Influence of wastewater-treatment effluent on concentrations and fluxes of solutes in the Bush River, South Carolina, during extreme drought conditions

Andersen, C. Brannon; Lewis, Gregory P.; Sargent, Kenneth A.

doi:10.1306/eg.10010303017

Cited by 6 publications

(12 citation statements)

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“…The upper piedmont region of SC has a warm temperate climate, with an average daily maximum temperature of 22°C and an average of more than 50 days/year in which the temperature exceeds 32°C (Andersen et al, 2004). The annual rainfall averages 127 cm (50.5 in) in Greenville, SC, which is similar to the state's average annual rainfall of nearly 120 cm (47 in.…”

Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 81%

“…Industrial wastewater and municipal sewage effluents can have major impacts on chemical loads in surface waters downstream of developed urban areas (Andersen, Lewis, & Sargent, 2004;Marti, Aumatell, Gode, Poch, & Sabater, 2004;Rhodes, 2001) and their effluents are likely to have greater effects on rivers and streams during drought conditions (Andersen et al, 2004;Jordan, Weller, & Correll, 2003). Previous investigators have reported high nutrient concentrations in the effluents of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), demonstrating that WWTPs can be major point sources of pollution in urban-impacted watersheds (Andersen et al, 2004;Kim et al, 2002;Marti et al, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous investigators have reported high nutrient concentrations in the effluents of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), demonstrating that WWTPs can be major point sources of pollution in urban-impacted watersheds (Andersen et al, 2004;Kim et al, 2002;Marti et al, 2004). Marti et al (2004) surveyed 15 streams receiving effluents from WWTPs, and reported that phosphate loads from the plants were, on average, over 10 times greater than the upstream loads and contributed approximately 90% of the total phosphate measured downstream of the WWTPs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rivers and streams dominated by WWTP effluents are typically located in certain western states in the United States (U.S.) (Berestov, Fernando, & Fox, 1998;Brooks et al, 2004;McMahon, Tindall, Collins, Lull, & Nuttle, 1995;Reilly, Horne, & Miller, 2000;Saunders & Lewis, 2003) and in other arid or semi-arid climate regions around the world (Deksissa, Ashton, & Vanrolleghem, 2003;Marti et al, 2004). Because such rivers and streams are less common in the eastern U.S., however, fewer studies of WWTP effluent effects on downstream hydrology and water chemistry have been conducted in eastern U.S. states (Andersen et al, 2004;Diamond, Hall, Pattie, & Gruber, 1994). Recently, Andersen et al (2004) described the effects of WWTP effluent discharges on the water chemistry and nutrient concentrations in the Bush River, South Carolina (SC).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because such rivers and streams are less common in the eastern U.S., however, fewer studies of WWTP effluent effects on downstream hydrology and water chemistry have been conducted in eastern U.S. states (Andersen et al, 2004;Diamond, Hall, Pattie, & Gruber, 1994). Recently, Andersen et al (2004) described the effects of WWTP effluent discharges on the water chemistry and nutrient concentrations in the Bush River, South Carolina (SC). They demonstrated that WWTP effluent effects on downstream water chemistry could be substantial in a watershed located in temperate climate regions under severe drought conditions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of Drought and Municipal Sewage Effluents on the Baseflow Water Chemistry of an Upper Piedmont River

Hur

Schlautman

Karanfil

et al. 2006

Environ Monit Assess

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The Reedy River in South Carolina is affected by the urban area of Greenville, the third most populous city in the state, and by the effluents from two large-scale municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) located on the river. Riverine water chemistry was characterized using grab samples collected annually under spring season baseflow conditions. During the 4-year time period associated with this study, climatic variations included two severe drought spring seasons (2001 and 2002), one above-normal precipitation spring season (2003), and one below-normal precipitation spring season (2004). The influence of drought and human activities on the baseflow chemistry of the river was evaluated by comparing concentrations of dissolved anions, total metals, and other important water chemistry parameters for these different years. Concentrations of copper and zinc, common non-point source contaminants related to urban activities, were not substantially elevated in the river within the urban area under baseflow conditions when compared with headwater and tributary samples. In contrast, nitrate concentrations increased from 1.2-1.6 mg/l up to 2.6-2.9 mg/l through the urban stream reach. Concentrations of other major anions (e.g., sulfate, nitrate) also increased along the reach, suggesting that the river receives continuous inputs of these species from within the urban area. The highest concentrations of major cations and anions typically were observed immediately downstream from the two WWTP effluent discharge locations. Attenuation of nitrate downstream from the WWTPs did not always track chloride changes, suggesting that nitrate concentrations were being controlled by biochemical processes in addition to physical processes. The relative trends in decreasing nitrate concentrations with downstream distance appeared to depend on drought versus non-drought conditions, with biological processes presumably serving as a more important control during non-drought spring seasons.

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Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 81%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Influence of Drought and Municipal Sewage Effluents on the Baseflow Water Chemistry of an Upper Piedmont River

Hur

Schlautman

Karanfil

et al. 2006

Environ Monit Assess

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Wastewater influences nitrogen dynamics in a coastal catchment during a prolonged drought

Bruesewitz¹,

Hoellein

Mooney³

et al. 2017

Limnology & Oceanography

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Ecosystem function measurements can enhance our understanding of nitrogen (N) delivery in coastal catchments across river and estuary ecosystems. Here, we contrast patterns of N cycling and export in two rivers, one heavily influenced by wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), in a coastal catchment of south Texas. We measured N export from both rivers to the estuary over 2 yr that encompass a severe drought, along with detailed mechanisms of N cycling in river, tidal river, and two estuary sites during prolonged drought. WWTP nutrient inputs stimulated uptake of N, but denitrification resulting in permanent N removal accounted for only a small proportion of total uptake. During drought periods, WWTP N was the primary source of exported N to the estuary, minimizing the influence of episodic storm‐derived nutrients from the WWTP‐influenced river to the estuary. In the site without WWTP influence, the river exported very little N during drought, so storm‐derived nutrient pulses were important for delivering N loads to the estuary. Overall, N is processed from river to estuary, but sustained WWTP‐N loads and periodic floods alter the timing of N delivery and N processing. Research that incorporates empirical measurements of N fluxes from river to estuary can inform management needs in the face of multiple anthropogenic stressors such as demand for freshwater and eutrophication.

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Impact of drought upon fish assemblage structure in two South Carolina Piedmont streams

2005

Self Cite

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The effects of drought on fish assemblages were studied in the Indian Creek (228 km 2 ) and Kings Creek (46 km 2 ) watersheds located in the Piedmont Province of South Carolina. Water and fish samples were collected at 13 localities during drought conditions in 2000 and again under post-drought conditions in 2003. Abundance, species richness, and Simpson's diversity were calculated for each locality, and the masses and lengths of individual fishes were measured to determine total biomass and length distributions for each species. Assemblages were significantly different from 2000 to 2003 at 10 of the 13 sample localities (v 2 test for association; p < 0.05). The family Cyprinidae (minnows) was numerically dominant in both years and in both watersheds, but their dominance declined somewhat following the drought due to lower numbers of Nocomis leptocephalus and Notropis lutipinnis in 2003 collections. However, some cyprinids increased in abundance in 2003 collections, most notably Semotilus atromaculatus and Hybopsis hypsinotus. Abundance of catostomids (suckers) and ictalurids (catfish) was also decreased post drought. Conversely, centrarchids (sunfish) increased in dominance in 2003, especially the species Lepomis macrochirus and Lepomis gulosus. Many more juveniles and young of the year were observed in 2003 collections, suggesting that most species exhibited greater reproductive success following the drought. The significant differences in water chemistry observed between the two years were not associated with any change in fish community structure. Instead, we attributed the observed differences in fish assemblages to changes in habitat structure associated with higher rainfall during post-drought conditions. Finally, sample localities showed high variability in common measures of assemblage structure, including abundance, species richness, and diversity. We hypothesize that the observed variability in community structure is caused by the heterogeneous habitat structure and morphology of these small Piedmont Province streams.

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Influence of wastewater-treatment effluent on concentrations and fluxes of solutes in the Bush River, South Carolina, during extreme drought conditions

Cited by 6 publications

References 0 publications

Influence of Drought and Municipal Sewage Effluents on the Baseflow Water Chemistry of an Upper Piedmont River

Influence of Drought and Municipal Sewage Effluents on the Baseflow Water Chemistry of an Upper Piedmont River

Wastewater influences nitrogen dynamics in a coastal catchment during a prolonged drought

Impact of drought upon fish assemblage structure in two South Carolina Piedmont streams

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