Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Bacterial water quality: Springs and streams in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

  • Research
  • Published:
Environmental Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Water samples from streams and springs in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park were analyzed for fecal coliform, fecal streptococcus, and total coliform bacteria. Levels of bacteria were found to be highly variable but related to elevation, time of year, type of water source, and water level of the streams. Visitors did not seem to be major contributors to bacterial contamination. Levels of fecal coliform and total coliform in most water samples were unsuitable for drinking without treatment. Tennessee state standards for body contact recreation (swimming and wading) were exceeded in a few samples but none from streams suitable for swimming. As a result of these findings, park managers increased efforts to inform visitors of the need to treat drinking water and removed improvements at backcountry springs which tended to give the springs the image of safe, maintained water sources.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature cited

  • American Public Health Association. 1971. Standard method for the examination of water and wastewater. American Public Health Assoc., New York, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anonymous. 1973. Biological analysis of water and wastewater. Application Manual AM 302, Milipore Corp.

  • Bratton, S. P., M. G. Hickler, and J. H. Graves. 1978. Visitor impact on backcountry campsites in the Great Smoky Mountains.Environ. Manage. 2:431–442.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bratton, S. P., M. G. Hickler, and J. H. Graves. 1979. Trail erosion patterns in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.Environ. Manage.3:431–445.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geldreich, E. E. 1970. Applying bacteriological parameters to recreational water quality.J. Am. Water Works Assoc. 62:113–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geldreich, E. E. 1978. Bacterial populations and indicator concepts. Pages 51–98in G. Berg (ed.) Indicators of viruses in water and food. Ann Arbor Sci. Publishers, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geldreich, E. E., and B. A. Kenner. 1979. Concepts of fecal streptococci in stream pollution.J. Water Pollut. Control Fed. 41:R336-R352.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hendricks, C. W., and S. M. Morrison. 1967. Multiplication and growth of selected enteric bacteria in clear mountain stream water.Water Res. 1:567–596.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larson, G. L., and W. E. Hammitt. 1981. Management concerns for swimming, tubing, and wading in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.Environ. Manage. 5:353–362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larson, G. L., R. C. Mathews, Jr., and J. L. Klausmeyer. 1980. A survey of bacterial water quality in Abrams Creek, Great Smoky Mountains National Park.J. Tenn. Acad. Sci. 55:1–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • McSwain, M. R., and W. T. Swank. 1977. Fluctuations in naturally occurring populations of enteric bacteria in oligogrophic streams of W. North Carolina, USDA Forest Service Res. Paper SE-158. 12 pp.

  • Mitchell, R., and C. Chamberlain. 1978. Survival of indicator organisms. Pages 15–38in G. Berg,(ed.) Indicators of viruses in water and food. Ann Arbor Sci. Publishers, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mundt, J. O. 1963. Occurrence of Enterococci on plants in a wild environment.Appli. Microbiol. 11:141–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mundt, J. O., J. H. Goggin, Jr., and L. F. Johnson. 1962. Growth ofStreptococcus faecalis var. liquefaciens on plants.Appl. Microbiol. 10:552–555.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silsbee, D. G., and G. L. Larson. 1981. Physical, chemical and bacteriological characteristics of streams in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. USDI, National Park Service, Southeast Region, Uplands Field Research Laboratory, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Res./Resour. Manage. Rep. N. 47. 85 pp.

  • Silsbee, D. G., L. A. Plastas, and H. J. Plastas. 1976. A survey of backcountry water quality in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. USDI, National Park Service, Southeast Region, Uplands Field Research Laboratory, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Res./Resour. Manage. Rep. 10. 66 pp.

  • Tennessee Water Quality Control Board. 1973. General water quality criteria for the definition and control of pollution in the waters of Tennessee. Nashville, TN.

  • US Environmental Protection Agency. 1976a. National Interim Primary Drinking Water Regulations.J. Am. Water Works Assoc. 68:57–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • US Environmental Protection Agency. 1976b. Quality criteria for water. Washington, DC. Pages 79–101.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Uplands Field Research Laboratory, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 37738, Gatlinburg, Tennessee

    David G. Silsbee & Gary L. Larson

Authors
  1. David G. Silsbee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gary L. Larson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Silsbee, D.G., Larson, G.L. Bacterial water quality: Springs and streams in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Environmental Management 6, 353–359 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01875067

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01875067

Key words

Search

Navigation