled or 

exceeded 1, 10, 50, 90, and 99 percent of the time are summarized in 

the tables of chemical analyses. The values tabulated as having 

equaled or exceeded 50 percent of the time are the median values. 

The values tabulated at 1 and 99 percent represent a range to be 

expected 98 percent of the time.

Frequency distributions of the concentrations of chemical constituents in the monthly analyses of the Susquehanna Kiver at Harrisburg 

are summarized in table 5. At some locations where the data were 

insufficient to prepare frequency tables, the maximum and minimum 

chemical concentrations of selected constituents are summarized. 

Representative chemical analyses of streams in each area under 

discussion are presented in the tables of chemical analyses.

HYDROLOGY 

HYDROLOGIC CYCLE

Water, one of our most important natural resources, is a renewable resource. The endless movement of water from the clouds to 

earth and back again is referred to as the hydrologic cycle or the 

water cycle. When precipitation occurs, some moisture may evaporate before it reaches the ground. Of the precipitation reaching 

the ground, part infiltrates the soil mantle, part percolates into the 

ground water, and part returns to the atmosphere by transpiration. 

The remaining portion of the original precipitation travels over the 

ground to rivers and streams. Some of the water that enters the 

ground comes to the surface again through springs and seeps and 

joins the surface water flowing in the streams that eventually reach 

the ocean. Evaporation from the surface of streams, lakes, ponds, 

and finally from the surface of the ocean completes one hydrologic 

cycle. Water evaporated and transpired becomes available to be 

precipitated again. Thus, the hydrologic cycle is endless.

PRECIPITATION

Pennsylvania's average annual precipitation of about 42 inches 

exceeds the average for the United States by more than 40 percent. 

Even the lowest annual precipitation of 32 inches seems more than 

adequate when compared with many arid and semiarid areas of 

the West.
CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS IN PENNSYLVANIA W5

Although Pennsylvania's annual precipitation is fairly uniformly 

distributed in time, it must be remembered that variations do occur 

from year to year and that average values include years of excess 

precipitation and years during which precipitation was deficient. 

Also, within any given year, precipitation generally varies from 

month to month. During a year of average precipitation, periods 

of both excess and deficient rainfall are to be expected.

RELATION OF PRECIPITATION TO RUNOFF

About 50 percent of the precipitation over Pennsylvania appears 

in the streams as runoff. The month-to-month variation in streamflow generally is more extreme than the variation in precipitation, 

because of the larger losses to evaporation and transpiration during 

the hot summer months and the impenetrability of the soil during 

the winter months.

Systematic records of streamflow are obtained in Pennsylvania by 

the operation of about 170 gaging stations shown in figure 2. Comparison of runoff with precipitation, obtained from these stations, 

indicates that the average annual runoff in Pennsylvania varies from 

about 35 percent to more than 50 percent of average annual precipitation. Over the United States as a whole, only about 30 percent 

of the average annual precipitation appears in the stream as runoff 

(Langbein and others, 1949).

DRAINAGE BASINS

Precipitation falling on Pennsylvania drains into the Atlantic 

Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico through the five drainage basins shown 

in figure 2: the Delaware River basin in eastern Pennsylvania drains 

6,422 square miles; the Susquehanna River basin in the central region 

drains 20,965 square miles; the Ohio River basin in the west drains 

15,571 square miles; the Potomac River basin in the south-central 

region drains 1,570 square miles; and the St. Lawrence River basin 

in the northwest drains 96 square miles in the Genessee River area and 

512 square miles in the Lake Erie area.

FACTORS AFFECTING CHEMICAL QUALITY

The chemical quality of the surface water in Pennsylvania is 

primarily influenced by (1) streamflow, (2) geology and ground water, 

(3) contamination from acid mine drainage and oil-well brines, (4) 

land use, and (5) tidal saline invasion.

STREAMFLOW

Streamflow is composed of direct or storm runoff and base flow. 

Following periods of moderate to heavy precipitation, the major

660212 63 2
W6 CONTRIBUTIONS TO HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES
CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS IN PENNSYLVANIA "W7

portion of the water flowing in streams is the result of direct surface 

runoff. During periods of fair-weather runoff the dissolved-solids 

concentration of most streams in Pennsylvania is at a maximum. As 

the streamflow increases, the dissolved-solids concentration decreases. 

During periods of low flow, minor increases in discharge have a larger 

effect upon the dissolved-solids content than similar increases during 

median or higher stream discharges. Figure 3 shows the relations

1000

100

Morr sville

Easton

10 1000 10,000 

DISCHARGE, IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND 

FIGURE 3. Relation between discharge and dissolved solids.

between discharge and dissolved-solids concentration of the Delaware 

River at Dingmans Ferry, Easton and Morrisville. Relations between discharge and dissolved-solids concentration differ from 

stream to stream, and, as indicated in figure 3, the relations may 

change along the reach of the stream. At Dingmans Ferry, the 

slope of the discharge-dissolved solids concentration curve is almost 

negligible which indicates that the concentration of dissolved solids 

is little influenced by flow rate. At Easton and Morrisville, the slopes 

of the discharge-dissolved solids curves are greater, and the changes in 

concentrations of dissolved solids with flow are greater. The concentration of dissolved solids of most surface waters usually increases 

in a downstream direction.

GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER

During long dry periods, the flow of streams is maintained by 

ground-water discharge. Consequently, streams generally reflect the
W8 CONTRIBUTIONS TO HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATED

chemical character of ground water during dry periods. The quality 

and movement of ground water is influenced by the character of the 

water-bearing material.

Few streams in the State originate and run their course in the 

same geologic setting. Most streams originate in one geologic setting 

but may be influenced by two or more geologic environments before 

the stream reaches its mouth. Each geologic environment influences 

the chemical character of the stream draining the terrain. Streams 

draining lands underlain by soluble rocks that issue large amounts of 

ground water have a strong influence on the chemical character of the 

surface water. The more insoluble the rock and the smaller the yield 

of ground water, the more the influence of the geology and ground 

water are subdued.

Pennsylvania is underlain by a wide variety of rocks. The limestone and dolomite terranes (fig. 5) yield large amounts of ground 

water that is high in pH, hardness, bicarbonate, and dissolved solids. 

Some of the shales and sandstones adjacent to these terranes yield 

small amounts of calcium and magnesium bicarbonate water that is 

not as high in pH or alkalinity. Ground water issuing from the 

sandstones, shales, and flagstones in southeastern Pennsylvania 

contains principally calcium and bicarbonate ions when the dissolved 

solids are less than 300 ppm (parts per million) and predominantly 

calcium and sulfate ions when the concentration is higher. Acid 

mine drainage from the coal fields in eastern and western Pennsylvania 

(fig. 8) causes the streams in these areas to be low in pH and high in 

sulfate, hardness, and dissolved solids. In south-central and southwestern Pennsylvania, the sandstones and quartzites are hydrologically similar to the pre-Cambrian crystalline rocks in the 

southeastern part of the State. Water issuing from these rocks is low 

in dissolved solids and calcium, magnesium hardness. The influence of 

the sandstones and shales in the central and northern part of the 

State is mostly subdued by the mantle of glacial drift. Surface 

waters draining areas of glacial outwash are low in dissolved solids 

and calcium, magnesium hardness.

CONTAMINATION

ACID MINE DRAINAGE

Water draining from many coal mine areas contains sulfuric acid. 

The principal sources of sulfuric acid in water are pyrite and marcasite 

in coal and associated rock and shale strata, which are oxidized in 

the presence of air and water to form iron sulfate and sulfuric acid. 

The resultant acid mine drainage, as it leaves the mine, is low in 

pH and high in iron, sulfate, and free sulfuric acid content. Waters
CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS IN PENNSYLVANIA W9

which drain rock, slate, and culm banks near coal mines are low in 

pH and high in iron, sulfate, and free sulfuric acid content. High 

concentrations of aluminum and manganese are commonly found 

in surface streams in Pennsylvania affected by acid mine drainage. 

Although acid mine waters are similar in composition, they vary 

in concentration depending upon the amount of sulfur-containing 

materials exposed in the coal strata, the amount of air and water 

present, and the biological activity. The chemical composition and 

concentration of the streams receiving acid mine drainage correlate 

closely with the composition of the mine drainage.

WELL BRINES

In the upper drainage basins of Connoquenessing Creek and Allegheny River, petroleum mixed with brine is pumped from deep wells. 

The amount of brine pumped with each barrel of oil varies but usually 

exceeds the volume of oil. Some of this brine, which at some locations is 7K times as concentrated as ocean water, enters the surface 

water. Numerous abandoned oil wells also allow the upward migration and spread of the brine into both ground and surface waters. 

These waters contain high concentrations of sodium chloride.

TIDAL SALINE INVASION

Below Morrisville, the chemical quality of the Delaware River and 

its tributaries is influenced by the salty water from the Delaware Bay 

moved upstream by the tide. The portion of the Delaware River 

and its tributaries nearest to the bay contain the greater concentrations of sodium chloride water. The salinity of the water increases 

when the stream discharge is reduced, and, when the low discharges 

persist, the salty water encroaches progressively upstream from 

Marcus Hook toward Philadelphia and into the tidal tributaries.

LAND USE

The extent of forest cover, the amount of farm cultivation and the 

degree and type of urbanization and industrialization of the drainage 

basin influence the chemical quality of surface runoff.

Forest lands usually have high infiltration capacities and yield little 

surface runoff during most storms. During rainfall of high intensity 

and long duration, the ground becomes saturated and the surface 

runoff is appreciable. The amount of surface runoff from cultivated 

lands depends upon the type of vegetation, stage of growth, and manner of cultivation; but, in general, it exceeds the surface runoff from 

forest lands. The precipitation falling upon urban and industrial 

areas and other areas with low infiltration capacities becomes almost
W10 CONTRIBUTIONS TO HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

.

i I

8 §

I a

3 -S

a

13 9 

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CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS IN PENNSYLVANIA Wll

entirely surface runoff. The relation between dissolved solids and 

discharge is discussed under "Streamflow."

Fertilizers applied to cultivated farm lands are dissolved by surface 

runoff and increase the potassium, nitrate, and phosphate content of 

the receiving streams. As the vegetative litter of swamps and forests 

decomposes, its color deepens to a dark brown or black. The darkcolored nitrogeneous products of decomposition are carried by surface 

runoff into receiving streams, increasing the color and nitrate content.

CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATER

The three principal types of surface water in Pennsylvania are 

calcium bicarbonate, calcium sulfate, and sodium chloride. In order 

to evaluate and discuss the chemical quality of surface waters, the 

Commonwealth is divided into areas, each containing mainly one of 

these types of water. Figure 4 is a map of Pennsylvania showing the 

boundaries of these areas. Most of the streams in each area are of the 

same general type and are influenced by the same factors. A discussion of the chemical quality of the water in these areas follows.

CALCIUM BICARBONATE WATER

As indicated in figure 4, a large part of the state has surface water 

which contains predominantly calcium bicarbonate. A few isolated 

streams are contaminated by acid mine drainage or by salt.

UMBSTONE AND DOIA>MITE AREAS

In southeastern and south-central Pennsylvania, Cambrian and 

Ordovician limestones and dolomites constitute practically a single 

lithologic unit. The limestones are very dense, but being hard, 

brittle and soluble, they are generally fractured. Tublar openings 

or other solution channels are dissolved out along such fractures by 

percolating water charged with carbon dioxide. Solution channels 

range in size from minute openings to large limestone caverns. The 

limestone terranes in Pennsylvania (fig. 5) have a major effect on the 

quality of water exposed to them.

The largest known springs in Pennsylvania, Boiling Springs and 

Big Spring in Cumberland County, issue from solution channels in 

limestone and dolomite. The waters flowing from these formations 

are high in calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate. Representative 

analyses of two springs in these limestone and dolomite regions, 

Thompson Spring and Rock Spring, are presented in table 1.

The chemical composition of the surface water in these regions is 

determined by the calcium bicarbonate water from the many springs 

and seeps in the limestone and dolomite formations. Most of these
Pennsylvania Topographic and 

Geologic Survey: Geologic map 

of Pennsylvania, 1931

FIQUEE 5. Limestone terranes.
CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS IN PENNSYLVANIA W13

surface waters are alkaline (pH 7.0 to 8.5) and may contain in excess 

of 25 ppm of calcium and magnesium, and in excess of 100 ppm of 

bicarbonate (table 1). It is interesting to note that the changes in 

the concentration of sulfate of the Conestoga Creek at Lancaster 

were slight during the period of record (Oct. 1947-Sept. 1950) when 

compared with the twofold or more changes in concentration of calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate. Examples of the chemical quality 

of water in these areas are found in table 1.

The slightly higher runoff rates and increased shale deposits in 

the Potomac River basin cause lower bicarbonate and dissolved-solids 

concentrations in these surface waters than in the adjacent limestone 

areas. The maximum and minimum analyses of Conococheague Creek 

at Fairview, Md. and Antietam Creek near Waynesboro, Pa. in table 1 

give the range of concentrations of the chemical constituents in surface waters of this area.

JUWIATA RIVER BASEST

The headwaters of the Little Juniata, the Raystown Branch and the 

Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River originate in areas underlain 

by coal-bearing rocks. A short distance below the headwaters, these 

streams flow into areas underlain by limestone and dolomite (fig. 5). 

The influence of these geologic environments upon the chemical character of the Juniata River was demonstrated in a survey of the basin 

during a period of low flow. The chemical analyses of this survey 

of the Juniata River basin are reported under the Susquehanna River 

basin in table 1.

Small streams draining the isolated coal pockets in the southern 

part of Huntingdon County (fig. 6) contribute acid-sulfate water to the 

Raystown Branch near Saxton. These acid-sulfate loads increase the 

sulfate and lower the bicarbonate of the Raystown Branch. The 

chemical character of the Raystown Branch as it joins the Juniata 

River at Huntingdon is summarized in table 1. Downstream from 

Huntingdon, the Juniata River gradually decreases in dissolved solids, 

bicarbonate, and hardness. A comparison of the summary tabulation 

of chemical analyses of the Juniata River at Huntingdon and at 

Newport (table 1) indicates that the decreases occurred in at least 

90 percent of the period of record. As reported in table 1, the concentration of sulfate of the Juniata River at Huntingdon ranged from 

27 to 34 ppm for the period October 1947 to September 1951 and at 

Newport from 20 to 82 ppm for the period October 1944 to September 

1952.

660212 6£
W14 CONTRIBUTIONS TO HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES
CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS IN PENNSYLVANIA W15

SWATABA CREEK BASIN

The headwaters of Swatara Creek are influenced by acid mine 

drainage from the Southern Anthracite coal fields (fig. 8) and are 

low in pH (less than 4.5) and high in sulfate (table 1). As the 

water of Swatara Creek and its tributaries flows from the coal fields to 

the Susquehanna River, its chemical character is influenced greatly 

by the underlying sandstone, shale, limestone, and dolomite. The 

streams decrease in concentration of sulfate and increase in pH, 

calcium-magnesium hardness, and concentration of dissolved solids 

and bicarbonate in a downstream direction from the headwaters. 

At high flow rates, the concentration of bicarbonate of Swatara 

Creek near Harper Tavern approximates the concentration of sulfate, 

and at low flow rates, the concentration of sulfate is two to three 

times the concentration of the bicarbonate. Near the mouth of 

Swatara Creek, the underlying limestones increase the pH of the 

surface water to about 9.0.

GLA.CIAJL DRIFT

During the Pleistocene age, the northern part of Pennsylvania 

was covered at least three times by successive ice sheets or glaciers. 

As the ice advanced, the soil and decomposed rock were scraped off 

and shoved along by the moving ice. During the retreat of the 

glaciers, rock materials were left scattered over the surface as a veneer 

of drift or in mounds known as moraines. Streams that had been 

flowing north were effectively dammed by the advancing ice sheets 

causing them to break over their headwater divides and flow south. 

These streams transported large amounts of debris that was later 

deposited as glacial outwash in pre-existing stream valleys. Many of 

the present streams draining the glaciated portions of Pennsylvania 

flow over buried valleys filled with several hundred feet of glacial 

outwash. These valley-fill deposits constitute the most productive 

water-bearing material in the Commonwealth. The character and 

thickness of the valley-fill deposits vary widely from place to place 

causing variations in the quality of the water.

NOBTHEASTEBN PENNSYLVANIA

The summary of chemical analyses of the Delaware River at Dingmans Ferry and the chemical analyses of the Lackawaxen River and 

Bushkill Creek in table 2 are representative of the surface waters in 

northeastern Pennsylvania. In northeastern Pennsylvania, the 

ground and surface waters are low in calcium, magnesium, hardness 

as calcium carbonate (10 to 40 ppm) and low in dissolved solids 

(16 to 65 ppm). The pH of these waters ranges from 6.0 to 7.5.
W16 CONTRIBUTIONS TO HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES, 

NORTH-CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA

A large portion of north-central Pennsylvania was glaciated and is 

covered with undisturbed forest land. There are no radical changes 

in chemical quality within a drainage basin. Thus, the chemical 

quality samples have been collected near the mouth of the streams 

and should be representative of the entire drainage basin. Because 

of the similarity in land use, geology, and runoff throughout northcentral Pennsylvania, many streams in this area have similar chemical 

concentrations and compositions. In north-central Pennsylvania the 

surface waters have a calcium, magnesium hardness of less than 100 

ppm and less than 150 ppm of dissolved solids, and have a pH range 

of 6.0 to 7.8 (table 2). At Pittston, the mineralized waters of the 

Lackawanna River increase the dissolved solids of the Susquehanna.

The steams in the northeastern and the north-central parts of the 

State drain rough, hilly, well-wooded lands in the glaciated areas 

that are underlain by drift deposits and shale and sandstone formations. Although the land use and geology are similar, the runoff in 

the Delaware River basin is usually greater per square mile than in 

the adjacent Susquehanna River basin. Thus, streams in the Delaware 

River basin are usually lower in dissolved solids than the streams in 

the adjacent Susquehanna River basin. The chemical analysis of 

the Lackawaxen River is representative of the water in the Delaware 

River basin, and the chemical analysis of the Tunkhannock Creek is 

representative of the water in the glacial drift areas of the Susquehanna 

River basin (table 2).

The Lackawanna River which receives acid mine drainage from 

the anthracite coal fields contributes water to the Susquehanna 

River at Pittston. Catawissa Creek, Nescopeck Creek, and other 

minor tributaries also receive acid mine drainage and discharge into 

the south side of the Susquehanna River between Nescopeck and 

the confluence of the West Branch. These streams have higher 

hardness, sulfate, and dissolved-solids content. Thus, the hardness, 

dissolved solids, specific conductance, and sulfate values of the 

Susquehanna River at Danville (table 2) always exceed the values 

at Falls for the same frequency intervals.

The streams that drain into the north side of the Susquehanna 

River between Nescopeck and the confluence of the West Branch 

are typical of most streams in north-central Pennsylvania and are 

low in dissolved solids, hardness, and sulfate and have a pH between 

6.0 and 7.6.

The Tioga River, in north-central Pennsylvania, is affected by 

acid mine drainage from the isolated pockets of bituminous coal 

and contains free sulfuric acid and higher values of sulfate and hardness than most other streams. Chemical analyses of isolated reaches
CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS IN PENNSYLVANIA W17

of Sinnemahoning Creek, Young Womans Creek, and adjacent 

ground water indicates concentration of sodium and chloride indicative 

of gas and oil-well brine pollution.

NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

The ground water from glacial drifts covering the northwestern 

section of Pennsylvania may be the most dominant geologic factor 

affecting the chemical quality of surface water. Most streams in 

northwestern Pennsylvania contain less than 10 ppm of silica, magnesium, potassium, chloride, and nitrate. The pH ranges from 6.3 

to 8.3 in these streams, and the dissolved-solids content ranges from 

80 to 225 ppm. Streams with the lowest concentrations of dissolved 

solids are near the Ohio border. The dissolved-solids content of 

the Conewango Creek at Russell equaled or exceeded 208 ppm only 

1 percent of the time; the dissolved-solids content of French Creek 

at Franklin equaled or exceeded 162 ppm only 1 percent of the time 

(table 2).

OTHER AREAS

In the extreme southeastern part of Pennsylvania, the bedrock is 

predominantly crystalline rock of pre-Cambrian age, with some 

Ordovician limestone, Cambrian quartzite and limestone, and Triassic 

sandstone, shale, and conglomerate. Pre-Cambrian rocks are dense, 

massive, and hard with virtually no pore space save for secondary 

fractures formed by weathering and diastrophism. Recent studies 

indicate that crystalline-rock terranes are highly absorptive and presumably much water is retained in the weathered zone near the land 

surface and released to streams at a steady rate. As most of the rock 

minerals are relatively insoluable, except for local occurrence of marble, the water is generally low hi dissolved solids (60 to 150 ppm) 

and low in calcium, magnesium hardness (34 to 134 ppm), the lower 

concentrations being in streams of the Susquehanna River basin. 

The changes of chemical composition of surface waters in southeastern 

Pennsylvania are caused by the diverse geologic formations underlying the area.

DELAWARE RIVER

Figure 7 is a stream map of the Deleware River basin. The chemical quality of the streams draining into the Deleware River between 

Dingmans Ferry (fig. 7) and Richmond (a distance of about 25 miles) 

is similar hi chemical quality to the tributaries draining into the 

Delaware River above Dingmans Ferry (table 2). Thus, concentration of most constituents of the Deleware River at Dingmans Ferry 

usually compares within 3 ppm with the Delaware at Richmond at 

all time intervals (table 3). The drainage areas of the streams flowing 

into the Delaware River between Richmond and Easton are underlain
W18 CONTRIBUTIONS TO HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

76° 75°

41'

40°

Marcus

FIGURE 7. Delaware River basin.

by limestone. Water from these streams increase the calcium and 

bicarbonate concentrations of the Delaware River water. The 

chemical quality of the Delaware River at Easton (fig. 7) reflects the
CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS IN PENNSYLVANIA W19

influence of these higher bicarbonate tributary streams and of the 

upper Delaware River (table 3).

At Easton, where it joins the Delaware River, the Lehigh River 

contains considerably more sulfate and has a lower pH than the 

Delaware River upstream from the Lehigh River. Although the sulfate content of the Lehigh River decreases after leaving the anthracite 

coal fields, the sulfate load alters the chemical character of the Delaware River. Below Easton, the chemical character of the streams 

tributary to the Delaware River are similar to the chemical quality 

of tributaries above Richmond (table 2). Thus, the chemical quality 

of the Delaware River at Morrisville is influenced by the chemical 

character of the Delaware River above Easton, the Lehigh River, and 

the tributaries of the Delaware River between Easton and Morrisville.

LAKE EBIB

The chemical quality of the water of Lake Erie does not vary greatly 

throughout the year, the water consistently has a bicarbonate content 

of about 90 ppm, a calcium-magnesium hardness of about 120 ppm, and 

chlorides of 15 to 25 ppm. The dissolved-solids content of Lake 

Erie water between 1934 and 1957 has gradually increased from about 

145 to 175 ppm. A chemical analysis of Lake Erie water is reported 

in table 3.

SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

In the extreme southwestern part of the Commonwealth, the presence of minor limestone formations and the lack of workable bituminous coals separate the chemical character of South Fork Ten Mile 

Creek, Ten Mile Creek, Dunkard Creek, the headwaters of Loyalhanna Creek, and several tributaries of Youghiogheny and Casselman 

Rivers from that of adjacent low pH, calcium sulfate waters. The 

pH of these waters often exceeds 7.5 and is seldom less than 5.5. The 

calcium-magnesium hardness ranges from 15 to 150 ppm. At low 

flow the chemical quality of the streams is influenced by acid mine 

drainage, and thus, the streams contain calcium sulfate type water 

(table 3). At higher flow rates the acid mine water is diluted and these 

streams may contain calcium and bicarbonate as the principal ions.

CALCIUM SULFATE WATER

The calcium sulfate waters consist primarily of surface waters 

whose chemical quality is influenced by pollution from acid mine 

drainage. Figure 8 is a map of the coal fields in Pennsylvania. In 

the northeastern part of the Commonwealth, anthracite coal occurs 

in four irregular shaped fields the Northern, Western Middle, Eastern 

Middle, and Southern fields. In figure 8 all anthracite fields have 

been classified the same. Bituminous coal underlies most of the west-
W20 CONTRIBUTIONS TO HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES
CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS IN PENNSYLVANIA W21

ern part of Pennsylvania and occurs in detached hilltop pockets in the 

northern part. The bituminous coals have been classified into four 

major fields consisting of (1) the Greene and Washington formations, 

(2) the Monongahela formation, (3) the Conemaugh formation, and 

(4) the Allegheny and Pottsville formations.

In Pennsylvania, most of the acid mine drainage comes from coal 

fields in the Allegheny and Pottsville, Conemaugh and Monongahela 

formations. In eastern Pennsylvania, the coal beds of the Allegheny 

formation are the principal sources of acid mine drainage. Owing to 

its topographic position, the Pottsville formation has little or no 

effect on the quality of the surface water in the eastern part of the 

Commonwealth.

In western Pennsylvania, many of the Pottsville formation coal 

beds have been exposed by strip mines and contribute acid mine 

drainage to surface waters. The Allegheny formation overlies the 

Pottsville and contains a number of coal beds that are extensively 

mined and contribute acid mine drainage. The overlying Conemaugh formation contains less workable coal and more limestone 

than the Allegheny formation and, thus, produces less acid mine 

drainage. The Monongahela formation, which overlies the Conemaugh, is exposed in western and southwestern Pennsylvania and 

is mined for bituminous coal.

In November 1949, the pH of many streams influenced by acid 

mine drainage was determined. The streams were classified according to pH into the following three categories: (1) greater than 5.5, 

(2) from 4.00 to 5.5, and (3) less than 4.00. The results of this study, 

carried out by the Sanitary Water Board, Pennsylvania Department 

of Health, are presented on figure 8. This stream survey was made 

during a period of low streamflow, and some of the streams have a 

higher pH at higher flow rates.

ANTHRACITE COAJL FIELDS

The anthracite coal fields in eastern Pennsylvania yield acid mine 

drainage which lowers the pH and bicarbonate and increases the 

hardness, the sulfate, and dissolved solids, of the water. Acid 

mine drainage is received into the headwaters of the Schuylkill 

River, the Lehigh River, and several streams flowing to the Susquehanna River. The lower reaches of the Lackawanna River receive 

acid mine drainage from the Northern Anthracite coal fields. Representative analyses of streams draining the anthracite coal fields are 

presented in table 4.

SCHUYIKILI RIVER

The Schuylkill River above Port Clinton is underlain principally 

by conglomerate, sandstone, shale, and coal of Pennsylvanian age.

660212 63 4
W22 CONTRIBUTIONS TO HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

The coals are the heavily mined anthracites of the Southern Anthracite 

coal fields which extend from the Lehigh River on the east to the 

Susquehanna River on the west. The Schuylkill River (fig. 9) above

FIGURE 9. Schuylkill River basin.

Port Clinton and its main tributaries, the West Branch Schuylkill 

River and the Little Schuylkill River, carry the major portion of the 

acid mine drainage from the Southern Anthracite coal fields. Chemical analyses of the Schuylkill River from its headwaters to the Delaware River are presented in table 4.

Acid mine drainage from coal fields affects the chemical quality 

of the Schuylkill River drainage basin above Port Clinton and of the 

main stem south to its confluence with the Delaware River. Most 

of the streams in the Schuylkill River basin, above Port Clinton, 

have a pH less than 4.5, contain free sulfuric acid, and have a predominantly sulfate anion content. These low pH waters also have 

high concentrations of iron, aluminum, and manganese. The higher
CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS IN PENNSYLVANIA W23

concentrations of dissolved constituents, mainly sulfates and free 

sulfuric acid, are found near the source of introduction of acid mine 

drainage. The Little Schuylkill River above Tamaqua, which 

frequently has a pH less than 4.5, usually has a dissolved-solids 

content of less than 200 ppm. At Tamaqua, Panther Creek contains 

acid mine drainage and may contribute sulfate in excess of 1,000 

ppm, aluminum in excess of 50 ppm, iron in excess of 5 ppm, manganese in excess of 15 ppm, and free sulfuric acid to the Little Schuylkill 

River. Below Tamaqua, the waters of the Little Schuylkill River are 

low in pH and high in sulfate, calcium-magnesium hardness, and 

total acidity.

The Little Schuylkill River and Schuylkill River receive acidsulfate drainage downstream to Port Clinton. At Port Clinton 

(fig. 9), the Little Schuylkill River usually contains higher concentrations of dissolved solids than the Schuylkill River. From the 

confluence of Little Schuylkill River with Schuylkill River at Berne, 

where the pH equaled or exceeded 4.5 during only 10 percent of the 

period of record, down to Leesport, which is just above the mouth of 

Maiden Creek, the pH of the water of the Schuylkill River usually 

is less than 4.5. Below Leesport, the alkaline calcium bicarbonate 

water of Maiden Creek increases the pH of the Schuylkill River to 

more than 4.5. From the mouth of the Maiden Creek to Pottstown, 

calcium bicarbonate waters of the tributaries tend to increase the pH 

and bicarbonate and lower the sulfate concentration of the Schuylkill 

River. Thus, although the bicarbonate content of the Schuylkill 

River is negligible at Berne, it is usually 25 ppm or more at Pottstown. 

The hardness and sulfate content of the Schuylkill River at Pottstown is generally lower than at Berne. The decrease in hardness, 

sulfate, and dissolved-solids content of the Schuylkill River between 

Pottstown and Philadelphia is caused by the more dilute waters of 

the Perkiomen Creek and Wissahickon Creek.

IEHIGH RIVER BASIN

Above Stoddartsville, the headwaters of the Lehigh River are not 

influenced by acid mine drainage. Below Stoddartsville (fig. 10), 

the Lehigh River receives acid mine drainage from the Middle 

Anthracite coal fields. Several streams (table 4) containing acid 

mine drainage, which include Hunter Run, Black Creek and Nesquehoning Creek, empty into the Lehigh River between Lehigh Tannery 

and Jim Thorpe (Mauch Chunk). The acid-sulfate water from these 

tributaries lowers the pH and increases the sulfate content of the 

Lehigh River. Downstream from Jim Thorpe, the Lehigh River 

does not receive acid mine drainage. The tributaries of the Lehigh 

River between Jim Thorpe and the Delaware River contain con=;
W24 CONTRIBUTIONS TO HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

76°

FIGURE 10. Lehigh River basin.

centrations of bicarbonate in excess of those of the Lehigh Eiver. 

Frequent analyses of the Lehigh Eiver at Walnutport indicate that the 

pH of the river at this location is usually between 4.5 and 5.5. At 

Catasauqua, during 90 percent of the time, the dissolved solids of 

the Lehigh Eiver exceed 165 ppm, the pH exceeds 6.0, the sulfate 

seldom exceeds 81 ppm, and the calcium-magnesium hardness seldom 

exceeds 100 ppm (table 4).

OTHER BASINS

Between Pittston and Millersburg (fig. 12), some tributaries to the 

east side of the Susquehanna Eiver originate in the anthracite coal 

fields.

The streams draining the coal fields and surrounding areas vary in 

chemical composition and pH along the length of the individual 

streams and from stream to stream. The dissolved-solids content 

of Mahantango Creek ranges from 72 to 144 ppm and of' Shamokin 

Creek from 1,160 to 1,510 ppm. The greatest concentrations of
CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS IN PENNSYLVANIA W25

dissolved solids are usually found near the coal fields. A few streams 

in this area do not have their headwaters in the anthracite coal 

fields but contain high percentages of calcium, magnesium, and 

sulfate (table 4). These streams are usually low in dissolved solids 

and have a pH greater than 4.5. Wiconisco Creek is an example 

of a nonacid (pH greater than 4.5) stream. The nonacid streams 

neutralize and dilute the streams with a pH less than 4.5. Some 

streams that originate in the anthracite coal fields have a pH less 

than 4.5 throughout their entire course; others have a pH in excess 

of 4.5 before they drain into the Susquehanna.

The Lackawanna River drainage basin below Forest City and 

that of several small streams that pass through or near Wilkes-Barre 

and drain directly into the Susquehanna River are underlain by the 

canoe-shaped Northern Anthracite coal fields. Although the Lackawanna River above Forest City usually has a pH ranging from 6.5 to 

7.0, the pH of the river at Old Forge equaled or exceeded 4.4 only 10 

percent of the period of record (table 4).

Almost all the rainfall in the Lackawanna basin that reaches the 

Lackawanna River as runoff flows over mine workings. All surface 

waters draining the coal fields have a pH less than 4.5, free sulfuric 

acid, and dissolved solids composed almost entirely of calcium and 

sulfate. These low pH waters contain relatively high concentrations 

of iron (6.0 ppm), aluminum (14 ppm), and manganese (8.8 ppm).

As the tributaries to the Lackawanna River flow through the 

Northern Anthracite coal fields, their pH decreases to less than 4.5. 

Ninety-eight percent of the time, the dissolved-solids content of the 

Lackawanna River and its tributaries range from about 121 to 1,330 

ppm, the hardness of water from 58 to 775 ppm, and the sulfate concentration from 66 to 853 ppm. The highest concentrations of dissolved solids discharged by the Lackawanna River into the Susquehanna River near Pittston occur at low flow during the summer.

BITUMINOUS COAL FIELDS

The bituminous coal fields of western Pennsylvania (fig. 8) are 

almost completely underlain by sandstone, shale, coal, limestone, 

and conglomerate of Pennsylvanian age and contain exposures of 

Mississippian sandstone and conglomerate. To facilitate location of 

some of the streams draining the bituminous coal areas, a separate 

illustration (fig. 11) of the lower Allegheny River and Monongahela 

River basins is included.

UPPER OHIO RIVER BASIS'

The drainage area of the Allegheny River above the Kiskimmetas 

River is forested in the northern part and farmed in the southern part. 

The area has no large mining operations but has many small coal
W26 CONTRIBUTIONS TO HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

FIGUKE 11. Lower Allegheny River basin.

mines, some active and some inactive. The acid mine water from the 

coal fields finds its way into streams at many places along their courses. 

The apparent variability in the quality of water in this area seems to 

be due to variations in the quantity and the type of coal that has 

been or is being mined and to the effectiveness with which inactive 

coal mines have been sealed.

In this area, calcium and sulfate are the principal constituents of 

most of the streams. The pH is usually above 5.5, although during 

periods of low flow the pH decreases to less than 4.5 in some of the 

small streams (fig. 8). Also during periods of low flow, many of 

these streams have bicarbonate concentrations in excess of 1,00 ppm;
CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS IN PENNSYLVANIA W27

at higher flow rates, the bicarbonate concentration decreases. The 

sulfate concentration commonly exceeds the bicarbonate. The sulfate 

concentration is usually maximum at low flow rates and decreases 

with increasing flow rates. In the northern part of the Allegheny 

basin, some streams contain appreciable amounts of chloride. For 

example, the Clarion River at Piney (table 5) contains 69 ppm of 

chloride at least 10 percent of the time.

Representative chemical analyses and summaries of chemical 

analyses of surface waters in this area are presented in table 5. The 

dissolved solids and hardness of surface water in this area have 

had a wide range of values. Ninety-eight percent of the time the 

dissolved solids of the Beaver River at New Brighton ranged from 131 

to 422 ppm; dissolved solids of the Clarion River at Piney ranged 

from 65 to 423 ppm. The hardness of the surface water ranged from 

soft to hard; most of the hardness was noncarbonate.

The area below the Kiskiminetas River includes portions of the 

Kiskiminetas, Conemaugh, Youghiogheny, Monongahela, Allegheny, 

and Ohio Rivers. Many steel plants and other industrial plants of 

the greater Pittsburgh area are located along the banks of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers. This area is underlain 

by sandstone, shale, conglomerate, limestone, and coal of the Pennsylvanian age. Acid mine drainage from the extensively developed 

bituminous coal fields lowers the pH of most streams in this area and 

causes high concentrations of free sulfuric acid, sulfate, and trace 

metals including iron, aluminum, and manganese. Chemical analyses 

of the Casselman, Youghiogheny, Monongahela, and Kiskiminetas 

Rivers and representative analyses of their tributaries for many 

years are summarized in table 5.

As indicated in figure 8, the majority of the streams draining into 

the Kiskiminetas River have high concentrations of calcium and sulfate 

and have a pH less than 4.00. The pH of the Kiskiminetas River at 

Leechburg (fig. 11) exceeded 4.5 less than 10 percent of the period of 

record. The free sulfuric acid of the Kiskiminetas River lowers the 

pH and the concentration of bicarbonate and increases the sulfate of 

the Allegheny River below Freeport. However, between the Kiskiminetas and Monongahela Rivers, the pH of the Allegheny River 

does not become less than 4.5 because many of the smaller tributaries 

to the river have a pH greater than 5.5. The further addition of free 

sulfuric acid by the Monongahela River lowers the pH of the Ohio 

River.

As indicated on figure 11, the water of the Casselman River, upstream from Confluence, commonly has a pH less than 4.5. At 

Harnedsville (fig. 11), the river usually contains sulfate in excess of 

100 ppm and has a pH less than 5.0. Below Harnedsville, many of
W28 CONTRIBUTIONS TO HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

the tributaries to the Casselman River contain concentrations of 

bicarbonate in excess of 25 ppm and tend to increase the pH and lower 

the sulfate content of the Casselman River. The Casselman River 

contributes acid-sulfate waters to the Youghiogheny River at Confluence.

The pH of the Youghiogheny River upstream from Confluence 

(fig. 11) exceeds 5.5, and calcium sulfate ions are the principal constituents. Although the free acidity of the Casselman River lowers 

the pH of the Youghiogheny River, the tributaries to the Youghiogheny River downstream from the confluence of the Youghiogheny and 

the Casselman Rivers contain appreciable amounts of calcium and 

bicarbonate ions and raise the pH of the Youghiogheny River above 

5.5. Downstream from Conn ells ville, acid mine drainage from tributaries of the Youghiogheny River lowers the pH and increases the 

sulfate content in the main stem. The pH of the Youghiogheny River 

at Sutersville exceeded 5.7 less than 10 percent of the time of record. 

The Youghiogheny River joins the Monongahela River just north of 

Sutersville at McKeesport.

During the greater part of the year, the pH of the Monongahela 

River, as it enters from West Virginia, at Point Marion (fig. 11) is 

less than 4.5 (table 5). Most of the tributaries draining into the 

west side of the Monongahela River have a pH greater than 5.5. 

Two exceptions are Peters Creek and the downstream portion of Ten 

Mile Creek. Several of the tributaries on the east side of the river 

have a pH less than 4.5 and contain free sulfuric acid and sulfate 

concentrations in excess of 70 ppm. The pH of the Monongahela 

River at Charleroi equaled or exceeded 4.9 only 10 percent of the 

period of record (table 5). At McKeesport, the acidity and sulfate 

content of the Monongahela River are increased by the inflow of the 

Youghiogheny River.

The Ohio River is formed by the addition of the Allegheny River 

and the Monongahela River. The free sulfuric acid content of the 

Monongahela River lowers the pH of the Ohio River. At Ambridge, 

the pH of the Ohio River exceeded 5.5 about half the period of record 

and equaled or exceeded 4.40 about 90 percent of the time. The hardness and dissolved solids of these waters increase with decreases in pH.

SUSQUEHAMA EIVER BASEST

The chemical quality of the Susquehanna River is influenced by 

many conflicting factors as it flows through Pennsylvania. The 

southern tributaries of the West Branch Susquehanna River upstream 

from Lock Haven are influenced by acid mine drainage from bituminous coal fields. The quantity and quality of the acid mine waste
CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS IN PENNSYLVANIA W29

vary seasonally; and, the dissolved solids of most streams in this area 

vary with the amount and concentration of waste water introduced, 

and with the streamflow. Figure 12 is a stream map of the upper 

Susquehanna River basin. Although the area influenced by acid 

mine waste water is large, the dissolved-solids concentration of most 

streams in this area seldom exceeds 800 ppm. Most of the southern 

tributaries of the West Branch Susquehanna River have a pH of 4.00 

or less, and most of the remaining streams have a pH between 4.00 and 

5.5. The pH of the West Branch Susquehanna River at Lock Haven 

exceeded 4.5 less than 10 percent of the time (table 5).

Downstream from Lock Haven, the tributaries to the West Branch 

Susquehanna River drain farm land underlain by the limestone 

terranes. The resulting calcium bicarbonate water decreases the 

sulfate concentration and increases the pH and bicarbonate concentration of the West Branch Susquehanna River. A comparison of 

the frequency tables of the West Branch at Lock Haven with the 

river downstream at Lewisburg (table 5) indicates that the specific 

conductance, hardness, and concentration of sulfate and dissolved 

solids at Lock Haven exceed the concentration at Lewisburg.

Downstream from its confluence with the West Branch, the Susquehanna River contains the calcium and sulfate ions from the acid 

mine drainage in the headwaters of the West Branch. The tributaries 

draining into the west side of the Susquehanna River are principally 

calcium bicarbonate waters, and most of the tributaries draining into 

the east side of the Susquehanna River contain acid mine drainage 

from the anthracite coal fields. These opposing influences produce 

an interesting variation in the chemical quality across the river at 

Harrisburg. (See the cross-sectional analyses of October 18, 1956, 

presented in table 5). Note that in the east to west direction (1) the 

pH rose from 7.3 to 8.2, (2) the sulfate decreased from 142 to 36 ppm, 

(3) the bicarbonate increased from 20 to 106 ppm, and (4) the hardness of water had a low value near the center of the stream and increased towards the banks. Near the east bank, the hardness was 

mostly noncarbonate (sulfate), but on the west bank, it was mostly 

carbonate. These observations are confirmed by the monthly frequency data of the three-point cross section of the Susquehanna 

River at Harrisburg (table 5).

Below Harrisburg the Susquehanna River receives drainage from 

calcium bicarbonate tributaries from both sides of the river. A 

cross-sectional sampling of the river at Columbia, 25 miles downstream 

from Harrisburg (table 5), indicates that the river still contains crosssectional differences in chemical characteristics similar to those at 

Harrisburg.
W30 CONTRIBUTIONS TO HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES
CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS IN PENNSYLVANIA W31 

SODIUM CHLORIDE WATER

WELL BRINES

The main influence upon the chemical quality of surface water in 

the upper Allegheny River basin is contamination by sodium chloride 

brine from oil wells. Examination of oil-well records indicates that 

considerable amounts of brine are pumped to the surface with the oil. 

Brine also escapes to the surface because of faulty plugging of abandoned oil wells. A plug that is not set deeply enough in the well 

permits seepage of the brine into shallow aquifers, thereby increasing 

the sodium chloride content of the ground water. If the ground 

water reaches the surface, the surface water also becomes contaminated. These surface and ground waters contain high concentrations 

of sodium chloride. The highest concentrations of dissolved solids 

are found near the source of the brine.

The Allegheny River, as it reenters Pennsylvania, contains remnants of the brine load picked up in its headwaters. The sodium 

chloride concentrations in the Allegheny River are diluted in a downstream direction, first by calcium bicarbonate streams flowing into 

the Allegheny River between Warren and Franklin, and then by 

calcium sulfate streams draining into the river below Franklin. At 

Kittanning, the chloride concentration exceeded 70 ppm less than 

1 percent of the period of record, but at Warren it exceeded 70 ppm 

99 percent of the period of record (table 6). The sodium and chloride concentrations and, thus, the dissolved solids of the Allegheny 

River decrease in a downstream direction.

The chemical quality of ground and surface waters in the Conoquenessing Creek basin is also affected by sodium chloride brines from 

oil and gas wells. The higher concentrations of sodium and chloride and, thus the dissolved solids, occur in the headwaters of the 

stream and decrease in a downstream direction to the confluence 

with the Beaver River. Little or no brine is added to the surface 

waters below the headwaters. Representative chemical analyses of 

the surface waters at selected locations are presented in table 6.

ESTUARINE BRINES

The Delaware River becomes tidal near Morrisville at Trenton 

Falls (fig. 7). Between Morrisville and Philadelphia, the river drains 

the fertile farmlands. The Philadelphia area is one of the greatest 

industrial regions of the United States.

The water flowing into the tidal portion of the Delaware River at 

Morrisville has a pH of about 7.0 and the following maximum concentrations: chloride, 11 ppm; hardness, 104 ppm; and dissolved 

solids, 152 ppm. At average and above-average flow rates, the chemical quality of the Delaware River between Morrisville and Marcus
W32 CONTRIBUTIONS TO HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

Hook is similar to that at Morrisville. The dissolved solids of the 

river water increase slightly from Morrisville to Philadelphia during 

average and above-average flow.

During periods of low flow, the Delaware River below Philadelphia 

is invaded by salt water from the Delaware Bay and the ocean. The 

salt water is carried upstream on the floodtide and downstream on the 

ebb tide. The amount of salt water in the river at any location is 

dependent on (1) the distance from the ocean, (2) the fresh-water inflow, (3) the quantity of salt water moving upstream from the ocean, 

(4) the stage of tide, and (5) the range of tide. During the summer 

and early fall, fresh-water inflow is at a minimum, and the mean sea 

level, which controls the movement of salt water into the estuary, 

is at a maximum; these are favorable conditions for movement of 

salt water upstream. During late October or early November, the 

fresh-water flow increases and the sea level decreases concurrently, 

causing the salt water to recede downstream.

In the period from 1950 to 1955, the chloride content of the Delaware River at Philadelphia exceeded 50 ppm about 6 percent of the 

time, and at Marcus Hook, near Delaware, it exceeded 50 ppm about 

34 percent of the time. Maximum and minimum values of analyses 

at Morrisville (fig. 7), Bristol, Philadelphia, and Marcus Hook are 

presented in table 7.
REPRESENTATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSES OF 

CALCIUM BICARBONATE WATER

TABLE 1. Chemical analyses of water in limeston

[Chemical analyses in parts per million]

Location Date

a>

Percent oftim Mean dischar

Silica (SiO2) "a?

fa

I

. Calcium (Ca)

so

g

Magnesium (.

a^

o M

Sodium andp sium (Na+J

0

M

Bicarbonate (

<3 

O

1

02

Representative analyses of streams and springs

Delaware River basin:

Pa.

Susquehanna River basin:

sity Park, Pa.

Bellefonte, Pa.

Tyrone, Pa.

near Williamsburg, Pa.

Saxton, Pa. 

Juniata River at Lewiston, Pa.. 

Juniata River at Newport, Pa 

Swatara Creek at Harper TavApr. 13, 1946......

Sept. 10, 1947. 

Apr. 20, 1948-. -

Oct. 25, 1948 ....

Oct. 15, 1957 

Aug. 12, 1944 

Aug. 12, 1944. 

Aug. 17, 1948.. _ .

Aug. 17, 1948. _ -

Aug. 16, 1948 

Aug. 18, 1948 

Aug. 18, 1948 

Feb. 24, 1949......

Aug. 26, 1949. . _ .

Oct. 12. 1957 _ -

 

'675

147

i 60

18

116

U3

>91

1188

1617 

1762

1,530

45

147

6.0

6.7

7.4

6 9

5.3

5.4

5.6

2.8

2.4

1.2 

2.0

2.0

5.2

0.01

.10

.02

.02

.12

.05

.05

.04 

.06

.08

.19

28

19

47

37

40

40

35

35 

35

9.5

27

8.2

5.9

21

14

9.1

15

11

11 

11

2.8

10

1.3

3.8

9.2

3.2

2.9

23

is

8.4 

18

3.5

5.2

13

«78

103

60

143

116

227

171

100

162

168

114 

108

»16

38

44

31

14

19

15

23

10

5.

67

57

38

40

65

19

75

85

See footnotes at end of table.
TABLE 1. Chemical analyses of water in limestone areas 

[Chemical analyses in parts per million]

Location Date

«

| 

O

o> 

PH

a

a

Mean dischari O

3

1 

3

03

Iron (Fe)

Calcium (Ca)

"3

S

S 

1<u

1

~ SlySodium and p slum (Na+1

CO

O

M

1

1

§ 

n

Sulfate (SO4) 

Maximum and minimum observed values for specific conductance and c

[Based on once-a-week sampling]

Delaware River basin: 

Neshnminy Creek near LangMin.. ......

Perkiomen Creek at GraterMin .....

Brandywine Creek at Chadds

Min. .

Potomac River basin: 

Conococheaque Creek at FairMin.-.-..--

Antietam Creek near WayiiesMin ......

A ncriiQt 1Qd,Q

April 1948 to

April 1948 to

2,HO

28

7,020

27

1,440

108

15

9 9

16

4.8

18

5.1

9.0

.4

7.6

1.4

0.31

.01

.88

.01

.37

.02

.31

.03

.22

.04

18

9.6

26

10

26

8.0

51

29

53

24

9.6

4.6

11

4.5

9.0

3.3

12

5.6

17

7.1

14

2.8

12

4.2

10

2.9

9.7

.3

8.9

1.3

79

16

122

IS

83

22

198

77

208

£6

44

21

44

5.6

27

15

31

12

20

8.4
Percent of days in which value tabulated was equaled or ex

Susquehanna River basin:

Pa.

Pa.

October 1944 to

October 1947 to

1

10

50

90

99

1

10

50

90

99

1

10

50

90

99

I

10

50

90

99

51

47

34

26

23

37

33

20

13

11

43

38

26

19

16

53

52

45

34

23

14

13

10

7.9

7.1

14

13

7.0

4.2

3.3

12

11

6.7

4.3

3.1

16

16

14

10

6.8

18

15

9.6

5.2

3.8

2.4

2.4

2.3

2.3

2.2

25

20

11

5.2

3.7

9.3

8.1

6.0

4.3

2.8

168

155

104

70

58

105

92

52

31

22

141

119

72

47

37

193

189

158

112

65

34

34

30

28

27

59

53

32

22

IS

82

70

41

26

20

27

26

24

23

23

i Discharge at timp of sampling.

~ Includes equivalent of 9 ppm of carbonate (COa).

8 Includes equivalent of 6 ppm of carbonate (COs).
TABLE 2. Chemical analyses of water in glacial-d

[Chemical analyses in parts per million] 

Location D&te Percent oftime

Mean discharge (cfs)

9

1 

5

d 

o

Calcium (Ca)

Magnesium (Mg)

(S+eN) amis 

-sejod pire umipos Bicarbonate (HCOs)

Sulfate (SO4)

Representative analyses of streams

Delaware River basin: 

Lackawaxen River at Hawley, 

Pa.

Bush Kill at Shoemakers, Pa.._ 

Susquehanna River basin:

Tunkhannock Creek at Dixon, 

Pa.

July 28, 1949 _ ...

Feb. 14, 1956.. 

Apr. 4, 1956.. 

Oct. 9, 1957 

July 28, 1949.-. 

Feb. 14, 1956.- 

Oct. 9, 1957 

Oct. 9. 1956. .......

Oct. 10, 1957 - 

Oct. 11, 1957 

166 

675

2,220

62

89

128 

150

128

58

1.6

3.6

0.04

.02

11

4.4

3.2

1.0

2.8 

3.9

4.6 

3.0 

1.9 

3.9 

2.1

10

6.9

32 

15 

12 

31 

27 

13 

8 

12

3

0 

46

17 

11 

11 

11 

14 

5.7 

8.5 

7.5

73 

136 

18
Percent of days in which value tabulated was equaled or ex

Delaware River basin:

Susquehanna River basin:

ville, Pa.

Ohio River Basin:

Pa.

October 1950 to

September 1952.

October 1945 to

October 1946 to

1

10

60

90

99

1

10

50

90

99

1

10

50

90

99

1

10

50

90

99

1

10

50

90

99

10

7.8

6.4

5.0

4.6

40

32

23

16

14

58

45

26

17

13

47

42

24

16

38

37

24

15

12

2.0

1.8

1.4

1.3

1.2

6.8

5.7

4.2

3.0

2.6

24

18

9.6

5.0

3.2

9.5

8.7

5.0

3.5

1.0

7.6

7.3

5.0

3.0

2.5

4.5

3.2

2.2

1.4

1.0

10

8.0

6.0

3.8

3.1

14

11

6.2

3.9

3.0

16

14

6.5

3.5

1.0

12

11

7.0

4.3

3.2

30

20

14

8

6

123

101

70

44

34

140

125

63

38

23

119

116

69

37

27

10

9.

9.

9.

8.

23

21

18

16

15

259

164

70

34

26

27

24

20

17

30

29

23

20

18

» Discharge at time of sampling.
TABLE 3. Chemical analyses of other calcium bicarb

[Chemical analyses in parts per million]

Location Date

S3

P4

f

1

g

<S3

6

03

a 

i/2

a 

1

0

Calcium

^^

f'En

I 

Sf

||

?«

CQ

0

W

s

Bicarbor

0

CQ

Sulfa(

Representative analyses of strreams and Lake Erie

Ohio River basin:

T>Q

pion. Pa.

St. Lawerence River basin:

Tfcih Q 1 Qfifi

Mar. 27, 1956......

June 28, 1956......

June 11, 1957 .

1838

89

U33

8.2

.6

0.03

.02

37

35

6.0

8.5

0.1

2.0

2.3

13

27

11

4

10

20

88

96

111

12

9

13

60

72

20

Percent of days in which value tabulated was equaled or e

Delaware River basin:

"On

ville, Pa.

October 1944 to

September 1951.

1

10

50

90

99

1

10

50

90

99

1

10

50

90

99

862,000

» 27,000

* 9,200

83.090

s 1,980

10

9.1

7.4

6.1

4.8

16

14

11

8.0

6.5

27

21

15

10

8.0

3.0

2.5

2.1

1.5

.9

5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.5

10

7.0

5.0

3.0

2.0

4.8

3.9

3.1

2.4

2.1

6.0

5.0

4.0

2.7

2.4

8.0

6.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

32

27

22

13

12

55

45

32

21

15

78

60

38

25

18

13

12

11

10

9

18

16

14

13

12

38

31

23

18

15

i Discharge at time of sampling. 

» Period of record; 1942-45.
CALCIUM SULFATE WATER

TABLE 4. Chemical analyses of water draining anthra

[Chemical analyses in parts per million]

Location Date

1s

P*

i

I

 0

9

i

6

CO

^

1

^^

~

5

5

rffi 

&.

*

a

g.

a

1

O

1

"3 

O

bo

1to

1i

E3

i

||

CO

^,

0

O

y, 

f

1

m

6

CO

CO

Representative analyses of streams

Delaware Kiver basin:

Rockport, Pa.

Weatherly, Pa.

Creek near Jim 

Thorpe, Pa.

Pottsville, Pa .... 

W. Br. Schuylkill

sona, Pa.

Little Schuylkill

qua, Pa.

Little Schuylkill

River at Port

Clinton, Pa. 

Schuylkill River at

Schuylkill River at

Schyulkill River at

Pa. 

See footnotes at en

Nov. 1, 1946 .......

Oct. 31, 1946 __ ..

Nov. 1, 1945. ......

Apr. 12, 1948.. ....

Oct. 4, 1949 - 

Apr. 12, 1948... ...

Oct. 4, 1949 -. 

Apr. 12, 1948... ....

Oct. 4.1949 .....

Apr. 13, 1948. .....

Oct. 4, 1949 . ....

Apr. 13, 1948......

Oct. 4, 1949 ....

Apr. 12, 1948 _ ...

Oct. 4, 1949 - ...

Apr. 13, 1948. .....

Oct. 4, 1949 ...

Apr. 14, 1948... ....

Oct. 6, 1949- ......

Apr. 15, 1948 ......

Oct. 5, 1949. .......

d of table.

....

110

160

U7

1570

127

124

1914

165

1235

H6

173

121

1726

183

12,410

1238

14,020

1402

115,100

1585

10

12

11

14 

7.0

9.6

11

6.0

7.0

26

14

7.0

13

8.0

7.0

7.0

4.0

16

12

12

7.3

3.3

2.8

6.7

50

25

0.70

.13

.02

.17

.14

.11

.16

6.0

.84

.02

.03

.14

0.82

2.2

2.8

7.9

6.2

4.6

.90

17

6.0

8.4

17

55

92

116

68

14

156

64

44

42

60

8.0

14

16

62

59

34

6.6

103

32

19

18

21

4.1

3.7

26

63

19

4.3

30

12

9

K

15

15

0

0

0

0

2 

1

6

0

4

1

0

0

0

0

0

12

?,1

34

56

49

77

17

17

27

25

53

23

66

13

34

2

9

79

1,17

1

44

8

1

6

13

A

16
W40 CONTRIBUTIONS TO HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

L>

3

^

i

£

3

3 3

o

^

0

S -51

2 s 1 a

8 3 5fe

? 1"

^j Mi 3 .a

3 M

1 ^

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5" g

>= a a o

35 O 

3 "

O

3 j

j 

3

$

3

q

«!

H

aopo

Hd

(Oo9S i'B soqmojonu) 

aotrejonpnoo oijtoedg

(l+H) SB .SHPIO'B IBJOJ,

SQ a^Bnoqjeonojiij

no

S^ tn g IB»O>L

(OoOSI ?« now'BJOd'BAa no anp 

-isaj) sptios paAiossiQ

(«ON) »;BJ»IN

(>!) epJionM

do) apj*>mc>

(*OS) 9»^ins

(8OOH) 9;enoqjBoia

(3+BN) rants 

-sBjod PUB umipog

(Sj\[) ranisanSBj^

( BO) umioiBo

(uj\[) esaireguBpi

(9.1) UOOI

(IV) iutiu(iutiiv

(«ois) Boras

(sjo) agoeqosip nB9j\[

9tnn jo ^u90J3j;

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Q

Location

1

Q

a

M

?

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 *o -*co

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r»os T-I^*

co^ji r-^r-^

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coco' !!

r-tCO COi-l

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si *O COgSr-t

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rH'rt'

00-* oeo 

cir-i e$c4

oo oo 

o

10 1010

t^io c4-*

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!SS & * CO O OO»-( r^ oo ?H

ooo oo t^

W CO

CO 

OOCD 0004

t>*O TH

gg 25

3g 8S

CD tO500

10 of

oo c c

"S

83

O51O

SS -1"0

S S § S

a"sf a^

g."S. *« g,"S. **

Susquehanna River 

basin: 

Shamokin Creek Weigh Scale, at 

Pa. 

Wiconisco Creek 

ElizabethviUe, at 

Pa.

1

9

or exc<

V 

9) "3

a91 

9)

I 

S3

!

jS

 S

S

a

73

e

9)

I

! ! ! ! !

lOi-l tOO>O

I~I~COCOiQ 

ce CQ to c« co

IMOOOIMt- 

«DO»COO»t~ CNr-tr-t

1 i 1 : 1

S3388

fESSSS

g||S3S8

!

j

locoocooo 

u5^icoe<it-5

53S88S

gJSJS 05 ^

OIMIMCO

Sodidwci

r-ioO'j'O'O 

oieOTiJcoci

 *OOIMO»i-l WTHTH odt«:

fe C >O CM T~f 

CB'J'iH 8' w

THOO2S2 

r*t55>5>

October 1944...... September 1952 ....

Delaware RiverBasin: Lehigh River atCatasauqua, Pa.
Sehuylkill River at

Pottsville, Pa.

Sehuylkill River at

Philadelphia, Pa.

Susquehanna River 

basin: 

Lackawanna River

Old Forge, Pa.

October 1944 to

September 1951.

October 1945 to

September 1954.

October 1947 to

1

10

50

on

QQ

i

in

50

on

99

1

10

50

on

QQ

1

10

50

an

QQ

<9,900

<4,200

« 1,450

<525

«330

"17,000

»6,300

61,800

«395

«205

81

69

42

25

16

58

51

35

25

20

52

45

32

23

18

130

116

71

37

12

48

43

26

16

11

26

23

15

10

8 0

24

21

14

9.3

7.3

90

80

47

21

6.5

24

20

12

7.5

4.5

19

16

11

7.0

5.0

21

17

11

5.4

3.0

42

37

23

10

3.9

0

0

0

55

50

38

29

35

85

7fi

52

36

29

0

0

0

0

522

443

260

150

92

202

178

119

78

58

154

132

89

58

44

853

752

427

207

66

i Discharge at time of sampling.

5 Based on discharge of Lehigh River at Bethlehem, Pa., adjusted by a factor of 

0.80 (drainage area ratio); period of record, 1944-56. 

»Period of record,1945 47.

< Period of record, 1944

5 Based on discharge o

Municipal Supply of Phi
W42 CONTRIBUTIONS TO HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

TABLE Chemical 5. analyses ofdraining bituminous- coalwaterreas 

[Chemical in million] analyses part per

*>ioo

H*

eoirejonpuoo ogioedg

(n-H) SB AHPTOB IB?O j,

Hardness CaCOas -uoqJBOuoi.1

moj,

(OoOST ?B

-IS9J) SPTIOS P9AIOSSICI

(8ON) 9?ei«M

(a) 9p!»nM

(TO) appoiqo

('oS)9»BjmS

(EOOH) ojBUoqJBOig

(3+BN) ranis 

-SBjod puB nmjpog

(3H)ran!S9nSBH

(BQ) ranjojBO

(trp\[) 9S9UB3UBJ\[

(9^) UOJI

(IV) ranurnmiv

(!ois) Boms

(sjo) ggJBqosip UB8j\[

9nni jo ^traaigj

S

03 

fl

1

IB

IB

IH

e

*3 

a

1

HC

1

T).^^^^ *«N<NOOO <N^-l*

§

OO oot^-co

t^t^t-^odoo to to to to t-^ co"5cOTf

CO N c5 C^ N N N i^ »H iH OS iH CO C*

Mi!

38SSS

gssgs

i i i i

(N r4 rH i-i ,-

I i i i

SS35r

gssss

OCO«5OtC 

(NININdsC

OOTXOS

^ 

*

0

Susquehanna River basin: 

Susquehanna River at

Harrisburg, Pa. 

East p.ha.nnfi1 120,_

ill!! 00 <N !

i!!!! o ' !

IO CC OS T^ If

ogg.CO IO u

1 1

tO -Site

! |

O»O 1C

IO IO T

otoc

(N-HIM

rfStt

8

O IT

tc

I

s

"o

o

1120 .. 

West channel 600..... 1100.. ...1320..... 

Susquehanna River at

Columbia, Pa. 

East side.............

OO 

OO

if. g

i

1 t"-COO5t--

iO OS C 5 & MO3 -^ 

3 t>-

M gegg

tdtd Oi-i "IH

1 1 CKHtHTH 

1 ! 0

COIN 00(N(N(N

co

CO T-H

000 0^00

OS iH

co cot* 05

0

IO

fH t^CC 

O

3^

oco

ss ss

cTo (>r iO i5 _

i i !

ss^

TOIO"^ 

^&| «H§

§

o

June 28, 1956. _

East center- .......... Center. .............. West center ....... West side.............Ohio River basin: 

Crooked Creek atIdaho, 

Pa.

Monongahela River at

Point Marion, Pa.

1

i 

1"3 

1

IB

 0

S 

J3

i

1 

1

C

 o1

IH

e "S

ill ill

us o o

OOlOOtOCO

00 CC C^t C< C t

lOtNOS

i 1 i

III ^O i-Hi-H

i i i OawScON

N N ^*l »O Cg i

jSSssf

R

C^ I> I> CO CC 

O^OCONW

i CO O5 CO M1 ^

liH (N

! i i

> ; <

co^t^t^ra OO

00 tO <N i-< ,-< ,- t~

^OSOO'lXCO^ 3

1 IOOO

cooo^^to ^

OS r- CO (N i-< * OS

i en lot- tx

itXiOCOININ 00

oo t1 1

i

1

j i

IP?

-sss§-

r»

(N

OSlMtJ

COINis?§s

OG 

ioc»-

OS(N

*"*

« C

1C

C1

IT

(N

to

l>

I j

RSrHi-l

:

i

010 (N

OStOtX

gss

^ss

sss

s

OS

OO 

CON

11

sss§- 00 fH IO

2

fH OC^ O <O 10 4jio JS^i

O> M O> *H OS »H s s s» «-'Q «-'Q 1-'° S a $a feg si 11 si

og1 og< "S 0" 

Ora OOQ Ora

OS J- OS <* * >

£ I S i^.

OSfli5 * §" ®

^=gM ®» ^ 

» . S>S /3 ,»o. IH 0"^ D".2 PH«*o6 <o MX> M s ^s

graiS ra^ g^S

 y -u 33^ 

os ^ os ^. oj S'g-S IW .L ni iii s .MP4 -S gW §iP P CO
Station E. 120

Station E. 1180

Station W. 1320

Ohio River basin:

Pa

Rntprsvillfi T*a

Pa

ftftnVusr 1 Q4fi t.A

October 1946 to

October 1946 to

October 1946 to

On nta-m VlAF IQ^I

October 1944 to

SontomVmr 1 Q^9

October 1947 to

W)

99

1

10

50

flO

99

1

10

50

90

99

1

10

50

90

99

1

10

50

90

QQ

1

10

50

90

99

1

10

50

00

99

1

10

50

on

99

1

10

50

90

QQ

1

10

50

90

QQ

1

10

50

90

99

»5,300

«3,200

452,000

422,500

45,600

41,000

<430

12

10

60

45

17

12

10

140

103

54

24

17

68

50

28

20

17

29

17

10

8.0

25

20

16

12

79

58

30

20

16

72

59

43

28

23

2.8

2.2

12

9.8

4.4

3.6

3.0

46

36

21

11

10

24

18

9.3

6.6

5.6

9.5

6.0

4.5

3.5

8.9

7.0

6.0

5.0

22

17

9 n

6.0

5.1

16

13

10

6.8

5.6

3.0

2.4

40

36

12

7.0

5.0

91

70

32

11

6.8

70

50

19

11

6.7

5.0

3.5

2.0

2.0

21

14

9.0

7.0

66

46

21

12

7.7

32

25

17

as

5.5

18

16

31

24

4

2

70

45

?3

11

6

183

163

114

66

40

60

43

12

6

3

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

64

54

43

32

29

2

2

1

1

1

8

6

2

1

4

3

1

1

1

3

?

1

1

1

1

1 Discharge at time of sampling.

* Based on discharge at Renovo, Pa., adjusted by a factor of 1.125 (drainage-area ratio); period of record, 1944-56

»Period of record, 1944-66.

4 Period of record, 1944-56.
SODIUM CHLORIDE WATER

TABLE C. Chemical analyses of water draining well-

[Chemical analyses in parts per million]

Location Date

<o

"o

o> 

PH

2"

o>

Mean dischars SilicaKSiOs)

Iron (Fe)

Calcium (Ca)

5!

~

J3

i

S'oQ

Sodium andp slum (Na+1

0

fcri

Bicarbonate (

Sulfate (S04)

Representative analyses of streams

Ohio River basin:

TTnrtnprQ Vallov "Po

Pa.

PP

at Eidenau, Pa.

Hazen, Pa.

Sewickley, Pa.

Aug. 24, 1954. .

Aug. 9, 1955 

Aug. 24, 1954... _

Aug. 9, 1955.. 

Aug. 25, 1954 .

Aug. 10, 1955 

Sept. 25, 1958 

Sept. 25, 1958 

Aug. 25, 1954... _

Aug. 10, 1955 -

Sept. 25, 1946- ....

Sept. 23, 1958.. __

Sept. 25, 1946- _ -

Sept. 26, 1946 -

Sept. 26, 1946.. ....

Oct. 9, 1957 . 

Sept. 23, 1958.. __

12

12

129

184

128

38

5.0

5.2

6.9

1.8

2.2

1.8

82

0.25

.02

.04

.04

.02

.03

.02

.07

257

50

281

20

42

143

80

24

69

8.5

54

5.6

13

29

16

7.3

694

8.4

111

877

28

106

in

61

fiO

12

131

120

53

100

30

70

36

49

88

85

36

29

48

84

64

77

36

32

23

26

59

30

44

29

39

27

23

115

45

71

357

207

180

59

1

1

1

1
CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS IN PENNSYLVANIA "W45

i

j

1C U5U5OOCOU3COO OO

_i.0.0 N0500U505

fH

! |

I |

1 i

rt

§ S 882e*&3*

SSSSSSSSSdS ****B**S*

CM <NiH

"OCOt^OOOOOOOlM

J-;-, «*««,.-* CO CO

SSS5225cS§SS

j

i

:

[

-SSSS-SSSg

g' 3

2S 22

^.8 ?i *

Is it

O M O M

Ohio River basin: 

Allegheny River Warren, at 

Pa.

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660212 6
W46 CONTRIBUTIONS TO HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Ash, S. H., Felegy, E. W., Kennedy, D. O., and Miller, P. S., 1951, Acid mine 

drainage problems, anthracite region of Pennsylvania: U.S. Bur. of Mines 

Bull. 508.

Ash, S. H., Link, H. B., and Romischer, W. M., 1954, Surface-water seepage into 

anthracite mines in the southern field: U.S. Bur. Mines Bull. 539.

Beamer, N. H., 1953, Chemical character of surface water in Pennsylvania, 1949- 

51: Pennsylvania Dept. Commerce State Plan. Board Pub. 26.

Bennett, H. H., 1939, Soil conservation: New York, McGraw-Hill Book Co.

California State Water Pollution Control Board, 1952, Water-quality criteria: 

[California] State Water Pollution Control Board Pub. 3.

Cohen, Bernard, and McCarthy, L. T., Jr., Salinity of the Delaware River estuary: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 1586-B.

Colman, E. A., 1953, Vegetation and watershed management: New York, Ronald 

Press Co.

Durfor, C. N., and Keighton, W. B., 1954, Chemical characteristics of Delaware 

River water: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 1262.

Fenneman, N. M., 1946, Physical divisions of the United States: U.S. Geol. 

Survey, Special Maps, set of 100 topographic maps, assembled 1955, pi. 1.

Greenmen, D. W., 1955, Ground water resources of Bucks County, Pa.: Pennsylvania Geol. Survey Bull. W 11, 4th ser.

Hall, G. M., 1934, Ground water in southeastern Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania 

Geol. Survey Bull. W 2, 4th ser.

Kittredge, J., 1948, Forest influence: New York, McGraw-Hill Book Co.

Langbein, W. B., and others, 1949, Annual runoff in the United States: U.S. 

Geol. Survey Circ. 52.

Leggette, R. M., 1936, Ground water in northwestern Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Geol. Survey Bull. W 3, 4th ser.

Leighton, M. O., 1904, Quality of water in the Susquebanna River drainage 

basin: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 108.

Lohman, S. W., 1937, Ground water in northeastern Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Geol. Survey Bull. W 4, 4th ser.

 1938, Ground water in south-central Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Geol. 

Survey Bull. W 5, 4th ser.

 1939, Ground water in north-central Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Geol. 

Survey Bull. W 6, 4th ser. 

-1941, Ground water resources of Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Geol.

Survey Bull. W 7, 4th ser.

Miller, B. L., 1934, Limestones in Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Geol. Survey 

Bull. M 20, 4th ser.

Moulton, E. Q., 1957, The acid mine drainage problem in Ohio: Eng. Expt. 

Sta., Ohio State Univ. Bull. 166., v. 26, no. 5.

Noecker, M., Greenman, D. W., and Beamer, N. H., 1954, Water resources of 

the Pittsburgh area, Pa.: U.S. Geol. Survey Circ. 315.

Pennsylvania Department of Commerce, 1947, Industrial utility of water in 

Pennsylvania, chemical character of surface water, 1944-1946: Pennsylvania State Plan. Board Pub. 17.

 1937, Drainage basin study of Pennsylvania, pt. 1, Delaware, Lehigh, and 

Schuylkill Rivers: Pennsylvania State Plan. Board Pub. 10.

 1937, Drainage basin study of Pennsylvania, pt. 2, Susquehanna, Potomac, 

Genesee Rivers, and Chesapeake Bay: Pennsylvania State Plan. Board 

Pub. 10.
CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS IN PENNSYLVANIA W47

Pennsylvania Department of Commerce, 1937, Drainage basin study of Pennsylvania, pt. 3, Upper Ohio and Beaver Rivers and Lake Erie: Pennsylvania 

State Plan. Board Pub. 10.

Pennsylvania Geological Survey, 1956, The ground-water program for Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Geol. Survey Circ. 7, 4th ser.

Pennsylvania Topographic and Geologic Survey, 1931, Geologic map of 

Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Water Supply Commission, 1917, Gazetteer of streams: Water 

resources inventory report, pt. 3.

Piper, A. M., 1933, Ground water in southwestern Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania 

Geol. Survey Bull. W 1, 4th ser.

Tyron, C. A., and others, 1956, Man and the waters of the upper Ohio basin: 

Pymatuning Lab. Field Biol., Univ. Pittsburgh, pub. 1.

U.S. Geological Survey, 1956, Surface-water supply of the United States, 1953, 

pt. IB: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 1272.

 1957, Surface-water supply of the United States, 1955, pt. 3A: U.S. Geol.

Survey Water-Supply Paper 1385.

U.S. Public Health Service, 1943, Ohio River pollution control: Supp. to pt. 2.

White, W. F., 1951, Chemical character of surface water in Pennsylvania 1946- 

1949: Pennsylvania Dept. Commerce, State Plan. Board Pub. 23.

White, W. F., and Lindholm, C. F., 1950, Water resources investigations relating 

to the Schuylkill River restoration project: Pennsylvania Dept. Forests 

and Waters.

Willard, Bradford, 1935, Pennsylvania geology summarized: Pennsylvania Geol, 

Survey Bull. 113.

INDEX

Page

Acid mine drainage, chemical composition_ W8-9

effect on chemical quality.________ 8, 22

map of streams affected by________ 20

Acknowledgments_______________ 2

Allegheny formation______________ 20-21

Allegheny River___.__________ 9, 27, 31

Aluminum.__________________ 9, 22

Antietam Creek________________ 13

Beaver River_________________ 27 

Bibliography___________________ 46-47 

Big Spring-,______________...._ 11 

Bituminous coal fields_________ 19, 20,25-29 

Boiling Springs________________ 11 

Brines, estuarine______________ 31-32, 45 

weU ._____...______._.. 9, 31, 44-45 

Bushkill Creek______________.__ 15

Calcium bicarbonate water____ 10,11-19,33-38

Calcium sulfate water_______ 10,19-30, 39-43

Cambrian limestone_____________ 11,17

Casselman River...._._______.___ 19, 27

Catawissa Creek- ________________ 16

Chemical analyses of surface water. ...__ 33-45

Chemical quality, factors affecting-. _.... 5-11

anthracite-coal areas_______.___ 39-41

bituminous-coal areas__.__ ___ 42-43

estuarine-brlne areas__ ___ 45

glacial-drift areas__.__.__ . 15-17,36-37

limestone and dolomite areas_ . 11-15,33-35

north-central Pennsylvania__ ___. 16

northeastern Pennsylvania... 15

northwestern Pennsylvania__ __ 17

southwestern Pennsylvania_______ 19

variation in cross section of Susquehanna

River.._ __ __ 29 

well-brine areas______________ 44-45 

Clarion River_________________ 27 

Coal fields, anthracite-_.__._._.... 19,20,21 

Conemaugh formation...__ __.. 20-21 

Conestoga Creek.. __ __ 13 

Conewango Creek___._____ ___ 17 

Connoquenessing Creek______ ___ 9,31 

Conococheague Creek_____________ 13 

Contamination___..._______.___ 8-9

Delaware River, salt water in..._ __ 9,31-32 

Delaware River basin_____________ 17-19 

Dingmans Ferry-.. . . ... 7 

Dissolved-solids content, related to discharge. 7 

Drainage basins.... 5,6 

Dunkard Creek.... _....__._____ 19

Easton.

Page

Fertilizer, effect on chemical quality. Wll 

Forest lands.. _ 9 

French Creek_ ___-_____..____ 17

Geology, effect on chemical quality. 7-8 

Glaciation.. 15 

Greene formation_ ..... 20-21 

Ground water, effect on chemical quality. 7-8

Hydrologic cycle..... 4 

Hydrology.__ . . 4-5

Introduction..__ _ . 1-2 

Iron .. . 22

Juniata River basin__._ 13-14

KisMminetas RiverLackawanna River_ _ 16, 21, 25 

Lackawaxen River._ 15,16 

Lake Erie-....___________ ___ 19 

Land use, effect on chemical quality 9,11 

Lehigh River.. __________._____ 19, 21 

Lehigh River basin... ____ 23-24 

Loyalhanna Creek.... 19

Mahantango Creek_ 24

Manganese___.... _ . 9, 22

Marcasite.,.. 8

Method of investigation.. 2

Mississippian rocks_ 25

Monongahela formation._ .. 20-21

Monongahela River 28

Moraines-_ 15

Morrisville_ 7

Nescopeck Creek. 

Northern Anthracite coal fields.

16

21,25

Ohio River basin. . 25 

Ordovician limestone. __ 11,17

Panther Creek. __ __ 23

Pennsylvanian rocks 25 

Peters Creek_ 28 

pH of streams influenced by acid mine drainage. - . . 21-29 

Pleistocene glaciation_ 15 

Pottsville formation.... _ . 20-21 

Precipitation- 4-5 

Presentation of data 2-4 

Pyrite - _- .... .... - 8

W49
W50 INDEX

Page

Raystown Branch.. . ___.__ W13 

Rock Spring. 11 

Runoff 5,6

Salinity, due to tidal invasion________ 9,32 

Sampling stations.. . 3 

Schuylkill River.-__ .._________ 21-22 

Shamokin Creek___ _______ 24 

Sinnemahoning Creek 17 

Sodium chloride water 10,31-32,44-45 

Southern Anthracite coal fields . 15,22 

Streamflow, effect on chemical quality___ 6-7 

Sulfuric acid . 8 

Surface water, types of. 11 

Susquehanna River__ ~___ 16,21,28-30 

........ ........ - .-... - 11

Swatara Creek basin.

Page

. W15

Ten Mile Creek.__...______......_ 19,28

Thompson Spring_ __ 11 

Tidal saline invasion_ - ___________ 9,32 

Tioga River.. 16 

Triassic sediments.. 17 

Tunkhannock Creek. 16

Washington formation_ _____... . 20-21

Well brines. See Brines.

Wiconisco Creek__ . ...__ _ 25

Youghiogheny River... . 19,27 

Young Womans Creek . 17

o