Grantee Research Project Results
2000 Progress Report: Molecular Tracers of Contaminant Sources to Surface Water Drinking Supplies
EPA Grant Number: R828159Title: Molecular Tracers of Contaminant Sources to Surface Water Drinking Supplies
Investigators: Standley, Laurel J. , Kaplan, Louis A. , Newbold, J. Denis
Institution: Stroud Water Research Center, Inc
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: July 1, 2000 through December 31, 2001 (Extended to December 31, 2002)
Project Period Covered by this Report: July 1, 2000 through December 31, 2001
Project Amount: $220,000
RFA: Exploratory Research - Engineering, Chemistry, and Physics) (1999) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Water , Air , Safer Chemicals , Land and Waste Management
Objective:
The objective of this research is to develop a more quantitative method for apportioning the contribution of contaminants from point source effluents and nonpoint source runoff to surface waters that are drinking water supplies (e.g., rivers and reservoirs). In preliminary research, we developed a suite of molecular tracers for several potential contaminant sources that included waste water treatment plants, agricultural runoff, urban/suburban runoff, and wildlife. Although accurate, the molecular tracer method is not yet quantitative. We hypothesize that: (1) unique compounds (i.e., molecular tracers) that are constituents of runoff or effluent of contaminant sources reflect the contribution of these sources to contaminant budgets in drinking water supplies; (2) although the in-stream fate of contaminants and corresponding molecular tracers may differ, selection of more than one tracer can strengthen quantification of contaminant sources; and (3) threshold values for molecular tracers can be determined that are predictive for unacceptable levels of contamination (i.e., contaminant threshold values).Progress Summary:
The four stream stretches targeted for collection of water and sediment samples have been collected. Two streams were sampled in both winter and summer to provide information on seasonal variation. All four were sampled during summer baseflow conditions. In-stream experiments were conducted to determine water column decay rates. Selected quartz tubes containing tracer-spiked stream water were exposed to varying regimes of light, sterilization, concentration, and times over a 14-day period to determine rates associated with microbial decay, photolysis, and concentration effects. Deposition rates were determined for particles collected from a manure-treated farmland, a sewage treatment plant, road runoff, and stream seston. Prior to release in model stream flumes, particles were separated into two size classes: (1) 15-50 µm; and (2) 50-100 µm. Particles also will be analyzed for molecular tracer content.Future Activities:
Mass spectral analysis of stream water and sediment samples remains and is underway. Deposition velocities will be calculated from particle release experiments. Particles used for deposition velocity experiments also will be analyzed for molecular tracer content. Additional work on particle deposition will be conducted because this is a critical and complex fate process for the particle-bound molecular tracers such as fecal steroids.Several contaminant sources remain to be sampled, extracted, and analyzed. These include two more poultry manure specimens (one will be from a turkey farm and the other a chicken rearing operation), one more cattle manure specimen, and two more samples of road runoff. Final data analysis and quality control assessment will be completed as data are produced.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 3 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
risk assessment, water quality., RFA, Air, Scientific Discipline, Water, Waste, Remediation, Environmental Chemistry, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Contaminated Sediments, Hydrology, Wet Weather Flows, Drinking Water, contaminant transport, agriculture , nonpoint source runoff, water quality, non-point sources, treatment, contaminated sediment, point source effluents, quantitative method, threshold values, monitoring, fate and transport, transport containment, drinking water contaminants, wastewater treatment, agriculture, molecular tracer, surface waterRelevant Websites:
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.