Ft. Gordon, Georgia, Stormwater Assessment Completed
Fort Gordon is a U.S. Department of the Army facility located in east-central Georgia, approximately 10 miles west of Augusta, Georgia). The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) South Atlantic Water Science Center is working cooperatively with the U.S. Department of the Army Environmental and Natural Resources Management Office of the U.S. Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon to assess the quality of stormwater runoff associated with industrial activities at the Fort.
INTRODUCTION
Fort Gordon is a U.S. Department of the Army facility located in east-central Georgia, approximately 10 miles west of Augusta, Georgia (figs. 1 and 2). The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) South Atlantic Water Science Center is working cooperatively with the U.S. Department of the Army Environmental and Natural Resources Management Office of the U.S. Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon to assess the quality of stormwater runoff associated with industrial activities at the Fort. This on-going assessment, which is renewed annually, is being conducted to assist the Fort in satisfying the requirements of a general National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit that authorizes the discharge of stormwater from a site associated with industrial activities (Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 2012). Thirteen sites are sampled once annually. These sites are classified by industrial activity according to Georgia Department of Natural Resources (2012) criteria and include 6 landfill sites (L Sector), 2 Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office (DRMO) sites, 1 Recycling Center site, 1 Storage Tank Disposal Yard site (N Sector), and 3 heating and cooling sites (O Sector) (fig. 3).
APPROACH
All stormwater samples are collected and processed using standard USGS and Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GaDNR) field procedures (U.S. Geological Survey, variously dated; Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 2012). The GaDNR NPDES permit criteria for stormwater sampling requires that each storm produce at least 0.1 inch (in.) of rain 72 hours after the last measurable (more than 0.1 in.) rain event. Precipitation amounts are measured by nonrecording gages. Field measurements of pH, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, and water temperature are measured at the time of sampling using a calibrated multi-parameter water-quality sonde.
The GaDNR field procedures stipulate that the stormwater samples be collected as grab samples during the first 30 minutes of storm runoff. During the first 30 minutes of runoff, stormwater to be analyzed for oil and grease and semi-volatile organic compounds is collected directly into individual laboratory-prepared bottles by submersing the sample bottles into the center of the runoff, taking care not to disturb any sediment. Additionally, about 4 liters (L) of water are collected from the center of the stormwater runoff into pre-cleaned plastic bottles. This water is placed into an 8-L plastic churn for compositing for analysis for total suspended solids, total and dissolved metals, oxygen demand, and nutrients. Appropriate preservation methods are applied to the processed samples and shipped overnight to the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) and contract laboratory. Samples are analyzed for selected constituents specified by facility type by the appropriate laboratory (Table 1) (Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 2012).
Laboratory results from the NWQL and NWQL contract laboratory are entered into the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) database for storage and archival purposes. Data are retrieved from the NWIS database and reviewed for completeness and accuracy. Reviewed data are summarized in a spreadsheet. Once approved for transmittal, the spreadsheet is sent to the appropriate personnel at Fort Gordon.
► Data table: Summary of field measurements and consituents analyazed
Before the study was expanded in August 2013, the USGS collected data at five sites (fig. 3, Sites Surface Water (SWR)11-1 through SWR11-5). These data-collection efforts were documented in USGS Open-File Reports (OFR), and links to these reports are provided below:
- Quantity and quality of stormwater collected from selected stormwater outfalls at industrial sites, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011
Open-File Report 2012-1035 - Quantity and quality of stormwater collected from selected stormwater outfalls at industrial sites, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2012
Open-File Report 2013-1140
References
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 2012, Authorization to discharge under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System—Storm water discharges associated with industrial activities, general NPDES stormwater permit No. GAR050000, effective date June 1, 2012, through May 31, 2017
- U.S. Geological Survey, variously dated, National field manual for the collection of water-quality data: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, book 9, chaps. A1–A9
- Overview
Fort Gordon is a U.S. Department of the Army facility located in east-central Georgia, approximately 10 miles west of Augusta, Georgia). The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) South Atlantic Water Science Center is working cooperatively with the U.S. Department of the Army Environmental and Natural Resources Management Office of the U.S. Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon to assess the quality of stormwater runoff associated with industrial activities at the Fort.
INTRODUCTION
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. View Media Detailsfig. 2: Map of Georgia with study area.
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. View Media DetailsMap of Fort Gordon Fort Gordon is a U.S. Department of the Army facility located in east-central Georgia, approximately 10 miles west of Augusta, Georgia (figs. 1 and 2). The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) South Atlantic Water Science Center is working cooperatively with the U.S. Department of the Army Environmental and Natural Resources Management Office of the U.S. Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon to assess the quality of stormwater runoff associated with industrial activities at the Fort. This on-going assessment, which is renewed annually, is being conducted to assist the Fort in satisfying the requirements of a general National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit that authorizes the discharge of stormwater from a site associated with industrial activities (Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 2012). Thirteen sites are sampled once annually. These sites are classified by industrial activity according to Georgia Department of Natural Resources (2012) criteria and include 6 landfill sites (L Sector), 2 Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office (DRMO) sites, 1 Recycling Center site, 1 Storage Tank Disposal Yard site (N Sector), and 3 heating and cooling sites (O Sector) (fig. 3).
APPROACH
All stormwater samples are collected and processed using standard USGS and Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GaDNR) field procedures (U.S. Geological Survey, variously dated; Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 2012). The GaDNR NPDES permit criteria for stormwater sampling requires that each storm produce at least 0.1 inch (in.) of rain 72 hours after the last measurable (more than 0.1 in.) rain event. Precipitation amounts are measured by nonrecording gages. Field measurements of pH, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, and water temperature are measured at the time of sampling using a calibrated multi-parameter water-quality sonde.
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. View Media DetailsN Sector, Recycling Center The GaDNR field procedures stipulate that the stormwater samples be collected as grab samples during the first 30 minutes of storm runoff. During the first 30 minutes of runoff, stormwater to be analyzed for oil and grease and semi-volatile organic compounds is collected directly into individual laboratory-prepared bottles by submersing the sample bottles into the center of the runoff, taking care not to disturb any sediment. Additionally, about 4 liters (L) of water are collected from the center of the stormwater runoff into pre-cleaned plastic bottles. This water is placed into an 8-L plastic churn for compositing for analysis for total suspended solids, total and dissolved metals, oxygen demand, and nutrients. Appropriate preservation methods are applied to the processed samples and shipped overnight to the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) and contract laboratory. Samples are analyzed for selected constituents specified by facility type by the appropriate laboratory (Table 1) (Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 2012).
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. View Media Detailsfig. 3: Ft. Gordon study sites Laboratory results from the NWQL and NWQL contract laboratory are entered into the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) database for storage and archival purposes. Data are retrieved from the NWIS database and reviewed for completeness and accuracy. Reviewed data are summarized in a spreadsheet. Once approved for transmittal, the spreadsheet is sent to the appropriate personnel at Fort Gordon.
► Data table: Summary of field measurements and consituents analyazed
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. View Media DetailsL Sector, 17th Street Landfill Before the study was expanded in August 2013, the USGS collected data at five sites (fig. 3, Sites Surface Water (SWR)11-1 through SWR11-5). These data-collection efforts were documented in USGS Open-File Reports (OFR), and links to these reports are provided below:
- Quantity and quality of stormwater collected from selected stormwater outfalls at industrial sites, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011
Open-File Report 2012-1035 - Quantity and quality of stormwater collected from selected stormwater outfalls at industrial sites, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2012
Open-File Report 2013-1140
References
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. View Media DetailsFt. Gordon, Georgia, Stormwater AssessmentO Sector, Sampling location for Heating & Coolingsite 310 (SWR11-3) - Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 2012, Authorization to discharge under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System—Storm water discharges associated with industrial activities, general NPDES stormwater permit No. GAR050000, effective date June 1, 2012, through May 31, 2017
- U.S. Geological Survey, variously dated, National field manual for the collection of water-quality data: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, book 9, chaps. A1–A9
- Quantity and quality of stormwater collected from selected stormwater outfalls at industrial sites, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2011
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