Relation of urban land-use and dry-weather, storm, and snowmelt flow characteristics to stream-water quality, Shunganunga Creek basin, Topeka, Kansas

Book · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5926400

Pope, L M; Bevans, H E

An investigation was conducted to provide the data and interpretation necessary to determine the effects of runoff from urban areas on the water quality characteristics of receiving streams. Water quality characteristics for three streamflow conditions were determined: (1) dry weather stream-flow - a combination of base flow and point source contributions, (2) storm streamflow - mainly provided by overland runoff from storms, and (3) snowmelt streamflow - mainly provided by overland runoff from snowmelt. Median concentrations of trace metals and nutrients were larger in storm streamflow than in dry weather streamflow. Median concentrations of total lead and zinc were largest in storm streamflow from the more urban basins. Median concentrations of dissolved sodium, chloride, and solids in snowmelt streamflow at all study sites averaged 218% larger for dissolved sodium, 296% larger for dissolved chloride, and 71% larger for dissolved solids relative to median concentrations in dry weather streamflow. Multiple correlation and regression analysis relating storm runoff volumes and average constituent concentrations to land use and storm characteristics produced significant relations for storm runoff volume, total lead, total zinc, and suspended sediment. 21 refs., 17 figs., 11 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 5926400
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ALKALI METALS
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
DISASTERS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEDERAL REGION VII
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
KANSAS
LAND USE
LEAD
MASS TRANSFER
METALS
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
RUNOFF
SODIUM
STORMS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
WATER POLLUTION
ZINC