User's manual for estimation of dissolved-solids concentrations and loads in surface water

Dissolved solids in surface water are an important indicator of overall water quality. Ordinarily, dissolved-solids concentrations and loads are estimated by indirect methods that are based on periodic chemical analyses. Three computer programs , FLAGIT, DVCOND, and SLOAD, were developed to provide a consistent and accurate method of estimating dissolved-solids concentrations and loads. FLAGIT retrieves daily values of specific conductance and discharge and periodic water quality analyses from the U.S. Geologic Survey 's National Water Data Storage and Retrieval System data base, deletes incomplete data, and flags possible data errors. DVCOND fills in missing daily values of specific conductance, when appropriate, by linear interpolation. Using water quality data, SLOAD computes 3 yr moving regressions of dissolved-solids loads as a function of specific conductance and discharge. SLOAD then applies the regression coefficients to the daily values data to estimate daily dissolved-solids loads that are summed by month and by year. Separate regressions are used to estimate the mass fractions of six major ions. The theoretical basis and underlying assumptions of the procedures are presented, with documentation of the programs and their use. (USGS)