Causes of Foaming and Surfactant Source Identification in Sandy Creek Orleans and Monroe County, New York

Abstract

This study concludes that the Albion Wastewater Treatment Plant increases the anionic surfactant (MBAS) concentrations in Sandy Creek as it passes the plant discharge pipe. This increase ranges from less than 10% to more than 100% of background levels. However, for all samples collected in our investigation, the total concentration (background plus plant effluent) never reached 100 µg/L, the upper level for natural waters.