NCS000248_Greensboro WQ Monitoring Plan_20201023

City of Greensboro
NPDES Permit Program
Water Quality
Assessment
and Monitoring Plan

Permit Number NCS000248
July 2020

City of Greensboro – Water Quality Assessment and Monitoring Plan – July 2020

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Table of Contents

Section 1 Purpose 2

Section 2 General Water Quality Monitoring Program 2
2.1 Monitoring Methods 2
2.2 Sample Types and Frequency 2
2.3 Monitoring Parameters 2

Section 3 Monitoring Sites 3
3.1 Basis for Locating Monitoring Sites 3
3.2 Site Locations/Descriptions 3
3.3 Site Map 4

Section 4 Sample and Data Analysis 5
4.1 Sample Analytical Methods 5
4.2 Quality Assurance 5
4.3 Record Keeping 5

Section 5 Data Evaluation and Assessment 6
5.1 Methods for Evaluating and Assessing Data 6
5.2 Reporting 6
5.3 Monitoring Plan Revisions 6

List of Tables:

Table 2-1: Water Quality Monitoring Parameters 2
Table 3-1: City Water Quality Monitoring Sites 3
Table 4-1: Analytical Methods and Minimum Reporting Levels 5

List of Figures:

Figure 3-1: City Water Quality Monitoring Sites 4

City of Greensboro – Water Quality Assessment and Monitoring Plan – July 2020

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Section 1: Purpose

The purpose of the Water Quality Assessment and Monitoring Program is to monitor
and assess the quality of streams within the City of Greensboro. Information gained
from this program may be used to help identify and eliminate sources of pollution and
illicit discharges, track short-term and long-term trends, and, where possible, gauge the
effectiveness of stormwater management efforts and programs conducted by the City.

Section 2: General Water Quality Monitoring Program

2.1 Monitoring Methods

Monitoring methods utilized in this plan will consist of directly accessing the stream to
conduct specified monitoring within the stream channel at a point representative of the
overall stream flow at the time of monitoring. In most cases, this will be center channel
of the stream. When possible, staff will enter the stream and directly fill sample bottles
from the stream flow.

2.2 Sample Types and Frequency

Samples collected under this plan will be fixed interval grab samples taken at each site
on a quarterly basis (at a minimum). A specific day of each quarter (the third
Wednesday of the first month) will be assigned for monitoring to allow for sampling over
a range of flows at each monitoring location.

2.3 Monitoring Parameters

Table 2-1 provides a list of the water quality parameters sampled at the monitoring
sites.

Table 2-1: Water Quality Monitoring Parameters

Parameters
Alkalinity Total Suspended Solids
BOD Turbidity
COD Copper
Hardness Zinc
Fecal Coliform Cadmium
Total Phosphorus Lead
Nitrite Nitrogen Dissolved Oxygen
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen Temperature
Nitrate Nitrogen Conductivity
Total Dissolved Solids pH

City of Greensboro – Water Quality Assessment and Monitoring Plan – July 2020

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Section 3: Monitoring Sites

3.1 Basis for Locating Monitoring Sites

The goal of the WQ monitoring program plan will be to locate monitoring sites within
each major watershed in the City to characterize water quality conditions within the
watershed. Six monitoring sites will be utilized under this plan to monitor and assess
water quality conditions in the City: two in North Buffalo Creek, two in South Buffalo
Creek, and two in Greensboro’s water supply watersheds. For North and South Buffalo
Creek Watersheds, one site is located at an upstream point within the watershed and
one is located at a downstream point within the watershed. The two water supply
watershed sites are located at sites upstream of the city’s drinking water reservoirs.

3.2 Site Locations/Description

Table 3-1 contains the description and location of the six monitoring sites within the
monitoring plan.

Table 3-1: Description of City of Greensboro Water Quality Monitoring Sites

Site Name Stream Location
Merritt South Buffalo Creek, Upper Upstream of Merritt Drive bridge over South Buffalo
Creek
McConnell South Buffalo Creek, Lower Downstream of McConnell Road bridge over South
Buffalo Creek
Aycock North Buffalo Creek, Upper Downstream of Josephine Boyd Street bridge over
North Buffalo Creek
Rankin Mill North Buffalo Creek, Lower Downstream of Rankin Mill Road bridge over North
Buffalo Creek
Battleground Horsepen Creek Downstream of Battleground Avenue over Horsepen
Creek
Bunch Reedy Fork Creek Upstream of Bunch Road bridge over Reedy Fork
Creek

City of Greensboro – Water Quality Assessment and Monitoring Plan – July 2020

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3.3 Site Map

Figure 3-1 shows the location of the six monitoring sites within the monitoring plan.

Figure 3-1: Greensboro Water Quality Monitoring Sites

City of Greensboro – Water Quality Assessment and Monitoring Plan – July 2020

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Section 4: Sample and Data Analysis

4.1 Sample Analytical Methods

Table 4-1 shows the monitoring parameters, reporting limits, and analytical methods
used to analyze samples collected under the plan.

Table 4-1: Laboratory Analytical Methods and Quantitation Limits

Parameter Quantitation
Limit
Units Method
Alkalinity, Total 1.0 mg/L SM2320 B-2011
NO-3-N (Nitrate Nitrogen) 0.050 mg/L SM4500NO3 E-2011
BOD-5 2.0 mg/L SM5210 B-2011
Cadmium, Total 0.0002 mg/l EPA 200.8
COD 5.0 mg/L EPA 410.4
Copper, Total 0.002 mg/L EPA 200.8
Dissoved Solids 25.0 mg/L SM2540 C-2011
Fecal Coliform 1.0 ecfu/100 mL SM9222 D-2006
Hardness, Total 1.0 mg/L SM2340 C-2011
Lead, Total 0.003 mg/L EPA 200.8
NO-2-N (Nitrite Nitrogen) 0.010 mg/L SM4500NO3 E-2011
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen 0.10 mg/L SM4500Norg B-2011
Total Phosphorus 0.010 mg/L SM4500 PE-2011
Total Suspended Solids 5.0 mg/L SM2540 D-2011
Zinc, Total 0.005 mg/L EPA 200.8

4.2 Quality Assurance

The City contracts with a state certified laboratory to analyze water samples; physical
parameters are obtained by City Stormwater staff. The City follows the North Carolina
Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) approved procedures, addressing
sample handling, preservation, transportation, equipment calibration and maintenance,
laboratory protocols, and QA/QC methods.

4.3 Record Keeping

All records and data generated under the monitoring program will be maintained for a
minimum period of five years. Field and laboratory data are stored in both electronic
and hard copy formats. Hard copy field notes, log books, and calibration records are
also maintained.

City of Greensboro – Water Quality Assessment and Monitoring Plan – July 2020

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Section 5: Data Evaluation and Assessment

5.1 Methods for Evaluating and Assessing Data

As data is assimilated, the City will analyze the various pollutant parameters in the
program and conduct statistical analysis on the data to determine trends, where
possible. At a minimum, data will be graphically represented to visualize trends.

5.2 Reporting

Data results will be managed and stored in a similar manner as other water quality data
collected by the city’s Stormwater Management Division and will adhere to procedures
outlined in the divisions Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP). Annual summary
reports will include the number of samples collected, number and types of parameters
analyzed, and data analysis activities to determine trends. Data generated from the
Water Quality Assessment and Monitoring Plan will be available upon request.

5.3 Monitoring Plan Revisions

The City will review the monitoring plan annually as part of the data analysis and annual
report process to determine if any revisions to the plan are necessary based on the past
year’s assessment and monitoring activities. If revisions are necessary, the City will
revise the plan and submit the revisions to NCDEQ for review and approval.