Wastewater movement near four treatment and disposal sites in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Cox ER. 1986. Wastewater movement near four treatment and disposal sites in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Water Resources Investigations Report. 84-4147. USGS. Cheyenne, WY
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Park Service, studied the effects on nearby streams and lakes of treated wastewater effluents that percolate from sewage lagoons at four sites in Yellowstone National Park. A network of observation wells has been established near the sites; water-level and water-quality data were collected from 1974 through 1982. Ground-water mounds form under the lagoons as percolation of effluents occurs. The percolating effluents mix with ground water and form plumes of water that contain chemical constituents from the effluents. These plumes move down the hydraulic gradient toward groundwater-discharge areas. The directions of movement of percolating effluents have been determined by measuring the specific conductance of water and by analyzing water samples from wells near the lagoons for chloride and nitrite plus nitrate concentrations. Other constituents and properties also were determined. Effluent percolating from the Fishing Bridge lagoons probably discharges into the Yellowstone River. The effluent is diluted by ground water and has no discernible effect on the quality of water in the river. Similarly, effluent percolating from the Grant Village lagoons probably discharges into Yellowstone Lake. The effluent also is diluted by ground water and has no discernible effect on the quality of water in the lake. Effluent percolating from the Old Faithful lagoons discharges into Iron Spring Creek and may increase dissolved constituents, such as chloride, in the stream. Thermal water that is more mineralized than the effluent discharges into the stream and also increases the chloride concentration of water in the stream. Effluent percolating from the Madison Junction lagoons probably discharges into the Madison River. The effluent is diluted by ground water and has no discernible effect on the quality of water in the river. Thermal water that is more mineralized than the effluent also discharges in the river in the same area as the effluent without appreciably affecting the quality of water in the river.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Cox, Edward
- Date of Issue
- 1986
- Publisher
- USGS
- Units
- HIST , WRD , YELL
- Keywords
- chloride concentrations, Data Collection, dye-tracing, ehistory, Fishing Bridge, formation of ground-water mounts, Geology, Grant Village, Ground Water, History, hydrologic setting, Hydrology, ionic concentrations, iron concentrations, Lagoons, location-numbering systems, Madison Junction, movement of effluent, Nitrate, nitrite, observation-well network, Old Faithful, sampling sites on streams, specific conductance, Surface Water, Wastewater Treatment, water level fluctuation, Water Quality, Wells, WRBIB