An Evaluation of Fecal Coliform Bacteria Concentrations Up- and Downstream of the Irwin Creek and Sugar Creek Wastewater Treatment Plants in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, 1998-2001

Abstract

Fecal coliform bacteria cause water quality problems for many urban areas across the United States. The objective of this study is to determine if the Irwin Creek and Sugar Creek wastewater treatment plants, located near Charlotte in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, contribute significantly to the fecal coliform concentrations in the creeks. Fecal coliform densities in the wastewater effluent discharged from wastewater treatment plants were compared to the concentrations downstream of the facilities, and downstream bacterial levels were compared to the bacterial levels upstream of the facilities. Mann Whitney Sum Rank test suggests that the Sugar Creek and the Irwin Creek wastewater treatment plants are not contributing to elevated fecal coliform bacteria levels. Furthermore, linear regression analysis reveals that the stream flow does not have an effect on the fecal coliform concentrations at the sampling sites.