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Polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations in Hudson River water and treated drinking water at Waterford, New York

Water-Resources Investigations Report 83-4188
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/wri834188

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Abstract

Past discharge of PCBs into the Hudson River has resulted in contaminant concentrations of a few tenths of a microgram per liter in the water. Waterford is one of two large municipal users of the Hudson River for drinking-water supply. The treatment scheme at the Waterford plant, which processes approximately 1 million gallons per day, is similar to that of most conventional treatment plants except for the addition of powdered activated carbon during flocculation. Comparison of PCB concentrations in river water and intake water at the plant to concentrations in treated drinking-water samples indicates that purification processes remove 80 to 90 percent of the PCBs and that final concentrations seldom exceed 0.1 microgram per liter. No significant difference was noted between the removal efficiencies during periods of high river discharge, when PCBs are associated with suspended sediment, and low discharge, when PCBs are generally dissolved. (USGS)

Suggested Citation

Schroeder, R.A., Barnes, C., 1983, Polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations in Hudson River water and treated drinking water at Waterford, New York: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 83-4188, iv, 17 p. :ill., maps ;28 cm., https://doi.org/10.3133/wri834188.

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations in Hudson River water and treated drinking water at Waterford, New York
Series title Water-Resources Investigations Report
Series number 83-4188
DOI 10.3133/wri834188
Year Published 1983
Language ENGLISH
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey,
Description iv, 17 p. :ill., maps ;28 cm.
Additional publication details