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Water Quality in the Sugar Creek Basin, Bloomington and Normal, Illinois

Water-Resources Investigations Report 78-78
Prepared in cooperation with Bloomington and Normal Sanitary District
By:
https://doi.org/10.3133/wri7878

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Abstract

Sugar Creek, within the twin cities of Bloomington and Normal, Illinois, has differences in water quantity and quality as a result of urban runoff and overflows from combined sewers.

Water-quality data from five primary and eight secondary locations showed three basic types of responses to climatic and hydrologic stresses. Stream temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen, ammonia nitrogen, total phosphorus, biochemical oxygen demand, and fecal bacteria showed seasonal variations. Conductivity (dis­solved solids), pH, chloride, and suspended solids concentrations varied more closely with stream discharges. Total organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, biochemical oxygen demand, and fecal coliform and fecal strep­tococcal bacteria concentrations exhibited variations indicative of initial flushing action during storm runoff.

Selected analyses for herbicides, insecticides, and other complex organic compounds in solution and in bed material showed that these constituents were coming from sources other than the municipal sanitary treatment plant effluent. Analyses for 10 common metals: arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, mer­cury, nickel, and zinc showed changes in concentrations below the municipal sanitary plant outfall.

Suggested Citation

Prugh, B.J., Jr., 1978, Water quality in the Sugar Creek basin, Bloomington and Normal, Illinois:U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 78–78, 40 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/wri7878.

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Acknowledgments
  • Methods
  • Data Evaluation
  • Special Studies
  • Summary
  • References
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Water quality in the Sugar Creek basin, Bloomington and Normal, Illinois
Series title Water-Resources Investigations Report
Series number 78-78
DOI 10.3133/wri7878
Year Published 1978
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Illinois Water Science Center
Description vi, 40 p.
Country United States
State Illinois
City Bloomington, Normal
Other Geospatial Sugar Creek Basin
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details