The impact of urban groundwater upon surface water - eTheses ...

Water quality data were collected in order to:
MONITORING NETWORKS AND METHODS
(i) estimate the contaminant mass flux to the river in conjunction with groundwater and
surface water flow measurements;
(ii) examine the variation in water quality across the groundwater-surface water interface
associated with such processes as biodegradation and redox reactions;
(iii) assess the water quality in relation to the U.K. toxicity standards for aquatic life
(environmental quality standards) and drinking water;
(iv) examine the differences in groundwater quality between the riverbed and the shallow
and deep monitoring wells and the ‘background’ Sutton Park samples;
(v) and to observe the changes in the surface water quality that can occur across the study
reach.
Archive surface water flow measurements from the gauging stations at Bescot, Water Orton
and Calthorpe (Figure 4.1) were supplemented by additional fieldwork involving surface
water flow gauging across the aquifer. The data were examined to determine the groundwater
contribution to baseflow and the degree of temporal variability in this.
A characterisation of the riverbed sediments was undertaken by performing falling head tests
in the riverbed piezometers and taking riverbed sediment cores upon which sieve analyses
were carried out. Samples of the riverbed sediment were analysed to determine the fraction of
organic carbon (Foc) content to assist with studies on the sorption and retardation of organic
contaminants on their passage across the groundwater/surface water interface.
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