WATER AND WASTEWATER QUALITY MONITORING, MCMURDO STATION, ANTARCTICA

McMurdo Station is the largest research station in Antarctica and has a population that ranges from 250 to 1200 people. Wastewater from the Station is macerated, was sometimes mixed with waste brine from the desalinization plant and is discharged to McMurdo Sound. Effluent water quality has been routinely monitored since 1989, and a special ambient water quality study was conducted by Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) personnel in 1992. Results of the effluent monitoring efforts show that low concentrations of a few organic contaminants have been detected, while concentrations of metals, particularly copper, are considerably higher. Ambient water quality and sea ice monitoring detected very few contaminants, all at very low levels. Only minor and variable dissolved oxygen depression was detected near the outfall. Diatom communities near the outfall differ in relative abundance, cell counts, and chlorophyll a content compared to control sites. For the purpose of evaluating the impact of McMurdo`s effluent on ambient water quality, improved effluent monitoring and sediment quality monitoring are recommended instead of frequent monitoring of ambient water quality.