Physical /Chemical Characteristics 



In fresh water, oil is more soluble and more easily emulsified; thereby 

 enhancing its toxicity to aquatic organisms. 



Damage to Fresh Water Resources 



Ground water contamination is more likely to occur from an inland spill 

 than from a coastal or marine spill. In Region IV, several cases of ground 

 water contamination from pipeline breaks have occurred and have been docu- 

 mented (Smith 1973). Likewise, similar events have been reported in Canada 

 (Dennis 1977). 



Fresh water as a resource has more "uses," many of which are obligatory, 

 i.e., drinking water. Thereby fresh water spills are potentially more harm- 

 ful to human health than coastal water spills, particularly when a water body 

 that is used as a public water supply has been affected. 



Damage to Natural Habitats 



Likewise, a variety of habitats, i.e., small streams and ponds or large 

 lakes, are likely to be affected due to the nature of oil movement. 



Riverine rapid stream . It is interesting to note that the few studies 

 in the United States which documented the impact of oil spills on fresh water 

 habitats have involved spillage into rapid stream communities (Bugbee and 

 Walter 1973, Schultz and Tebo 1975). 



In the spill reported by Schultz and Tebo, the oil was instantaneously 

 discharged into the high gradient stream, flowing downstream as a slug into 

 a recreational lake. 



The ecology of these areas is extremely sensitive to oil pollution as 

 shown by these previously mentioned studies. The effect to exposed indigen- 

 ous macro invertebrate populations was acute and drastic. However, in the 

 study of Bugbee and Walter (1973) some of the affected populations became 

 reestablished from stream drift within 3 years following the spill. 



Rapid streams are also the most difficult to protect after a spill. 

 The velocity of the stream, the topography of the stream banks and the stream 

 configuration are such that there is very little entrapment or natural con- 

 tainment. These conditions often severly hamper getting equipment into place 

 which would entrap and contain the oil. 



These rapid streams are an important fisheries resource usually for 

 sportsmen who enjoy fishing for the cold water species. 



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