Trends and comparison of water quality and bottom material of northeastern Arkansas streams, 1974-85, and effects of planned diversions

Book · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:5051571

Petersen, J C

Water quality of several rivers in Arkansas was compared using median values at individual water quality stations. Differences were detected in several properties, including common dissolved constituents, alkalinity, nutrients, fecal coliform bacteria, trace metals, pesticides, and sediment. In bottom material, organochlorine pesticides were detected much more frequently than organophosphorus pesticides and were higher in rivers with beds of fine-gradient particles. Time trends were examined using the Seasonal Kendall test. Trends in conductance, sodium adsorption ratio, chloride, phosphorus, and ammonia were usually not detectable. Sulfate concentrations were increasing at approximately one-half of the stations studied while fecal-coliform bacteria concentrations decreased at approximately one-half of the stations. The most potentially detrimental effects upon water quality resulting from surface water diversions were related to increases of common dissolved constituents. From available data, the largest of these increases would be caused by diversion from the Arkansas River. Potential effects not specifically examined include resuspension of bottom materials resulting from construction and operation of the diversion system. Use of some surface waters for artificial recharge of the alluvial aquifer may adversely affect the recharge systems or the aquifer. Possible effects include plugging of the injection well and the aquifer.

• OSTI ID: 5051571
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ALKALI METALS
AMMONIA
ARKANSAS
BACTERIA
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
CONTAMINATION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION VI
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDRIDES
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MATHEMATICS
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
MONITORING
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
NONMETALS
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OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PESTICIDES
PHOSPHORUS
POLLUTION
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SEDIMENTS
SODIUM
STREAMS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE WATERS
TIME-SERIES ANALYSIS
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VARIATIONS
WATER POLLUTION