T42 Geoscience Research Posters by 2YC and 4YCU Undergraduate Students (Posters)

Sunday, 22 September 2024
8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Hall D

UNRAVELING PRE-DROUGHT WATER QUALITY USING THE SPEARFORD GULLY, HOUSTON, TEXAS

Paper number: T42-3
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Authors

Abstract

As drought becomes increasingly severe in the wake of global climate change, understanding how water quality responds is crucial. Previous studies have established a detrimental relationship between drought conditions and the overall abundance and quality of water in the region. This research builds upon this knowledge by investigating water quality in Spearford Gully, a Cypress Creek and Lake Houston tributary, preceding a significant drought in the summer of 2023. The National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) defined the beginning of the pre-drought period as the latest recorded instance of rainfall and the last day of the pre-drought as the day the drought was recognized. Chlorophyll α, water depth, specific conductivity, turbidity, pH, and temperature data were collected in the Spearford Gully on the Lone Star College-University Park campus in Harris County using an EXO2 water sonde. During the pre-drought period, water quality diminished in the Spearford Gully, which is part of the Cypress Creek drainage basin. Chlorophyll α and turbidity were particularly sensitive to drought conditions, with chlorophyll α experiencing changes within a few days and turbidity showing significant changes after approximately two weeks. These results indicate that surface water during a pre-drought timeframe in this drainage basin in Harris County, intended for consumption requires significant treatment to be in accordance with the EPA's water quality guidelines. Additionally, implementation of drought-related water usage restrictions should be put in place sooner as treatment of pre-drought water comes at a greater expense to the county, especially as surface water experiences a growing demand.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 56, No. 5

doi: 10.1130/abs/2024AM-403942

© Copyright 2024 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.