Most of the water that now enters the Los Angeles River year-round is from the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant in the Sepulveda Basin. Up to 75 million gallons of treated water are released daily into the river. That water is undrinkable but is treated well enough so that it presents no health hazards. However the storm drains along the various cities down river carry all kinds of contaminates into the river.

Storm Drains Lead to the Ocean

Residents sometimes carelessly toss trash and oil into storm drains, which often drain into the river, and eventually the ocean. Winter rains carry more oil, radiator and transmission fluid from city streets and into the drains. The amount of used motor oil that is improperly disposed of each year in the United States is equal to ten times the volume of oil that was spilled in the Exxon Valdez accident in Alaska.

Los Angeles County residents often do not realize that whatever trash is on the streets, goes into the storm drains, and ends up on the beaches and/or in the Pacific Ocean. Heal the Bay is a citizens action group which is working with the Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Works to post signs like these to remind citizens not pollute the rivers and ocean. The City of Los Angeles sponsors a stormwater pollution abatement program and offers on-line assistance for reporting clogged catch basins. The City of Lakewood is now offering a FREE oil recycling kit to its residents in an effort to prevent water pollution. The City of Los Angeles publishes an on-line schedule of used motor oil collection events. Household toxic waste that is not disposed of properly has become a major source of water pollution. This problem is known as nonpoint source pollution, and accounts for over 50% of the water pollution around the country. Everyone needs to do their part to improve water quality, and protect the groundwater supply.

Testing Water Quality

Remember that the river is off limits in many places and that testing water of unknown quality can be dangerous. Never go near the river channel during storms. However, if you are interested in helping to conduct regular water tests, you might consider becoming a volunteer monitor for the river (stream, lakes, beaches and storm drains are included too).

Mark Mitchell and William Stapp have written an excellent book for educators on testing water entitled the "Field Manual for Water Quality Monitoring" 15. In it they outline nine important tests which can be used to determine water quality on a scale from 1-100. The importance of these measurements is described by the Kentucky Water Watch project. The equipment for many of these tests is available for LAUSD teachers at the science centers. The tests include:

Dissolved Oxygen Fecal Coliform Bacteria pH Biological Oxygen Demand Temperature Total Phosphorus Nitrate/Nitrite/Nitrogen Turbidity Total Solids

In general the water quality rating must be at least 50-58 to be considered safe in most states.

Other water tests that can be performed include a biological survey, tests for heavy metals, and tests for toxic organic compounds which can include solvents and pesticides. Biological surveys can help expose water quality problems indirectly by revealing their affect on the plants and animals in the water.

If you would like to share water test results with students around the world, contact the Global Rivers Environmental Education Network, (GREEN). GREEN also publishes a catalog of testing materials and manuals, along with a list of other groups that are involved in watershed education.

If you have any results of water quality tests conducted on the Los Angeles River, please contact us. Teachers might also be interested in an encyclopedia of water terms created by the Texas Environmental Center.

Continue the tour here. So batten down your hard drives and cover your keyboards. The adventures of the urban river awaits you. Good Luck and remember, don't drink the water!

Yes! I like the Los Angeles River Virtual Tour, but my socks are wet and my feet are cold, so I would like to learn more about . . .

Copyright © 1995 Target Science