City of Boulder Storm Water Quality Program
Boulder Creek Watershed
Total Alkalinity Time Series for 2001
Boulder Creek above WW Plant

Preliminary Data - subject to revision


Marker Indicates no data available
Marker Indicates data exceeds plot scale.

Information on Total Alkalinity:

Alkalinity refers to how well a water body can neutralize acids. Alkalinity measures the amount of alkaline compounds in water, such as carbonates (CO3 2-), bicarbonates (HCO3 -), and hydroxides (OH-). These compounds are natural buffers that can remove excess hydrogen ions that have been added from sources such as acid rain or acid mine drainage. Alkalinity mitigates or relieves metals toxicity by using available HCO3 - and CO3 2- to take metals out of solution, thus making it unavailable to fish. Alkalinity is affected by the geology of the watershed; watersheds containing limestone will have a higher alkalinity than watersheds where granite is predominant. The Boulder Creek Watershed is composed primarily of granite rocks, thus the water has a lower alkalinity content.

More general information about Total Alkalinity
Measurement of Total Alkalinity
Factors affecting Total Alkalinity
Standards regarding Total Alkalinity
Interpretation of Boulder Creek Total Alkalinity data
Data Source: City of Boulder Water Quality Monitoring
Point of Contact: Chris Rudkin
Collection and Analysis notes
Analysis method: SM 2320B

Monitoring site information:
BC-aWWTP Map
BC-aWWTP Photo
  • Location: Boulder Creek above WW Plant
  • Name: BC-aWWTP
  • Type: Composite
  • Frequency: Monthly
  • Longitude: 105 ° W 11'
  • Latitude: 40 ° N 30'
  • Elevation: 5125 feet asl
  • Site photo
Downstream Site: Boulder Creek at 75th St
Upstream Site: Boulder Creek at 61st St.

Plot Label Date Alk
mg/L as CaCO3
01 January, 2001 52.0
02 February, 2001 106.0
03 March, 2001 146.0
04 April, 2001 123.0
05 May, 2001 60.0
06 June, 2001 25.0
07 July, 2001 43.0
08 August, 2001 63.0
09 September, 2001 77.0
10 October, 2001 98.0
11 November, 2001 117.0
12 December, 2001 103.0
*value below detection limit:
Detection Limit (if available) 1.0

Preliminary Data - subject to revision

Select on the parameter name to view all Total Alkalinity time series plots on the basin map. Select on the table date to view stream Total Alkalinity profiles observed on that date. Select here to view all parameters at this site.

Return to the BASIN water quality catalog

Return to the BASIN environmental data catalog


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