Occurrence and Distribution of 

Selected Metals in Streams 

Near Huntsville, Alabama 

Occurrence and Distribution of 

Selected Metals in Streams 

Near Huntsville, Alabama 

By E. R. German and A. L. Knight 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 6 7 9 

Washington J 973 
United States Department of the Interior 

ROGERS C. B. MORTON, Secretary 

Geological Survey 

V. E. McKelvey, Director 

Free on application to the U.S. Geological Survey, Washington, D.C. 20244 
CONTENTS 

Page 

1\bstract ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1 

Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------- 1 

1\cknovvledgr.nents ---------------------------------------------------- 1 

Study plan ----------------------------------------------------------- 1 

Sampling procedure and analyses -------------------------------------- 2 

Results ------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 

Streanuffovv ---------------------------------------------------------- 2 

ldinor elements --------------------------------------------------- 3 

1\rsenic ------------------------------------------------------ 3 

Cadmium ---------------------------~------------------------ 4 

Chromium --------------------------------------------------- 4 

Cobalt ------------------------------------------------------- 4 

Lead -------------------------------------------------------- 4 

ldercury ----------------------------------------------------- 4 

Zinc --------------------------------------------------------- 4 

Sampling techniques ---------------------------------------------- 5 

Suspended sediment ---------------------------------------------- 5 

Rainvvater ----------------------------------------------------------- 6 

Bed material --------------------------------------------------------- 6 

Conclusions and recommendations ------------------------------------------ 7 

Selected references ------------------------------------------------------- 8 

ILLUSTRATIONS 

Page 

FIGURE 1. ldap of 1\lahama shovving location of study area --------------------------------------- 2 

TABLE 

2. Map shovving location of sampling stations in the vicinity of Huntsville ------------------ 3 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4-6. 

TABLES 

1\nalyses of selected metals in streamflovv, Huntsville, Ala., area ------------------------

Suspended sediment of streams, Huntsville, Ala., area ---------------------------------

Lead and zinc discharges of streams, Huntsville, Ala., area -----------------------------

1\nalyses of selected metals in4. Rainvvater collected at Huntsville filtration plant -------------------------------

5. Bed material and suspended sediment, Huntsville, Ala., area --------------------

6. Bed material, Tennessee River, Ala -------------------------------------------

III 

Page 

10 

11 

12 

12 

12 

13 

Occurrence and Distribution of Selected Metals 

In Streams Near Huntsville, Alabama 

By E. R. German and A. L. Knight 

ABSTRACT 

Arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, mercury, and zinc are widely distributed around Huntsville, Ala. However, concentrations of these metals in 

streamflow in the vicinity of the Huntsville municipal water intake during June, August, and September 

1971 did not exceed the limits recommended for a 

public drinking water supply. The occurrence of these 

metals in general is related to man's activities. 

Information gained during this study suggests that 

cadmium and the other metals are associated with 

and transported with suspended sediment, bed material, and airborne dust particles. Lead and zinc were 

the most abundant of the selected metals in streamflow, bed material, and rainwater samples. The highest concentration of cadmium was detected downstream 

from an industrial park in the Flint River basin; rainwater samples also contained a relatively high level 

of cadmium. 

INTRODUCTION 

A nationwide reconnaissance of selected 

metals in surface waters of the 50 States and 

Puerto Rico was made by the U.S. Geological 

Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of 

Sport Fisheries and Wildlife during autumn 

1970. The results of that reconnaissance 

(Durum, Hem, and Heidel, 1971) showed that 

streamflow samples collected at four of the 18 

sites sampled in Alabama had cadmium concentrations that equaled or exceeded the 10 p.g/1 

(micrograms per liter) limit recommended by 

the National Technical Advisory Committee on 

Water Quality Criteria (Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, 1968) for surface 

water used for public water supplies and that 

samples at three sites contained 10 p.g/1 or 

more of arsenic. 

1 

A short-term study was initiated to determine possible sources of high concentrr.tions of 

the metals (cadmium in particular). The purpose of the study was to obtain additional data 

on the source or sources and the pattern of 

occurrence of selected metals in the vicinity of 

Huntsville, Ala. The purpose of this r~port is 

to present the results of this study. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

The authors are grateful to the perronnel of 

the Huntsville filtration plant for collecting the 

rainwater samples and for their aid and cooperation in collecting streamflow samp~es from 

the Tennessee River intake. Appreciation is 

also acknowledged to personnel of the Alabama 

Water Improvement Commission for information which proved useful in selecting sampling 

stations. 

STUDY PLAN 

A reconnaissance of the area (fig. 1) was 

made to locate points of withdrawal and waste 

effluent entering. either the Tennessee River or 

tributaries to the Tennessee River. The~e points 

were plotted on a map and sampling sites were 

selected (fig. 2). The uppermost samprng sites 

were selected to represent natural streamflow 

conditions or to serve as a base for cmnparison 

with other samples collected from t"le same 

streams farther downstream. 

Although metals in surface water c~.n originate from natural sources such as airborne 

dust, rainfall, and solution of rock and soil, 

there is some evidence that abnormal concen-
50.___._____,___.__L-..J..O ----.150 MILES 

FIGURE 1.-Location of study area. 

tration levels are related to man's activities 

(Durum and others, 1971). Sampling sites, 

therefore, were selected at or close to points 

where waste effluent was entering the streams. 

Samples collected during the study consisted of 

rainwater, surface water, suspended sediment, 

and streambed material. All samples except 

rainwater were collected during medium or low 

streamflow conditions and immediately after a 

storm event to define the relation between 

stream discharge, runoff, and concentration of 

the metals of interest. 

SAMPLING PROCEDURE AND ANALYSES 

Streamflow samples were collected using 

depth-integrating sampling techniques whenever possible. Two types of depth-integrated 

samples were collected at most stations. One 

type of sample (hereafter referred to as type 

A sample) was collected at the midpoint of 

flow using the weighted-bottle depth-integrated 

2 

technique. The other type of samule (type B 

sample) was collected using modified suspendedsediment samplers and the multiple-vertical 

technique. The suspended-sediment sampler was 

modified by replacing the brass nozzle with a 

Teflon nozzle and the rubber gaf''ket with a 

silicone-rubber gasket and by painting the inside of the nose of the sampler with unpigmented epoxy paint in order to minimize contamination of the samples by the sampler. 

Bed-material samples were collected where 

the streambed could be reached, ufjng a handheld plastic scoop. 

Rainwater sampling equipment consisted of 

plastic bottles and funnels. These samplers were 

not placed until after the rain began falling and 

were located so that water from buiJ dings, trees, 

or other structures could not drop or splash 

into the bottles. 

Concentrations of the selected :rr~tals in the 

streamflow were determined in t"Vo formsdissolved and total (water-suspend~d sediment 

mixture). Dissolved concentratiolls represent 

only the amount of the metals in s'llution (dissolved) ; suspended material was removed by 

filtering the sample through a 0.45-micron 

membrane-type filter immediately after sample 

collection. Total concentrations wer~ determined 

from unfiltered samples and re:')resent the 

amount of the metal carried in the watersuspended sediment mixture. U.S. Geological 

Survey analytical methods (Brown and others, 

1970) were followed in analyzing tl:~ samples. 

RESULTS 

STREAMFLOW 

Streamflow samples were coll~cted from 

Huntsville Spring Branch, Aldridg~ Creek, Indian Creek, Flint River, and Tennessee River at 

the sampling stations shown in fi.~ure 2. The 

results of selected metal analyses are given in 

table 1. Samples were collected d·1ring three 

sampling periods. The first period, June 7-11, 

1971, was preceded by several days of little or 

no rainfall. Samples were collected during the 

second period, August 26-27, 1971, primarily to 

substantiate data obtained during the first period and to obtain additional bed-material samples. Streamflow conditions were similar to 

those of the first sampling period. Sq,mples were 

not collected at every station during the second 
86°40' 30' 

I 

34°50'T 

I l 

; 

1 I 

I 

I c I 

I 

I 

I 

MADISON 

HUNTSVILLE 

c 

~ o_lu ijl I S::J ~03576100 .Sf 

l "'l:::S 

.s 

40' 

"' I r 

t ) 

L__r-~ I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

EXPLANATION 

e03576102 GAGING STATION AND NUMBER 

l 

L 

i 

) 

l 

NT Y 

&03575020 WATER-SAMPLING STATION AND NUMBER 

,.03575040 BED-MATERIAL SAMPLING STATION AND NUMBER 

0 1 5 MILES 

f---,,---''~-r--r---"r-----.1 L--1 .-, ---1j 

0 1 8 I\IL0' ~TERS 

• I,AGOON-SAMPLING STATION 

0 RAINWATER-SAMPLING STATION 

FIGURE 2.-Location of sampling stations in the vicinity of Huntsville. 

period. The third period, September 17-20, 1971, 

was immediately after a storm. 

MINOR ELEMENTS 

ARSENIC 

Arsenic concentrations were less than the 

lower limit of detection (10 ftg/1) for samples 

3 

collected during the June and August periods, 

but concentrations of as much as 10 and 20 

ftg/1 were detected at four stations (see table 

1) during the September period. Arsenic concentrations did not appear to be related to 

suspended sediment because total arsenic concentrations were no higher than dissolved con-
centrations. The distribution of arsenic did not 

correlate with locations of known waste outfalls. 

CADMIUM 

Cadmium concentrations in the filtered samples were less than 1 pg/1. Cadmium was detected, however, in measurable concentrations 

in unfiltered samples collected at five stations 

(table 1), which include the two stations ·on 

Huntsville Spring Branch. The source of the 

cadmium in Huntsville Spring Branch is upstream from the upstream sampling station 

(03576108) at Martin Road. The increase in 

cadmium concentration at the Martin Road station from 2 pg/1 on June 9 to 7 11.g/l on September 18 is proportional to the increase in sediment concentration from 48 mg/1 (milligrams 

per liter) on June 9 to 134 mg/1 on September 

18. This relation and the fact that none of the 

filtered samples contained detectable concentrations of cadmium suggest that cadmium is 

being transported down Huntsville Spring 

Branch associated with suspended-sediment 

particles. Because cadmium was not detected at 

station 03575734 on Aldridge Creek (a point 

where primarily municipal waste enters the 

stream), was detected only once downstream 

from the municipal and industrial waste outfalls 

on Indian Creek, and was detected in the industrial lagoon effluent near Ryland, it appears 

that cadmium is not associated with municipal 

wastes in the Huntsville area, but probably is 

of industrial origin. 

CHROMIUM 

Chromium concentrations were determined 

either as the total amount present (all oxidation states) or as the amount which was present 

in the hexavalent state. Chromium concentrations were less than 10 pg/1 except for the 

lagoon effluent near Ryland and at Huntsville 

Spring Branch at Martin Road (03576108). 

Thus, chromium does not seem to be generally 

distributed throughout the study area and does 

not appear to be associated with municipal 

wastes. 

COBALT 

Cobalt concentrations were generally less 

than the 1 pg/1 detection limit in the study area. 

4 

The highest concentration was obs~rved at Indian Creek near Huntsville (station 03576103) 

which is below the outfall of an industrial lagoon. The concentration was 6pg/l on September 17, 4 pg/1 on June 10, but less than 1 pg/1 

on August 27. Streamflow at all other stations 

contained 2 pg/1 or less cobalt. Col:lalt concentrations in the dissolved form were always 1 

pg/1 or less, thus suggesting that cobalt is associated with suspended sediment. 

LEAD 

Lead was widely distributed in the study area 

and in three unfiltered water samples exceeded 

the 50 pg/1 limit recommended for drinking 

water. The concentration of lead ,~,as 61 pg/1 

at station 03575040, Flint River near Mount 

Carmel on June 7; 95 p.g/1 at station 03576108, 

Huntsville Spring Branch at Martin Road near 

Huntsville on September 18; and 75 pg/1 at station 03576110, Huntsville Spring Branch at Patton Road near Huntsville on September 18. 

These three stations are downstream from 

industrial waste outfalls. All other watersuspended sediment samples contained concentrations generally less than 20 pg/1, and most 

filtered samples contained less thar 10 pg/1. 

MERCURY 

All the streams sampled had measurable concentrations of mercury at one or mc,re stations 

during one or more of the sampling periods. 

However, the pattern of occurrence was erratic 

and did not correlate with known waste outfalls. 

Mercury in water was also entering the study 

area from sources upstream fr11m station 

03574680, Tennessee River near Morgan City. 

The maximum concentration of m~rcury was 

detected at this station. Mercury was detected 

in the dissolved form at only one station in 

concentrations exceeding the 0.5 11g/l detection 

limit. Mercury in excess of 0.5 11~/1 was detected in the unfiltered samples at several stations indicating that mercury is transported by 

suspended-sediment particles. The maximum 

concentration was 1.3 pg/1. 

ZINC 

Zinc commonly occurred in higher concentrations than the other metals; howeve"', it did not 

exceed the recommended drinking water limit 
( 5,000 pg/1). The maximum zinc concentrations 

were observed at Huntsville Spring Branch at 

Martin Road (station 03576108) on September 

18 (380 pg/1) and at Tennessee River near 

Hobbs Island (station 03575450) on June 9 

( 190 pg/1) . Other zinc concentrations ranged 

from less than the detection limit (10 pg/1) to 

60 pg/1. Unlike the other metals the dissolved 

form of zinc was generally a significant proportion of the total amount. Zinc concentrations 

downstream from waste outfalls were generally 

about the same as those found upstream from 

the outfalls and tended to be greater during 

the first sampling period than during the following two sampling periods. 

SAMPLING TECHNIQUES 

Metals are generally associated with suspended sediment, and a representative watersuspended sediment mixture should be obtained. 

The multiple-vertical suspended-sediment sampler technique is designed to obtain a watersuspended sediment mixture (type B sample) 

which is more representative of the suspended 

sediment concentration and particle size distribution than the sample (type A sample) obtained by the single-vertical weighted-bottle 

depth-integrated technique. 

Samples were collected using the two sampling techniques during this study. Lead and 

zinc were the only metals present in measurable concentrations in enough of the samples to 

allow comparisons of the sampling techniques. 

In seven of 18 pairs of samples (excluding pairs 

of samples where equal concentrations were 

reported in both samples), the lead concentrations of the unfiltered type A samples were 

greater than lead concentrations of unfiltered 

type B samples. A similar situation was noted 

for three of eight pairs of unfiltered zinc samples. Data for these samples do not prove that 

a significant difference exists between metals 

concentrations obtained by the two sampling 

techniques in this study. However, the tendency 

for the type A samples to contain lower concentrations of lead and zinc than the type B 

samples supports the principle that a sample 

collected by the suspended-sediment sampler 

technique should be used in determining concentrations of metals. Suspended-sediment concentrations obtained in this study were rela5 

tively low, therefore minimizing the ~ffect of 

sampling techniques. 

SUSPENDED SEDIMENT 

Suspended sediment concentrations (table 2) 

ranged from 12 to 391 mg/l but generally were 

in the 15 to 80 mg/1 range. The highest concentrations were generally observed during the 

September period. However, metals co'lcentrations observed during this period were generally 

comparable to those determined on previous 

trips. The concentrations of metals in the unfiltered samples generally were several times the 

concentrations in the dissolved phase, in~icating 

that the selected metals transport was· related 

to the quantity of sediment in suspension. More 

samples are needed during various str~amflow 

conditions, including numerous samples during 

rises, to define the relation between suspended 

sediment and metals concentrations. 

Lead and zinc discharges, in pounds per day, 

transported by streamflow at the time of sample collection are given in table 3. Lead discharges associated with suspended r~diment 

generally were several times greater than lead 

discharges in solution. Zinc discharges in solution, however, commonly exceeded zinc discharges associated with suspended sediment. 

Data from Aldridge Creek near Whitesburg 

(station 03575734) indicate an interesting 

anomaly. The suspended-sediment concentration 

at this station was much lower during the September sampling period than during tr~ previous two sampling periods. Streamflow at this 

station was affected by backwater from the 

Tennessee River during the June and August 

periods, and stream velocities were very slow. 

Backwater conditions were not present during 

the September trip. The reversal in the usual 

relation of velocity and suspended-r~diment 

concentration may mean that much of the suspended material in the stream during the June 

and August periods was organic, probably 

plankton growth stimulated by nutrients entering the stream from the sewage-treatment plant 

and accumulating in the ponded strearr. If this 

is true, substantial amounts of the suspended 

material in some fertile streams may be organic 

in nature. Metals associated with organic matter probably would be passed up the fo'ld chain 

faster and in greater quantities thar metals 
sorbed on inorganic material that is in suspen- ' 

sion or on the streambed. Wastes entering 

Aldridge Creek were mostly of municipal origin, 

and metals concentrations were relatively low. 

RAINWATER 

Rainwater samples were collected during two 

storms (June 16 and July 6, 1971) at the Huntsville filtration plant. Results of the analyses are 

tabulated in table 4, and the sampling station 

is shown in figure 2. Both rainwater samples 

contained measurable concentrations of cadmium, lead, and zinc. Arsenic, chromium, cobalt, 

and mercury were below the detection limits. 

The rainwater sample collected on June 16 contained the highest concentrations of cadmium, 

lead, and zinc. Cadmium and zinc concentrations 

(6 and 100 p.g/1 respectively) were relatively 

high when compared to cadmium and zinc concentrations in streamflow in the Huntsville area. 

Cadmium concentrations in streamflow were 

generally less than 1 p.g/1 except in areas affected by waste disposal where they ranged 

from 1 to 7 p.g/1. Zinc concentrations in streamflow were generally less than 40 p.g/1 except in 

areas affected by waste disposal where they 

were generally less than 60 p.g/1, but two samples were as high as 250 and 380 p.g/1. 

The second rainwater sample, collected on 

July 6, contained 2 p.g/1 cadmium, 3 p.g/1 lead, 

and 20 ~-tg/1 zinc. Concentrations of lead and 

zinc were about the same as concentrations of 

lead and zinc in the streamflow. 

The first of the two rainstorms was reported 

to have been the heaviest rain in several days 

and was moving from the west-northwest to the 

east-southeast. A rainstorm moving in that direction would cross several miles of an urbanized region before reaching the filtration plant. 

The second rainstorm was reported to have been 

moving from south to north. A rainstorm moving in that direction would cross a predominantly rural region before reaching the filtration plant. 

Consideration of the movement of the storms 

and comparison of the two rainwater analyses 

suggest that cadn1ium, lead, and zinc are added 

to the atmosphere as a result of urbanization 

and industrialization. These metals are then 

washed from the atmosphere by rainwater. 

6 

BED MATERIAL 

Samples of bed material were c<'l]ected from 

Huntsville Spring Branch, Aldridg::~ and Indian 

Creeks, and the Flint and Tennessee Rivers. 

Sampling stations are shown in fgure 2, and 

the results of the analyses are given in tables 

5 and 6. In general, bed material at or downstream from a point of waste disposal contained 

the higher concentrations of metals. The occurrence of these metals, however, is related prob· 

ably to the type of waste entering the stream. 

Relatively high concentrations c-«: cadmium, 

copper, lead, and zinc seem to be characteristic of waste in the Huntsville area. 

A lagoon for the treatment of sewage and 

industrial waste in the central part of the Flint 

River basin discharges effluent into a highwater channel of the Flint River. The confluence of the high-water channel with the main 

channel of the Flint River is about 700 feet 

downstream from the lagoon effluent outfall. 

Bed material from the high-water channel contained the highest concentrations of cadmium. 

Cadmium concentrations were r,600 p.g/kg 

(micrograms per kilogram) on June 7, <100 

p.g/kg on August 26 and 3,000 p.g/kg on September 18. Variations in the concentrations may 

have resulted from (1) industrial operations 

within the industrial park, (2) methods of sam .. 

piing bed material, (3) point of collection at the 

station, ( 4) climatic conditions prkl' to the collection of the sample, and (5) transport of cadmium in the stream system. The co'lcentrations 

of cadmium, when samples were collected, were 

about the same in bed material upstream and 

downstream from the point where the effluent 

enters the main channel of the Flint River. 

The fact that relatively high co'lcentrations 

of cadmium were observed in two of three samples of bed material at the discharge pipe of the 

lagoon suggests that cadmium is associated 

with and transported with bed material. A 

hypothesis, therefore, would be that cadmium 

is concentrated on bed material and that during 

periods of high streamflow the cac1mium associated with the finer particles of bed material is 

resuspended and moved downstrean to a point 

where the streamflow velocities are slow enough 

to allow deposition on the streambed once 

again. The lower reach of the Flint River pro-
vides an ideal setting for this hypothesis because the streamflow velocities are slow as a 

result of backwater from the Tennessee River. 

During periods of low streamflow on the Flint 

River, suspended material probably is deposited 

and accumulated until periods of high streamflow when the accumulations are transported 

into the Tennessee River. 

Relatively high concentrations of cadmium 

were observed in bed material at two other stations. A sample from Indian Creek (station 

03576103) contained 1,300 ~tg/kg of cadmium 

and a sample from Huntsville Spring Branch 

(station 03576108) contained 1,400 ~tg/kg. 

Both sampling stations were downstream from 

waste-disposal points. 

Bed material of Aldridge Creek, Flint River, 

Huntsville Spring Branch, and Indian Creek 

generally contained much lower concentrations 

of metals than did suspended sediment (table 

5), probably because suspended-sediment particles are finer than bed-material particles. Since 

fine particles have greater surface areas per 

unit weight upon which metals can be sorbed 

than coarse particles, extreme care should be 

exercised in sampling suspended sediment, 

water-suspended sediment mixtures, and bed 

material so that fine particles are not lost from 

the samples. 

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 

There is no indication of dangerous concentrations of any of the selected metals in drink· 

ing water supplies in the study area. Analyses 

of streamflow, bed material, and rainwater samples indicate that the selected metals are widely 

distributed in the Huntsville area and in general are related to man's activities. Although 

lead was not found in high concentrations near 

any water-supply intake, it was found in some 

samples remote from any water-supply intake 

in concentrations that exceeded the recommended limit for a drinking water supply. 

The highest concentrations of cadmium were 

detected at or downstream from points of industrial waste disposal and in samples of rainwater. However, dissolved cadmium concentrations greater than 1 p,g/1 were not detected during this study. Cadmium concentrations of as 

much as 7 ~tg/1 were detected in the unfiltered 

samples, as much as 5,600 ~tg/kg in bed mate7 

rial, and as much as 6 ~tg/1 in rainwater. The 

information gained in this study leacs to the 

hypothesis that slugs of cadmium in solution 

and associated with sediment enter the Flint 

River. Under certain conditions, som~ of the 

cadmium will remain in solution and move down 

the Flint River into the Tennessee R~ver, but 

primarily the cadmium is associated with and 

transported with bed material, suspenied sediment, and airborne dust particles. 

Firm conclusions regarding the s1urce or 

sources and pattern of occurrence of the selected metals cannot be drawn from this study; 

however, some possibilities have beer pointed 

out that should be studied in greater detail. 

Future studies should include the following: 

1. More thorough sampling of bed material is 

needed, especially of the finer particles. 

2. A more comprehensive sampling of suspended sediment is needed to do.fine the 

manner in which metals are· associated 

with suspended sediment. 

3. Analyses are needed to determine the form 

in which the metals exist. 

4. A more complete understanding of operational procedures is needed at points of 

waste disposal to determine the form in 

which the metals are introduced r,s wastes 

and the schedule (if any) used in discharging wastes. 

5. Additional climatic information is also 

needed such as (a) time interval from one 

storm event to another, (b) intensity of 

rainfall, (c) duration of rainfall~ (d) direction and rate of movement cf storm, 

(e) area covered by storm, and (f) comparison of rainwater collected at different 

locations in the Huntsville area. 

6. A time-of-travel study is needed on the Flint 

and Tennessee Rivers to understand how 

an accidental spill or slug releast:, of toxic 

materials moves. The movement of bed 

material and suspended sediment as well 

as the water itself should be included in 

the study. Information gained from a 

time-of-travel study could be es~·ential to 

the planning of emergency prog~ams for 

accommodating accidental spillr or releases of toxic materials which could contaminate the Huntsville surfa.ce-water 

supply. 
7. Further research is needed to define the concentration of suspended organic matter 

in streams contaminated with wastes that 

are high in nutrients, define the affinity of 

suspended organic matter for metals, define the effect of sorbed metals on the food 

chain, and investigate the feasibility of 

disposing of wastes containing high concentrations of nutrients and metals at the 

same location. Huntsville Spring Branch 

would be a suitable stream for such research since relatively high concentrations 

of nutrients and metals were detected during this study. 

8 

SELECTED REFERENCE~ 

Brown, Eugene, Skougstad, M. W., and Fishman, 

M. J., 1970, Methods for collection and analysis 

of water samples for dissolved minerds and gases: 

U.S. Geol. Survey Techniques, Water Resources 

Inv., Book 5, Chap. Al, 160 p. 

Durum, W. H., Hem, J. D., and Heidel, S. G., 1971, 

Reconnaissance of selected minor ele"'Vlents in surface waters of the United States, October 1970: 

U. S. Geol. Survey Circ. 643, 49 Jl. 

Federal Water Pollution Control Adminis·tration, 

1968, Water quality criteria-Report of the National Technical Advisory Committe~'~ to the Secretary of the Interior: 234 p. 
TABLES 1-6 
TABLE 1.-Analyses of selected metals in streamflow, Huntsville, Ala., area 

[Station_ numbers. corres~ond to th?se in fig. 2 .. Sampling meth~d: A, single-vertical weighted-bottle depth-integrated' at midpoint of flow, I!• multiple-vertical d~pth-mte~rated usmg suspended-sediment sampler; C, from effluent pipe; D, from raw-water intake. Con- centra~wns of s~mple const!tuents g1ven in micrograms per liter. a. concentration is less than lower limit of detection as follows: 

Arsenic, chrom1um, and zmc, <10; cadmium, cobalt, and le11d, < 1; mercury, < 0.5] 

Station 

No. 

03575734 

03575696 

03575734 

03575696 

03575734 

03575000 

03575040 

03575000 

03575020 

03575040 

03575000 

03575020 

03575040 

03576108 

03576110 

03576108 

03576110 

03576103 

03575950 

03576100 

03576103 

03576100 

03576103 

03574680 

03575450 

03575480 

03575500 

Station name 

Aldridge Creek near Whitesburg_ 

Aldridge Creek near Lily Flagg __ 

Aldridge Creek near Whitesburg_ 

Aldridge Creek near Lily Flagg __ 

Aldridge Creek near Whitesburg_ 

Flint River near Chase ---------

Flint River near Mount Carmel __ 

Flint River near Chase ----------

Flint River near Cedar Gap ---- Lagoon effluent near Ryland ----

Flint River near Mount CarmeL_ 

Flint River near Chase ---------

Fint River near Cedar Gap -----

Lagoon effluent near Ryland ___ _ 

Flint River near Mount Carmel __ 

Huntsville Spring Branch at Martin Road near Huntsville. 

Huntsville Spring Branch at Patton Road near Huntsville. 

Huntsville Spring Branch at Martin Road near Huntsville. 

Huntsville Spring Branch at Patton Road near Huntsville. 

Indian Creek 700 feet down- stream from Martin Road near Huntsville. Indian Creek near Huntsville __ _ Indian Creek near Madison Indian Creek 700 feet down- stream from Martin Road near Huntsville. Indian Creek near Madison Indian Creek 700 feet down- stream from Martin Road near Huntsville. 

Tennessee River near Morgan 

City. Tennessee River near Hobbs Island. Tennessee River at Huntsville 

Pumping Station. 

Tennessee River at Whitesburg __ 

See footnotes at end of table. 

Date of collection 

6-10-71 

8-27-71 

8-27-71 

9-19-71 

9-19-71 

6-11-71 

6- 7-71 

8-26-71 

8-26-71 

8-26-71 

8-26-71 

9-18-71 

9-18-71 

9-18-71 

9-18-71 

Discharge Sampling 

(cfs) method 

Aldridge Creek 

30 

.8 

2.5 

2.3 

7.5 

A 

B 

B 

A 

A 

B 

A 

Flint River basin 

172 

175 

124 

135 

136 

230 

277 

278 

.2 

.1 

A 

B 

A 

B 

A 

B 

A 

c 

A 

B 

A 

B 

A 

B 

c 

A 

B 

Dissolved constituents (filtered sample) 

a a 

a a 

a a 

a a 

a a 

a a 

a a 

1 a a 

1 a a 

a a 

a a 

a a 

a a a a 

a a a a 

a a 1 a a a a 1 a a a a 1 a a a a 1 420 a a a 1 a a a 1a 1 a 1 10 a a a a a a a 

a a 

a a 

a a 

a a 

a a 

a a 

a a 

a a 

a a 

a a 

1 a 2 a 5 a a a 

a a 

a a 

1 a 

1 a 2 a 

5 a 3 a 3 a 4 a 7 a a a 

a a 

a a 

a a 

a a 

a a 

a a 

Water-suspended sediment mixture (unfiltered sample) 

a a 50 a a a a a 

10 a a a a a 

10 a a 10 a a 

a a 2 a a a 10 a 1 a a 2 a 1 a a 13 0.5 1 a a a a 

1 a a 5 a 

1a a 2 a 

a a a a a a 40 a a a a 13 0.7 a a a a 50 a a 10 a a 10 a a a a a 

20. a 2 a 

10 

10 

10 

10 

a a 

a a 

- a 

a a 

a a 

a a 

1 a a 

1 a a 

1 a a a 1 a a 

1a 

1 a a 

1 a a 

1 a 1 

a 

a 

10 

20 

a a 1 a a a 4 8~ a a a 

a a 

1 a 2 1 a a 

61 .5 14 .7 2 a 

a 

a 3 a 

a 

a 2 a 2 a 5 a 5 a 3 a 9 a 1 a 

u 

.s 

N 

40 

20 

50 

a 

30 

30 

10 

10 

10 

30 

20 

60 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

60 

20 

Huntsville Spring Branch 

6- 9-71 

6-11-71 

9-18-71 

9-18-71 

6-1o-71 

8-27-71 

8-27-71 

8-27-71 

9-17-71 

9-17-71 

6- 8-71 

6- 9-71 

6- 9-71 

6- 9-71 

50 

130 

58 

140 

A 

B 

A 

B 

A 

B 

A 

B 

Indian Creek 

40 

5.6 

5.1 

22 

50 

192 

A 

B 

B 

B 

A 

B 

A 

A2 

Tennessee River 

45,000 

43,200 

24,800 

48,300 

10 

A 

B 

A 

B 

D 

A 

A3 

B 

a a 

a a 

a a 

a a 

a a 

a ·a 

a a 

a a 

a a 

a •a a a 

a a 

10 a 

a a 

a a 

a a 

a ·a 

a a 

a a 

a a 

a 1 

a a 

a a 

a a 

a a 

a a 

a 2 a a 11 a 30 2 0.8 60 a 2 a a 14 60 a 1 a 1 7 0.6 60 2 a 60 a 1 a 1 20 .5 1 a 20 a 7 1121 2 95 1.3 380 

1 a 30 2 a 20 : : 1 ~~ 2 3~ / 2~~ 2 a 10 a 1 1a a 75 a 10 

2 a 

5 a 10 a 5 a a a 

2 a 1 a 

a 2 60 a 2 

a a a 

a a a 

10 a a a a a 

10 a a 10 10 a 

a 4 16 0.5 a 4 15 a 

1 a a a 

1 a a a 

1 a a 6 a 1 a a 2 a 

1 a 2 7 .5 1 a 6 16 a 

10 

a 

30 

20 

a 

10 

10 

a a a a 1 a 40 a a 

a 1 

a a 8 1.3 10 a a 6 .7 a a 13 a 40 a a 1 a 40 a a a a 1 a 40 a a 

a 1 1 a 

a a 

a a 50 a a 

a 1 8 a 190 

a a 15 a 

a a 5 a 

a a 13 a a _ 10 a 

a 

10 
Station 

No. 

03575736 

03575480 

03574680 

03575450 

03575480 

03575500 

03575736 

TABLE 1.-Analyses of selected metals in streamflow, Huntsville, Ala., area-Continued 

Station name 

Tennessee River near Farley 

Tennessee River at Huntsville 

Pumping Station. Tennessee River near Morgan 

City. Tennessee River near Hobbs Island. Tennessee River at Huntsville 

Pumping Station. Tennessee River at Whitesburg_ 

Tennessee River near Farley 

Date of Discharge Sampling collection (cfs) method 

Dissolved constituents (filtered sample) 

s s~ ::lCV u ::l to .... Gj ·a ·s s> .. Ql oas 6 ~ "tl 

!e "tl r.. X al ~ (5 ..S::cv Ql 

< O..s:: 0 ..:I ::;: 

Tennessee River-Continued 

6-10-71 42,300 A 

B a a a a a a 8-26-71 49,200 D a a ta a 14 a 

9-20--71 35,300 A a a a a 7 a B a a a a a a 9-20--71 47,000 A 10 a a a a a B a a a a a a 9-19-71 43,200 D a a a a 1 a 

9-20-71 50,600 A a a a a a a A a a a a a a a 

B a a a a a a 

9-20--71 52,000 A 20 a a a a a 

B 10 a a a 1 a 

u 

~ = 

40 

a 

20 

20 

a 

10 

10 

10 

20 

a 

a 

10 

Water-suspenderl sediment mixture (unfiltered sample) 

u .~ 

s ~i to ·aai .. ·~ g s ~~ Gj 'fl ,.. u 

!e "tl .J:> 

~~ .!3 ~ t5] 0 Ql 

< 0 ::;: lSI 

a a a a 1 a a 

a a a a 4 a a a ta a a 20 

a a ta a .9 30 

a a ta a 4 .6 10 a ta a 1 a 20 

a a ta a 2 a 20 

a a ta a 11 a 20 

a a ta a 3 a 20 

a a ta a 6 a 20 a a ta a 4 a 20 

- a la a a a 10 

- a ta a 5 a 20 

t Chromium, total. 2 Near left bank. a Near right bank. 

TABLE 2.-Suspended sediment of streams, Huntsville, Ala., area 

[Station numbers correspond to those in fig. 2] 

Sediment 

Station Date of Time Discharge concertration 

No. Station name collection (24 hr) (cfs) (m'1"/l) 

03574680 Tennessee River near Morgan City __ 6- 8-71 1300 45,000 12 

9-20-71 0945 35,300 19 

03575000 Flint River near Chase ------------- 6-11-71 1000 172 29 

8-26-71 0830 124 39 

9-18-71 0815 230 50 

03575020 Flint River near Cedar Gap --------- 9-18-71 1230 277 57 

03575040 Flint River near Mount Carmel ----- 6- 7-71 1600 175 46 

8-26-71 1200 136 43 

9-18-71 1115 278 54 

03575450 Tennessee River near Hobbs Island --- 6- 9-71 1045 43,200 12 

9-20-71 1230 47,000 23 

03575500 Tennessee River at Whitesburg ---- 6- 9-71 1415 48,300 12 

9-20-71 1400 50,600 28 

03575696 Aldridge Creek near Lily Flagg ------ 8-27-71 1530 .8 52 

9-19-71 0830 2.3 36 

03575734 Aldridge Creek near Whitesburg 6-10-71 1330 30 252 

8-27-71 1800 2.5 391 

9-19-71 1215 7.5 51 

03575736 Tennessee River near Farley ------- 6-10-71 1000 42,300 26 

9-20-71 1500 52,000 24 

03576108 Huntsville Spring Branch at 6- 9-71 1645 50 48 

Martin Road near Huntsville. 9-18-71 1420 58 134 

03576110 Huntsville Spring Branch at 6-11-71 1245 130 62 

Patton Road near Huntsville. 9-18-71 1630 140 78 

03575950 Indian Creek near Huntsville ------- 8-27-71 1030 5.6 18 

03576100 Indian Creek near Madison ---------- 8-27-71 0900 5.1 23 

9-17-71 1630 50 135 

03576103 Indian Creek 700 feet downstream 6-10-71 1690 40 162 

from Martin Road near Huntsville. 8-27-71 1300 22 43 

11 
Station 

No. 

03574680 

03575000 

03575020 

03575040 

03575450 

03575500 

03575696 

03575734 

03575736 

03576108 

03576110 

03576100 

03576103 

TABLE 3.-Lead and zinc discharges of streams, Huntsville, Ala., area 

[Station numbers correspond to those in fig. 2] 

Discharge 

(lb/day) 

In solution Assochted with 

Date of Time Discharge Station name collection (24 hr) (cfs) Lead Zinc 

Tennessee River near Morgan City_ 6- 8-71 1300 45,000 240 9-2Q-71 0945 35,300 <190 3,800 Flint River near Chase ------------ 6-11-71 1000 172 .9 8-26-71 0830 124 1.3 6.7 9-18-71 0815 230 <1.2 12 Flint River near Cedar Gap ------- 8-26-71 135 <7.3 9-18-71 1230 2"17 <1.5 Flint River near Mount Carmel ---- 6- 7-71 1600 175 .9 8-26-71 1200 136 7.3 9-18-71 1115 278 15 Tennessee River near Hobbs Island. 6- 9-71 1045 43,200 230 9,300 9-2Q-71 1230 47,000 <250 2,500 Tennessee River at Whitesburg ---- 6- 9-71 1415 48,300 260 9-2Q-71 1400 50,600 <270 <2,700 Aldridge Creek near Lily Flagg 8-27-71 1530 .8 .01 <.04 9-19-71 0830 2.3 <.01 .1 Aldridge Creek near Whitesburg 6-1Q-71 133(). 30 .2 8-27-71 1800 2.5 .07 .1 9-19-71 1215 7.5 <.04 .4 Tennessee River near Farley ------- 6-1Q-71 1000 42,300 <230 9-20-71 1500 52,000 280 2,800 Huntsville Spring Branch at Martin 6- 9-71 1645 50 .5 16 Road near Huntsville. 9-18-71 1420 58 .3 9.4 

Huntsville Spring Branch at Patton 6-11-71 1245 130 1.4 Road near Huntsville. 9-18-71 1630 140 1.5 7.6 Indian Creek near Madison --------- 8-27-71 0900 5.1 <.3 9-17-71 1630 50 .5 2.7 Indian Creek 700 feet downstream 6-1Q-71 1600 40 .4 from Martin Road near Huntsville. 8-27-71 1300 22 <.1 9-17-71 192 1.0 10 

TABLE 4.-Analyses of selected metals in rainwater collected at 

Huntsville filtration plant 

[ Concentrations are given in micrograms per liter. a, concentration is less than lower 

tion as follows: Arsenic and chromium, <IO; cobalt, <1; mercury, <0.5] 

Date of Chromium, 

collection Arsenic Cadmium hexavalent Cobalt Lead Mercury 

6-16-71 a 6 a a 16 a 

7- 6-71 a 2 a a 3 a 

suspended sediment 

Lead Zinc 

1,200 ------------ 665±95 1,900 11 ------------ 0 13 1.8±0.6 0 

------------ 11±4 6.8±0.8 ------------ 12 ------------ ------------ 0 

------------ 15 1,600 3,500 380±130 5,500 

2,300 ------------ 960±140 4,100 ±1.400 0 .06±0.02 .06±0.01 .2 1.5 

.1 ----.5------- .06±0.0'? .8 800±110 ------------ 1,100 2,800 3.2 0 12 69 13 ------------ 55 0 

------------ .7±0.1 1.4 0 2.8 ------------ .2±0.1 ------------ 16 0 

limit of dete<!-

Zinc 

100 

20 

TABLE 5.-Analyses of selected metals in bed material and suspended sediment, Huntsville, Ala., area 

[Station numbers correspond to those in fig. 2. Values are concentrations of metals in bed material unless given in pare'ltheses. Values in 

parentheses are computed concentrations of metals associated with suspended sediment. Concentrations are given ir microgt·ams per 

kilogram. a, concentration is less than lower limit of detection: 100 micrograms per kilogram] 

Chromium 

Station Date of hex a- Chromium, 

No. Station name collection Arsenic Cadmium valent total Cobalt Copper Lead Mercury Zinc 

Aldridge Creek 

03575734 Aldridge Creek near 6-10-71 7,500 300 300 6,200 40,000 140 120,000 

Whitesburg. (36,000) 

03575696 Aldridge Creek near 8-27-71 4,400 100 600 3,200 4,000 6,000 16,000 

Lily Flagg. (0) (285,000) 

(±95,000) 

12 
TABLE 5.-Analyses of selected metals in bed material an...f/. suspended sediment, Huntsville, Ala., area,-Continued 

Chromium 

Station Date of hex a- Chromium, 

No. Station name collection Arsenic Cadmium valent total Cobalt Copper Lead Mercury Zinc 

Aldridge Creek-Continued 

03575734 Aldridge Creek near 8-27-71 1,600 300 a 3,000 12,000 6,700 -------- 34,000 

Whitesburg. (20,000) (100,000) 

03575696 Aldridge Creek near 9-19-71 3,800 100 14,000 1,800 4,000 9,900 -------- 11,000 

Lily Flagg. (125,000) (560,000) 

(±15,000) 03575734 Aldridge Creek near 9-19-71 3,800 400 26,000 3,200 15,000 14,000 -------- 26,000 

Whitesburg. (30,000) (390,000) 

(±10,000) 

Flint River basin 

Lagoon effluent near 6- 7-71 1,000 5,600 9,000 5,000 6,400 50 82,000 

Ryland. 03575000 Flint River near Chase 8-26-71 8,200 a a 4,600 7,000 9,200 28,000 

(510,000) 

Lagoon effluent near 8-26-71 9,300 a 3,000 6,600 33,000 13,000 110,000 

Ryland. 03575040 Flint River near Mount 8-26-71 11,000 a a 4,800 7,000 10,000 32,000 

Carmel. (0) 

03575000 Flint River near Chase 9-18-71 27,000 500 110,000 8,100 8,000 99,000 26,000 

(30,000) 

(±10,000) 03575020 Flint River near Cedar 9-18-71 8,600 800 89,000 6,400 6,000 22,000 -------- 24,000 

Gap. (79,000) 

(±9,000) 

Lagoon effluent near 9-18-71 19,000 3,000 30,000 9,600 20,000 30,000 -------- 60,000 

Ryland. 03575040 Flint River near Mount 9-18-71 18,000 400 80,000 11,000 4,000 40,000 -------- 18,000 

Carmel. (9,500) 

(±9,500) 

Huntsville Spring Branch 

03576108 Huntsville Spring Branch 9-18-71 4,100 1,400 54,000 8,900 19,000 16,000 100,000 at Martin Road near (33,500) (280,000) (3,350) (1,600,000) 

Huntsville. (±3,500) (±1,850) 03576110 Huntsville Spring Branch 9-18-71 11,000 800 68,000 4,600 32,000 70,000 -------- 92,000 at Patton Road near (940,000) (0) 

Huntsville. 

Indian Creek 

03576103 Indian Creek 700 feet 6-10-71 900 1,300 a 15,000 97,000 250 99,000 

downstream from Martin (14,900) (34,000) (130,000) 

Road near Huntsville. (±5,100) (±5,000) 03576100 Indian Creek near Madison _ 8-27-71 11,000 a a 5,200 12,000 12,000 48,000 

(1,085,000) 

(±215,000) 03576103 Indian Creek 700 feet 8-27-71 9,900 a a 4,600 11,000 12,000 30,000 

downstream from Martin (35,000) 

Road near Huntsville. (±12,000) 

TABLE 6.-Analyses of selected metals in bed material, Tennessee River, Ala. 

[Concentrations are given in micrograms per kilogram. a, concentration is less than lower limit of detection: 100 mi,~rograms per kilogram] 

Station 

No. Station name 

03575480 Tennessee River at Huntsville Pumping 

Station 

Chromium, 

Date of hexa- Chromium, 

collection Arsenic Cadmium valent total Cobalt Copper 

8-26-71 2,700 a a 4,600 8,000 

13 

Lead Mercury Zinc 

5,200 30,000 

of< u.s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1973-515-659/73