Purdue University

Sophomore

Environmental Engineering major

Shell-sponsored intern

Texas Southern University

Senior

Environmental Health major

ExxonMobil-sponsored intern

Our main goal was to find sources of fecal

contamination in Houston’s waterways.

We made use of the data available in

HGAC’s Water Resources Information Map

to go in between the monitoring stations

and investigate bacteria-impaired

waterways.

We obtained a list of the Top 20 “Most

Wanted” stream segments as determined

by the Bacteria Implementation Group

(BIG).

YSI Professional Plus

Coliscan Easygel method for E. coli

Free & Total Chlorine Test Kit

LaMotte 2020wi Turbidity Meter

Secchi Tube

In order to achieve this goal, we used a variety of

methods and instruments.

We were given an in-depth tour of a City

of Houston Wastewater Treatment

Facility.

We learned about the different functions

of the facility and the process that

wastewater undergoes before it’s

returned back to the waterway.

1. Schramm Gully (H112)

2. Hunting Bayou at I-10 (H100)

1. Bintliff Ditch (D133)

2. Mimosa Ditch (D115)

3. Country Club Bayou (D103)

1. Little Thicket Tributary (E107)

2. Unnamed White Oak Tributary (E106)

3. Little White Oak Bayou (E101)

4. Unnamed White Oak Tributary (E110)

Sharpstown

3 sampling

sites: Romney,

Brayburn

Valley, and

Beechnut

Water quality

station 18690

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Salinity (ppt) Nitrates (mg/L) Temperature (◦C) pH DO (ppm)

Romney

Brayburn

Beechnut

DO Theoretical

Percentages

Romney -- 10.1

Brayburn -- 113.2

Beechnut -- 238

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

Romney Brayburn Beechnut

Co

lon

y F

orm

ing

Un

its

2 mL dilution

5 mL dilution

BOTH

TNTC

The City of Houston is still investigating the Romney location.

Bellaire

Took samples at Ferris, Rice, I-610, and

Newcastle.

There was a minor fish kill at the

Newcastle location.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Salinity (ppt) Nitrates (mg/L) Temperature (◦C) pH DO

Ferris

Rice

I-610

Newcastle

DO Theoretical

Percentage

Ferris -- 73.0

Rice -- 95.1

I-610 -- 86.2

Newcastle -- 161.0

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

Ferris Rice I-610 Newcastle

Co

lon

y F

orm

ing

Un

its

2 mL Dilution

5 mL Dilution

The high level of nitrates at the Ferris

location is likely due to the low flow and

fertilizer runoff from residential land use.

We reported the fish kill at Newcastle to

TCEQ. The cause is undetermined.

We contacted the City of Bellaire about

what we found at Mimosa Ditch.

Water quality

monitoring

stations 16651

and 16650

E. coli levels

320 CFU/100 mL

We accidentally

visited a waterway

that does not have a

water quality

monitoring station.

Ended up being

beneficial because

we found high levels

of E. coli

3 sampling sites: White

Oak, 27th Street, and

at a Railroad

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Salinity (ppt) Nitrates (mg/L) Temperature (◦C) pH DO (ppm)

Railroad

27th

@ White Oak

DO Theoretical

Percentage

27th -- 84.0

Railroad -- 52.2

White Oak -- 83.0

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

Railroad 27th @ White Oak

Co

lon

y F

om

ing

Un

its

2 mL Dilution

5 mL Dilution

BOTH

TNTC

5 m

L TN

TC

BOTH

TNTC

27th @ White Oak Railroad

5 mL and

2 mL

dilutions

We were able to

pick fresh Mustang

grapes at the Turtle

Crossing location in

White Oak Bayou.

They were yummy!

Genus name:

Vitis candicans

We visited E106, which is a tributary of White Oak Bayou.

We sampled at each end of an underground section.

Water quality station 16596

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Salinity (ppt) Nitrates (mg/L) Temperature (◦C) pH DO (ppm)

22nd

20th

DO

Theoretical

Percentage

22nd -- 27.5

20th -- 62.0

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

E106 at 20th E106 at 22nd

2 mL Dilution

5 mL Dilution

The City of Houston is currently investigating this area.

5 sampling

locations:

Werner, Whitney,

Stokes, Moody

Park, and

Woodland Park

Water quality

monitoring

stations 11148

and 16648

0 0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

E101 Werner E101 Whitney E101 - 08

Stokes

E101 Moody

Park

E101

Woodland Park

Co

lon

y F

orm

ing

Un

its

2 mL Dilution

5 mL Dilution

Werner -- .5 mg/L

Whitney -- .2 mg/L

Stokes -- .2 mg/L

Moody Park -- .1 mg/L

Woodland Park -- .1 mg/L

3 sample sites : 290, T. C. Jester and

Karbach

Water quality monitoring station 16595

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

E110 T.C Jester E110 290 E110 Karbach

Co

lon

y F

orm

ing

Un

its

2 mL Dilution

5 mL Dilution

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Salinity (ppt) Nitrates (mg/L) Temperature

(◦C)

pH DO (ppm)

DO Theoretical Percentage

Bolin -- 359.1

Convergence -- 154.4

E115-09 -- 233.1

E115 Peppermill -- 253.9

Bolin

Convergence

E115-09

E115-09 Peppermill

E115 at Bolin – 0 cfu average

E115 & E115-04 – 10 cfu average

E115-09 at Peppermill – 0 cfu average

E115 at Peppermill – 10 cfu average

The E. coli levels of location sites E110,

E101, and E115 were relatively low. They

are either improving or we could have

artificially low numbers from the fact that

we just did a grab sample.

On the other hand, E106 and E107 both

had elevated levels, indicating that

there is a problem in the central area of

the watershed.

Looking at station data along the main stem of White Oak revealed some problem areas.

0

5

10

15

20

25

Upstream of Beltway

(11396)

North Houston -

Rosslyn (11394)

West Tidwell

Road(15831)

West 43rd Street

(15829)

T.C. Jester (15828) North Shepherd Road

(11389)

Tim

es

ov

er

Lim

it (

Ge

om

ea

n)

Number of Times over E. Coli Limit for Stations on White Oak

(Upstream to Downstream) in 2013

4 sites:

Cavalcade,

Le Badie,

H112 and

H100

Confluence,

and Falls

Water

Quality

station 15869

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Salinity (ppt) Nitrates (mg/L) Temperature (◦C) pH DO (ppm)

Cavalcade

Le Badie

Falls at H100

H100 and H112

Confluence

DO Theoretical

Percentage

Cavalcade -- 49

Le Badie -- 74.7

Falls at H100 -- 77.7

H100 and H112

Confluence -- 101.2

The rise in temperature is

consistent with the high

amount of sunlight exposure

that the waterway receives.

Increase in DO indicates

algae blooms

Decrease in nutrients

indicates consumption by

habitat

We initially thought it was a sewage leak

due to the odor and increase in

nutrients.

We revisited the leak.

The E. coli levels were132.5 CFU/ 100 mL.

In addition, the total chlorine value was

0.7+ mg/L .

Together, these two values indicate that

there is a drinking water leak.

We visited

Hunting Bayou

upstream of I-10.

Water quality

station 16657

H124

H100

H103

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

H100 & H124 Confluence H103 Upstream H103 Downstream

Co

lon

y F

orm

ing

Un

its

2 mL Dilution

5 mL Dilution

BOTH

ZERO

The City of Houston set a by-pass pump in order to stop the leak.

Long-term repair is in engineering for design.

The project will be completed by a COH contractor.

Found leak at Romney site on Bintliff Ditch

Broke up White Oak watershed by finding relatively low levels of E. coli at E101, E110 and E115

Found sewer leak at Hunting Bayou near I-10

Area on White Oak between North

Houston-Rosslyn and West Tidwell Road

Central area of White Oak (Little Thicket

Tributary and E106)

Bayou Preservation Association › Steve Hupp

› Kathy Lord

› Marina Rossow

› Eric Ruckstuhl

› Tom Ivy

› Board

City of Houston

› Carol La Breche

› Lisa Groves

› Walid Samarneh

› Sonja Lewis

› Arturo Blanco

› Dorene Hancock

› Lisa Leija

Houston-Galveston Area Council

› Bill Hoffman

› Steven Johnston

› Jean Wright

› Todd Running

Aerial photos of waterways were accessed from the Water

Resources Information Map on the H-GAC website.

Online Image of Coliscan EasyGel and Petri Dish. n.d. Coliscan

EasyGel. Micrology Laboratories. Retrieved 23 June 2014.

Online Image of ExxonMobil Logo. 10 February 2009. exxonmobil-

logo. Chomchom Advertising. Retrieved 23 July 2014.

Online Image of Hach Free & Total Chlorine Test Kit. n.d. Chlorine

(Free and Total) Test Kit, Model CN-80. Hach. Retrieved 23

June 2014.

Online Image of LaMotte 2020wi Handheld Turbidity Meter. n.d.

All You Need. Retrieved 23 June 2014.

Online Image of Shell Logo. 6 March 2007. File: Shell Logo.png.

Uncyclomedia Commons. Retrieved 23 July 2014.

Online Image of YSI Professional Plus Meter. n.d. YSI Professional

Plus (Meter). Certified Balance & Scale. Retrieved 23 June

2014.