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Carbon Contents of Surface and Underground Waters in South-central Minnesota¹

ABSTRACT

Data presented shows that the relatively ample supplies of water available from dependable stream flow in the upper Mississippi region will have to be supplemented on a seasonal basis by utilizing either surface or underground water storage. Such seasonal storage will affect the existing interflows of water between surface, subsurface, and ground waters. It could also affect the temporal variations in chemical content of both surface runoff and storage waters. Analysis of the inorganic and organic C contents of surface, subsurface, and ground water in the glaciated area of south-central Minnesota was conducted to determine the extent that seasonal interchange of surface and ground waters may effect water quality. Organic C concentrations were 5–17, 1–6, and <2 mg/liter in surface, subsurface, and ground waters, respectively, indicating that most organic materials are decomposed or retained in the upper layers of the soil with minimal transfer to ground waters. The relatively high organic C concentration in surface waters are probably due to biodegradation of vegetation and animal tissues in stream channels or in top soil layers, marshes, and impoundments. Low organic C concentrations and relatively low flow volumes from tile drains indicate that their effect on organic C content of rivers in this area are minimal.

Key Words: total organic carbon (TOC) • biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) • tile drainage

¹ Paper No. 9124, Scientific Journal Series, Minnesota Agric. Exp. Sta., Univ. of Minn., St. Paul, MN 55108.

² The first and third authors are Associate Professor and Student in Civil and Mineral Engineering, respectively, Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455; the second and fourth authors are Professors of Soil Science, Univ. of Minnesota, St. Paul.

Received for publication June 6, 1975.