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| Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5034 |
By Martin R. Risch
Abstract
Water samples from the Grand Calumet River/Indiana
Harbor Canal and Lake Michigan in Lake County, Indiana,
were collected and analyzed for mercury. Sampling was
done with ultra-clean protocols, and mercury was analyzed
by low-level methods during seasons of contrasting weather
and streamflow conditions in August 2001 and May 2002.
Total mercury concentrations in all the Grand Calumet
River/Indiana Harbor Canal samples exceeded the 1.3 nanogram
per liter Indiana water-quality standard for waters
within the Great Lakes system. Total mercury concentrations
in the Lake Michigan samples did not exceed the Indiana
water-quality standard. Total mercury and methylmercury
concentrations were larger in more samples collected during
the wet-weather streamflow conditions in May 2002 than
in samples collected during the dry-weather streamflow conditions
in August 2001. The largest total mercury concentrations
were in samples collected from the West Branch Grand Calumet
River near wetlands and municipal-effluent outfalls
(17.2 nanograms per liter) and in samples collected from the
Indiana Harbor Canal near the confluence of the East Branch
and West Branch Grand Calumet River (16.0 nanograms
per liter).
Particulate total mercury was the predominant form of
total mercury detected in samples from the Grand Calumet
River/Indiana Harbor Canal. Methylmercury concentrations
were no more than 1.5 percent of the total mercury concentrations
in August 2001 and no more than 6.2 percent in May 2002.
Nearly all methylmercury was particulate and was correlated
to concentrations of dissolved solids, total organic carbon, and
sulfate. The estimated composition of most of the suspended
solids in the water samples from the Grand Calumet River/
Indiana Harbor Canal was sediment larger than medium clay
containing minimal organic carbon and plant matter. Total mercury
loads in the Indiana Harbor Canal during the time of water
sampling were as large as 703 milligrams per hour in August
2001 and 542 milligrams per hour in May 2002. As much as
21 percent of the instantaneous mercury load in some stream
reaches could have come from ground-water discharge.
Data from this study have implications for a Total Maximum
Daily Load (TMDL) for mercury in the Grand Calumet
River/Indiana Harbor Canal. Comparisons of data from this
study with historical data do not show substantial changes in the
distribution of mercury in the study area from 1994 through
2002. Treated municipal effluent had larger mercury concentrations
than industrial effluent and presents a potential for larger
mercury loads that could be controlled to achieve a TMDL,
based on concentration. Mercury in ground-water discharge
may be difficult to control to achieve a TMDL because of its
diffuse and widespread distribution.
Contents
Abstract
Introduction
Purpose and Scope
Mercury in the Environment
Description of the Study Area
Previous Investigations of Mercury in the Study Area
Mercury in Surface Water
Mercury in Fish, Sediment, Atmospheric Deposition, and Ground Water
Methods
Study Design
Sampling Locations
Sampling Procedures
Equipment and Supplies
Watercraft and Vehicles
Sample Collection
Water-Quality Analysis
Quality Control
Streamflow
Mercury in the Grand Calumet River/Indiana Harbor Canal and Lake Michigan
Total Mercury and Methylmercury
Mercury in Environmental Samples
Mercury in Quality-Control Field-Blank Samples
Factors Affecting Mercury Concentrations and Mercury Transport
Weather and Streamflow
Suspended Sediment and Suspended Fine Particulates
Natural Variability of Mercury Concentrations
Water-Quality Constituents
Total Mercury Loads
Implications for a Total Maximum Daily Load
Comparisons with Historical Data
Mercury in Effluent Samples
Mercury in Ground-Water Discharge
Inputs of Mercury
Summary and Conclusions
Acknowledgments
References Cited
Appendixes—
1–1.—1–6. Tables of total mercury and methylmercury concentrations; estimated loads of combined total mercury; water-quality characteristics, physical properties, and major ions; unfiltered total mercury and water-quality characteristics of effluent samples; total mercury in field-blank samples; and variability of selected constituents in sequential duplicate samples, Grand Calumet River/Indiana Harbor Canal and Lake Michigan, Lake County, Indiana, August 2001
2–1.—2–6. Tables of total mercury and methylmercury concentrations; estimated loads of combined total mercury; water-quality characteristics, physical properties, and major ions; unfiltered total mercury and water-quality characteristics of effluent samples; total mercury in field-blank samples; and variability of selected constituents in sequential duplicate samples, Grand Calumet River/Indiana Harbor Canal and Lake Michigan, May 2002
3–1. Table of U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System site-identification numbers for locations sampled in the Grand Calumet River/Indiana Harbor Canal and Lake Michigan, August 2001 and May 2002
Figures
1.–2. Illustrations showing—
1. Sources of mercury and mercury cycling in aquatic ecosystems
2. Accumulation and magnification of mercury in the food chain
3.–5. Maps showing—
3. Study area for mercury in the Grand Calumet River/Indiana Harbor Canal and Lake Michigan in Lake County, Indiana, August 2001 and May 2002
4. Locations of Indiana monitoring stations for mercury in wet deposition during 2001 and 2002
5. Sampling locations for mercury in the Grand Calumet River/Indiana Harbor Canal and Lake Michigan, August 2001 and May 2002
6. Illustration showing peristaltic-pump apparatus for mercury sampling, August 2001 and May 2002
7. Photograph showing watercraft and U.S. Geological Survey personnel during mercury sampling, August 2001
8.–9. Maps showing—
8. Combined total mercury concentrations in the Grand Calumet River/Indiana Harbor Canal and Lake Michigan, August 2001 and May 2002
9. Estimated loads of combined total mercury during the time of sampling at selected locations in the Grand Calumet River/Indiana Harbor Canal, August 2001 and May 2002
Tables
1. Mercury concentrations and mercury wet-deposition rates for National Atmospheric Deposition Program Mercury Deposition Network monitoring stations in Indiana and North America
2. Locations for mercury sampling in the Grand Calumet River/Indiana Harbor Canal and Lake Michigan, Lake County, Indiana, August 2001 and May 2002
3. Constituents, containers, treatment, and preservation for sampling during August 2001 and May 2002 in Lake County, Indiana
4. Analytical methods for supplementary constituents in water samples during August 2001 and May 2002 in Lake County, Indiana
5. Ranges of combined total mercury and methylmercury concentrations in water samples from groups of sampling locations on the Grand Calumet River/Indiana Harbor Canal and Lake Michigan, Lake County, Indiana, August 2001 and May 2002
6. Ranges of combined methylmercury as a percentage of combined total mercury in water samples from groups of sampling locations, August 2001 and May 2002
7. Ranges of particulate total mercury as a percentage of combined total mercury in water samples from groups of sampling locations, August 2001 and May 2002
8. Streamflow at 10 sampling locations and suspended-sediment concentration in water samples, August 2001 and May 2002
9. Suspended-sediment concentrations in sequential duplicate water samples from five sampling locations, May 2002
10. Proportions of suspended fine particulates, particulate organic carbon, and plant pigments in seston of water samples from groups of sampling locations, August 2001 and May 2002
11. Ranges of concentrations of dissolved solids, total organic carbon, and sulfate in water samples from groups of sampling locations, August 2001 and May 2002
12. Estimated loads of combined total mercury during the time of sampling at eight sampling locations, August 2001 and May 2002
13. Concentrations of total mercury in water samples from seven sampling locations, July 1999, August 2001, and May 2002
14. Maximum estimated loads of total mercury in ground-water discharges to stream reaches and maximum instantaneous loads of total mercury at eight sampling locations, August 2001 and May 2002
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