treatment plants and industrial point sources in coastal Alabama are shown in 

 Figures 16 and 17 and listed in Tables 43 and 44, respectively. These plants 

 and point sources are also located on the socioeconomic atlas sheets. 



The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) has classified 

 surface water supplies in coastal Alabama into seven categories based on 

 their suitability for particular uses. Table 45 lists the water use 

 categories and the classification criteria. Major streams and water bodies 

 on the atlas sheets are mapped according to their water-quality classifica- 

 tions. It should be noted that some uses are not mutually exclusive and 

 mapped categories reflect this. 



In addition to classifying surface-water supplies, the ADEM is also 

 responsible for monitoring changes in water quality and determining when 

 violations in water-quality standards occur. Water-quality data collected 

 (1974-1979) by the ADEM in coastal Alabama from monitoring stations is 

 presented in Table 46. Data for 1980-81, when the reporting format was 

 changed to trend indication rather than specific data reports, is shown in 

 Table 47. ADEM monitoring stations are located on the atlas sheets by 

 station designation. 



Water quality management plans (known as 208 studies after the applicable 

 section in the Clean Water Act of 1977) attempt to identify sources of water 

 pollution, assess their relation to state water quality criteria and estab- 

 lish plans and strategies to reduce undesirable situations. The Mobile 208 

 study is a water-quality analysis of major streams in the Mobile and Baldwin 

 County area, conducted by the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission 

 (SARPC) in 1976. During the study, additional water quality data were deemed 

 desirable for greater areal coverage than were available from existing 

 sources. Thirty-three sampling sites were established and five samples were 

 taken during various seasons representing high stream flow, low flow, and 

 high rainfall. Samples were taken at midwater column or maximum 5-foot 

 depth. Data collected are summarized in Table 48; station locations are 

 mapped on the atlas sheets. 



Other agencies which have collected data on water quality in Mobile and 

 Baldwin Counties include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental 

 Protection Agency (EPA), the USGS and various institutions and private 

 concerns. 



Water Quality Assessment 



The following water quality summary is taken primarily from Ricco et al . 

 (1973), O'Neil and Mettee (1982), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (1983), Pierce 

 and Rodgers (1966), and the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission 

 (1979). 



Mobile River Basin . The water quality of the Mobile River is dependent 

 upon tHe water qual ity of its two major tributaries, the Alabama and 

 Tombigbee Rivers. These two rivers are generally low in total dissolved 

 solids and have good water quality. At higher flows, the Mobile River 

 quality becomes much the same as that of the Tombigbee. The Mobile River 



153 



