Water Quality in the Taum Sauk Reservoir Area
Before and After Adding Flocculation Chemicals
Lower Reservoir | East Fork | Below the Dam | At the Lower Dam
Recovery efforts for water quality in the Taum Sauk area are making
good progress. Some of the effects following the breach of the
Taum Sauk Reservoir will always be with us but others are being healed
thanks to the work of local communities, natural resource professionals,
reservoir operator Ameren UE and nature itself.
To reduce the level of turbidity, or cloudiness in the water, AmerenUE began adding floccculation chemicals to the Lower Taum Sauk Reservoir on Jan. 25. The Department of Natural Resources was on-site during the process.
Most water that comes from the Missouri River or the Mississippi River goes through some kind of flocculation process. It is simply a method of adding chemicals to water to help fine particles to settle.
Over a three-day period, AmerenUE added approximately 70,000 gallons of alum and about 30,000 gallons of sodium aluminate to the lower reservoir. Alum and sodium aluminate are common flocculents, a type of chemical that causes suspended particles to settle out of water. These flocculents are commonly used in the drinking water and wastewater industries and in situations where the cleanup of suspended sediment is needed.
To ensure the greatest reaction time for the chemicals, the flow of the water being discharged from the lower reservoir was slowed down. At first, following treatment, no noticeable differences were visible. However, by Friday, Jan. 27, the cloudiness of the water in the reservoir began to decrease. By Saturday, Jan. 28, most of the readings within the reservoir were at or below the target level.
The Department of Natural Resources continues to work to prevent more sediment from flushing downstream of Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park. Suspended sediment and clay are environmental concerns because of potential impacts on water quality. They can change the environment of the stream, which can affect aquatic life in the stream. Protecting aquatic life is one aspect of the Department of Natural Resources’ mission.
The lower reservoir caught much of the sediment from the park when the Taum Sauk Reservoir failed, sending 1.3 billion gallons of water rushing through the park and nearby property. The Department of Natural Resources will hold its third public meeting in Lesterville on Feb. 9 to answer questions and to give citizens in the area an opportunity to provide input. The department will continue to hold these public meetings on a regular basis as the project moves forward.
