Master's Theses

Document Type

Thesis - campus only access

Date of Award

Spring 1989

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Geosciences

Advisor

John R. Ratzlaff

Abstract

The amount of chemical constituents in the Saline River increases temporally and spatially from Highway 183 north of Hays downstream to Wilson Reservoir. The most notable Increase in dissolved constituents occurs, just east of the Ellis/Russell County line, an area where the Dakota Formation initially crops out in the Saline River valley. Chloride, sodium, and sulfate are the main constituents responsible for the decrease in water quality. The Dakota Formation is the source of most of the highly mineralized water. However, all field pollution, evapotranspiration and/or leakage from the underlying Cretaceous Cheyenne Sandstone and/or Permian Cedar Hill is Sandstone may be responsible for the higher salinities. From April through October of 1988, chloride concentration in the Saline River within the study area was generally above the recommended 250 mg/l (ppm) drinking water standard. Chloride levels continued to rise throughout the summer as streamflow in the Saline River decreased and the alluvial aquifer became depleted. The western part of the study area remained at 300- 400 mg/l chloride, while the eastern part of the study area reached a maximum chloride content of 4570 mg/l in September, 1988. Magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, and total hardness also exceeded the recommended drinking water standards In the Saline River during this study.

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Rights

© 1989 Case C. Morris

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