Water Resource Management Commons^™

Development Of General Guidelines For The Planning Of Stormwater Management Facilities: Application To Urban Watersheds In Kentucky, Lindell E. Ormsbee, Vincent T. Reinert

KWRRI Research Reports

This report provides a planning methodology and a design tool to help determine the appropriate location and volume of detention basins required to control critical storm events. The technique involves using watershed characteristics including the SCS curve number, time of concentration, peak outflow rate, watershed area and the storage recurrence interval to help predict these detention volumes.

Historical rainfall records are used in a revised continuous simulation program (SYNOP, Hydroscience, Inc,) to determine the rainfall excess from which runoff hydrographs are produced. Various combinations of the watershed characteristics were input and computer analyses done to obtain the required data base. …

Investigation Of Pollution In A Karst Aquifer Utilizing Optical Brightener, John Thrailkill, Ralph F. Wiseman, Bridget R. Scanlon

KWRRI Research Reports

Optical brightener is an additive to laundry detergents and is found contaminating groundwater. Its concentration may rapidly and inexpensively be determined by fluorescence techniques, and because its source is human wastewater, its presence in groundwater serves as a direct indication of pollution from septic tanks, sewer leaks, and landfills.

A total of 105 wells and springs in an area within the Inner Bluegrass Karst Region near Lexington, Kentucky, were described and sampled. Analyses were made for optical brightener (430 samples), total coliform (91), fecal coliform (93), and fecal streptococci (90). As many as 20 optical brightener and 4 bacterial samples …

Identification Of Soil-Water Chemical Parameters For The Prediction And Treatment Of Suspended Solids In Surface Water Reservoirs Of Coal Mine Lands, V. P. Evangelou, J. H. Grove, R. I. Barnhisel

KWRRI Research Reports

High concentrations of suspended solids in coal mine sedimentation ponds are a factor in lowering water quality. Colloidal particle settling simulations were carried out in the laboratory to test the influence pH and dissolved solids have on concentration and settling rates of suspended solids. The results of the study reveal that the pH range of colloidal coflocculation for the samples tested is between 3.5 and 4.5. Furthermore, liming simulation of acidic sediments, as expected increased colloid dispersion. This increase was dependent on the magnitude of the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR). The greater SAR systems maintained a greater concentration of colloidal …

Finite Element Simulation Of Saturated-Unsaturated Subsurface Flow, George E. Blandford

KWRRI Research Reports

A two-dimensional transient model for flow through saturated-unsaturated porous media is developed, The model numerically solves the pressure head dependent or moisture content dependent form of Richard's equation. The model code uses isoparametric quadratic triangular and/or quadrilateral finite elements for the geometric representation and for the weak Galerkin spacial integrations. An implicit, unconditionally stable single-step numerical time integration scheme with an oscilliatory noise reduction option is utilized for the temporal discretization. The highly efficient symmetric skyline (profile) solution scheme is used to solve the resulting simultaneous equations. The nonlinear subsurface flow parameters are approximated using cubic spline interpolation. The element …

Discharge And Travel Time Determinations In The Royal Spring Groundwater Basin, Kentucky, John Thrailkill, Douglas R. Gouzie

KWRRI Research Reports

Groundwater flow in many karst regions, including the Inner Bluegrass Karst Region of central Kentucky in which the study area was located, is unlike groundwater flow in granular aquifers. At least the major flows are turbulent and often with a free surface in large conduits, and applying concepts based on Darcy's Law to describe and model these flows is inappropriate. Parameters such as linear velocity, channel geometry, and conveyance used to describe surface streamflows are more applicable, and the primary objective of the project was to estimate these in a groundwater basin using the travel time of dye slugs and …

Impact Assessment Of Coal Slurry Pipelines On Water Resources Utilization And Allocation, Muhammad Najmus Saquib, M. Levent Kavvas, David T. Kao, Lindell E. Ormsbee

KWRRI Research Reports

Pike county, the largest coal producing and exporting county from the state of Kentucky was studied to assess the impact of a possible coal slurry pipeline project on the water resources allocation and utilization in the region. Potential coal slurry pipelines from the region were identified and water requirement for operating several hypothetical pipelines were computed by using a recently developed computer program. Climatological data for the county were collected and analyzed for a 29-year period of record with a view to determining the monthly net consumptive use in the region. Available groundwater data for the region was also collected …

Identification Of Soil-Water Chemical Parameters For The Prediction And Treatment Of Suspended Solids In Surface Water Reservoirs Of Coal Mine Lands, V. P. Evangelou, J. H. Grove, R. I. Barnhisel

KWRRI Research Reports

High concentrations of suspended solids in coal mine sedimentation ponds are a factor in lowering water quality. This study focuses on the influence dissolved solids have on concentration and settling of suspended solids. Water samples from sedimentation ponds in Eastern and Western Kentucky were used to evaluate water composition in such ponds. Spoil samples from surface mine sites in both parts of the state were used to evaluate water composition released from the spoils upon introducing water.

The results demonstrate that water quality emanating from coal spoils of Eastern and Western coal mines is dependent on the type of spoil …

A Membrane-Organic Phase Oxidation Process For The Destruction Of Toxic Organics In Hazardous Wastewaters, Charles E. Hamrin Jr., Dibakar Bhattacharyya, William K. Glynn

KWRRI Research Reports

The examination of the extraction/oxidation of organic solutes in a two phase oxidation process was undertaken to discern the important parameters and the process mechanism of this system. Several parameter were adjusted to measure their effect on the disappearance rate of each organic from the water phase. The water to PFD volume ratio proved to be the most sensitive parameter affecting the disappearance rate, although temperature was also significant. Comparison with one phase oxidation systems demonstrated that the water/PFD system improved on the reduction of organics from the water phase. B-napthol oxidation increased over 50% in a 2/6 water/PFD volume …

Water Quality Evaluation Yatesville Lake Project: Volume 1, Stephen B. Sullivan, Edward G. Foree, John S. Tapp

KWRRI Research Reports

Point sources of pollution identified in the Blaine Creek watershed area consisted of oil and gas facility sources and mine related sources. A total of 493 point sources of pollution were inventoried which included 167 oil and gas related sources, 321 mine sediment structures, and 5 hollow fill groundwater seeps. The highest concentration of these point sources of pollution occurred in the south to southwest portion of the watershed in the area proximate to the Martha Field.

Adverse impacts to surface and groundwaters resulting from the 326 mine and groundwater point sources of pollution identified did not appear significant as …

Water Requirement For Coal Slurry Transportation, David T. Kao, Sandra L. Rusher

KWRRI Research Reports

The amount of water required for coal slurry transportation is a function of the coal properties and the magnitude of coal movement. The pipeline system characteristics and the method of slurry preparation also affects the overall water requirement of the system. In the present study methodologies are developed based on reported and modified coal slurry flow correlation equations to determine the quantity of water needed under various coal transport and flow conditions. Auxiliary water requirements including start-up and flushing water storage; related evaporation and seepage losses are also included. A computer program and several monographs are presented to provide a …

Predicting Infiltration And Surface Runoff From Reconstructed Spoils And Soils, Larry G. Wells, Andrew D. Ward, Ronald E. Phillips

KWRRI Research Reports

A laboratory system was fabricated to measure infiltration and runoff from spoil and soil profiles constructed in rectangular bins. Construction, calibration and operation of a rainfall simulator is discussed and instrumentation used to measure transient infiltration and transmittance of water through experimental profiles is described.

Spoil and soil materials from surface mines in Eastern and Western Kentucky were transported to the laboratory and used in constructing experimental profiles in rectangular bins (0.91 x 1.83 x 1.07 m). An extensive series of infiltration experiments were conducted utilizing a rainfall simulator and soil moisture monitoring instrumentation. A dual probe gamma density gauge …

Studies In Dye-Tracing Technologies In Karst Hydrogeology, John Thrailkill, Phillip E. Byrd, Stephen B. Sullivan, Lawrence E. Spangler, Charles J. Taylor, Greta K. Nelson, Kevin R. Pogue

KWRRI Research Reports

Information on fluorescent dyes used for water tracing and the results of six studies are reported. Optical brightener, direct yellow, fluorescein, rhodamine (WT), and other dyes are described and the procedures employed in their use ·in the field and in equilibration experiments are discussed. Three of the six studies consisted of investigations of the equilibration with passive detectors of three of the dyes. The absorption of optical brightener on fabric detectors was apparently linear with concentration and with immersion time, while detectors became rapidly saturated with direct yellow. Equilibrium of fluorescein on charcoal detectors with an elutriating solution was not …

Movement Of Bacteria Through Macropores To Ground Water, M. Scott Smith, Grant W. Thomas, Robert E. White

KWRRI Research Reports

Effects of soil type, flow rate, antecedent soil moisture and other factors on transport of E. coli through soils was measured on disturbed and intact columns 20 cm in diameter by 25 to 30 cm in depth. Added E. coli were distinguished from indigenous microbes using an antibiotic resistance marker. Transport of Cl^- and ³H₂O was also measured. Up to 96 percent of the bacteria irrigated onto the surface of intact columns were recovered in the effluent. Soil structure appeared to be related to the extent of transport. Columns prepared from mixed, repacked soil were much …

Hydraulic Analysis Of Surcharged Storm Sewer Systems, Don J. Wood, Gregory C. Heitzman

KWRRI Research Reports

Surcharge in a storm sewer system is the condition in which an entire sewer section is submerged and the pipe is flowing full under pressure. Flow in a surcharged storm sewer is essentially slowly varying unsteady pipe flow and methods for analyzing this type of flow are investigated. In this report the governing equations for unsteady fluid flow in pressurized storm sewers are presented. From these governing equations three numerical models are developed using various assumptions and simplifications. These flow models are applied to several example storm sewer systems under surcharge conditions. Plots of hydraulic grade and flow throughout the …

Groundwater In The Inner Bluegrass Karst Region, Kentucky, John Thrailkill, Lawrence E. Spangler, William M. Hopper Jr., Michael R. Mccann, Joseph W. Troester, Douglas R. Gouzie

KWRRI Research Reports

The hydrogeology of about 12% of the 5600 km² Inner Bluegrass Karst Region of central Kentucky was investigated by water tracing and other techniques. Using fluorescent dyes adsorbed on fabric and charcoal detectors, 96 traces (average length 2.7 km, maximum length 15 km) resulted in the identification of 38 groundwater basins (with areas up to 15 km²). Within the basins, subsurface flow is in a dendritic conduit system at depths up to 30 m below the surface, while in the interbasin areas which separate them flow is generally less than 5 m deep. Each groundwater basin discharges …

Some Variations In Distribution Of Fishes In Large Mainstream Reservoirs Associated With Artificial Cover, Donald W. Johnson, Elizabeth M. Choinski

KWRRI Research Reports

The influence of artificial cover (brush piles) on fish populations in Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley was studied. Mature and larval fishes were collected from deep and shallow sites with and without cover in a bay of each lake. Highest densities of mature crappie, bass, and sauger were found adjacent to deep attractors, while larval crappie and minnows were most concentrated at shallow brush piles. Shad (both adult and larvae) were not congregated at attractor sites. Information gathered supports the continuation of artificial cover installation and water level management procedures which will provide high and stable levels through spring spawning …

The Aquatic Toxicity Of Organic Compounds To Embryo-Larval Stages Of Fish And Amphibians, Jeffrey A. Black, Wesley J. Birge, Willaim E. Mcdonnell, Albert G. Westerman, Barbara A. Ramey, Donald M. Bruser

KWRRI Research Reports

Aquatic toxicity tests were conducted on 11 organic compounds considered hazardous to water resources. The toxicity of each compound was evaluated using embryo-larval stages of two to eight fish and amphibian species. Exposure was initiated at fertilization and maintained through 4 days posthatching. The animal test species exhibited varying degrees of sensitivity to the selected toxicants. Combined frequencies for mortality and teratogenesis at 4 days posthatching gave LC₅₀ ranges of 3.66 to 8.25 mg/L for benzene, 1.16 to 22.42 mg/L for carbon tetrachloride, 0.11 to 1.20 mg/L for chlorobenzene, 2.03 to > 68 mg/L for chloroform, 3.01 to 5.56 mg/L …

Sunlight Induced Movement Of Planktonic Organisms And Their Relationships To Water Movements, John Calkins, Ed Colley, Jay Wallingford, Carol Hulsey, Kathy Lohr, Marc Bolling

KWRRI Research Reports

Previous studies have shown the planktonic organisms of various natural water bodies to be quite sensitive to the levels of solar ultraviolet radiation incident at the water surface in summer. It has been assumed that the majority of the phytoplankton are simply carried about in the mass of the water which they inhabit with little control of their position or sunlight exposure. Photosynthetic microorganisms must strike a delicate balance with regard to solar radiation; they must obtain enough visible light for adequate photosynthesis while avoiding an excessive exposure to the injurious solar UV-B radiation.

It is proposed that the circulation …

Classification And Management Of Wetlands In The Western Kentucky Coal Field, William J. Mitsch, Robert W. Bosserman, Paul L. Hill Jr., Jan R. Taylor

KWRRI Research Reports

This is the first research report of a three-year project on wetland identification and management criteria in the western Kentucky coal field. The region is approximately 12,000 square kilometers and, due to its slight relief, contains many wetlands, some contiguous with surface coal mining operations. The overall objectives of the research project are 1) to identify, classify, and map wetlands in the western Kentucky coal field; 2) to evaluate the major biotic and abiotic factors that affect those wetlands; and 3) to develop strategies for the proper management of those wetlands.

The first report of this three-year project has involved …

A Multiobjective Branch-And-Bound Method For Planning Wastewater And Residual Management Systems, Masahisa Nakamura, Suraj M. Alexander, James M. Riley, Robert Simon, Susan Meyer, Kenneth F. Bloemer

KWRRI Research Reports

A multiobjective branch-and-bound algorithm is proposed for use in analysing multiobjective fixed-charge network-flow problems which are found commonly in water resources planning situations. Also proposed is a multiobjective imputed value analysis which makes use of the branch-and-bound tree structure and allows the comparison of the importance of facilities in the network as represented by individual arcs or sets of arcs. The mathematical formulation and the analysis procedure of the method are described, and the potential usefulness of the method is demonstrated using two hypothetical example problems dealing with regional wastewater treatment and residual management systems. A FORTRAN program for implementing …

Low Pressure Membrane Separation Process To Remove Heavy Metal Complexes, Dibakar Bhattacharyya, Chin-Shun Cheng

KWRRI Research Reports

The overall objective of this investigation is to establish the rejection behavior of heavy metals in the presence of complexing agents, utilizing negatively charged ultrafiltration membranes. An extensive experimental investigation is conducted with Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Cu¹⁺ in the presence of cyanide, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, and oxalates, under insignificant concentration polarization condition. The rejection dependence of the heavy metals is found to be a function of feed metal concentration, metal types, complexing agent to metal feed molar ratio, pH and ionic strength. The dependence of rejection behavior of heavy metals and complexing …

Modeling Soil Water Contents And Their Effects On Stream Flow In Kentucky, Grant W. Thomas, Ronald E. Phillips, David E. Radcliffe, Scott Shepard

KWRRI Research Reports

Soil water contents of eight important soil series in Kentucky were measured periodically during the summer growing season for four years, 1977 through 1980. The soils divided into three groups according to their behavior. The first group (Maury and Crider) is well-drained and never showed excess water above field capacity at any time during the four seasons. The second group (Zanesville, Lowell, Calloway, Grenada and Shelbyville) showed perched water tables at times, especially during the early part of the growing season. The third group was represented by the Huntington soil which has a permanent water table.

The in-situ field capacity …

Algorithms For Pipe Network Analysis And Their Reliability, Don J. Wood

KWRRI Research Reports

Algorithms for analyzing steady state flow conditions in pipe networks are developed for general applications. The algorithms are based on both loop equations expressed in terms of unknown flowrates and node equations expressed in terms of unknown grades. Five methods, which represent those in significant use today, are presented. An example pipe network is analyzed to illustrate the application of the various algorithms. The various assumptions required for the different methods are presented and the methods are compared within a common framework.

The reliabilities of these commonly employed algorithms for pipe network analysis are investigated by analyzing a large number …

Mathematical Model For Water Quality In Streams Impacted By Point And Nonpoint Source Pollution, Michael E. Meadows

KWRRI Research Reports

Modeling the impacts of stormwater runoff on small streams, requires that the prediction model has the capability of simulating the behavior of the hydrologic and water quality components of the stream system. Development of such a model involves coupling the equations for pollutant transport during unsteady flow with the appropriate flood routing equations. The decision on which equations to choose requires a full understanding of the pollutant transport and hydrograph dispersion processes.

This research was undertaken to develop a rigorous theoretical evaluation of the pollutant transport and hydrograph dispersion processes during unsteady flow, and to recommend a suitable model for …

Simulating The Water Requirements And Economic Feasibility Of Corn In The Midwest, Wendi L. Palmer, B. J. Barfield, M. E. Bitzer, C. T. Haan

KWRRI Research Reports

An evaluation of the economics of supplemental irrigation when using a surface water supply must be site specific in order to account for variations in soil moisture holding capacity, watershed area supplying the runoff, climatic conditions, and proposed irrigation management procedures.

With the use of farm specific simulation models to determine grain yields, availability of irrigation water, and economic expenditures involved in irrigation, an economic evaluation of supplemental irrigation can be performed, In the model presented in this report, the Duncan SIMAIZ model is used to predict grain yields using long-term daily weather information. SIMAIZ also determines irrigation water demand …

An Avoidance Response Bioassay For Aquatic Pollutants, Jeffrey A. Black, Wesley J. Birge

KWRRI Research Reports

Avoidance response bioassays were conducted with eight aquatic contaminants, including cadmium, copper, mercury, zinc, chloroform, dioctyl phthalate (DOP), trisodium nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), and phenol. Tests were performed in a dual-channel fluviarium system, and the toxicant injection procedure used provided good regulation of exposure concentrations. Juvenile stages of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus), and rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri), and tadpoles of the American toad (Bufo americanus) proved to be suitable animals for evaluating avoidance or attraction responses. The trout was the most sensitive species tested.

Avoidance was significant in tests …

An Environmental Study Of The Origin, Distribution, And Bioaccumulation Of Selenium In Kentucky And Barkley Lakes, B. E. Mcclellan, Kenneth J. Frazer

KWRRI Research Reports

Many samples of water, bottom sediment, and fish were analyzed for toxic metal ion content. The samples were collected from several selected sites along Kentucky and Barkley Lakes as well as the Cumberland River and several sub-impoundments along these aquatic systems. Emphasis was placed on selenium, although several other metal ions were determined. The results showed that there are no serious pollution problems with As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, Se, Sr, Zn, or Zr at any of the sites examined. Actually, none of the trace metals examined even come close to the EPA limits on fish, with the exception …

Charged Membrane, Low Pressure Ultrafiltration To Treat Acid Mine Drainage Waters, Dibakar Bhattacharyya, Robert B. Grieves, Shiela Shelton

KWRRI Research Reports

Low-pressure ultrafiltration with negatively-charged, non-cellulosic membranes is shown to be a feasible process in terms of achieving the simultaneous separation of dissolved metals (and sulfate) and of suspended solids from acid mine drainage water. The process is evaluated in terms of the simultaneous achievement of good water flux without membrane fouling and of adequate ultrafiltrate quality at high water recovery for water reuse operation.

At a transmembrane pressure of 5.6 x 10⁵ N/m², water fluxes in the range of 5.8 x 10^-4 cm/sec to 12.5 x 10^-4 cm/sec could be obtained at 97% water recovery. …

Emission Of Microbial Aerosols From Polluted Waters In Densely Populated Regions, Lois S. Cronholm

KWRRI Research Reports

The air surrounding three activated sludge tanks was sampled over a two year period for the emission of bacterial aerosols under a variety of climatic conditions and at varying distances upwind and downwind of the aerated tanks. All plants emitted species of enteric bacteria which are significant as index organisms and as frank pathogens. The emission pattern of these bacteria were influenced by distance from the plant and wind direction. Within the parameters of a plant, defined arbitrarily in this study by sampling sites less than 150 m upwind and less than 900 m downwind, distance from the source was …

Development Of A New Technique For The Analysis Of Pesticides In Water, Prasad K. Kadaba, Pramode K. Bhagat, Radko Osredkar, V. R. K. Murthy

KWRRI Research Reports

A Nuclear Double Resonance Spectrograph has been designed and constructed with emphasis on quadrupolar nuclei of half-integral spins. The use of a data acquisition and processing system featuring the A/D converter, signal averager with built in fast Fourier transformation hardware greatly improves the S/N ratio. The spectrograph has been used to detect certain organochlorine, carbamate and symmetrical triazine pesticides. Concentration levels that can be detected range from 15 to 100 micrograms per liter. Since the measurements are done below ice temperatures, heat-labile compounds can be detected without conversion to more suitable derivatives as in gas chromatography. Fats and oils in …