REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND THE EFFECTS OF DEICING COMPOUNDS ON THE WATER QUALITY OF ALUM CREEK

Alum Creek is the primary source of drinking water for Westerville, Ohio and the increase in real estate development in the Alum Creek watershed over the past decade is reconized as a potential impact the creek’s water quality. The goal of this research is to identify if road deicing compounds affect the creek’s water quality. Salinity concentrations, along with other parameters, were collected from January through April, 2011 using of two data loggers with salinity measuring capibilities; one located tward the head of the watershed, below Alum Creek dam and a second placed downflow, in the creek next to the Westerville Water Treatment Facility (WWTF) intake. Additional salinity measurements using a hand held meter were collected at locations where bridges cross Alum Creek. Analysis of the data logger readings indicated consistently low salinity concentrations below the Alum Creek Dam outfall and higher concentrations at the WWTF. The handheld meter readings show similar trends with the highest concentrations occurring at bridges where surrounding land is extensively developed. There also is a correlation between daily temperatures and the observed spikes in salinity readings; extended cold periods (below freezing) followed by temperatures above freezing regularly resulted in salinity spikes after warming trends. Use of pavement deicing agents in the study area where the real estate development is greatest is the likely source of the elevated salinity concentrations along Alum Creek, the increase in salinity impacts Westerville’s water quality. This research demonstrates the effects of deicing compounds on water quality and may provide motivation to seek alternative deicing methods.