ManateeWaterQ

Manatee Springs Water Quality Testing

8/12/2001

Submitted by National Speleological Society Cave Diving Section divers.

Water samples were taken at nine locations. See the map below for location details. Conductivity and pH were obtained using a HydroLab data sonde.

One sample bottle each was labeled for turbidity and nutrient testing. The nutrient testing bottles were preserved with H₂SO₄.

Temperature was obtained with mercury thermometers.

At location nine, we were only able to get one sample bottle. We preserved this for nutrient testing since the silty conditions and resulting particulate in the sample invalidated any turbidity information. This particular location is one of several small (3-4 inch diameter) vents in the floor that discharge noticeably warmer water.

Participants:

Cindy Butler, Al Heck, Brett Hemphill, Ken Hill, Robin Hill, James Hurley, Annette Long, Mark Long, Beth Murphy, Jerry Murphy, Michael Poucher, Sandra Poucher, Beth Somers.

Samples

: (See map below for more detailed location information)

ID#	Location Description	pH	Conductivity(micro- Sieman's)	Temp	Depth
1.	Manatee Springs Headsprings	7.45	451		28 ft.
2.	Sewer Tunnel	7.30	447	23.5 C	80 ft.
3.	Milk Tunnel	7.29	427	23.5 C	72 ft.
4.	Bluewater Tunnel 2500 ft upstream Friedman	7.10	619		87 ft.
5.	Main Tunnel 5000 ft past Friedman	7.43	427		78 ft.
6.	Snack Bar tunnel 200' downstream of Catfish	7.49	466		92 ft.
7.	Main Tunnel upstream of Sue Sink	7.37	472	23.5 C	75 ft.
8.	CCC Tunnel Upstream Friedman	7.24	652	22.5 C	90 ft.
9.	Geothermal Vent 1500 feet past Friedman			76 F	65 ft.

	Manatee Springs Water Quality Testing Lab Data
ID #	Location Description	pH	Conductivity (umhos/cm)	Depth (ft)	Turbidity (NTU)	Nitrate/Nitrite (mg N/L)
1	Manatee Springs Headsprings	7.45	451	28	0.54	1.70
2	Sewer Tunnel	7.30	447	80	3.8 A	1.40
3	Milk Tunnel	7.29	427	72	0.51	1.40
4	Bluewater Tunnel (2500 ft upstream of Friedman)	7.10	619	87	0.12	4.50
5	Main Tunnel (5000 ft past Friedman)	7.43	427	78	0.19	1.4
6	Snack Bar tunnel (200 ft downstream of Catfish)	7.49	466	92	0.24	1.70
7	Main Tunnel upstream of Sue Sink	7.37	472	75	0.52	1.50
8	CCC Tunnel Upstream Friedman	7.24	652	90	0.5	1.20
9	Geothermal Vent (1500 ft past Friedman)			65		0.86
"A" is an average of two measurements

The map below shows the location of water samples taken on 8/12/2001. The numbers correspond to ID numbers on the sample data in the table above.

Map prepared by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

The map below shows the cave with soils types superimposed. Yellow indicates sandy soils while blue is primarily limestone.

Map prepared by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.