<p> Coliform bacterial pollution was studied in the Spencer Creek in Hamilton, Ontario. Data, derived from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment files in Hamilton, were used in the determination of whether distinctive temporal patterns of coliform bacterial counts and loads exist in Spencer Creek at Cootes Drive in Dundas. An initial investigation of the general streamflow trends showed that the peak flow period is during the spring snowmelt (March) and a secondary peak flow occurs in late fall due to frontal storms passing through the area. This coincides with the minimums of coliform counts and loads which consistently occur during these times of high flow, particularly March and April. Peak coliform counts and loads occur 70% of the time in late summer with varying starting times in June, July, August and September. This is attributed to the low flow and high temperature of the water in the summer. The average coliform count is 334,154 coliform bacteria per 100 mL water, well above the water quality objectives set by the Ontario Water Resources Commission for Ontario Ministry of the Environment. Approximately 80% of the coliform counts, measured in Spencer Creek in this study, were well above this water quality objective. Therefore, in terms of coliform bacteria, Spencer Creek is polluted, particularly in the summer months. This study simply points out the necessity for further study and continued water quality testing in Spencer Creek.</p> / Thesis / Candidate in Philosophy
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/18770 |
| Date | 04 1900 |
| Creators | Lymburner, Donna J. |
| Contributors | Eyles, C. H., McCann, S. B., Geography |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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