Turbidity as an Indicator of Water Quality in Diverse Watersheds of the Upper Pecos River Basin

Water

Gregory M. Huey¹ 

[1] Ground Water Quality Bureau, New Mexico Environment Department, 1190 Saint Francis Drive, Santa Fe, NM 87502, USA

关键词: land use;    wildfire;    turbidity;    E. coli;    microbial concentrations;    total suspended solids;    storm runoff;    cryptosporidium spp.;   

DOI  :  10.3390/w2020273

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Microbial concentrations, total suspended solids (TSS) and turbidity vary with stream hydrology and land use. Turbidity, TSS, and microbial concentrations, loads and yields from four watersheds were assessed: an unburned montane forest, a catastrophically burned montane forest, urban land use and rangeland prairie. Concentrations and loads for most water quality variables were greatest during storm events. Turbidity was an effective indicator of TSS, E. coli and Enterococci spp. The greatest threat to public health from microbial contamination occurs during storm runoff events. Efforts to manage surface runoff and erosion would likely improve water quality of the upper PecosRiver basin in New Mexico, USA.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2010 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.