Potential impacts of discharging tertiary-treated wastewater into Port Royal Sound, South Carolina
Water-Resources Investigations Report
85-4326
By: G. K. Speiran and D.L. Belval
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Abstract
An assessment of physical characteristics of Port Royal Sound was combined with the results of a dye tracer study and with data collected from a previous environmental study to describe the impact on the water quality from discharging tertiary treated wastewater into the sound. Calculated velocities for the time of maximum velocity in the tidal cycle ranged from 2.32 ft/sec near the bottom to 4.65 ft/sec near the surface of the sound in a cross section in the vicinity of a proposed wastewater outfall. Vertical velocity distributions calculated for the time of maximum velocity were similar at all stations at which velocities were measured except the station in shallow water near the shore. A recent bathymetric chart of the vicinity of the proposed outfall indicates that a bar extends farther along the northern shore of Hilton Head Island than indicated on earlier nautical charts of Port Royal Sound. Continued extension of this bar could alter the impact on water quality from discharge of treated wastewater into the sound. Further study may be needed to monitor changes in the bar if the outfall is located between the bar and Hilton Head Island. Conservative calculations based on the results of the dye tracer study indicate that the discharge of 10.9 million gallons/day of wastewater having concentrations of biochemical oxygen demand and suspended solids of 15 mg/L will result in a maximum cumulative increase in concentrations of biochemical oxygen demand of < 0.01 mg/L and no increase in concentrations of suspended solids at high slack tide in the part of Port Royal Sound most affected by the proposed wastewater discharge. (Author 's abstract)
Study Area
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Potential impacts of discharging tertiary-treated wastewater into Port Royal Sound, South Carolina |
| Series title | Water-Resources Investigations Report |
| Series number | 85-4326 |
| DOI | 10.3133/wri854326 |
| Edition | - |
| Year Published | 1985 |
| Language | ENGLISH |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey, |
| Contributing office(s) | South Atlantic Water Science Center |
| Description | v, 33 p. :ill., maps ;28 cm. |
| Country | United States |
| State | South Carolina |
| Other Geospatial | Port Royal Sound |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |