Chapter 27 Spatial and Temporal Trends in Surface Water Quality in a Segment of the San Antonio River, Texas

Andrea Anderson, Rachana Nagar, Dibyendu Sarkar

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Water quality as a function of land use was examined in the upper San Antonio River in the city of San Antonio, Texas. Five water sampling sites representative of different point and nonpoint pollution sources were spread over a distance of 3.2 km. Surface grab sampling was performed on a monthly basis between November 2004 and April 2005 excluding December. Water quality parameters that were evaluated include pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, total dissolved solids (TDS), total nitrate-nitrogen, total orthophosphate, turbidity, alkalinity and hardness using standard analytical protocols. Results were statistically analyzed by MANOVA. Findings were compared to state (Texas Environmental Quality Commission) and/or federal (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) limits to establish whether or not parameters were in compliance with those standards or guidelines. Of the routine water quality parameters examined, only turbidity and nitrate-nitrogen exceeded specific standards or guidelines in the segment of the San Antonio River that was sampled. Turbidity and nitrate-nitrogen also showed spatial and temporal trends, which were possibly, affected by land use and local precipitation patterns. Overall, this segment of the upper San Antonio River was considered to be relatively unpolluted and in most parts, unaffected by the land use.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationConcepts and Applications in Environmental Geochemistry
EditorsDibyendu Sarkar, Rupali Datta, Robyn Hannigan
Pages591-608
Number of pages18
DOIs
StatePublished - 2007

Publication series

NameDevelopments in Environmental Science
Volume5
ISSN (Print)1474-8177

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