Effluent from on-site sewage treatment and disposal systems (OSTDS) is generally known to impact groundwaters and surface waters with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and other contaminants. Little research has quantified this problem along the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), especially in Indian River County (IRC) where there are 26,660 active systems. This study assessed the effects of OSTDS on contamination of surface and groundwaters along three urbanized canals and the St. Sebastian River in IRC, all of which flow into the Central IRL. Multiple lines of evidence were used to define the source of the nutrient loadings including the novel approach of using the artificial sweetener, sucralose, as an indicator of human sewage impact. Results indicate that areas with high densities of OSTDS are contributing N to surface waters and elevating N:P ratios through submarine groundwater discharge and promoting
eutrophication in the Central IRL. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fau.edu/oai:fau.digital.flvc.org:fau_30824 |
| Contributors | Tarnowski, Marie E. (author), Lapointe, Brian E. (Thesis advisor), Florida Atlantic University (Degree grantor), Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Center for Environmental Studies |
| Publisher | Florida Atlantic University |
| Source Sets | Florida Atlantic University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation, Text |
| Format | 72 p., application/pdf |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder., http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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