m=
. . .” -
AUſ. 1952 - -ſ / -z
w L J B R A R Y & tº-º/
III SCR 1 FFS Nst T UT to N
N|A, SAN DIEGO
Çı H. C E
||||| 9...º.
46 ºff; 'º for NiA
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Harold L. Ickes, Secretary
2 00978 46
F-
FiSH AND WILDLIFE, SERVICE
Ira N. Gabrielson, Director
ºl
→
Special Scientific Report No. ll
-**-a
p T.I.UTI ~ : SURVEY OF T * - 1 * Fi rºy T. r , , , º, . Tº r + , † - rſity - n
1"J.J.3. ſ: IC) S }:\ſº } : II. CU] 3. i. i*i 1) RTJ R Tº i i-
4.- - -
VICTITTY OF NA3HVTL.L., TEI., AU LST, lºé.
–l
|-
- * * -
r - -
IM. li. Ellis and B. A. ... estfall
.92 * *
Chicago
19h3


POLLUTION SURVEY OF THE GUERLAND RIVER I, Hº VICINITY
. OF NASHVILLE, TENN., AUGUST, lº&
by
M. H. Ellis, Senior Aquatic Physiologist
and
B. A. Westfall, Associate Aquatic Physiologist
INTRODUCTION
Following the request of Mr. N. H. Walker, Supervisor of the Protec-
tors for the State of Tennessee, (State Gaine and Fish Colāmission) to the
U. S. Bureau of Fisheries for an investigation of the Cumberland River in
the vicinity of Nashville, Tennessee, with reference to stream pollution
and fisheries, Iº. 3. A. ...estfall, Bioassayist, U. S. Bureau of Fisheries,
was detailed to fashville, and was actively enºaced in field work on the
Cumberland kiver, Auºu: 3 to * inclusive, cover ºng a total of some 60
miles of the Cumber laid Iliver Croſſ the duPont Fa on Hills (31 miles by
river upstream fro J.; ºf ille) to a point, about 20 miles beloit Vashville.
During this period the 5uate of Tennessee slºpplies' posts and other field
assistance which is grº. tº full r cºck; or:ledged. ...t. the close of field York
a truck load of Samples representing l?0 different collections was taken
to the Columbia ( c.) Laboratories where detailed chemical and biological
assays were riade.
The present report presents in condensed form the summarized findings
based on these field and laboratory studies.
METHODS
The analytical procedures followed for Water analyses were those ap-
proved by the American Public Health Association (1933), and the biological
assay methods those described by Ellis (l'936). In all nearly 500 stand-
ardized fish Were used in the determination of toxicity values for the sev-
eral types of industrial effluents in the Nashville area, and these data
were supplemented by the various routine bioassay tests of all samples as
regularly carried out in Columbia Laboratories. All assays and analyses
Were inade in quadruplicate.
+/submitted October 7, 1936.
UN
III.]]
3 1822 00978 4646
º
LIST OF LOCALITIES
The Several stations at which samples were collected in the Nashville
area are listed below. These have been arranged in sequence, moving down-
stream from Old Hickory, Tennessee, the most upstream point on the Cumber-
land River visited in this study. The abbreviation "Lno" refers to local-
ity number in field notes. - •
Ino 1310. August 1, 1936. Cumberland River, 300 yards upstream from
duPont Rayon Slough, at Old Hickory, Tennessee.
Lno 1311. August 1, 1936. duPont Rayon Slough, at Old Hickory, 31
miles by river upstream from Nashville, Tennessee. -
Ino l312. August li; lºé. Cumberland River, one-half mile downstream
from duPont Rayon Slough outlet at Old Hickory.
Lno lºl:3. August 11, l236. Cumberland River at Old Hickory Bridge.
Lno lºll. August 5, 1936. Cumberland River at Shelby Point one and
one-half miles upstream from Nashville. Iſid chat.nel and 200 yards above
the most upstream sewer from Nashville.
Lno lºlº. August 5, 1936. Nashville city sever No. 1, i.e., the most
upstream sewer entering the Cumberland River from Nashville.
Lno lºl.6. August 5, 1936. Cumberland River, midstream about 100 yards
upstream from the second sewer and below the first sewer flowing into the
river from Nashville.
Lno lºi 7. August 5, 1936. Nashville city sewer No. 2, i.e., second
sewer entering the Cumberland River from Nashville. This sewer carries
effluent from the White Way Laundry but the discharge was blue-gray and
fairly clear rather than soapy at the time the sample was taken.
Lno lºlò. August 5, 1936. Nashville City Hospital sever, at the east,
i.e., upstream, edge of the town. -
Lno lºl.9. August 5, l936. Cumberland River, mid channel about 300
yards upstream from Sparkman Street Bridge and above the mouth of the seventh
city sewer from Nashville. - &
Lno lº20. August 5, 1936. Nashville City sewer No. 7, a little up-
stream from Sparkman Street Bridge; a large sever five feet wide, discharg—
ing a stream three feet deep carrying the waste from two laundries.
Lno lº2l. August 5, l936. Nashville city sewer No. 8, the first sewer
downstream from the Sparkman Street Bridge. Effluent contained large quan-
tities of undisintegrated feces and hotel Wastes. - y
Ino 1322. August 5, 1936, . Flume from Heinz Pickle Factory. Rather
clear effluent gushes with powerful current from a ll-inch pipe just under
the surface of the river, ºr ºf . , . . . . . . • * ~ .
Lno lºº?. August 5, 1936. Nashville city sewer No. 10, 200 yards
upstream frºm the Woodland Street; Bridge. This sever carries the effluent
from the Ideal and Model Laundries as well as household sewage and much . .
undisintegrated fecal material was noted floating at the surface of the
* • 4
river for several hundred yards below its outlet.
Ino l821. August 5, 1936. Cumberland River, mid channel 35 feet up
stream from the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, Bridge, and about l;00
yards downstream from the flume from the Heinz Pickle Factory. . . .
Lno l825. August 5, 1936. aste pipe from, the Nashville Heat and
Gas Company Plant, about 200 yards downstream from the Louisville and , .
Nashville Railroad Bridge. This effluent produced an oily appearance on
the surface of the river and had a pronounced coal tar odor, and was dis-
tinctly blackish in color. -
Lno lº26. August 6, 1936. Nashville city sewer No. ll. Just up-
stream frcin the Jeffers ºn Street Bridge. A very large sewer perhaps lé
feet in diameter and flowing one-third full with a strong although quiet
current. A brown scum, one and one-half to two inches thick covers the
surface of the Water about the cutlet of this sever. There were also .
noted large quantities of undisintegrated fecal material and some garbage
on the surface of the river. This sever receives contributions from Gulf,
Standard Oil and Sinclair Oil Company refineries. . . .
Lno lº'7. August 6, 1936. Cumberland River, mid channel halfway be-
tween Jefferson Street Bridge and the Neuhoff Packing Company Plant.
Lno lº28. August 6, 1936. Flume from Neuhoff Packing Plant, a pipe
about lé inches in diameter discharging over a pile of rocks from which
the effluent drained into the river. The effluent contained considerable
blood and the rock pile and vicinity were fouled with much animal Waste
including pieces of intestine, tapeyrorms, and intestinal contents. . .
Lno l329. August 6, 1936. Flume from the Nashville-Jacobs Packing
Company plant, discharging into narrow ditch eroded in the earth embank-
ment. The effluent carried much blood and quite a quantity, of animal
debris. •
Lno lºo. August 6, 1936. Cumberland River, mid channel, half way
between Nashville Island and Lock l. Surface of the Water with floating
Scum and oily streaks. River bottom emitting many bubbles of gas from
decomposition of organic material in the 5 inch layer of bottom silt.
Leeches and tubifex worms very numerous in the shallow water along shore.
Lno lºl. August 6, 1936. Cumberland River, mid channel 300 yards
below the dam of Lock l.
- Lno lº2 A and B. August 6, 1936. Flume from Victor Chemical Company
plant, est Nashville, Tennessee. A lº inch pipe discharges a grayish
black effluent at the top of a rocky cliff some 175 feet high. The dis-
charge reaches the river in two small streams and produces a dark streak
in the river for a little distance downstream. This is the factory sewer
and carries laboratory wash water. Samples taken just as the little streams
entered the river. . . . . . . . . . . . . • .
Lno lºº. August 6, 1936. Flume from Victor Chemical Company Plant,
West Nashville. Flume from vicinity of a large wooden tank at the top of
the cliff, discharged, intermittently, through a deep cut in the face of
the limestone rock. The effluent before reaching the river, about loo yards
below that from Lno l;32, spread out over the limestone which was stained
Yellow-brown and devoid of vegetation. This flume carries back wash from
Water purification plant. Sample taken from stream just before entering
the river. - . -
Lno lºl,0. August 6, 1936. Victor Chemical Company sewer and back
Wash from Water filters, samples taken at the plant. These samples are
comparable to those from Lno l?%2A and B and Lno l833 respectively,
Lno l?3ll. August 6, 1936. Stream from flume of the Federal Chemical
"Works, discharging a grayish effluent at the top of a high limestone cliff
some 175 feet above the river. This waste has cut a deep narrorſ channel
in the face of the limestone. Sample from near the river.
Lno ljll. August 8, 1936. Effluent from open ditch sewer just as it
leaves the Federal Chemical orks. -
Lno lº 35. August 7, 1936. Stream entering the river from the flume
leaving the Tennessee Fertilizer Company plant. The flume discharges its
Waste at the top of the cliff and the effluent has cut a narrow-deep groove
in the limestone as it ran down to the river. This effluent is derived un-
der conditions similar to that from the Federal Chemical orks which also
manufactures super-phosphates. Samples from close to the river – a strong
Odcr of ammonia was noted about this effluent. -
Lno ljó. August 7, 1936. Sewer from the State Prison discharges
over the face of a limestone cliff about lºo feet above the river. This
sewer carries manufacturing as well as household wastes. Sample from near
the river. - , .
Lno l;37. August 7, l936. Cumberland River in mid channel three
fourths of a mile downstream from the State Prison sewer. , . "
Lno ljlil, August 8, 1936. Richland Creek in West Nashville, sampled
20 yards upstream from a bridge which is one-fourth of a mile above the
Teas Extract and Iead Paperboard Companies but 6 miles below a small domestic
sewer, Stream very small falling over a rocky bed. Small minnows were
noted in one of its pools.
Lno 13/12. August 8, l936. An open ditch flume from the Teas Extract
Company factory was sampled about 200 feet below the plant, carried a dark
coffee-colored effluent. This factory extracts tannic acid from chestnut
Wood and bººk. . . . . -
Ino 13.3. August 8, 1936. Lead Paperboard Company, West Nashville.
Situated just a few yards below the Teas Extract Company. Uses the same i
waste flume as the Teas Extract Company. Four samples of Wastes were taken:
A. - Mixture of pulp mill, boiler refuse, and Teas Extract.
B. - Same as A but diluted With river Water. -
C. — Paper mill effluent only. - -
D. - ſixture of above as it goes to Richland Creek.
Lno 1338. August 7, 1936. Richland Creek in West Nashville, was sainpled
l;0 yards upstream from its junction with the Cumberland River. Width of .
Creek 30 to 35 feet; depth l. 5 feet; current moderate; water blackish. Rich-
land Creek receives the effluents from the Teas Extract Company and the Mead
Paperboard Compan'ſ two and one-half miles upstream from its Inouth. i
Lno lº B9. August 7, 1936. Cumberland River, in est Nashville, about . .
one mile downstream from Richland Creek and one-half mile upstream from the
Williamson Ferry. This is about lé miles by river from Nashville.
CC}}I) TTICŞ IFI C J B RLAND KIW R.
i
- *
a. Water conditions. --The Cumberland River in the Nashville area during
the first Week in August l?36, varied from 3 to 15 feet in depth at Variºuso.
stations where samples were collected. The yater temperature averaged 28.7°C.
the specific conductance about 800 mho x 107° at 25°C.; the hydrogen-ion con-
centration, pH 7.7; and the fixed carbonates, the equivalent of lé.9 cc. of ca
bon dioxide per liter. These basic physico-chemical characteristics of the
Cumberland River are within the average limits for streams of the Mississippi
System during the summer months particularly, those passing through limestone
country, and present no hazards to fish life. º
The dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, and almonia content of:
the Cumberland River in the Nashville area, however, during this same periodſ
indicate very definitely organic pollution of large proportions. The sum-
marized data on the dissolved oxygen and ammonia are presented in graph form
(figure l). In this graph the oxygen and amidonia limits for good fish fauna
as found in detailed study of many thousand cases from streams of the United
States (Ellis, lºº, and l'936) are indicated by horizontal dotted lines. The
minimum value for dissolved oxygen is 5 p.p.m. and maximum for ammonia l. 5
Pep - Iſle - * -
2.




&
| D
\ ' A |
\ | w $2. |
£º ! & |
O <
: *
: - - - -º- - - - - -A-P- - —ºor we me • * * * * *e smºs — — — —H –Minimum dissolved
S. - ſº oxygen for good fish
$-1 &. fauna.
Q) | * *
Q4 *} |
: | R&
& | | \%. |
Nº. l
— ` # l *\, / e’
- – -/- — — — — — A- - - - - - - - - - - - - - s-4 — — — — — — — Maximum ammonia
| for good fish
\— | fauna.
º
|
{ ſi { | # { § -k A 1 --- , ſº D Ǻ ºsmº,
A B c D | r = G H I J L M
31 miles 8 miles 20 miles
above Nashville below
Nashville Nashville
Figure l. Dissolved oxygen and total ammonia in waters of the Cumberland River, Nashville,
Tennessee, Area first week of August, 1936, from Old Hickory, Tennessee, through Nashville
to a point 20 miles below Nashville. Localities designated by letters, see following page.

º|
E
Description of Cumberland River Localities
indicated on Figure l.
Old Hickory, Tenn., 300 yards upstream from duPont Rayon Slough, 31
miles upstream from Nashville, Ino. 1310.
Old Hickory, one-half mile downstream from duPont Rayon Slough, 30
miles upstream from Nashville, Lno, lxl2. - ~
At Old Hickory Bridge, Downstream from Localities A and B, Lno. l.213.
Shelby Point l-l/2 miles upstream from Nashville, Lno. 1314.
MidStream, Cumberland River between Nashville city sewers No's l and 2,
Lno. l.216. - -
Mid channel, Cumberland River, 300 Yards upstream from Sparkman Street
Bridge, and above mouth of Nashville city sever No. 7, Lno. l.219.
Mid channel, Cumberland River, upstream side of L. and N. R. R., bridge,
about 100 yards downstream from flume of Heinz Pickle Factory, Lno. l32l.
Mid channel, Cumberland River about half way between Jefferson Street
Bridge and Neuhoff Packing Company, Lno. l.227.
Iſid channel, Cumberland River about half way between Nashville Island
and Lock l, Lno. 1330.
Mid channel, Cumberland River just below dam of Lock l, Lno. "E33l. “... .
Mid channel, Cumberland River three-quarters of a mile downstream from
prison Seyrèr, Lno. 1337. - • ... •
Iſid channel near West Nashville, about l mile below Richland Creek
and one-half mile upstream from Williamson Ferry, approximately l6
miles downstream from Nashville, Lno. 1339.
Mid channel, Cumberland River about 20 miles below Nashville, Lno. 1315.
,-, * *
the Cumberland Hui" ºr roºt: above the maximu;... limits for trood fish fauna
maximum to tº e ea... t c :
&
-, * * ºr
... r p g * - *
• * * * * -
. - - . . * , * * , * .
*
* *
Starting with the Cumberland River above Old Hickory, Tennessee, as
a basis for comparison the dissolved oxygen Wäs found to be above the
läinimum for good fish fauna and the amnonia below the maximum, that is,
water cond: £ions as regards these tºo gases were quite satisfactory for
fish life. Celow the outlet from duPont Rayon Company Slough, Station
"B", the did solved oxygen fell to near l; p. p.m., although it rose again
at the Old Hickory Bridge, Station "C" and continued above 5 p. p.m. to
beyond a point below; Hashville City Sever 6. In the approximately 30 miles bº
tween Old Hickor'ſ and the city limits of Nashville, at the time of this
survey the dissolved oxygen content of the river water was satisfactory
to good for fish life, with the exception of the zone just below the mouth
f duPont ſtay on Jor:pany Slough. It must be noted here that officials of
the duPont Rayon Compan; at Old Hickory informed .ºr. estfall on August 5
that little chemical waste Yas leaving this plant, at that time, so the ef-
fect on the discolved oxygen of the Cumberland ...iver of any large run-off
from the duPont & on Company ſºills Wag riot deterºined.
It may be see: , he ever, iron, the graph that the a...ſºonia content of
just below the . . .th of the dº Pont a "on Company Sloug , and continued above
* ºi is of W Shville. Although 2 p. 9. In. Of ammonia
Y’ar...-Yator fish, this Quantity of arm.Ionia is
..ii.5, lºſ) and is indicative of definite organic
d Hickory and organic , astes from the duPont Rayon
£
is not lethal to ...ost gºl
detrimental to fish life (
pollution. Selſagº frº. Cl
ſills (stre”:3ers oil fiºrous sº., tºg i.ere found at oºched to stones, brush and
other objects in the Cº. # 23rland tivar for scºle distance below the mouth of
- sº tº * : *- g- * , • ,- \ ... • * r * + sº-sº tº z* -, }, g” - - - * --- --
the duPont arron Coºp: ' , Sloi, º, ), ºust be regar, lºd as contributing to the
* * ~, & .: * * * e - e - ºr * * -- ~! Y - p” . -- d • T Y * -
Stream ammonia be: , , i.ee, J d Hic or..." an: ; ; as Yville.
rºl l-, -º - ~ . . T - Y - 9 - , , , , , , , * gºn,
The biochemic ox" ºr je kind of
rºy
the Curberland itiver at Old Hickory
above the duPont layo; Company ills, Station "A", was 2 p. p.m. for a lo–day.
test, and at Shelby Point, Station "3", 3 p. p. 3. for a lo–day test. These
values are not hiºn, but indicate the presence of some organic matter in the
stream, •
)
** ,-] J * Q t-n-r r- !- º, ~ 4- -: - iº : | 2- • ** º * --> → ** *
From Old Hickory to Station "G", i.e., to this vicinity of the L. and
~, D - * -: , ] ... , - 4- * , , ". . .* -) * * * * , , -" ,-- ~ r- - * \ } - - - - -
R. R. Bridge at as: ville the dissolved oxy ten content of th
River Was S3
C he Cumberland
tis jºctor" to good. Hoºſever, fro: Station "G" to Station "I",
just above Lock I the dissolved oxygen fell rapidly to a level not only
detrimental but lethal for many fish. The dissolved oxygen for Cumberland
River ever, after passing the data at Lock I, which Inechanically causes some
reaeration of Water, remained at levels presentinº serious hazardo to fish
life, as far downstrea: as Station "L", some l6 iniles belowſ Nashville. At
Stations "L" and " " the dissolved oxygen of the flowing stream water had 3
returned to levels favorable for fish life, although the deposits of sludge #
and wastes on the river bottom held the dissolved oxygen of the water near
the bottoſ: to below 3 p.p.m. even at Station iſ ſº which is approximately 20
miles below Nashville. -
gº
º
sº*
.




Coordinate with this rapid decline of dissolved oxygen in the Water
of the Cumberland River during the passage through the City of Nashville
is a striking rise in the biochemical oxygen demand. The biochemical
oxygen demand of the river water at the city limits (east side) was 2 =
3 p. p.m. for a 10-day test, but at Station "G" near the L. and N. R. R. Bridge
the B.O. D. had risen to 8 p.p.m., and at Station "I" to lll p. p.m. for a
i0-day test. The B. O. D. value, as well as the dissolved oxygen, and am-
monia values, are for the flowing stream Water, mixed of course with the
various sewages and other effluents which are poured into the Cumberland
River. In the vicinity of the sewers and in some of the more quiet portions
of the strean, near Station "I" for example the B.O. D. rose to 20 p.p.m.
Or idore for a lo–dar period and the dissolved oxygen fell to almost Zero.
content of the river was still high, l0–12 p.p.m. for a 10-day test, lé
miles beloy, Nashville. This condition was expected of course since the
heavy load of organic waste given to the Cumberland River in passing through
Nashville Would not be consumed in ló miles under conditions existing in
August lºé. -
The biochemical oxygen demand in spite of the rise in dissolved oxygen
These findings on biochemical oxygen demand show definite organic
pollution of the Cumberland itiver Waters as ther pass through Nashville,
Since the biochemical oxygen demand exceeds the dissolved oxygen carried
by these waters between Station "G" and Station "L" or beyond; and, also
that the rederation of the Curºberland River waters is insufficient to
meet this demand in the city area and downstream for over lò miles, since
the dissolved oxygen remains at levels detrimental or lethal to fish life
from Station fiG" to Station "I," . -
The ammonia rose from 2 p. p.m. at the east city limits to nearly 1 p.p.m.
at Station "F", just above Nashville city Sever 7, and remained well above
the maximum limits for good fish fauna (l.5 p.p.m.) for 20 iniles downstream
below Nashville. Judging from the B.O. D. at this point the ammonia would
probably continue hiºh beyond Station "li" the most downstream station at
which samples were taken in the survey.
h. Bottori conditions. --Bottom conditions were found to be fair for
fish life in the Cuºland River between Old Hickory and the east side
ity limits of Nashville, that is, although there were many places in this
stretch of river where undesirable conditions were found there were on the
other hand areas favorable to fish life. -
Ho, ſever, from Station "E" downstream through Nashville to Station "L",
a point some l6 miles below, botton conditions were extremely bad. Layers
of foul decomposing sludge from which quantities of gas rose whenever the
botton was disturbed, blanketed the bottom of Cumberland River in this
sector, (Stations "º" to "L"), and the botto: fauna where present at all
was reduced almost entirely to leeches and sludge Worms (Tubificidae) which
forms in general are indicative of acute or anic pollution . . Tubificid
worms viere so a undant near some sewers and waste outlets that the river
bottom ap-eared red as one looked through the Water at these huge colonies
-: 3, 4 ~5- - --~ 4- ". * ~ +,-,-,-, *.x r-, + 4- ex ºn
Of reſ: isº, ſcr' is on , t,"le river "YC tºo... •
2
tº
The lotton findings hay re sºrºrized by the statement, that from
Station "Eit to Station "L" the botto a conditions as regards gases, sludges,
and brºamic debris Tere such as to make the survival, much less the main-
tenance, of normal otton fauna such as is found in average streams in the
Mississippi Syster, impossible. -
g e
C. Discussion of Wäter conditions •-Collectiºely the field 3ſ Ork and
analyses on the via tors, and the sottom of the Curºberland River in the Nash–
ville àrea s”. º, nic ooººtion of this river from Station tº that
l s
k-
ſº - , , . . * - s -- • * 2." *~ l sº 4- • * * * * a * •, • ** -, e 2-, T. t *
T.S 9 In 33.1° L. 9 J. ... ... " e • ‘ O . . . () ...I -- & e 3. ( ; O Tr. S L]: G3.”: - * O}} S One 2 !ºilº S bel. OWſ the
$ 4--. Jº ºf ". . . … Tº Ti as r. --, -ī -- " - r , 4- ". - - - - *- rº -- ~. Fºy, , 's--, -r-,-,-,- m -: -
City of Iſagºrill.i.e., a nº tº t <^* itions varying from very Cotrimental to
* e sº •r - l- ~ … . . . .” * s - 23 "'s 2-, : - - - - - -: x f. ". . 4– * -., - ..." --> 1
Čefinitelºr lotºl or gig' aid ot,' ºr actiºtic life o' tailº 'or the most
--- l
art trou out t is sector ºf 30–3 diles of t e Cumberland River.
It is true tº ºt, ſº sº. 3 ºf . ºnº in tº is ared., that is, 'ºetween Station
"G" and Station "T." , , ºr cu cier, cººr and occasional spinnº-rayed fish
were observed or oºr fiel: Narty, ºt tiº presence of these fish in this
area cºn not e construed as ºr cºin, conditions to be satisfactory or even
har, lºſ: 5 to is . It is , rel] 23 tº Sliš' led tº 3 +, ſig', ºri i.l. often more into
polluted ºratºrs wºre cºn ions are distinctl harmful to is life,
attā'ācted ºr foot or "ºi i nis Cº. ical stºul... . . . ; c. are inrºt, so wrell under-
stood, ºne tº t weal-encº ºf tº a ºn favorºlo conditions of
Vraters these ... is] read lºſ b to certain fish Ciseases ºr to some
*
S
*, * * T. , ,-- ~ te ** * * as, _* f. -- *. in n * ~~ 4- * l- > -, -ſ’ r, - --
abriºt charºe in river conditions, as a gºd Sen introduction of a quant
-12 -. * - - - - - - * * grº i + . As -i- - : • *** * * •. ~ * ~ ** - - * > , -, -ī- -, • * z
of inºstrial. ...a5 tº ºnic” in norral aters nº rººt, be relativrel:r innocuou
O
ti.e polluted
\_º
& * * f* •x & * - ... < * = 2*, * * . _* º -- t Y. e
Three ºrincipal sources of the acute organic pollution in the Nashville
*** * * * * * * n - ~~~~~~ * *~ o -
area. cre Cet, Crºlin 26 :
" . The enorous canºn; it’ss of ºntºroa tad minicipal scº e (cºisily
2T 2. & • ,- - * * *g J -, -, -t- 1- 3 g : g” - sº - ºr x-, 2- - --, -, -, -- * - * -i- i.
dºnestic sex, a e) poured into tº is relatively sloº rºoying joi"tion of the
r T- T. . & - ". . ... . Y* v - wº * * , -, - - - - r. º • g * l • r_,
Cumberland River by the lº or giore cit stºrers of Tas’ ville and ſcist,
* sº
*7- - - - -, i.
!º S' ºil. i.e. ,
• .1- ~ -i- , , * . . " - ...r- *** 4- ". . * * * * * * - : * > -º 2 * , *. ** , - ." **, * * * * • *, *
2. The untreated wastes from tº tºo jacking, ºlants ºn 3 several sºall
•y º " ... ... --" * * * *
hut, C. Cºrinº houses.
* fr)" . , y - v. > * t ... 's ** Y ..f a gº. * ..., g", as sº *, * * --, -,
3. The ºaste Waters from {ive lar e latindries.
LO
Collectively these three sources supply the bulk of the organic wastes
received by the Cumberland River in the Nashville area. It is difficult
to evaluate the individual contributions from these three sources since
the presence of any one of these wastes augments the detrimental action
of the other two, but from our analyses and field observations there seems
no question but that the chief source of this organic pollution is the un-
treated municipal sewage and were this condition corrected the waste waters
from the laundries would certainly be much less detrimental than they are
at present, since under existing conditions the waste waters from the -
laundries with their organic loads and soap residues are emptied in water
already heavily polluted with untreated municipal sewage. The wastes
from the packing plants, noisome and spectacular as they are, must also
be considered in the same light as the laundry Vrastes until the municipal
Sewage problem is corrected. Before finally discussing remedial met.cº.ures
and the relative importance of the several known sources of stream pºllu-
tion in the Nashville area, the specific industrial wastes, other than
those contributing organic material (packing plants and laundries) mºst
also be considered,
§
INDUSTRIAL WASTT3
During the course of the field work effluents from the principal in-
dustrial concerns touring material into the Cumberland River in the Nash–
ville area Vºivo cºined at the points of entry into the river and at the
S Curces of tº e Se is "illº.etºs in the factories theºsºlves. In this connec–
tion We wish tº gi's jeſuſ v acknoi fledge the cooperation of the various
plant, chemists and superintendents who assisted in the sampling work at
the several corvºr, is visited oy us . -
In evaluatinº ºbe toxicity of industrial effluents, the dilution of
the active six 35 ºr re's bºr faste waters from the oiant, and the detoxifica—
tion of these 3 &tive 6 vºcºnces by conditions or mºterials encountered by
the effluent during its passage from the plant to the river must be con–
Sidered ,
Since the outpºt, oi the active substances which are detrimental to
fish life and the Cilution of these substances by Taste Waters and other
materials used in tre plant often vary With the phases of the chemical
procedures in the plant, the pollution hazards of any given effluent must
be computed from the concentrations of the active substances which are
lethal or dºnating to fish life, regardless of the amount of these sub-
sº ance 3 ca”, ed by the effluent at any given times These ethel valºs
must also i < c,Cºrrel J. bed With the maximum concentrations of these &ci,jºr
substar, ces which could occur in the effluent from any particular pi&nt, at
any tire • Tn respect to the industrial rights and trade processes of the
various concerns which cooperated Vrith us in this work no details of chem—
ical processes are presented here. Our findings on the effluents are
listed inder each concern visited and the dilutions and lethal values
refer to the active substances and to the effluent as poured into the
r] Vej" e
ll
Victor Chemical Iorks.--The effluent from this plant is a strongly
acid waste v.rying from # 4-3 to pH 5.7, and in specific conductance
from 336 to 3,944 niho X 10-9 at 25°C., in the samples studied. This ef-
fluent as it, 2ntered the river carried in some samples as high as lj,200
ppm. of solić - . The bioassays showed the active substances in this ef-
fluent to bo lethal to fish life in concentrations as low as 60 ppm. or
in any combination in which the pH of the Water receiving this effluent
attained an acidity of pH 4.7 or greater, as the result of the addition
of this efflinent. The waste entering the Cumberland River from the Victor
Chemical forks on August 6 at the time of the collection of these samples
would have required at least a l;10 dilution to have been brought below
lethality for fish life. - . . .
Tennessee Fertilizer Company.--The effluent from this concern was a
strongly acid waste With an average acidity in the samples studied of
pH l'.6 and sºecific conductance of 27,067 mbo x 10^9 at 250C. This ef-
fluent was lethal for fish life in dilutions as low as 32 ppm, or in com—
binations which are the water receiving this effluent an acidity of pH
5.0 or greater as the result of the addition of the effluent. This waste
as entering the Cumberland Rive” at the time these samples were taken
would require a filution of at least, l:60 to rendor it non-lethal for
fish life .
Teas Extract. Compan: 2–The effluent from this plant was an acid waste
averaging pH 5.0 in the samples studied, a specific conductance of 400 mho
x 10" at 25°C., and carring 3,050 pºm. of solids. The mixture of active
principles (chiefly tar.nic acid and its derivatives) from this effluent
was lethal to fish in dilutions as lowſ as lºC) ppm. This value Would re-
quire a dilution of the effluent, as it entered Richland Creek at the time
these samples were taken of at Least, l:30. .
Nashville Heat, and Gas Company--This concern Was pouring a typical
coal gas factory effluent into the river. This Waste was strongly alka-
line with a pH 3.6 to pH 9.0 and specific conductance of 2,113 mho x io-6
at 25°C. at the time of sampling. The high toxicity of coal gas factory
effluents is well known (Shelford, 1917; Ellis, l937) and need not be
discussed here. The Nashville Heat and Gas Company effluent at the time
of sampling was lethal for fish in quantities as low as 37 ppm. of active
substances, which would require a dilution of at least, l:20 to render
this effluent non-lethal for fish life, disregarding the known cumulative
effects of several of the coal gas wastes poisons, such as phenol, on
fish life e • ,
Heinz Pickle Factory.---The effluent as collected from this plant
carried little solid matter either in solution or suspension (700 ppm.
being the maximum amount found) and varied in hydrogen—ion concentration
from pH 5.5 to pH 7.5. Bioassay tests showed this effluent as collected
to be harmless to fish in concentrations as high as 1:10.
12
Federal Chemical Iorks--The effluent from this plant was strongly
acid ranging from pH le2 to plī 3.2 in the gººgle studied, and in specific
conductance from 2,230 to 36,303 mho x 10-0 at 25°C, , i.e., the effluent
as it entered the river contained a large amount of ionizable material.
The total solids of this waste varied from 620 te 11,060 ppm. The mixture
of active principles as found in this effluent was lathal for fish life
in dilutions as low as l82 ppm. and would require a dilution of the ef-
fluent as entering the river at the time these samples were collected,
of at least l;70 to render this waste non-lethal to figh life.
duPont ºvon Company.-As has been shown in other studies by the
Writers (at Rome, Georgia, and elsewhere) several of the Waste products
discharged from rayon mills are highly toxic to fish. At the time of the
present investigations in the Nashville area one of us, Dr. Westfall, was
informed by the duPont officials that very little chemical waste was
leaving the plant at Old Hickory. The effluent collected from the duPont
Company's main outlet at that time was not lethal to fish in concentrations
as high as l;l.0. >.
Mead Paperboard Company.—The combined effluents from this plant
varied greatly in composition and in total solids ranging from pH 6.4 to
pH 9.0 and the specific conductance from 957 to 7,305 mbo x 10−6 at 25°C.
The total solids were as low as ll 5 ppm. in certain samples and as high
as 2C,030 in others. At the time of sampling Richland Creek which re-
ceives the wastes from both the Teas Extract Company and from the lead
Paperboard Company, was heavily polluted and the waters were dark blue
to black in color. As effluents from sulphite process paperboard Works
have been Studied in detail and are known to carry several toxic substances
as mercaptain and various sulphur derivatives, and also to create an oxygen
demand (Ellis, lº)37), dilution values for the effluents from the Mead
Paperboard iſolks are not given. These effluents are known to present
serious pollution hazards, and our field work in the vicinity of Richland
Creek on the Cumberland River revealed ample evidence both in water and
bottom conditions of heavy pollution from the combined Richland Creek ef-
fluents from the Teas Extract and Mead Paperboard Companies plants.
Miscellaneous.—Several other concerns, namely, the Buford Brothers,
the G. L. Herbert Sand Company, the Hickory Spoke Manufacturing Company,
the boat, unloading station of the Gulf Refining Company, the Reads Fer–
tilizer Company, and the Walnut Veneer Products Company, which on occasion
pour wastes into the Cumberland River and tributaries in the vicinity of
Nashville, were also visited.
At the time of our survey these concerns were either not pouring
Wastes into the river or were discharging relatively innocuous wastes
which did not require special consideration. However, we were informed
that several of these plants at times discharge quantities of toxic
wastes into the Cumberland River, either directly or indirectly.
l3
Although we can only make definite Statements based on the effluents
examined by is we must add, however, from the descriptions of the processes
used by these several concerns that the wood working plants would present
dangerous pollution hazards if these plants dump their Wood steeping Waters
into the river, that, the fertilizer works Viould have chemical wastes of
high potential toxicity, and that, the loss of crude or refined oil and
oil products into the river during the unloading of these commodities is
known to be a definite pollution hazard elsewhere.
•.
GEF AL SUMMARY
The bioassays and analyses of the effluents from various manufactur-
ing concerns in the Nashville area show that the effluents from the Victor
Chemical Colºny, Tennessee Fertilizer Company, the Teas Extract Company,
Nashville ſeat, and ſas Company, the Federal Chemical Works, and the Mead
Paperboard Company were carrºring substances highly toxic to fish life at
the time these investi ations were made, and that the wastes as collected
from the Heinz Pickle Factor, and the duPont Rayon Mills were relatively
non-toxic to fish . -
From the data , both fi
Cumberland River investi ra
eld and laboratory, as obtained by us in the
ration:
ments can be made :
-l
tions in the Nashville area, the following state-
l. The Cumberland River arrives at the east city limits in a fair
condition at least, as regards fish and fisheries. -
2 . The Cumbcrland ºil-rer in its passage through the City of Nashville
receives an enormous load of organic pollution, from the untreated Sewage
contributed by the l8 or more city sewers, from the untreated wastes of
tºo packing plants and several small butchering concerns and from the
Waste Waters of five lauridries • • -
. 3. The river bottom of the Cumberland River has been fouled for
some 20 or 30 miles below the City of Nashville to an extent that the
normal bottom fauna (which contributes material to fish food as found in
unpolluted inland streams) has been replaced, almost entirely by those
forms tolerant of extreme pollution. • * - º
A. The waters of the Cumberland River in this sector, that is, from
the east city limits of Nashville to a point approximately 20 miles below
the west city limits are so depleted of dissolved oxygen, so loaded with
organic material (as shown by biochemical oxygen demand) and with ammonia
and other gases liberated by the decomposition of this load, that condi-
tions varying from acutely harmful to lethal for fish life exist in this
sector of the Cumberland River.
5. The various factory effluents as liberated under the usual condi-
tions (excepting packing plants and laundries), although carrying toxic
substances into the polluted waters of the Cumberland River, play only a
*
l/
v-
Small part in the day by day condition of the Cumberland River in the Nash-
ville area, as compared with the detrimental action of the untreated sewage
and untreated ºastes from packing plants.
6. The rectice of dumping large volumes of factory effluents sud-
Çenly and at irregular intervals into the already heavily polluted Cumber-
land River vºich practice was reported to us by various persons and which
Was verified by our own field studies of sºore and bottom conditions, is
the immediate cause of the sudden death of large numberg of fish in the
Cumberland River in the Nashville area, that is, the water and bottom con-
itions in the Cumberland River are so bad due to the organic pollution
escribed above, that the sudden inrush of a large quantity of industrial
waste of even loſſ toxicity suf, ices to quickly render the barely su'lethal
conditions existing in the Cumberland River into conditions lethal for
fish life, with the resultant death of large numbers of fish. The syner-
gistic actions of industrial pollutants and organic pollution are well
\,
known •
---, * -., --, a rºl *
: " ... -i i t
R.ECQ Rºſſ)}\TIONS
If fish and fisheries are to be restored or even protected in the
Nashville area the following conditions must be met :
l. The dumping of intreated municipal sewage and untreated packing
plant," effluents into the river must be stopped.
2. The laundry waste waters now poured into the river in this area
should be diluted with 3 or /, volumes of fresh Water before these W&Stes
are flumed into the river, that is, the laundry Wastes as now poured into
3. The dumping of large volumes of industrial wastes suddenly into
the river even during periods of high rater by industrial concerns should
be prohibited, as the large volumes of efflinents such as are poured in
ſhen ºats are emptied or tanks recherged, can easily kill large numbers
r. e. Defore a non-lethal dilution is accomplished by stream action.
*,
C.
ra
3 j
** -º-; e-?",
O i lS.”
/... All effluents both regular and occasional should be diluted,
neutralized or detoxified, well belowſ the non-lethal level before they
are noured into the stream. Actual tests have shown dilution to be of
great importance in the disposal of industrial effluents, and methods of
treatment are available for several tºrpes of chemical wastes.
5. Cumulative effluents &nd effluents which are not readily diluted
or destroyed by streat action, such as gas house wastes, oils, and wastes
carrying heavy metals or large quantities of sludge producing substances,
should be entirely excluded from the stream. 4.
L5
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f g
LITERATURE CITED º
*
Alſº RICAN PUBLIC HEALT I ASSOCIATION -s … - f
1933. Standard methods for the examination of Water and sewage. *
Ed. 7. New York. - - sº
ELLTS, i. ii.
l235. ater purity standards for fresh water fishes. U. S. Bureau :
of Fisheries, Special Scientific Report, No. 2, pp. 1–ll. º
*
T ~ - re - - - _* r-r + - -- Z -
U. S. Bureau of Fisheries, Vol. XLVIII, pp. 365-137.
ſashingto...
l937. Detection and measurement of stream pollution. Bulletin,
i.
SHELFORD, W. E. z. º
- • *s
*3
l917. ball Stºudy of the effects of gas Wastes upon
n especial reference to stream pollution. Bulletin
Łate Lao org.tor. Cf 13tural History, Vol. ll, : .
!. Urºana, Illinois.
Explanatory Note
This mimeographed Special Scientific Report has been published in
limited quantity for the official use of Federal offices and cooperating
agencies. It presents the results of an investigation of specific prob-
lems and is intended as a guide for administrative and legislative action,
The data may be incorporated in a complete publication to be printed
and released at a future date.
16
1133
. . **