Source water monitoring has indicated either by impaired status or by proactive monitoring that contaminant levels in streams are increasing. This trend can decrease economic and recreational uses of these waters. It may also increase required treatment for drinking water or result in more stringent wastewater discharge standards. All of these factors can impact the economic growth potential of the area.
Big Sioux River Nitrate Monitoring
The following trend is a multi-year review of test data along the Big Sioux River for Nitrates. Not only will increased nitrates in the Big Sioux River create immediate and downstream ecological strains but will also require more treatment to remove nitrates when used as a drinking water source and facilitate more stringent wastewater discharge limits for both municipal and industrial discharges, adding more treatment expense and complexity. The trend indicates the levels of nitrates in the river increase with increased precipitation, indicating that non-point source runoff from urban and agricultural areas are a key contributor. Further, the chart indicates that in 2019, a steady decline in nitrates may be due to practices like river buffer strips and stormwater management, which appear to be
positively influencing river water quality. Source: Friends of the Big Sioux River
Water Quality Monitoring friendsofthebigsiouxriver.org/water-quality-monitoring
Infrastructure First Project
Water Quality | 125
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