Integrated understanding of urban land, groundwater, baseflow and surface-water quality--the City of Birmingham, UK.
Integrated understanding of urban land, groundwater (shallow and deep), baseflow and surface-water quality relationships is required for effective urban water-quality management. Chemical quality data from across these media have been collected for the Birmingham (UK) aquifer--River Tame conurbation to assess chemical transport from contaminated land to groundwater to baseflow to surface water. Although metals concentrations were high in soils, low leachability and attenuation caused concentrations in groundwaters and baseflow discharging to surface water to be generally low with only sporadic elevated concentrations attributed to localised point sources. Hydrocarbon VOCs (volatile organic compounds) were similarly absent or at low concentration attributable to their ready natural attenuation. Chlorinated VOCs, however, were widely encountered in groundwater, discharging as baseflow to surface water and impacting surface-water quality. This is attributed to their DNAPL (dense nonaqueous-phase liquid) properties and relative recalcitrance although there was some evidence of biodegradation, albeit insufficient to protect surface water and groundwater abstraction receptors. Some inorganic trends were evident across the various media; nitrate was the most significant quality concern. Generic conclusions are drawn on urban water-quality management and the need for risk-based management strategies to optimise use of urban, sporadically contaminated groundwater in conjunction with surface water highlighted.
Shepherd
Kevin A
KA
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
Ellis
Paul A
PA
Rivett
Michael O
MO
D000838:Anions / Q000032:analysis; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis; D002947:Cities; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis; D008738:Methyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis; D045483:Rivers; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D006113:United Kingdom; D014872:Water Movements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014881:Water Supply
D000838:Anions; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C043243:methyl tert-butyl ether; D001151:Arsenic