Abstract
Physicochemical conditions and benthic macroinvertebrates were studied in the Beaumont, Texas sewage treatment plant from August, 1973 to June, 1974.
Physicochemical conditions varied seasonally with the amount of precipitation and discharge from the plant. Extreme physico-chemical parameters in the receiving stream were noted during times of precipitation and rice field drainage and the low during discharge and dry weather. Extremes in the holding pond and aeration pond occurred during the summer months when low discharge and low precipitation caused an algal bloom.
A total of 55 species of benthic macroinvertebrates was collected. Community structure was analyzed using the diversity index
Annual diversity per individual ranged from 1.38 at Station 7 (52 meters below the outfall) to 2.23 at Station 6 (above the outfall). There was a general trend of decreasing values through the aeration pond, increasing through the holding pond and increasing downstream in the receiving stream.
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Sala, G.M., Gibson, G.E. & Harrel, R.C. Physicochemical conditions and benthic macroinvertebrates of a tertiary sewage treatment system. Hydrobiologia 54, 161–167 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00034990
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00034990