Effects of three highway-runoff detention methods on water quality of the surficial aquifer system in central Florida. Water-resources investigations

Technical Report · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:7246704

Schiffer, D M

Water quality of the surficial aquifer system was evaluated at one exfiltration pipe, two ponds (detention and retention), and two swales in central Florida, representing three runoff detention methods, to detect any effects from infiltrating highway runoff. Concentrations of major ions, metals, and nutrients were measured in ground water and bottom sediments from 1984 through 1986. At each study area, constituent concentrations in ground water near the structure were compared to concentrations in ground water from an upgradient control site. Analysis of variance of the rank-converted water-quality data at the exfiltration pipe indicated that mean concentrations of 14 of 26 water-quality variables are significantly different among sampling locations (the pipe, unsaturated zone, saturated zone, and the control well). Only phosphorus is significantly higher in ground water near the pipe than in ground water at the control well. Results of the study indicate that natural processes occurring in soils attenuate inorganic constituents in runoff prior to reaching the receiving ground water.

• Research Organization: Geological Survey, Reston, VA (USA). Water Resources Div.
• OSTI ID: 7246704
• Report Number(s): PB-90-130121/XAB; USGS/WRI--88-4170
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AQUIFERS
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEDERAL REGION IV
FLORIDA
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MASS TRANSFER
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHORUS
POLLUTION
ROADS
RUNOFF
SURFACE WATERS
USA
WATER
WATER POLLUTION
WATER QUALITY
WATER RESERVOIRS