Waterways

Waterway - Watsons Creek, Dan & Lillian

We tested Watsons Creek for pH level, temperature and conductivity. At approximate ten metre intervals we placed probes in the water and recorded the results. 5771515W || 6.90 || 325.4 || 14.7 || 5771505W || 4.17 || 326.4 || 13.8 || 5771504W || 6.46 || 328.3 || 12.5 || 5771500W || 5.06 || 327.8 || 12.0 || 5771497W || 7.30 || 328.2 || 14.0 || 5771495W || 7.00 || 328.3 || 12.0 || 5771492W || 7.21 || 328.3 || 13.9 || 5771500W || 7.11 || 328.3 || 14.0 || 5771487W || 7.00 || 328.3 || 14.4 || 5772487W || 6.82 || 328.3 || 15.5 || 5771449W || 6.24 || 328.3 || 16.1 || 5771448W || 6.12 || 327.5 || 16.1 || 5771433W || 8.7 || 327.3 || 14.2 || 5771428W || 7.00 || 327.3 || 13.9 || 5771436W || 4.20 || 255.0 || 14.0 || 5771432W || 3.98 || 262.0 || 13.6 || 5771426W || 7.16 || 326.3 || 12.8 || 5771429W || 5.10 || 327.0 || 14.0 || 5771421W || 4.22 || 327.3 || 13.2 || 5771424W || 4.80 || 327.3 || 13.0 || 5771421W || 5.01 || 327.3 || 12.8 || 5771410W || 4.03 || 326.6 || 15.8 || 5771409W || 6.41 || 327.0 || 12.7 || 5771414W || 3.21 || 310.0 || 13.3 || 5771433W || 4.10 || 323.4 || 11.3 || 5771425W || 3.73 || 317.5 || 13.9 || 5771415W || 4.24 || 323.0 || 11.5 || 5771400W || 4.70 || 323.8 || 12.0 || 5771393W || 4.06 || 320.6 || 12.5 || 5771386W || 4.38 || 323.1 || 12.5 || 5771377W || 4.53 || 324.5 || 12.4 || 5771372W || 6.46 || 326.6 || 12.2 || 5771358W || 6.49 || 326.7 || 12.6 || 5771350W || 6.58 || 326.8 || 12.7 || 5771339W || 6.88 || 325.3 || 11.6 ||
 * || GPS || pH || Conductivity || Temp ||
 * Mark 1 || 0340349S
 * Mark 2 || 0340327S
 * Mark 3 || 0340357S
 * Mark 4 || 0340346S
 * Mark 5 || 0340324S
 * Mark 6 || 0340327S
 * Mark 7 || 0340320S
 * Mark 8 || 0340305S
 * Mark 9 || 0340304S
 * Mark 10 || 0340302S
 * Mark 11 || 0340299S
 * Mark 12 || 0340304S
 * Mark 13 || 0340309S
 * Mark 14 || 0340296S
 * Mark 15 || 0340281S
 * Mark 16 || 0340266S
 * Mark 17 || 0340251S
 * Mark 18 || 0340236S
 * Mark 19 || 0340228S
 * Mark 20 || 0340215S
 * Mark 21 || 0340205S
 * Mark 22 || 0340197S
 * Mark 23 || 0340186S
 * Mark 24 || 0340173S
 * Mark 25 || 0340174S
 * Mark 26 || 0340157S
 * Mark 27 || 0340144S
 * Mark 28 || 0340139S
 * Mark 29 || 0340133S
 * Mark 30 || 0340123S
 * Mark 31 || 0340120S
 * Mark 32 || 0340106S
 * Mark 33 || 0340094S
 * Mark 34 || 0340083S
 * Mark 35 || 0340066S


 * Mark || pH ||
 * 12 || 6.73 ||
 * 13 || 6.80 ||
 * 14 || 6.80 ||
 * 15 || 6.81 ||
 * 16 || 6.72 ||
 * 17 || 6.76 ||
 * 18 || 6.73 ||
 * 19 || 6.63 ||
 * 20 || 6.62 ||
 * 21 || 6.56 ||
 * 22 || 6.42 ||
 * 23 || 6.59 ||
 * 24 || 6.47 ||
 * 25 || 6.49 ||
 * 26 || 6.38 ||
 * 27 || 6.30 ||
 * 28 || 6.28 ||
 * 29 || 6.27 ||
 * 30 || 6.17 ||
 * 31 || 6.13 ||
 * 32 || 6.10 ||
 * 33 || 6.00 ||
 * 34 || 5.70 ||
 * 35 || 5.06 ||


 * Mark || pH ||
 * 12 || 7.08 ||
 * 13 || 7.12 ||
 * 14 || 7.17 ||
 * 15 || 7.12 ||
 * 16 || 7.18 ||
 * 17 || 7.14 ||
 * 18 || 7.06 ||
 * 19 || 6.92 ||
 * 20 || 6.70 ||
 * 21 || 6.51 ||
 * 22 || 6.50 ||
 * 23 || 6.88 ||
 * 24 || 6.95 ||
 * 25 || 7.02 ||
 * 26 || 6.97 ||
 * 27 || 6.90 ||
 * 28 || 6.88 ||
 * 29 || 7.00 ||
 * 30 || 6.98 ||
 * 31 || 6.95 ||
 * 32 || 6.90 ||
 * 33 || 6.90 ||
 * 34 || 6.77 ||
 * 35 || 6.50 ||

Initial graphed results.



After our initial survey we found conductivity and temperature to be of no particular worry.

pH levels however were of interest. Some extremely low values at marks 16, 24 and 26 pose potential problems. some higher values around mark 13 also were worth reconsidering.

19/10 - After analysis of these alarming results, the pH level test was redone (graph pH-2). The secondary testing was after heavy rainfall and storm movement which flushed significant amounts of water through the creek system. As the reserve area (marks 1-11) posed no particular threat and is difficult to access, this area was not re-tested. pH levels after the initial flush out balanced, steep peaks were seen to reduce. There was a general negative trend down the river. The range also reduced with a maximum of around 6.9 and a minimum of 5.0. Evidently the water system was still acidic. Marks 22 and 35 were still of particular interest however as the lowest pH levels existed here as extreme values and did not fit the general linear regression. Drain outlets exist at these marks. At mark 22 a small outlet stems from our VCE centre. At mark 35 one stemmed from gym. 25/10. After yet another rainfall we the pH levels were retested.pH levels had increased with a range now from 6.4-7.1The further decrease in range was a good indicator of improved river health after a further flush out. Although these values were still minorly acidic this is fairly natural and a fairly healthy average value. Marks 22 and 35 still posed possible future threat and supported that the drains possibly have a net acidic outflow.The decreases were less steep and were gradual indicating the acidic output had diffused further up and down the creek. The generally flat and linear gradient supported that with regular flushing, the pH levels can be kept healthy. In conclusion of these tests, although the water way shows levels that are all healthy it indicated that without being flushed through regularly it can easily become acidic. In summer this could be a serious problem.At marks 22 and 35 the outflow from the drains needs to be investigated as this is causing a drop in pH and poses future threat. With regular rain fall however, the river is able to maintain a healthy pH level, conductivity and temperature range. Time permitted we should test for invertebrate life to see whether there are other qualities that determine the river’s ability to support life.