Evaluating Nitrate Management in the Volusia Blue Springshed
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 144, Issue 3
Abstract
This investigation evaluated five hypothetical scenarios relating nitrate sources in the recharge of the Volusia Blue Spring to eutrophication in the St. Johns River. In the Volusia Blue recharge area of Florida, decades of nitrate loadings have impacted the quality of springwater discharged from the confined Floridan aquifer. Simulators and field observations were used to develop and define a procedure for the first time by which local and Florida state agencies can better manage nitrate pollution. The simulations were based on population growth projections and nitrogen loads from treated wastewater discharges, septic tanks, and fertilized areas. A one-tailed t-test comparing observed with simulated nitrate values in spring discharge indicates that there is insufficient evidence of discrepancies between observed and simulated results. Results from the simulation of five nitrate management scenarios were used to estimate probable construction costs that were compared with of nitrate removed. Constructed wetlands and targeted septic tank removal were the two most cost-effective nitrate management approaches. However, septic tank removal resulted in the greatest benefit with a 36% nitrate decrease in a 39-year projection of springwater quality.
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Acknowledgments
This project was financially supported, in part, by the University of Central Florida Research Foundation Jones Edmunds Fund (16208148) and the University of Central Florida Environmental Systems Engineering Institute (16200303). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of University of Central Florida (Orlando, Florida), the Research Foundation, or Jones Edmunds and Associates (Gainesville, Florida). The authors are thankful for these funding sources. We also thank the editor and reviewers for the comments and suggestions of improvement, the cities of DeLand and Deltona, Florida, Volusia County, St. Johns River Water Management District, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Deltona Septic (Holly Hill, Florida), and the homeowners participating in the study without whom this study could not have been made possible.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 144 • Issue 3 • March 2018
Copyright
©2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 13, 2017
Accepted: Aug 15, 2017
Published online: Jan 9, 2018
Published in print: Mar 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Jun 9, 2018
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