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C. Specific Conductance — Specific conductance is a measure of how well water <br />can conduct an electrical current. Conductance increases with increasing <br />amount and mobility of ions which result from the breakdown of compounds. <br />Specific conductivity can be used to indirectly measure the presence of dissolved <br />solids in water, such as chloride, nitrate, sulfate, phosphate, sodium, magnesium, <br />calcium, and iron.' The higher the specific conductance value, the more <br />dissolved solids (referred to as total dissolved solids or TDS) are present. Figure <br />7 shows the average specific conductance along the canal. <br />Specific conductance (SC) in the canal west of the Lateral C Canal ranged from <br />a low of 831 umhos/cm at Sample Point A to 1,059 umhos/cm at Sample Point E, <br />resulting in a range of 228 umhos/cm. An intermediate peak occurred at Sample <br />Point B, being only 11 umhos/cm less than that at Sample Point E. Sample Point <br />F's average SC was the highest, at 1,340 umhos/cm or 315 umhos/cm greater <br />than Sample Point E's average. However, Sample Point F is east of the Lateral <br />C Canal and therefore represents a different water source. Because there are <br />many ions that contribute to specific conductance, it is not possible to identify <br />those that might be present in the canal water in this instance. However, the <br />observed suspected artesian well discharge into the canal could be expected to <br />contribute many of the ions listed above. <br />d. Dissolved Oxygen Saturation — Dissolved oxygen (DO) is the amount of <br />gaseous oxygen that is present (dissolved) in the water. Dissolved oxygen levels <br />are influenced by many factors including fish, invertebrates, bacteria and plants. <br />Average DO in the Study Area is shown graphically in Figure 8. <br />1 http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/data/NEW/info/S'C.html <br />11 <br />F:\Public Works\KeithM\Stormwater Projects\IRFWCD 8th Street Canal Water Study\Memo 2 - 8th Street Canal.doc 42 <br />Figure 7 -Specific Conductance Along Canal <br />1600 <br />1400 <br />1200 <br />- <br />u 1000 <br />— – <br />- <br />0 800 <br />s <br />E 600 <br />400 <br />200 <br />- <br />– <br />0 <br />A B C D E F <br />Specific conductance (SC) in the canal west of the Lateral C Canal ranged from <br />a low of 831 umhos/cm at Sample Point A to 1,059 umhos/cm at Sample Point E, <br />resulting in a range of 228 umhos/cm. An intermediate peak occurred at Sample <br />Point B, being only 11 umhos/cm less than that at Sample Point E. Sample Point <br />F's average SC was the highest, at 1,340 umhos/cm or 315 umhos/cm greater <br />than Sample Point E's average. However, Sample Point F is east of the Lateral <br />C Canal and therefore represents a different water source. Because there are <br />many ions that contribute to specific conductance, it is not possible to identify <br />those that might be present in the canal water in this instance. However, the <br />observed suspected artesian well discharge into the canal could be expected to <br />contribute many of the ions listed above. <br />d. Dissolved Oxygen Saturation — Dissolved oxygen (DO) is the amount of <br />gaseous oxygen that is present (dissolved) in the water. Dissolved oxygen levels <br />are influenced by many factors including fish, invertebrates, bacteria and plants. <br />Average DO in the Study Area is shown graphically in Figure 8. <br />1 http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/data/NEW/info/S'C.html <br />11 <br />F:\Public Works\KeithM\Stormwater Projects\IRFWCD 8th Street Canal Water Study\Memo 2 - 8th Street Canal.doc 42 <br />