Morgantown Dominion Post
30 October 2005
By Gary Gray
Water samples taken from the Monongahela River and Cheat Lake show that levels of bacteria and other pollutants are well within accepted ranges for recreational use.
"This is just fantastic," said Tim Terman about the test results. "People have such a preconceived notion about the river - that it's terribly polluted. Well, it was - in the '60s."
Terman, who owns Adventures on Magic River, has taken people on guided kayak tours on the Mon River since 1999.
"I'm glad now that we have a more scientific report," he said. "I know the river is in great shape. I tell people I'm going swimming in there, and most people say, 'What?' "
But there's still work to be done. Technically, the Mon River still is on the state Department of Environmental Protection's list of impaired streams.
The river was placed on the list in 2002 after samples from a five-year period showed elevated amounts of fecal coliform, said Dave Montali, who is in charge of developing the list.
The maximum fecal coliform allowed in West Virginia waters is 200 colonies per 100 milliliters. A colony is a visible growth of microorganisms.
"Samples are taken at the Star City Bridge on a quarterly basis, and if 10 percent of the samples read higher than the standard, we place it on the impaired list," he said. "It means there is a need for us to initiate a pollution-reduction plan."
But just because a river or stream is placed on the impaired list doesn't necessarily mean the water is dangerous to human health, said Jessica Greathouse, DEP spokeswoman.
The Dominion Post hired Triad Engineering of Morgantown to conduct water tests on certain Mon County bodies of water.
The river samples were taken Oct. 12, and each sample was taken about 8 feet from the riverbank. "We waited for a bit of rain - then let things settle down a bit to get a more objective reading," said Jim Seckel, Triad Engineering owner.
Four samples were taken on the Mon River: above the Morgantown Lock and Dam; near the Radisson Hotel; at Oliverio's Ristorante near the Morgantown Fire Rescue dock; and at the Mon River at Star City Park.
More than a dozen parameters were tested at the sites, including total coliform, or all bacteria, fecal coliform, E-coli, alkalinity, acidity and an assortment of other pollutants. Readings at each site were within acceptable ranges.
The state has not established standards for E. coli levels or total coliform counts for general waterways. It does mandate that the E. coli count at Mon County's three monitored swimming areas be no higher than 235 colonies per 100 milliliters.
The Mon River site testing highest for total coliform was at the Radisson Hotel at 220 colonies per 100 milliliters of water. The site testing highest for E. coli was Mon River at Star City Park at 110. These readings are relatively low, Seckel said.
All fecal coliform samples were below 170, with the lowest being 30 near Oliverio's.
"Well, it's just a relief to hear that," said Todd Washburn, Oliverio's Ristorante general manager. "We have a deck used by a lot of customers, and this news is good for business. We get teased from time to time about whether the fish we serve was caught in the Mon, because some people talk about how dirty the river is."
One additional sample was taken on Cheat Lake near Archie's Restaurant. That sample also produced readings well below state minimum standards.
The DEP expects to develop its pollution-reduction plan by 2012 and follow up with reports and solutions during a four-year period, Montali said.
"We characterize all the sources or pollutants and define what is needed for water quality standards," he said.