Anthropogenic heavy metal inputs to lowland river systems, a case study. The River Stour, U.K.

Abstract

Surface waters, sediments and interstitial waters were collected from 9 sites of the River Stour, UK, during June 1987. The aim was to identify the sources of EC List I (Hg, Cd) and List II (As, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) metals and metalloids to this lowland river system and to assess the magnitude of metal enrichment. The study reach spanned some 60 km, traversing rural and urban landscapes. Results indicate that the larger municipal sewage treatment works (STW), which receive industrial effluents, were the major source of metals, but smaller rural works also exerted some contaminative influences. Metal concentrations in bottom sediments, displayed 2–11 fold increases over catchment background levels with maximum loadings coinciding with discharges from the Great Cornard and Sudbury STWs. Elevations in water column metal concentrations were also apparent downstream of point source inputs, but concentrations were consistently below designated ‘Water Quality Standards’. Distance from the point source, sediment texture and hydrology appeared to be the main factors responsible for the observed distribution of metals within this river system.