Full Description

Wachusett Reservoir, with a capacity of 65 billion gallons, is the terminal source reservoir in the drinking water supply for metropolitan Boston. At present, water treatment for Wachusett Reservoir includes chloramine disinfection and corrosion control only. Source water quality will play a key role in the upcoming decision to either build a filtration plant or seek a waiver from filtration. The technical basis for the decision will focus in part on the presence, sources, concentration, and effectiveness of controls for pathogens in the source water. Pathogens of interest in Wachusett Reservoir include total and fecal coliform bacteria, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, and enteric viruses. This paper describes the results from historical and 1994-95 data collection efforts to characterize pathogens in the watershed and reservoir. While there remain several watershed and in-reservoir sources of coliform bacteria, levels within the reservoir, particularly at the intake, have met filtration avoidance criteria since July 1993. The influence of wintertime roosting gulls, a significant historical source of coliform bacteria to the intake, has been successfully mitigated with the implementation of a gull harassment program.

Product Details

Published: 01/01/1995 ISBN(s): 0898678323 Number of Pages: 23File Size: 1 file , 850 KB