Impact of trichloroethylene contamination on benthos of Little Beaver Creek at the Portsmouth gaseous diffusion plant (ports) in Piketon, Ohio

The X-230J7 Holding Pond at the PORTS Reservation receives water from process cooling water blowdown and surface runoff. The East Drainage Ditch (EDD) drains the X-230J7 Pond; EDD discharges into Little Beaver Creek (LBC). Trichloroethylene (TCE) was used as a degreasing agent at PORTS until the mid-1990's and has been detected in groundwater. Chemical data reveals a history of TCE contamination from July, 1991 to November, 1991. Observation of the invertebrate fauna in EDD indicates that organic pollution is present within the stream. There is qualitative evidence that dense populations of Chironomids (considered as good indicators of organic pollution) are present in EDD. Observations indicate poorest water quality in LBC at the point of confluence with EDD; downstream of the confluence with LBC water quality appears to improve. Macroinvertebrates were sampled using a .9m surbur sampler. Chemical analyses were performed on water in areas which corresponded with the macroinvertebrate sampling points. All data illustrates that chironomids are most abundant in EDD (where Volatile Organic Compounds [VOCs] are highest) with populations decreasing in LBC downstream. Conversely, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Tricoptera (EPT) were least abundant in EDD and increased downstream as VOC concentrations decreased.