Impacts of Road Deicing Application on Sodium and Chloride Concentrations in Philadelphia Region Drinking Water

Cruz, Yuliza D.; Rossi, Marissa L.; Goldsmith, Steven T.

doi:10.1029/2021gh000538

Cited by 14 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Thus, spikes in Na + concentrations are likely a result of road salt runoff. These results support a recent finding of short-term spikes of Na + concentrations in Philadelphia tap water following snow melt events (Cruz et al, 2022). The two watersheds which exhibited the greatest Na + concentrations in 2019 (Perkiomen and Neshaminy) flow into rivers which are ultimately drawn upon by the City of Philadelphia for municipal water supply (Schuylkill and Delaware River, respectively).…”

Section: Implications For Sodium In Drinking Watersupporting

confidence: 87%

“…Thus, corresponding changes in %ISC and WWTP effluent in the study watersheds are negatively influencing the quality of drinking water supply of downstream municipalities. Regardless, both average values and spikes in Na + concentrations can result in individuals consuming greater than 30% of their daily recommended Na + input through drinking water; this is especially harmful to those following a low Na + diet due to a predisposed risk of hypertension (Hallenbeck et al, 1981;Tuthill and Calabrese, 1981;Talukder et al, 2017;Cruz et al, 2022).…”

Section: Implications For Sodium In Drinking Watermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the USEPA recommends Na + concentrations not exceed 20 mg L -1 for individuals restricted to a total sodium intake of 500 mg day -1 (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2003). Yet, in roadway deicing agent impacted regions, Na + concentrations well in excess of 20 mg L -1 have been identified in both streamwater samples collected in close proximity to drinking water intakes (Interlandi and Crockett, 2003;Kaushal et al, 2021;Rossi et al, 2022), as well as treated drinking water (Cruz et al, 2022). For example, Cruz et al (2022) found that wintertime Na + spikes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania region tap water (up to 126 mg L -1 ) contributed between 13.7% and 31.3% to the recommended daily sodium intake limits ingested by adults on non-restricted (2,500 mg day -1 ) and "low salt" diets (<1,500 mg day -1 ), respectively.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Yet, in roadway deicing agent impacted regions, Na + concentrations well in excess of 20 mg L -1 have been identified in both streamwater samples collected in close proximity to drinking water intakes (Interlandi and Crockett, 2003;Kaushal et al, 2021;Rossi et al, 2022), as well as treated drinking water (Cruz et al, 2022). For example, Cruz et al (2022) found that wintertime Na + spikes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania region tap water (up to 126 mg L -1 ) contributed between 13.7% and 31.3% to the recommended daily sodium intake limits ingested by adults on non-restricted (2,500 mg day -1 ) and "low salt" diets (<1,500 mg day -1 ), respectively. Furthermore, studies from other snow affected locales have found a positive association between tap water sodium concentrations and diastolic and/or systolic blood pressure (Hallenbeck et al, 1981;Tuthill and Calabrese, 1981;Talukder et al, 2017).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Land development and road salt usage drive long-term changes in major-ion chemistry of streamwater in six exurban and suburban watersheds, southeastern Pennsylvania, 1999–2019

Rossi,

Kremer,

Cravotta

et al. 2023

Front. Environ. Sci.

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In urbanized areas, the “freshwater salinization syndrome” (FSS), which pertains to long-term increases in concentrations of major ions and metals in fresh surface waters, has been attributed to road salt application. In addition to FSS, the water composition changes as an influx of sodium (Na+) in recharge may displace calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), potassium (K+), and trace metals by reverse cation exchange. These changing ion fluxes can result in adverse impacts on groundwater and surface waters used for municipal supplies. Few datasets exist to quantify the FSS on a watershed scale or link its manifestation to potential controlling factors such as changes in urban development, land use/land cover (LULC), or wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) discharges in upstream areas. Here, we use two decades (1999–2019) of monthly streamwater quality data combined with daily streamflow for six exurban and suburban watersheds in southeastern Pennsylvania to examine the relations among Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Na+, chloride (Cl−), sulfate (SO42-), and alkalinity (HCO3−) concentrations and upstream controlling factors. Flow-normalized annual and baseflow (August ̶ November) concentrations for Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, and Cl− increased in all six watersheds over the 20-year study, providing evidence of FSS’s impacts on groundwater that sustains streamflow. Additionally, a redundancy analysis using 2019 flow-normalized values identified the following positive associations between solute concentrations and controlling variables: 1) Cl−, Mg2+, and Ca2+ with impervious surface cover (ISC), 2) Na+ and SO42- with ISC and total WWTP discharge volume, and 3) HCO3− with agriculture and total WWTP discharge volume. From a human health perspective, 2019 flow-normalized Na+ concentrations exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 20 mg L-1 threshold for individuals restricted to a low sodium diet. Furthermore, indices used to evaluate the corrosivity of source waters to drinking water infrastructure and inform municipal water treatment practices, such as the Chloride to Sulfate Mass Ratio and Larson Ratio, increased between two- and seven-fold over the 20-year time. Collectively, the results elucidate the causal factors of the FSS in suburban and exurban watersheds and its potential impacts on human health and drinking water infrastructure.

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Section: Implications For Sodium In Drinking Watersupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: Implications For Sodium In Drinking Watermentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Land development and road salt usage drive long-term changes in major-ion chemistry of streamwater in six exurban and suburban watersheds, southeastern Pennsylvania, 1999–2019

Rossi,

Kremer,

Cravotta

et al. 2023

Front. Environ. Sci.

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“…This could be a result of accumulation in the raw water source due to reduced rainfall and, therefore, a reduced dilution effect or from road run-off. Interestingly, literature has shown that higher concentrations of both sodium and chloride over the winter months in freshwater and drinking water due to leaching of salt (NaCl) from road de-icing and road runoff [44].…”

Section: Plos Watermentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term trial of a community-scale decentralized point-of-use drinking water treatment system

Clayton,

Thorn,

Fox

et al. 2024

PLOS Water

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Two billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water services, many of these are in low/middle income countries where centralised systems are impractical. Decentralised point-of-use drinking water treatment systems offer alternative solutions in remote or resource constrained settings. The main aim of this study was to assess the long-term (3 year) operation and performance of a point-of-use drinking water treatment system (POU-DWTS). A biologically contaminated urban drainage pond was used as a water source and the quality of the produced drinking water was assessed over two independent trials. The decentralised POU-DWTS combined ultrafiltration membranes with disinfection from electrochemically generated hypochlorous acid (HOCl). The operational parameters, such as flow rate, free available chlorine and transmembrane pressure, were monitored in real-time and recorded via a remote monitoring system. Water quality from the source and treated water was assessed over two trial periods within the 3-year operational trial: an 11-week period at the start and a 22-week trial at the end. All water samples were assessed for a range of basic, chemical, microbiological and metal water quality parameters. The results demonstrate that the decentralised POU-DWTS is capable of continuously producing high quality drinking water when HOCl is continuously used to dose water prior to entering the ultrafiltration [UF] membranes. Over the 3-year operational study, the continuous dosing of HOCl pre-UF membranes resulted in stable permeability, indicating no occurrences of irreversible biofouling within the UF membranes and that good membrane ‘health’ was maintained throughout. As such, there was no need to replace the UF membranes nor undertake acid/alkaline chemical cleans at any point throughput the three-year study. The POU-DWTS continuously produced high quality drinking water, resulting in 6453 m3 of drinking water produced over the trial period, that met international water quality standards, at a community scale within the location studied.

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Prioritizing US Geological Survey science on salinization and salinity in candidate and selected priority river basins

Conaway,

Baker,

Brown

et al. 2024

Environ Monit Assess

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The US Geological Survey (USGS) is selecting and prioritizing basins, known as Integrated Water Science basins, for monitoring and intensive study. Previous efforts to aid in this selection process include a scientifically defensible and quantitative assessment of basins facing human-caused water resource challenges (Van Metre et al. in Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 192(7), 458 2020). In the present work, we explore this ranking process based on water quality considerations, specifically salinity and salinization. We selected top candidate basins to study salinity and salinization issues in 18 hydrologic regions that include 163 candidate basins. Our prioritization is based on quantitative assessment of sources of salinity, drivers of change, and receptors that must respond to those sources and drivers. Source terms represented in the prioritization include geology, depth to brackish groundwater, stream conductivity, chloride in precipitation, urban and agricultural land use, application of road salt as a deicer, and irrigation. Drivers represented in prioritization include changes in chemical weathering as a result of changes in rainwater chemistry. Receptors include measures of water stress, measurements of stream ecological health, and socioeconomic factors. In addition, we present research activities for the USGS on salinity and salinization that can be pursued in these basins including assessment of sources, pathways, and loadings; predicting and understanding changes in sources, peaks, and trends; understanding the components of salinity and mobilization of contaminants; understanding the relationship between salinization and changing ecosystems; and developing knowledge on the causes and distribution of groundwater salinity, brackish water resources, and challenges related to desalination.

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Impacts of Road Deicing Application on Sodium and Chloride Concentrations in Philadelphia Region Drinking Water

Abstract: Increasing surface water concentrations of sodium and chloride over time have been documented for regions affected by historical applications of roadway deicing agents, such as road salt and brines (

Cited by 14 publications

References 40 publications

Land development and road salt usage drive long-term changes in major-ion chemistry of streamwater in six exurban and suburban watersheds, southeastern Pennsylvania, 1999–2019

Land development and road salt usage drive long-term changes in major-ion chemistry of streamwater in six exurban and suburban watersheds, southeastern Pennsylvania, 1999–2019

Long-term trial of a community-scale decentralized point-of-use drinking water treatment system

Prioritizing US Geological Survey science on salinization and salinity in candidate and selected priority river basins

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