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The influence of road salts on water quality in a restored urban stream (Columbus, OH)
Citation:
COOPER, C. A., P. M. MAYER, AND BART FAULKNER. The influence of road salts on water quality in a restored urban stream (Columbus, OH). Presented at The 16th National Nonpoint Source Monitoring Workshop, Columbus, OH, September 14 - 18, 2008.
Impact/Purpose:
To determine if the connection between road salts and water quality is essential to assess the implications for human health and ecosystem services
Description:
Understanding the connection between road salts and water quality is essential to assess the implications for human health and ecosystem services. To assess the effects of the restoration on water quality, surface and ground water have been monitored at Minebank Run, MD since 2001. Stream gauges and piezometers were installed in the stream channel and floodplain of Minebank Run along multiple transects above and below the I-695 Beltway. In our preliminary data analysis, we found a trend of increasing salt concentrations downstream of the Beltway in the surface water. This downstream site also has significantly greater surface water salinity than upstream of the Beltway. Ground water salt concentrations suggest that the ground water acts as a continuous source of salts to the surface water. The potential for road salt deicers to impact stream restoration efforts by increasing salinity levels in urbanizing watersheds will be discussed along with the possibility for drinking water impacts.