IMPACT OF STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON GROUNDWATER. FINAL REPORT

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. Concentration of major ions, metals, and nutrients were measured in groundwater and bottom sediments from 1984 through 1986. Significant differences for most variables were indicated among groundwater quality data pooled by detention method. Nitrate nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were highest in groundwater near swales and the exfiltration pipe, and Kjeldahl nitrogen was highest near ponds. Chromium, copper, and lead concentrations in groundwater were frequently below detection levels at all study areas, and no significant differences among detention methods were detected for any metal concentration with the exception of iron. High iron concentrations in groundwater near the detention pond and one swale most likely were naturally occurring and unrelated to highway runoff. Results of the study indicate that natural processes occurring in soils attenuate inorganic constituents in runoff prior to reaching the receiving groundwater. However, organic compounds detected in sediments at the retention pond indicate a potential problem that may eventually affect the quality of the receiving groundwater.

• Corporate Authors:

  U.S. Geological Survey

  F Street Between 18th and 19th Street, NW
  Washington, DC    20244

  Florida Department of Transportation

  P.O. Box 1029
  Gainesville, FL  United States  32602

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • SCHIFFER, D M
• Publication Date: 1990-1

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: 85 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Catch basins; Detention basins; Drainage; Groundwater; Inorganic compounds; Ions; Management; Metals; Organic compounds; Runoff; Swales; Water pollution; Water quality
• Old TRIS Terms: Exfiltration pipes; Groundwater effects; Nutrient content; Retention ponds
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; I26: Water Run-off - Freeze-thaw;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00491910
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FL/DOT/SMO/90-378, FL-ER-45-89
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Mar 31 1990 12:00AM