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Quality of water and chemistry of bottom sediment in the Rillito Creek basin, Tucson, Arizona, 1992-93

Water-Resources Investigations Report 95-4062
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https://doi.org/10.3133/wri954062

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Abstract

Physical and chemical data were collected from four surface-water sites, six ground-water sites, and two bottom-sediment sites during 1992-93. Specific conductance, hardness, alkalinity, and dissolved- solids concentrations generally were higher in ground water than in surface water. The median concentrations of dissolved major ions, with the exception of potassium, were higher in ground water than in surface water. In surface water and ground water, calcium was the dominant cation, and bicarbonate was the dominant anion. Concentrations of dissolved nitrite and nitrite plus nitrate in surface water and ground water did not exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maximum contaminant levels of 1 and 10 milligrams per liter for drinking water, respectively. Ammonium plus organic nitrogen in bottom sediment was detected at the highest concentration of any nitrogen species. Median values for most of the dissolved trace elements in surface water and ground water were below the detection levels. Dissolved trace elements in surface water and ground water did not exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maximum contaminant levels for drinking water. Trace-element concentrations in bottom sediment were similar to trace-element concentrations reported for soils of the western conterminous United States. Several organochlorine pesticides and priority pollutants were detected in surface-water and bottom-sediment samples; however, they did not exceed water-quality standards. Pesticides or priority pollutants were not detected in ground-water samples.
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Quality of water and chemistry of bottom sediment in the Rillito Creek basin, Tucson, Arizona, 1992-93
Series title Water-Resources Investigations Report
Series number 95-4062
DOI 10.3133/wri954062
Edition -
Year Published 1995
Language ENGLISH
Publisher U.S. Dept. of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey ; Open-File Section [distributor],
Description iv, 57 p. :ill., maps ;28 cm.
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