Water Quality Data for 2010

The data below were collected at three sites sites on the Woonasquatucket River under the URI Watershed Watch Program:

1. Greystone Pond, Johnston - N. Providence
2. Donigian Park, Providence
3. Waterplace Park, Providence

For more details about our monitoring program, the parameters we monitor, and links to more data, see the overview page for our water quality monitoring program. Data for other years are also available from this page as well as from the sidebar at right.

The water quality of many of the lakes and ponds in the watershed is also being monitored under the URI Watershed Watch program. The data for these sites are available on the Watershed Watch web site.

Bacteria: Samples for bacteria testing are collected once a month during the monitoring season and taken to the URI Watershed Watch lab for analysis. These results are generally available within about a week of the monitoring date.

In 2006 Watershed Watch began testing for the bacteria group enterococci, instead of fecal coliforms. This change was made because the US EPA identified enterococci as a better indicator of the risk of contacting gastrointestinal disorders as a result of coming into contact with the water than fecal coliforms. As a result of this finding, RI DEM and RI Department of Health are also switching to using enterococci as their standard for recreational contact (swimming). Prior to the to 2006 the bacteria groups tested for where e. coli or fecal coliforms.

The Rhode Island standard for freshwater used for recreation is 61 enterococci (count per 100 ml). For more information visit the URI Watershed Watch web site and, in particular, read this PDF document on bacterial monitoring

Enterococci (count per 100 ml):

Dissolved oxygen is important to the health of animals that live in the river because they need air to breath too. If the dissolved oxygen drops below 3 mg/L aquatic animals cannot survive. Between 3 and 5 mg/L it is hard for organisms to function, and above 5 is good. Oxygen levels are generally higher in the spring when the water is cold, because cold water can hold more oxygen. For more information visit the URI Watershed Watch web site and, in particular, read this PDF document on dissolved oxygen.

To run the test, two samples are collected and two tests are run on each sample. The four results are averaged to get the final value. The test used is the modified Winkler titration test. The dates listed below are the Saturday of the weekend on which the data were supposed to be collected. In some cases the samples were collected a few days before or after the date listed. See the detailed results below for the exact dates on which samples were collected.

Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L):

Dissolved Oxygen (% Saturation):

Nutrients: Data on nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus are determined from samples delivered to URI along with the bacteria samples. However, the nutrient samples are not processed by Watershed Watch until after the end of the monitoring season. The data are typically posted on the URI Watershed Watch website sometime during the winter.

Collection Notes:

Greystone Pond, Johnston - N. Providence

Data Collected by: Emily and Kara Papazian

Donigian Park, Providence

Data Collected by: Beth Faria

Waterplace Park, Providence

Data Collected by: Douglas Stephens

Greystone Pond, Johnston - N. Providence

Data Collected by: Joe Jamroz

Waterplace Park, Providence

Data Collected by: Matthew and Joanne Carey

Greystone Pond, Johnston - N. Providence

Data Collected by: Emily and Kara Papazian

Donigian Park, Providence

Data Collected by: Beth Faria

Waterplace Park, Providence

Data Collected by: Matthew and Joanne Carey

Greystone Pond, Johnston - N. Providence

Data Collected by: Emily and Kara Papazian

Donigian Park, Providence

Data Collected by: Beth Faria

Waterplace Park, Providence

Data Collected by: Douglas Stephens

Greystone Pond, Johnston - N. Providence

Data Collected by: Emily and Kara Papazian

Donigian Park, Providence

Data Collected by: Beth Faria

Waterplace Park, Providence

Data Collected by: Douglas Stephens

Greystone Pond, Johnston - N. Providence

Data Collected by: Joe Jamroz

Waterplace Park, Providence

Data Collected by: Douglas Stephens

Greystone Pond, Johnston - N. Providence

Data Collected by: Joe Jamroz

Waterplace Park, Providence

Data Collected by: Matthew and Joanne Carey

Greystone Pond, Johnston - N. Providence

Data Collected by: Joe Jamroz

Donigian Park, Providence

Data Collected by: Bruce Hooke

Notes: Today is my first day of monitoring. Up until now, Beth has been monitoring at this site but she has moved away.

It is a beautiful morning! Clear, blue skies and a coolness to the air that hints of the coming fall.

Waterplace Park, Providence

Data Collected by: Matthew and Joanne Carey

* Note: Rainfall amounts are recorded at a rain gauge in western Providence or at other rain gauges in the area. These rainfall amounts should be view as approximations.