The Role of Benthos and
Plankton Studies in a Water Pollution
Surveillance Program
J. B. ANDERSON, in Charge,Aquatic Biology Unit
E. B. HENSON, in Charge,Benthos Studies
C. I. WEBER, in Charge, Plankton Studies
Water Quality Section
Basic Data Branch
Public Health Service, Robert A. Taft Sanitary Engineering Center
Cincinnati, Ohio
INTRODUCTION
In 1957 the Public Health Service began a program of collecting basic data
on the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the water in rivers
and lakes of the United States. These characteristics are related to water pollution and can be used in its prevention and control. The program, initially designated the National Water Quality Network, grew from a Network of 57 stations in
1957 to 125 by the end of 1962. In early 1964 the name of the activity was
changed to the Water Pollution Surveillance System (WPSS). There are now 131
stations in the surveillance system. Operation of these stations is dependent upon
local cooperators who collect most samples and perform those analyses that must
be performed soon after collection to measure river and lake conditions. Participants include more than 120 local water, sewage or other public utilities; health
departments; industries; universities,  and state water pollution control agencies.
The participants perform many of the conventional analyses such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, biochemical oxygen demand, turbidity, etc. They
also collect and send water samples to the Surveillance System laboratory in Cincinnati, Ohio, for additional analyses.
Annual published compilations listing results of analyses, stream flow records,
and other significant information for each station are made available to participants and others who have use for the data. These WPSS compilations include
data on the following: physical and inorganic chemicals; coliforms; radioactivity
for gross alpha, gross beta, and strontium-90; organic chemicals; trace elements;
plankton, and benthos.
PURPOSE OF BENTHOS AND PLANKTON DATA
Benthos and plankton data are used by the WPSS stations to help characterize
water quality. The data collected on populations and community structure may
show trends of water quality changes caused by increases in pollution or by decreases resulting from construction of pollution abatement works.
Benthos and plankton populations of a stream are examined periodically to
determine their response to the total environment. Physical and chemical characteristics are important properties of the environment and, therefore, knowing these
characteristics is essential to correct interpretation of population characteristics.
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