Laboratory study of impacts of concrete fragment sizes on wetland water chemistry

Wright, Ian; Khoury, R.; Ryan, Michelle M.; Belmer, Nakia; Reynolds, Jason K.

doi:10.1080/1573062x.2017.1395897

Cited by 10 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 16 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The results from this current research added to the previous research [36,37], which reported that smaller fragment sizes of concrete aggregates that are exposed to water generally increased the nature and magnitude of water quality modification. For example, previous research [37] recorded steeper and greater increases in pH, EC and major ion concentrations when water was exposed to smaller concrete aggregates (less than 30 mm 3 ) compared with larger concrete aggregates (30-80 mm 3 ) in a static 96 h laboratory experiment. However, the current study found that this was not always the case for all water quality attributes.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

“…This demonstrated rapid changes in EC and pH and reported increased major ion concentration and increased metal concentrations after 60 min of recirculation. A longer laboratory study that involved a 96 h immersion of RCA materials of different fragment sizes in water revealed that particle size influenced the concentration of cations, with the smaller RCA particle size generating the largest cation concentrations [37].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Recirculating Water through Concrete Aggregates Rapidly Produced Ecologically Hazardous Water Quality

Wright

Nettle

Franklin

et al. 2023

Water

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The use of recycled concrete aggregates as a construction material is growing and this study was conducted to investigate the potential water quality issues that arise when concrete aggregates are exposed to water. The water used in the study was from a high-conservation-value wetland. It was dilute (17.8 µS cm−1), acidic (pH 5.97) and poorly buffered. The ionic composition comprised sodium, bicarbonate and chloride ions. Water was recirculated for 60 min through a control treatment and three treatments containing recycled concrete aggregates (RCAs) of different fragment sizes (10 mm, 20 mm and 60 mm). The fragment size influenced the final water quality, but the response patterns varied between the attributes tested. Post-recirculation, the RCA treatments increased the electrical conductivity by 6 to 12 times; pH by 2.3 to 3.8 pH units; and concentrations of calcium, potassium, bicarbonate and sulphate. The water exposed to RCA materials also increased the concentrations of several metals (aluminium, arsenic, copper, lead and zinc), resulting in hazardous concentrations for aquatic species according to ecological water quality guidelines. Strontium concentrations in water exposed to RCAs increased by 30 to 120 times background levels. The results from this study added further support to a growing body of evidence that the exposure of concrete materials to water can produce environmentally hazardous water quality.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recirculating Water through Concrete Aggregates Rapidly Produced Ecologically Hazardous Water Quality

Wright

Nettle

Franklin

et al. 2023

Water

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Deicing salt may be more of a contributor in the future with a shift to South American salt sources with higher sulfate concentrations (U.S. Geological Survey, 2017). However, sulfate likely originates from materials common in urban fill such as bricks, mortar, plaster, and slag (Abel et al., 2015; Nehls et al., 2013; Schonsky et al., 2013); concrete also may be a source (Davies et al., 2010; Wright et al., 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial Heterogeneity and Temporal Stability of Baseflow Stream Chemistry in an Urban Watershed

Welty

Moore

Bain

et al. 2022

Water Resources Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Urbanization fundamentally alters the critical zone, which is the region from the bottom of the aquifer to the top of the tree canopy that sustains ecosystems and humans. In urban areas, the critical zone is modified by the presence of utility pipes, soil compaction, vegetation removal, and chemicals introduced by human activi ties. A consequence is that urban stream biogeochemistry is characterized by elevated solute concentrations and loads, symptomatic of the "urban stream syndrome" (Walsh et al., 2005). Elevated solute concentrations degrade freshwater ecosystems (

show abstract

“…Both concrete products are commonly used as drainage materials in Blue Mountains urban areas (personal observation). Previous research has demonstrated that exposure of RCA fragments in water can rapidly modify water quality (Purdy, Reynolds and Wright 2020; Wright et al 2018).…”

Section: Water Treatment Chemical Differencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Influence of Concrete and Urban Water Quality On The Growth of An Invasive Weed (Salix Spp.) in One of Australia’s Most Endangered Aquatic Environments.

Purdy

Reynolds

Wright

2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Riparian vegetation along urban streams and wetlands is frequently dominated by invasive weeds. Elevated nitrogen and phosphorous in urban waters and soils are well-known to encourage invasive urban weeds, but this research demonstrates that other urban geochemical contaminants may also be influential. Previous studies have demonstrated that the dissolution of urban concrete is a poorly recognised source of modified water and soil geochemistry, which may enhance the growth of some invasive weeds. This study investigated the relationship between urban water quality and the growth of an invasive urban riparian weed, willow (Salix spp.) to examine the contribution of concrete materials. The study used water from a wetland in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. These wetlands have a unique biodiversity but are fragile and susceptible to degradation from human activity. Many are in urban catchments and are frequently dominated by invasive weeds, including Salix spp. In this study, willow cuttings were grown in a laboratory using four water treatments: pristine, urban, and pristine water exposed to two different concrete materials. The urban and concrete water treatments had higher pH, salinity, calcium, potassium, and higher concentration of several metals and were associated with increased growth of Salix spp. We suggest that the modification of urban water and riparian soil chemistry by urban concrete materials may contribute to the success of invasive species in urban wetlands and riparian zones. Some metals (barium, strontium) were present in urban water and in pristine water exposed to concrete and bioaccumulated in plant tissue.

show abstract

Laboratory study of impacts of concrete fragment sizes on wetland water chemistry

Cited by 10 publications

References 16 publications

Recirculating Water through Concrete Aggregates Rapidly Produced Ecologically Hazardous Water Quality

Recirculating Water through Concrete Aggregates Rapidly Produced Ecologically Hazardous Water Quality

Spatial Heterogeneity and Temporal Stability of Baseflow Stream Chemistry in an Urban Watershed

The Influence of Concrete and Urban Water Quality On The Growth of An Invasive Weed (Salix Spp.) in One of Australia’s Most Endangered Aquatic Environments.

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About