Strategy for definition and protection of east Tennessee karst groundwater basins

Conference · Thu Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:10110194

Rubin, P A; Lemiszki, P J ^[1]; Poling, R S ^[2]

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1. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
2. Oak Ridge K-25 Site, TN (United States)

This paper describes and gives suggestions for protecting the bedrock geology of eastern Tennessee which is typical of the southern Appalachian Valley and Ridge province. Carbonate beds (limestones and dolomites) of the Knox and Chickamauga Groups are bounded by non-carbonate beds, most of which strike northeast and dip steeply (10{degrees}--45{degrees}) to the southeast. The carbonate aquifers are maturely karstified and are extremely vulnerable to contaminant infiltration, thus necessitating appropriate land use planning focused on their environmental sensitivity. Urban expansion is resulting in greater land development in karst regions. Planned and existing activities produce wastes that may potentially leach into underlying karst systems. This waste may flow rapidly and untreated for many miles along strike. The potential degradation of aquifers and receiving streams due to the cumulative waste loading of numerous small enterprises may be more environmentally destructive than a few hazardous waste sites. Costs to remediate contaminated water supplies and streams can be in the millions of dollars versus the substantially lower costs of prudent land use planning.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 10110194
• Report Number(s): CONF-9210228--2; ON: DE93004172
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540210
540250
AQUIFERS
BASIC STUDIES
CARBONATE ROCKS
DOLOMITE
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FLUID FLOW
GEOLOGY
GROUND WATER
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HYDROLOGY
POLLUTION CONTROL
SITE RESOURCE AND USE STUDIES
TENNESSEE
WATER POLLUTION