Geochemistry of the Municipal Water System and of the Sandusky River at Bucyrus, Ohio
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Date
2000-06
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Publisher
The Ohio State University
Abstract
The Sandusky River and municipal water at Bucyrus, Ohio were sampled on 15 December 1999. The results of the analysis show that the water has been altered by both anthropogenic and natural geochemical processes. The evolution of municipal water shows increases in concentrations of Mg, Ba, Ca, K, and Na which are caused by anthropogenic processes. Elements Na, Mg, Ca, and Sr demonstrate mixing of the river water with municipal effluent. Elements Al, Fe, Ba, and K demonstrate enrichment in the river water downstream of the effluent discharge point. The enrichment of Al and Fe may be caused by groundwater whose chemical composition is directly related to the presence of a geologic contact between shale and limestone. Barium has an unknown source, but may also originate from the groundwater component. Potassium has an anomalously low concentration in the effluent compared to the river upstream of the discharge point of the effluent. Farther downstream, the K concentration of the river rises because of the apparent introduction of water from a third source of K, which may result from drainage from local farmland.