62 Advancing the Understanding and Management of Groundwater Pollution with Arsenic and Other Geogenic Contaminants Using Geospatial Tools, Machine Learning, and Data Science (Posters)

The growing trend of data aggregation and analysis, along with emerging technologies like machine learning, has significantly improved our understanding of groundwater basins, enabling better assessments of water quality for direct consumption and treatment in groundwater supply management.

Sunday, 19 October 2025
8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
HBGCC, Hall 1

Diel Patterns in Water Quality Parameters in Three Southwest Ohio Streams

Paper number: 62-4
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 8:00 AM – 8:00 AM

Authors

Abstract

In order for an improved management of freshwater resources in agriculturally degraded streams, scientists must understand the complex dynamics of various water quality parameters. Some important variables of water quality are nitrate (NO3-), total suspended solids (TSS), and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP). Agricultural land use is a main contributor to nitrate concentrations within water bodies in human dominated landscapes because of agricultural runoff. Despite extensive research on water quality in the agricultural Midwest, few studies have examined diel water quality patterns and how they potentially vary between various stream sizes with unique characteristics. For this study, ongoing sample collection from three streams (Four Mile; 4M, Little Four Mile; L4M, and Marshalls Branch; MB) at baseflow that feed into Acton Lake located in southwest Ohio, are in the process of being analyzed for nitrate (NO3-), nitrite (NO₂⁻), ammonium (NH₄⁺), and sediment concentrations. Sites selected at this watershed are well studied in numerous biological and physical contexts. The watersheds range in sizes 14-134 km^2. Samples were obtained hourly during three 24 hour periods throughout the months of July and August of 2025 using an ISCO automated sampler for a total of 216 samples. Samples were filtered using a Whatman 934-ah filter to separate dissolved nutrients. Water samples were run for nutrient analysis using a Lachat QuikChem® 8500 Series II nutrient analyzer. With this data, nutrient concentrations within 4M, L4M, and MB over a 24 hour period during three separate days provide a unique temporally high resolution evaluation of diel water quality patterns. We also examine if diel water quality patterns are able to be detected with lower temporal resolution data (e.g. daily rather than hourly). The months of July and August between the years of 2014-2023 are analyzed for nutrient data during baseflows to compare hourly and ~daily data. Hydrographs were created to visualize diel baseflow patterns and to aid in data interpretation. By analyzing nutrient concentration at baseflow, we can observe the diel changes in nutrients that enter these streams on a 24 hour basis. High temporal resolution sampling studies enable a better understanding of the daily process of nutrient dynamics of the streams that feed into Acton Lake. This investigation provides a broader understanding of the aqueous environmental factors of 4M, L4M, and MB.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 57, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-414012

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