Potential contamination of groundwater from Cu, Pb, and Zn in wet detention ponds receiving highway runoff

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A: Environmental Science and Engineering; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/10934529209375778· OSTI ID:7240691

Yousef, Y A ^[1]; Yu, L L ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Central Florida, Orlando (United States)
2. Christian Brothers Univ., Memphis, TN (United States)

Heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn) in highway runoff entering detention ponds are removed by physical, chemical and biological processes, and concentrate in the bottom sediments. Soluble metal fractions percolate into the bottom sediments and produce a potential for contamination of groundwater. Therefore, a two-year research project was supported by Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to study the fate and migration of those metals in bottom sediments of six wet detention ponds, located in Florida. Sorption, molecular dispersion, and pilot studies were conducted from these ponds. The results showed that the flow of metals through the bottom sediments is a very slow process. Most of these metals are retained in the top 15-20 cm of sediments and saturation of this layer may take years. Removal of accumulated bottom sediments at time intervals averaging 25 years would be sufficient to minimize the potential contamination of groundwater. Also existing models were modified to simulate metal transport through the bottom sediments in wet detention ponds.

• OSTI ID: 7240691
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A: Environmental Science and Engineering; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A: Environmental Science and Engineering; (United States) Vol. A27:4; ISSN 0360-1226; ISSN JESED
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540320 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
CONTAMINATION
COPPER
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FLORIDA
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LEAD
MASS TRANSFER
METALS
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
PONDS
ROADS
RUNOFF
SEDIMENTS
SIMULATION
SORPTION
SURFACE WATERS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
WATER
WATER POLLUTION
ZINC