Seawater Sampling Reports

Due to mussel larval mortality in ESL, water-quality testing was done in June and July 2017. This is likely the first comprehensive analysis of seawater at ESL. Analyses included carbonate chemistry, metals, and organic compounds. The results are available below. In short, no organics were detected, carbonate chemistry showed nothing of note, and the metals analysis had a high lead count, likely from a lead weight used to hold down an airline in the larval tank. The detailed analysis confirmed that the Seawater Processing Equipment, which is mostly comprised of inert metal components, was not a contributing factor to the mussel larval mortality. This assures scientists that current and future research projects are not compromised by the seawater quality provided by the ESL Seawater System and ESL seawater has been verified to have identical characteristics to the Vineyard Sound source water. This analytical data can also be used as a comparative baseline in the future for potential environmental events in Vineyard Sound or research efforts at ESL that experience similar challenges and difficult to explain results.