Water Quality
FOLQ has performed water quality testing of Lake Quannapowitt for more than thirty years in cooperation with local students and volunteers from the community. As part of FOLQ’s mission, we support initiatives and projects that will improve the water quality of the lake. In conjunction with the Town of Wakefield testing requirements by the state, the FOLQ Water Quality Committee and Board of Directors have re-established our testing program for the lake after the pandemic.
The information on this page details our current and historic efforts in water quality monitoring and evaluation.
Click the links below to learn more about each topic.
Water Quality Overview | Water Quality Monitoring | Testing Methodology
Test Results | Presentations | Historical Reports
Water Quality Overview
(Jump to: Water Quality Monitoring | Testing Methodology | Test Results | Presentations | Historical Reports)
Water quality describes the condition of the water including chemical, physical and biological characteristics, usually with respect to its suitability for a particular purpose like drinking and swimming. It is often referred to as Environmental Water Quality, when it relates to water bodies such as lakes, rivers and oceans.
Water quality is measured by several factors, such as dissolved oxygen, bacteria levels, salinity and turbidity, which is material suspended in the water. In some water bodies, they also have a concentration of microscopic algae and quantities of pesticide, herbicides, heavy metals and other contaminants.
- Good water quality is the most important component of a healthy ecosystem. Cleaner waters enhance recreational opportunities, wildlife activity, plant growth and general enjoyment of the waters.
- Poor water quality can pose health risks for people, animals and wildlife, and it can also pose a health risk to the ecosystem.
Over the years, the lake has experienced a number of “algae blooms,” which you can visually see as a discoloration or a green color. It develops from a rapid growth of algae from organisms like cyanobacteria. Pollutants arrive in the lake through the storm runoff overland and through the Town storm drain system and are developed from nutrients within the lake itself, like nitrogen or phosphorus.
Water Quality Monitoring
(Jump to: Water Quality Overview | Testing Methodology | Test Results | Presentations | Historical Reports)
Friends of Lake Quannapowitt
FOLQ’s new testing program was established in 2023 to monitor the lake over time to record the cyanobacteria, nitrogen and phosphorus data. Our program also includes a test that documents the lakes clarify, known as the Secchi Disk measurement. In 2024, we added a method to measure the amounts of several additional substances, including arsenic and E.coli. This data, along with the Town’s information can be used to look at surface and in-lake solutions to improve water quality.
Town of Wakefield
The Town participates in monitoring water quality through their Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (Small MS4) and National Environmental Discharge Elimination System (NDPES) general permit, by testing the lake water that leaves the lake at the outlet, which is at the headwaters to the Saugus River, near the intersection of Lowell Street and Main Street. Find more information on the Town of Wakefield’s Stormwater Website.
Municipalities use this information as a planning tool for restoring water quality. The Town of Wakefield has completed several projects to improve water quality around the lake which can be found on their website under Public Works via their interactive map showing planning, design and construction phases. Find more information on the Town of Wakefield’s Public Works website. FOLQ understands that their future projects planned include the Main Street Improvements, which will tackle water quality improvement measures at the storm drain inlets to the lake along Main Street.
The Town’s Board of Health is responsible for the formulation and enforcement of regulations affecting the public health, disease prevention and control, health and environmental protection, and promotion of a healthy community. Permanent signs are posted along the lakeshore to educate lake visitors about the risks associated with water quality issues in Lake Quannapowitt.
Saugus River Watershed Council
The Saugus River Watershed Council (SRWC) also does water quality testing, which can be found here: Saugus River Watershed Council.
Testing Methodology
(Jump to: Water Quality Overview | Water Quality Monitoring | Test Results | Presentations | Historical Reports)
Testing Procedures: Water samples and Secchi disk measurements are generally taken three times per year. These can include:
- Cyanobacteria cell counts, species identification, and microcystin assays. Samples are shipped overnight “on ice” to Northeast Laboratories in Rocky Hill, Connecticut.
- Phosphorus and nitrate. These are processed at Northeast Environmental Labs in Danvers, MA.
Testing Laboratories: These labs are certified and were recommended to us by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MassDPH) and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). We are learning and utilizing the water sampling protocols that are recommended by MassDPH.
Testing Locations: The various historical and current testing locations are shown on the image below, and are indicated on the test result charts.
Test Results
(Jump to: Water Quality Overview | Water Quality Monitoring | Testing Methodology | Presentations | Historical Reports)
In 2023, our water quality testing volunteers focused on four metrics: cyanobacteria, microcystins, phosphorus, and nitrates. These four tests were recommended to FOLQ by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. They are the tests MassDPH uses to evaluate whether a cyanobacteria advisory can be lifted. The fifth metric, Secchi Disk Depth, measures lake turbidity, a.k.a. cloudiness, which is an important component of water quality assessments and can correlate to cyanobacteria levels. In 2024, nitrates were no longer sampled because they were generally not detectable in 2023.
Historical data for Alkalinity, Dissolved Oxygen, pH, Chloride, Total Dissolved Solids, Chlorophyll, Temperature, and Trophic State Index are given below, along with several other new substances measured starting in 2024. Further references and reading material can be found here.
Cyanobacteria and Microcystins
Cyanobacteria: Cyanobacteria cell counts are a measurement of the combined level of all species of cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae). Cyanobacteria are a water quality and public health concern for many lakes and ponds in Massachusetts. They can produce toxins, including Microcystins (a liver toxin). The goal is to reduce the counts to below 70,000#/mL. The cell counts in August 2023 and July and September 2024 are higher than that goal. (click image to enlarge)
Microcystins: Microcystins are the most common class of toxins formed by cyanobacteria. Massachusetts DPH recommendations for microcystins are a public health advisory if the level is >8ug/L, and no contact with water if the level is >14ug/L. The boxes in the table below marked in red have levels >5ug/L, and are thus of some concern. (click image to enlarge)
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is an important nutrient for algae and cyanobacteria. We measure Total Phosphorus, which includes both organic and inorganic forms of phosphorus. Historically, phosphorus levels have been very high, and this contributes to algae blooms, since phosphorus is believed to be the limiting nutrient for cyanobacteria. A goal is to reduce the phosphorus levels to below 0.03mg/L, since this should eliminate the algae blooms. (click images to enlarge)
Nitrates
Nitrogen is a nutrient needed by cyanobacteria. Some cyanobacterial species can fix atmospheric nitrogen, while others obtain it from ammonium, nitrate, or nitrite ions. The levels of nitrates recorded in 2023 are acceptable. (click images to enlarge)
Secchi Disk Levels
Secchi disk depth is a measure of lake cloudiness or turbidity (an important component of water quality assessments). In this measurement, a disk with alternating white and black sections is lowered into the lake. The depth at which it is no longer visible is reported. Greater depths mean higher water clarity. The Secchi disk measurements are low, often below 1 meter, indicating low water clarity. A goal is a minimum of 2 meters.
(click images to enlarge)
Alkalinity
Alkalinity is a measure of water’s ability to neutralize acids. Green shaded area indicates water that is not sensitive to acid rain. The alkalinity of Lake Quannapowitt is very good. (click images to enlarge)
Dissolved Oxygen
Healthy water should generally have dissolved oxygen concentrations above 6.5-8 mg/L. Lake Quannapowitt dissolved oxygen levels are very good. The dissolved oxygen levels stay nearly constant with depth, with the exception of the data taken in July at a higher water temperature.(click image to enlarge)
pH
The pH of a pond or lake should generally fall between 6.0 and 9.0.The largest variety of aquatic animals prefer a pH range of 6.5 – 8.0. Lake Quannapowitt pH is generally in a good range. (click images to enlarge)
Chloride
Road salt is a common source of chloride in lakes. Chloride is not excessive at the Lake Quannapowitt outflow, but is higher at other locations. Less than 200mg/L is considered acceptable for lakes. Above 500mg/L is semi-saline. Chloride level is generally acceptable. (click images to enlarge)
Total Dissolved Solids
Total Dissolved Solids are inorganic compounds such as salts, heavy metals, and some traces of organic compounds. Total Dissolved solids can affect turbidity. For drinking water, the maximum concentration level set by EPA is 500 mg/L. TDS levels in Lake Quannapowitt are acceptable. (click images to enlarge)
Chlorophyll
A recommended Chlorophyll level is < 25ug/L for recreational lakes. Higher levels can lead to algae scums and water discoloration. Levels in Lake Quannapowitt are often higher than the recommended level. (click images to enlarge)
Water Temperature
Higher water temperatures can promote the growth of cyanobacteria, as well as decreasing the dissolved oxygen. Water temperature varies from about 10C (50F) to about 28C (82F), depending on the month. Water temperatures should continue to be monitored. (click images to enlarge)
Trophic State Index
Lake Quannapowitt is a Eutrophic Lake (rich in nutrients and having a high level of biologic productivity). A TSI level of 40-50 is a reasonable goal. (click images to enlarge)
Arsenic
Arsenic levels are very low, and close to EPA standard for drinking water. (click image to enlarge)
Sodium
Lake water should be <100mg/L. Drinking water guideline in MA is <20mg/L. (click image to enlarge)
Sulfate (SO4,2-)
Sulfate levels are low. Recommended level in drinking water is <250mg/L. (click image to enlarge)
Calcium
Calcium is at an acceptable level for organisms in lakes. (click image to enlarge)
Conductivity
Lakes that support good populations of fish have conductivities in the range 150 to 800 μS/cm. (click image to enlarge)
Fluoride
Fluoride is at a very low level. EPA has a non-enforceable secondary standard for fluoride of 2.0 mg/L. (click image to enlarge)
Hardness
Lake Quannapowitt water is near the top of the soft water range (in green). General guidelines for classification of waters are: 0 to 60 mg/L as calcium carbonate is classified as soft; 61 to 120 mg/L as moderately hard; 121 to 180 mg/L as hard; and more than 180 mg/L as very hard. (click image to enlarge)
Iron
Iron levels are usually below 10 mg/L in water. Water with an iron level above 0.3 mg/L is usually considered objectionable in drinking water. (click image to enlarge)
Magnesium
Recommended value of magnesium in drinking water is 10-40 mg/L. (click image to enlarge)
Manganese
Recommended that drinking water should be less than 0.3mg/L (click image to enlarge)
Total Coliforms
State standard is 200 colonies coliform bacteria /100ml for primary contact recreation and 1000 colonies coliform bacteria /100ml for secondary contact recreation. (click image to enlarge)
e. Coli
The accepted level of e. coli at a freshwater beach for a single sample is 235 cfu/100 ml of water or below (from mass.gov). [cfu = colony forming unit]. (click image to enlarge)
Lead, Nitrite, and Orthophosphate as P
Lead, Nitrite, and Orthophosphate as P were below detection limits. (click image to enlarge)
Presentations
(Jump to: Water Quality Overview | Water Quality Monitoring | Testing Methodology | Test Results | Historical Reports)
2023 Water Quality Testing of Lake Quannapowitt
Presentation of the Water Quality Testing Committee to the FOLQ Board
David Miller presenting, 11-7-23
Water Quality Testing for Lake Quannapowitt 1988 – 2023
Presentation of the Water Quality Committee to the FOLQ Board
Lee Danielson presenting, 11-7-23
Historical Reports
(Jump to: Water Quality Overview | Water Quality Monitoring | Testing Methodology | Test Results| Presentations)