Trace Metal Variation in Atlanta Region Streamflow and Street Runoff
Author(s)
Rose, Seth
Sheheen, Danielle
Crean, Melinda
Ghazi, A. Mohamad
Advisor(s)
Editor(s)
Hatcher, Kathryn J.
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Abstract
Trace metal (Zn, V, Cr, Co, Ni, and
Pb) and major ion concentrations were measured at 15 stream and three urban/suburban street locations within the Atlanta metropolitan region (AMR) and surrounding
region. The primary focus of the study was Peachtree
Creek, draining a populated area of Atlanta, and samples
were acquired under a wide range of hydrological
conditions (e.g. baseflow, stormflow and recession). Zinc
was the most concentrated of all the metals within most
of the 172 samples collected during the study. This is
likely the result of automotive (tire) pollution and
extensive use of zinc alloys. The other metals approached
"background" concentrations (i.e. < 10 ppb) in most of the stream samples.
Zinc concentrations within street runoff (median = 905 ppb) were significantly greater than within storm runoff (median = 60 ppb) which were in turn greater than
non-storm runoff (median = 14 ppb). Metal and major ion
concentration variability indicates "hysteresis" is occurring, where concentrations at a given discharge are not equivalent with respect to the rising and falling limb of the storm hydrograph. A simple endmember mixing
calculation suggests that a large portion of the zinc washed into Peachtree Creek from street runoff is likely
sorbed by the highly turbid runoff at near neutral storm
water pH values.
Sponsor
Sponsored and Organized by: U.S. Geological Survey, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Conservation Service, The University of Georgia, Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology
Date
2001-03
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Proceedings