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Metal and nutrient loads were calculated from 2019-2024 from the inflow stream to Falling Creek Reservoir (FCR), a drinking water reservoir located in Vinton, Virginia, USA. The reservoir is owned and operated by the Western Virginia Water Authority and is managed as a secondary drinking-water source for the city of Roanoke, VA. Only Fe, Mn, and nutrients (TN and TP) were analyzed and calculated in 2019. The full suite of metals (Li, Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Fe, Mn, Cu, Sr, Ba) and nutrients were analyzed from 2020-2024. The loads that were collected using an ISCO automated sampler located at the main inflow tributary to FCR. Sampling frequency was approximately fortnightly from spring to fall (March - November). Load calculations were performed using the calculated cumulative flow over the sampling period from the ISCO and the analyzed total metal and nutrient concentrations. Please note we are publishing this data package before the nutrient samples have been analyzed, but will be included in later versions.
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This content will become publicly available on November 24, 2026
Hydrologic and geochemical drivers of aluminum, barium, and copper in two drinking water reservoirs in Southwestern Virginia, USA
ABSTRACT The water quality of drinking water reservoirs is critical for human and ecosystem health. In this study, we examined the drivers of three metals, aluminum (Al), barium (Ba), and copper (Cu), across two drinking water reservoirs in southwestern Virginia, USA, over 4 years. One reservoir has a hypolimnetic oxygenation system; the other does not. We used time series modeling and multivariate analysis of water column chemistry, suspended sediment, inflow, and precipitation data to assess the relative roles of hydrologic and geochemical drivers of metal behaviors in the two reservoirs. Results suggest that Al concentrations were primarily influenced by high-flow events, consistent with the mobilization of clays from physical weathering. In contrast, Ba showed stronger sensitivity to geochemical drivers, specifically redox conditions. Drivers of Cu behavior were obscured by low Cu concentrations. For all metals, patterns varied among years. Our findings highlight the importance of long-term monitoring and integrated approaches to evaluate the drivers of metal dynamics in reservoir ecosystems and inform strategies for maintaining safe drinking water supplies.
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- PAR ID:
- 10693628
- Publisher / Repository:
- IWA Publishing
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Water Quality Research Journal
- Volume:
- 61
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 2709-8044
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1 to 18
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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