Orange Substance found in Knob Creek at Chickasaw Trace

[billmoore]

Some of you may have noticed the orange substance in Knob Creek in Black hills.
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the county’s environmental engineer have both examined the substance and have found it HARMLESS. Campbell Ridley met Mike Sweeney, the director of solid works, at the park Tuesday and the county had their environmental engineer at the park at 7 a.m. Wednesday morning. I met Mike and TDEC this morning.



TDEC said that the substance in the creek is a product of low oxygen in the groundwater and iron rich soil. This substance is naturally occurring and has nothing to do with the landfill.



From the TDEC bioloigist:

The orange deposits that you have seen in Knob Creek at Chickasaw Trace are from naturally occurring "iron bacteria". These bacteria break down iron in the water and soil to form iron oxides, which is orange. An oily appearing sheen is usually associated with these deposits as well.



The orange deposits and oily sheen are not harmful to aquatic life or to humans. They occur very commonly in streams and springs around Middle Tennessee. I have included a link to a fact sheet that I found on the internet that is very informative about this subject. I hope this helps.



http://www.ci.bellevue.wa.us/pdf/Uti...fact_sheet.pdf

Chad Augustin

Biologist

Water Pollution Control

Columbia Environmental Field Office

ph. 931-490-3945