Seasonal variation of water quality indicators and their association with climate factors in north central Texas

Purpose: Understanding the modifying factors of water quality is essential in an effective watershed management program, which plays a vital role in maintaining the quality of drinking and recreational water. The purpose of this study is to document seasonal variation of a water quality indicator in watersheds of an area in North Central Texas and to investigate the relationships between two climate factors and the indicator. Methods: The water quality monitoring data from five area creeks between 2001 and 2005 were obtained from the City of Denton, Texas. To study associations with climate factors, specifically temperature and precipitation, a commonly used water quality indicator was chosen; fecal coliform bacteria. The climate data was obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration archives. A factorial two-way ANOVA test was used for analyses. Results: Coliform bacteria levels showed a peak concentration during the spring and early summer months, and a significant association with precipitation (p= 0.022, F= 5.28, DF= 1) but not with temperature. Creek 4 showed the lowest amount of fecal coliform of all five creeks. Future Direction: Our research will focus on identifying factors that may have affected the overall high fecal coliform counts recorded and utilizing results to formulate an effective watershed management program, including educating the public on health risks associated with exposure to contaminated recreational water.