Mystery in Local Watershed

This experience was concerning at first, but turned out to be quite normal. During the 2023 Summer Research Experience, our microplastic team discovered a stream with a sulfur and metal odor, featuring water of a unique cinnamon color and accompanied by a matching plaster-like sludge. In the course of our sampling expedition to be processed at QC Analytical, Dr. Michael Reisner, Dr. Kevin Geedey, and I uncovered a notable finding. The constant sample stream we examined was notably tainted with heavy metals, in contrast to the other two streams that exhibited visible orange sediment, which were healthy. The water is considered to be safe with evident iron deposits or bacteria.