PUBLICATIONS

• Publications by topic
  • Groundwater
  • Surface Water
  • Water Quality
  • Water Use

• Publications by date
  • Recent publications

Annual Water Data Report

USGS Publications Warehouse

USGS IN YOUR STATE

USGS Water Science Centers are located in each state.

Investigation of the occurrence and transport of arsenic in the Upper Sugar Creek Watershed, Charlotte, North Carolina

Professional Paper 800-D
By Hugh B. Wilder

Full Report (pages D205-D210) (PDF, 364 pages, 26.7 MB)

Abstract

During the months of June and July 1971, the U.S. Geological Survey made a special study of the occurrence and transport of arsenic in the Sugar Creek, S.C., drainage area. It was found, during the week of June 29-July 5, that despite the fact that no known disposal of arsenic wastes had taken place in over 3 months, total arsenic concentrations ranging from ll5 to 260 µg/l were still entering the tributary Irwin Creek through a sewage treatment plant, down from 1,100 µg/l in October 1970. The most contaminated phase of the aqueous system was suspended solid material in the treated sewage, which contained arsenic in amounts of 24,400 to 500,000 µg/kg by weight. Arsenic was found to he concentrating in the streambed materials, which, on June 28, contained concentrations of from 7,000 to 35,000 µg/kg. On July 29-31, 1971, samples were taken at Sugar Creek near Fort Mill, S.C., during a minor flood. These samples showed that during the flood most of the arsenic was being transported in the suspended-sediment phase and that arsenic discharge closely paralleled total suspended-sediment discharge. On February 25, 1972, dried sludge from storage beds at the treatment plant contained as much as 1,700,000 µg/kg As, 870,000 µg/kg Sh, and 120,000 µg/kg Cr.

Wilder, H.B., 1972, Investigation of the occurrence and transport of arsenic in the Upper Sugar Creek Watershed, Charlotte, North Carolina: U.S. Geological Survey Water Professional Paper 800-D, 238 p.