Trends in surface-water quality in Connecticut

Trench, Elaine C. Todd; Korzendorfer, B.A.

doi:10.3133/fs13397

Cited by 9 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“…Widespread upward trends in chloride concentrations in streams nationwide have been reported from 1974-81 (Smith and others, 1987). Similar trends have been reported in Connecticut from the 1970s to the 1990s (Trench, 1996;Colombo and Trench, 2002) and in New Jersey (Hay and Campbell, 1990;Robinson and others, 1996). Several studies have shown elevated concentrations of chloride and sodium in glacial aquifers related to urban land use (Grady and Mullaney, 1998;Fong, 2000;Thomas, 2000;Savoca and others, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 73%

Chloride in Groundwater and Surface Water in Areas Underlain by the Glacial Aquifer System, Northern United States

Mullaney¹,

Lorenz²,

Arntson³

2009

Scientific Investigations Report

143

114

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The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is committed to providing the Nation with credible scientific information that helps to enhance and protect the overall quality of life and that facilitates effective management of water, biological, energy, and mineral resources (http://www.usgs.gov/). Information on the Nation's water resources is critical to ensuring long-term availability of water that is safe for drinking and recreation and is suitable for industry, irrigation, and fish and wildlife. Population growth and increasing demands for water make the availability of that water, now measured in terms of quantity and quality, even more essential to the long-term sustainability of our communities and ecosystems. The USGS implemented the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program in 1991 to support national, regional, State, and local information needs and decisions related to water-quality management and policy (http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa). The NAWQA Program is designed to answer: What is the condition of our Nation's streams and groundwater? How are conditions changing over time? How do natural features and human activities affect the quality of streams and groundwater, and where are those effects most pronounced? By combining information on water chemistry, physical characteristics, stream habitat, and aquatic life, the NAWQA Program aims to provide science-based insights for current and emerging water issues and priorities. From 1991-2001, the NAWQA Program completed interdisciplinary assessments and established a baseline understanding of water-quality conditions in 51 of the Nation's river basins and aquifers, referred to as Study Units (http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/studyu.html). In the second decade of the Program (2001-2012), a major focus is on regional assessments of waterquality conditions and trends. These regional assessments are based on major river basins and principal aquifers, which encompass larger regions of the country than the Study Units. Regional assessments extend the findings in the Study Units by filling critical gaps in characterizing the quality of surface water and groundwater, and by determining status and trends at sites that have been consistently monitored for more than a decade. In addition, the regional assessments continue to build an understanding of how natural features and human activities affect water quality. Many of the regional assessments employ modeling and other scientific tools, developed on the basis of data collected at individual sites, to help extend knowledge of water quality to unmonitored, yet comparable areas within the regions. The models thereby enhance the value of our existing data and our understanding of the hydrologic system. In addition, the models are useful in evaluating various resource-management scenarios and in predicting how our actions, such as reducing or managing nonpoint and point sources of contamination, land conversion, and altering flow and (or) pumping regimes, are likely to affect water conditions within a region. Other activities pla...

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 73%

Chloride in Groundwater and Surface Water in Areas Underlain by the Glacial Aquifer System, Northern United States

Mullaney¹,

Lorenz²,

Arntson³

2009

Scientific Investigations Report

143

114

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Widespread upward trends in Cl concentrations in streams have been reported nationwide and may be related to a variety of factors, including increased road area and consequent deicing, increased wastewater and septic-system discharges, livestock waste and fertilizers, and leachate from landfills and salt-storage areas (Smith and others, 1987;Mullaney and others, 2009). Similar trends have been reported in Connecticut from the 1970s to 1990s (Trench, 1996;Colombo and Trench, 2002). Elevated concentrations of Cl and sodium (Na) in glacial aquifers in Connecticut have been related to urban land use (Grady, 1993;Grady and Mullaney, 1998).…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Preliminary assessment of chloride concentrations, loads, and yields in selected watersheds along the Interstate 95 corridor, southeastern Connecticut, 2008-09

Brown¹,

Mullaney²,

Morrison³

et al. 2011

Open-File Report

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“…Widespread upward trends in Cl -concentrations in streams have been reported nationwide and may be related to a variety of factors, including increased road area and consequent deicing, increased wastewater and septicsystem discharges, livestock waste and fertilizers, and leachate from landfills and salt-storage areas (Smith and others, 1987;Mullaney and others, 2009;Katz and others, 2011). Similar trends have been reported in Connecticut from the 1970s to 1990s (Trench, 1996;Colombo and Trench, 2002). Elevated concentrations of Cl -and Na + in glacial aquifers in Connecticut have been related to urban land use (Grady, 1993;Grady and Mullaney, 1998).…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 72%

Chloride concentrations, loads, and yields in four watersheds along Interstate 95, southeastern Connecticut, 2008-11: factors that affect peak chloride concentrations during winter storms

Brown¹,

Mullaney²,

Morrison³

et al. 2015

Scientific Investigations Report

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For more information on the USGS-the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment-visit http://www.usgs.gov/ or call 1-888-ASK-USGS.For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod/.Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner.Suggested citation: Brown, C.J., Mullaney, J.R., Morrison, Jonathan, Martin, J.W., and Trombley, T.J., 2015, Chloride concentrations, loads, and yields in four watersheds along Interstate 95, southeastern Connecticut, 2008-11-Factors that affect peak chloride concentrations during winter storms: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2015-5057, 68 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20155057. ISSN 2328-0328 (online) iii AcknowledgmentsThe authors would like to thank Eloise Powell, Robert Turner, and Patricia Cazenas of the Federal Highway Administration; Paul Corrente, Kevin Carifa, and James Spencer of the Connecticut Department of Transportation; and the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering team for technical input and guidance and for providing data or information. In addition, the authors would like to thank U.S. Geological Survey employees Timothy Sargent, David Bjerklie, Daniel Lolos, Remo Mondazzi, and Timothy Frick for maintenance of streamgages and water-quality monitors, and collection of water-quality samples. Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as °F = (1.8 × °C) + 32. DatumVertical coordinate information is referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88).Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).Altitude, as used in this report, refers to distance above the vertical datum. x Supplemental InformationSpecific conductance is given in microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius (µS/cm at 25 °C).Concentrations of chemical constituents in water are given in milligrams per liter (mg/L), unless otherwise noted. Chloride concentrations varied considerably in shallow Jordan Brook watersheds, where developed land ranged from groundwater as a result of land-use differences. Cl -concen-9 to 32 percent. Water-quality samples were collected and spe-trations were very high (as high as 800 mg/L) in shallow cific conductance was measured continuously at paired watergroundwater downstream from I-95 at the Four Mile River quality monitoring sites, upstream and downstream from I-95. site. Chloride/bromide mass concentration ratios and the Specific conductance values were related to Cl -concentrations proximity of a former landfill and sewage lagoon upstream to assist in determining the effects of road-deicin...

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Trends in surface-water quality in Connecticut

Cited by 9 publications

References 0 publications

Chloride in Groundwater and Surface Water in Areas Underlain by the Glacial Aquifer System, Northern United States

Chloride in Groundwater and Surface Water in Areas Underlain by the Glacial Aquifer System, Northern United States

Preliminary assessment of chloride concentrations, loads, and yields in selected watersheds along the Interstate 95 corridor, southeastern Connecticut, 2008-09

Chloride concentrations, loads, and yields in four watersheds along Interstate 95, southeastern Connecticut, 2008-11: factors that affect peak chloride concentrations during winter storms

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