Appraisal of storm-water quality near Salem, Oregon

Book · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6701919

Miller, T L

Stormwater runoff for the period December 1979 to May 1981, at 13 sites in the vicinity of Salem, Oregon, was sampled and analyzed for water quality. Constituent concentrations for urban storm water were relatively small when compared to samples from Portland and Medford, Oregon and to samples from Denver, Colorado. The data indicated that levels of suspended sediment, ultimate CBOD (carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand), and total lead increased with increased urbanization. Because of small chemical concentrations and winter high flow and low temperature conditions in the Willamette River, Salem storm water probably has little effect on biological or on most chemical conditions in the Willamette River. An analysis of data from a stormwater detention pond indicated that the facility was about 47% efficient in reducing suspended sediment loads. Precipitation samples collected at one site for a year were found to be acidic, with a median pH of 4.6. Median total lead concentration was 8 micrograms/L (ug/L) in precipitation, whereas the median total lead concentration in runoff from the 12 basins ranged from 8 to 110 ug/L. The median dissolved ammonia concentration in precipitation was larger than the median dissolved ammonia concentration at all 13 sites. In contrast, the median total Kjeldahl nitrogen concentration in precipitation samples was about half the median for streamwater concentrations. Median ratios of sulfate to chloride and nitrate to chloride in precipitation were much higher than ratios expected for sea water, suggesting anthropogenic sources for sulfate and nitrate. 24 refs., 6 figs., 7 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6701919
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AMMONIA
BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
DISASTERS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEDERAL REGION X
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LEAD
MASS TRANSFER
METALS
MONITORING
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
NORTH AMERICA
OREGON
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
PH VALUE
POLLUTION
RUNOFF
STORMS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
URBAN AREAS
USA
WATER POLLUTION