|
FY 1993 ABSTRACTS
FY 1993 Water Problems And Issues
Introduction:
Climatologically, the fiscal 1992 year began with a cold and
wet summer, followed by a cold and snowy winter. The wet winter weather,
although unappreciated by most but the skiers at the time, turned
out to be a blessing by the subsequent summer which exhibited climatologic
and agricultural drought, but not hydrologic drought due to the vast
stored ground water supplies. Many water problems in the state originate
with climatology; however, there are a significant number of others
that result from social, economic and regulatory pressures. Given
the many diverse interest groups and the fact that, although it is
renewable, water is a finite resource, it is not surprising to see
more conflicts over water occurring, a surprising example being when
RESTORE (an environmental group aimed at preserving NH forests) and
the Appalachian Mountain Club were at odds over well drilling in
the National Forest.
Surface Water
Regulatory and social directives are becoming more frequently
at odds in the development and use of surface water supplies. New
Hampshire's rural nature has always maintained a proud confidence
in the quality of its surface water. However, the new Surface Water
Treatment Rules are forcing the towns to comply with strict filtering
and disinfection criteria. The net result is for small towns to either
pursue expensive treatment plants; experiment with new treatment
technology; abandon surface water for ground water; or fight the
Rules in a legal setting.
Another area of conflict is between recreational use of surface
water and domestic or instream use. None of these issues is more
acute than the expansion of a major ski resort (and its need of water
for snow-making) versus the water supply needs of downstream towns.
This one issue has led to a series of bills before the NH Legislature
dealing with the control, use and conservation of the State's waters.
This may lead to a shift in the State's water laws.
Ground Water
Most of the New Hampshire population is served by ground water,
and therefore, traditional ground water issues have not been replaced.
There are many areas of naturally poor ground water, either due to
quantity, quality or both. Large emphasis has been placed on stratified
drift deposits and their capability to supply community wells; however,
individual wells are predominantly bedrock. A detailed understanding
of NH bedrock hydrology does not exist. The source, age and flow
patterns need to be studied and documented.
FATE OF NUTRIENTS DURING THE COMPOSTING OF YARD AND AGRICULTURAL
WASTES
Principal Investigators: Dr.
Thomas P. Ballestero and Ellen
(Ott) Douglas, University of New Hampshire
Descriptors: Animal waste; denitrification; nitrogen; soil-water relationships;
water quality management.
Problem and Research Objectives:
Nitrate, the end product of the aerobic decomposition of organic
nitrogen, is easily transported through the soil and into the ground
water, and therefore, poses a threat to ground water quality. This
research addressed the following questions:
- How much, at what rate, and in what form is nitrogen lost during
the composting process?
- Which modes of transport (dissolved or gaseous) are most important?
- What changes in the nitrogen budget are attributable to clear
cutting alone and what are attributable to the composting process?
- What is the potential impact of nitrogen losses from the composting
facility on ground water quality?
Principal Findings and Significance:
Results to date (continued in FY 1994):
The pH of the composting waste ranged from 8.0 to 9.0. Measurements
of pH collected over the sampling time showed approximate ranges
from 4.5 to 5.5 in the forested and cleared areas, which is typical
of forest soils in this area. In the composting area, pH measurements
steadily increased, with ranges of 6.0 to 7.5 in the soil adjacent
to the windrow and 7.0 to 8.0 beneath the windrow. Measurements of
electrical conductivity show this same effect, with measurements
in the forested and cleared areas very similar, approximately 50
to 75 mS/cm, while measurements in the composting area were very
elevated, approximately 1000 mS/cm beneath the windrow. These field
parameters clearly indicate the movement of contaminants from the
composting waste into the nearby soil.
Preliminary mass balance calculations indicated that the major nitrogen
losses were in the form of dissolved nitrate and as gaseous N2O.
One of the objectives of the continuation of this study was to determine
the significance of gaseous ammonia losses relative to the other
nitrogen losses.
back to top
FATE OF SEDIMENTS AND ASSOCIATED FECAL-BORNE BACTERIA ENTERING
GREAT BAY
Principal Investigators: Dr.
Stephen H. Jones, Richard
Langan and Dr. Larry
G. Ward, Jackson Estuarine Laboratory, University
of New Hampshire
Descriptors: Water quality management; bacteria; suspended sediments; sedimentation;
contaminant transport; pollutants; estuaries.
Problem and Research Objectives:
The purpose of this study was to assess the fate of microbial
contaminants in waters entering Great Bay and to determine the significance
of natural deposition and re- suspension processes on microbial-based
determinations of water quality. The specific objectives were:
- Determine suspended sediment and microbial contaminant inputs and
losses within the Squamscott River tributary/Great Bay
- Determine relationship between microbial contamination
of surface Bay water with episodic rainfall/runoff and wind event
re-suspension of sediments
- Compare historical deposition of microbes at sites differing
in proximity to source of suspended sediments
- Determine the efficacy of using newly developed methods for
detecting the DNA of specific pathogens in estuarine water and
compare levels of specific microbial pathogens to levels of microbial
indicators in estuarine shellfish-growing waters
Principal Findings and Significance:
Analysis of water samples collected along a transect from the
Squamscott River to Adams Point in Great Bay showed that levels of
both fecal-borne bacterial contaminants and suspended sediments decreased
as the water from the Squamscott River flowed into a channel and
into the middle of Great Bay. This trend was most striking for C.
perfringens, which appears to be quite tightly associated with suspended
particles. The channel in which indicator levels decreased is also
the general area of the turbidity maximum for that portion of the
estuary. The Lamprey River was found to be a major source of contamination,
higher than previously determined from past studies.
The mechanism of sedimentation of particle-bound fecal bacteria
was suspected to be associated with water flow through the extensive
eelgrass beds of Great Bay. A site was chosen that had water flowing
perpendicularly across a large, dense eelgrass bed from near the
confluence of the two main channels of Great Bay following slack
low tide. Samples were collected along a transect from the channel
outside the bed to the edge of the bed to inside the bed to far inside
the bed. The main target bacterial indicator was C. perfringens,
which was found to be almost exclusively associated with suspended
particles (~90% of total cells in the water column). Results showed
a decrease in C. perfringens levels as water flowed across the beds.
Sediment traps were set up to collected suspended sediments at two
depths at the same four sites in and around the eelgrass beds. Results
for sediment analysis and C. perfringens levels in the trapped sediments
showed differing levels of sediment at different depths, depending
on where in the bed the samples were taken. There appeared to be
an increase in levels at the edge of the bed, a transitional zone
that may have caused disturbance of sediments from in and outside
of the eelgrass beds.
back to top
PISCATAQUA RIVER DREDGING/SEDIMENT TRANSPORT PROGRAM
Principal Investigators: Dr.
Barbaros Celikkol, Dr.
M. Robinson Swift, Dr.
Thomas P. Ballestero, University of New
Hampshire
Descriptors: Deposition, dredging, estuary
Problem and Research Objectives:
The sedimentation processes in the Piscataqua River which necessitate
the frequent dredging procedures are poorly understood, due partly
to the extreme tidal and flood currents, and also to the complexity
of the sediment transport mechanisms involved. The objective of this
modeling project was to determine the fate of the redeposited spoils.
To achieve this objective, the TABS-2 computer software package was
calibrated and verified with field data of the Piscataqua River hydraulics
and sediment transport processes.
Principal Findings and Significance:
The velocity and bed load sediment transport modeling of the
lower Piscataqua River channel determined that the study site is
accumulating sediment during the simulated tidal event. Deposition
is greatest in the vicinity of the disposal location, while the locations
between the dredge site and the disposal site show little or no change
in bed elevation following the tidal event.
back to top
FIELD EVALUATION OF THE LAND APPLICATION OF PAPER MILL SECONDARY
CLARIFIER SLUDGE
Principal Investigators: Dr.
Thomas P. Ballestero, Dr.
James P. Malley, Jr., Dr. George O. Estes, University of New Hampshire
Descriptors: Groundwater quality, heavy metals, industrial wastewater, infiltration,
sludge
Problem and Research Objectives:
Wausau Paper Company (formerly James River Corporation - Groveton,
NH plant) was faced with high costs of landfilling its secondary
clarifier sludge. The sludge was derived from the wastewater treatment
process of paper mill process waters, and it was composed of 2% solids.
The solids were basically microorganism husks, paper fibers and clay
colloids. It was felt that the sludge could be land applied to grow
crops suitable for forage, or in aiding with revegetation of disturbed
lands. The significance of the project was specifically at saving
landfill space and in sludge management. More generally, the project
aided with sludge management of the regional paper mill industry.
Principal Findings and Significance:
The permits were granted, wells were drilled, soil moisture
equipment was installed, and the first application (2 million gallons)
occurred over the middle two weeks of June. The annual application
rate was controlled by the cadmium in the sludge (4 ppm). The source
of the cadmium was boiler blow down water. Since that time, the site
did not show much evidence of the application. At the time of this
report, chemical analyses were pending.
back to top
HYDROGEOLOGY OF THE SPRUCE HOLE AQUIFER
Principal Investigators: Dr.
Thomas P. Ballestero, Dr.
Frank S. Birch, Dr. Thomas Lee, University of New Hampshire
Descriptors: Aquifer characteristics, groundwater recharge, groundwater movement,
groundwater modeling, geophysics, ecosystems, wetlands
Problem and Research Objectives:
The research objectives of this project included: delineation
of the lateral and vertical extent of the aquifer through the use
of seismic geophysics; completion of monitoring wells and a pumping
well; biotic and ecologic assessment of the bog; delineation of the
ground water connection to the bog; hydrogeology of the formation;
and potential for the formation to serve as a water supply with and
without the use of artificial recharge.
Principal Findings and Significance:
Summer and Fall 1992 saw the completion of seismic geophysics.
This work resulted in maps depicting bedrock elevation, total overburden
thickness, till thickness, water table elevation and saturated sediment
thickness. These maps were used to locate monitoring wells. At this
writing, five wells had been completed and three more were to be
drilled. Six other wells were to be vibrated in. The production well
was to be constructed in Fall 1993.
The plots for the floristic study were begun in April and they continued
to be studied.
|
