Water Quality Maps

Geographic Information System (GIS) software was employed to producemaps linked to this page. These maps depict either water quality trendsover time or current water quality through the use of numerical dataand/or graphical representations.

Several formats are available for visitors. An interactiveGoogle Earth map, displaying numerical data since the 1970s, requiresvisitors to download Google Earth. A pdf document, with numerous staticmaps displaying trends and current water quality, is available(requires Adobe Acrobat to open). Both Google Earth and Adobe Acrobatare free downloads. Additionally, several maps, not requiring adownload, are available directly on this site for visitors.

Interactive Map

Google Earth Map
(Requires Google Earth Download)

Static Maps

Supplement: GIS Mapping of Muncie and Delaware County Water Quality Information
(Adobe Acrobat Download)

Additional Maps

Nutrients

Maps on this page display Bureau of Water Quality city baseline sitesthat have undergone continuous monitoring since the mid-1970s. Each barrepresents the parameterís decade average.

Ammonia, nitrate, and phosphate have been reduced greatly since the1970s. In particular, the White River site on Nebo Road, downstream ofthe Muncie Water Pollution Control Facility, has seen large reductionsin these contaminants. Percent reductions, for each contaminate at eachsite, are available for download in the pdf format by clicking on thelink Supplement: GIS Mapping of Muncie and Delaware County WaterQuality Information located on the main maps page.

Nutrientreductions can be attributed to several factors. Reductions in thenumber of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and removal of illegaldischarges to the White River and its tributaries have helped reduceconcentrations. Decreased nutrient discharge from the Muncie WaterPollution Control Facility with increased regulation and removaltechnologies has also contributed to these reductions.

Metals 

Maps on this page display Bureau city baseline sites that haveundergone continuous monitoring since the mid-1970s. Each barrepresents the parameterís decade average.

All BWQ city baseline sites have seen dramatic reductions in metalcontamination. Large reductions are seen on the White River, especiallydownstream of the Muncie Water Pollution Control Facility. Lead, inparticular, is presently less than ten percent of its 1970s levels atall sites. Percent reductions, for each contaminant at each site, areavailable for download in the pdf format by clicking on the linkSupplement: GIS Mapping of Muncie and Delaware County Water QualityInformation located on the main maps page.

 

Dramaticdecreases in metal concentrations (seen above) can be attributed toseveral factors. Industries in the early 1970s discharged untreatedpollutants, including toxic metals, directly to the White River, itstributaries, or the Muncie Water Pollution Control Facility. TheBureauís industrial pretreatment programs requires industry to pretreatwastes prior to discharge to the wastewater treatment plant. Since the1970s, reductions of toxic chemicals entering the treatment plant from81% to 99% have been observed, and reductions of those toxic chemicalsin treatment plant effluent to the White River of 58% to 98% have beenobserved. Other factors contributing to this decrease include communityeducation and federal programs requiring industry to replace toxicchemicals with ones less toxic to the environment.

The map on this page displays Bureau city baseline sites that haveundergone continuous monitoring since the mid-1970s. Each barrepresents the parameterís decade average.

Note: E. coli concentrations were estimated for the 1970s and 1980s using fecal coliform counts.

As the map (above) shows, E. coli concentrations have seen largereductions at many city baseline sites. Almost all sites have witnessedgreater than 80% reduction from 1970s levels. Greater than 90%reduction is observed at five sites. Percent reductions, for eachcontaminant at each site, are available for download in the pdf formatby clicking on the link Supplement: GIS Mapping of Muncie and DelawareCounty Water Quality Information located on the main maps page.

E. coli reductions can be attributed to several MuncieSanitary District and Bureau of Water Quality actions, includingreductions in the number of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and removalof illegal discharges to the White River and its tributaries.