The chemical composition and flow of the South Winterbourne in Dorset

Abstract

Summary Weekly observations were made of the South Winterbourne from October 1970 to December 1971. Flow commenced in November 1970 and ceased in July 1971, a maximum flow of 1.51 m3 s−1 being recorded in January 1971. The chemical composition was not very variable, but nitrate showed a positive correlation with flow.

Statistical analysis of nitrate concentrations from the River Frome (Dorset) for the period 1965–76

“…However, the values for r are generally low and never exceed 0.65. The high correlations obtained by Casey & Ladle (1976) and Casey & Newton (1972) were for rivers where there was a much greater range in discharge and/or nitrate concentration. Table 7 shows that correlations and results based on just a small number of samples or for data collected over a short period should be interpreted with care.…”

The Chemistry of Phosphate and Nitrogen Compounds in Sediments

“…Casey (1969) and Casey & Newton (1972 studied ionic composition in a number of rivers in the hard water area of Dorset (UK). This may happen to some anions while rain is seeping through agricultural land or in certain springs.…”

“…This may happen to some anions while rain is seeping through agricultural land or in certain springs. A very typical case is given by Casey & Newton (1972) for the river South Winterbourne (Dorset, UK), where the NO − 3 concentration increased logarithmically from ≈ 1 mg −1 up to 6 mg −1 , while the flow increased from 0.1 to 1.6 m 3 s −1 . Typical examples are the Ca 2+ and HCO − 3 ions, the concentrations of which are fixed by the pH and the solubility product of the CaCO 3 , but this is not always the case in hard waters.…”

An ecological study of a small New Zealand stream with particular reference to the Oligochaeta

“…Levels recorded from spring water were relatively high (Casey & Newton, 1972 ;Johnston, 1972) but well below the maximum of 1o g m' set by the WHO for drinking water. Nitrate-N levels were higher in winter than summer at Stations 1 and 2 but no clear seasonal pattern was found at the upstream sites .…”