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Springs Academy Tuesdays – June 7, 2016
Part 3: Springs Chemistry – General, Nutrients, Trace Contaminants
Robert L. Knight, Ph.D. Howard T. Odum
Florida Springs Institute Ginnie Springs by John Moran/Springs Eternal Project
Springs Academy Tuesdays
Your Instructor:
Robert L. Knight, Ph.D. Director - Howard T. Odum Florida
Springs Institute
•B.A. Zoology (1970) – Univ. of
North Carolina
•M.S.P.H. Environmental Chemistry
and Biology (1973) – Univ. of North
Carolina
•Ph.D. Systems Ecology(1980) –
Univ. of Florida
Howard T. Odum – Father of Springs Ecology
Florida’s Spring Ecosystems
•H.T. Odum of the University of
Florida published “Trophic
Structure and Productivity of
Silver Springs, Florida” in
Ecological Monographs (1957)
•“Primary Production
Measurements in Eleven Florida
Springs…” Limnology and
Oceanography (1957)
Florida’s
Springs
Water Quality
“Each spring differs
from the others by a few
factors. Thus there are
chloride springs,
calcium springs, sulfate
springs, springs with
high and low oxygen,
saline springs, soft water
springs, and other
types.”
Howard T. Odum (1957)
Florida Springs Academy
Purpose
• Introduction to water resource issues in Florida
• Springs are a “case history” useful for understanding the complexity of these issues
• Florida has an urgent need for knowledgeable and talented citizens capable of advocating for implementation of urgent water resource management decisions
Florida Springs Academy
#3 - Physical and Chemical
Forcing Functions • Physical Properties of Water
• Introduction to Environmental
Chemistry
• Comparison of Individual
Parameters
• Spring Water Quality Variability
Introduction to Springs’ Environmental
Chemistry
• Physical properties of water
– Temperature, density, light
• Water as a universal solvent
– Gases, cations, anions
• Water Quality Definitions
• Comparison of Spring Water Quality
• Water Quality Trends in Springs
Water’s Unique Properties
• Water has a high specific heat. Specific heat is the amount of energy required to change the temperature of a substance. Because water has a high specific heat, it can absorb large amounts of heat energy before it begins to get hot. It also means that water releases heat energy slowly when situations cause it to cool. Water’s high specific heat allows for the moderation of the Earth’s climate and helps organisms regulate their body temperature more effectively.
Water’s Unique Properties (cont.)
• Pure water has a neutral pH. As a result, pure water is neither acidic or basic. Water changes its pH when substances are dissolved in it. Rain has a naturally acidic pH of about 5.6 s.u. because it contains natural carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide.
• Water conducts heat more easily than any liquid except mercury. This fact causes large bodies of liquid water like lakes and oceans to have essentially a uniform vertical temperature profile.
Water’s Unique Properties (cont.)
• Water molecules exist in liquid form over an important range of temperature from 0 – 100o Celsius. This range allows water molecules to exist as a liquid in most places on our planet.
• Water is a universal solvent. It is able to dissolve a large number of different chemical compounds. This feature also enables water to carry dissolved nutrients in runoff, infiltration, groundwater flow, and living organisms.
Water’s Unique Properties (cont.)
• Water has a high surface tension. In other words, water is adhesive and elastic, and tends to aggregate in drops rather than spread out over a surface as a thin film. This property also causes water to stick to the sides of vertical structures despite gravity’s downward pull. Water’s high surface tension allows for the formation of water droplets and waves, allows plants to move water (and dissolved nutrients) from their roots to their leaves, and the movement of blood through tiny vessels in the bodies of some animals.
Average Spring Temperatures Rosenau et al. (1977)
• North Florida – 21oC (70oF)
• Central Florida – 24oC (75oF)
• South Florida – 29oC (84oF)
[oC = 0.555 (oF-32)]
• Thermal gradient (e.g., Warm Mineral
Springs in Sarasota Co. – 1 degree C
per 100 ft = 30.2oC)
Light Transmission and Absorption
• Quantity and quality of light are changed as it passes through
water
• Attenuation of light with depth is due to both scattering and
absorption
– Absorption is diminution of light with depth by transformation
into heat
– Scattering is diminution of light with depth by deflection of
light rays
• Birgean Percentile Absorption
– 100*(Io – Iz)/ Io
– Percentile absorption
• High for infrared
• Minimal for blue
• Increases in UV
– 53% of light is generally transformed to heat within one meter
(3.2 feet)
Light Transmission and Absorption (cont.)
• Organic compounds reduce transmission
– Dissolved organic matter absorbs UV to a
greater degree than longer wavelengths
– Particulates do not absorb selectively
• Spectral properties in water
– In pure water, blue light penetrates the deepest
– Back scatter is predominantly blue light in clear
water
• Blue-green light with CaCO3
• Green or yellow light with suspended
organics
– Commonly green light penetrates deepest
Water Transparency – Secchi Disc Method
• Transparency: An Italian, Secchi,
published a method for measuring
water transparency in 1860:
– 20 cm or larger disc is lowered
until it disappears and raised until
it reappears
– Secchi depth is the mean depth of
disappearance and reappearance
– Results are not precise and
affected by the position of the sun
– Vertical Secchi depths range from
inches to more than 125 feet
– Roughly equal to 1 to 15% light
transmission
– In clear springs the Secchi “depth”
is often measured horizontally
Springs
General
Water Quality
• Acidity
• pH
• Carbon Dioxide
• Color
• Dissolved Oxygen
• Specific Conductance
• Total Dissolved Solids
• Chloride
• Alkalinity
• Hardness
“Acidity”
• Uncombined carbon dioxide,
organic acids such as tannic and
humic acids, mineral acids, and
salts of strong acids.
“pH”
• Concentration of hydrogen ions expressed as a negative logarithm. Low pH waters are acidic while high pH waters are basic.
“Carbon Dioxide” • The principal source of carbon for
photosynthesis in springs. The amount
of CO2 in spring water is in equilibrium
with the bicarbonate (HCO3-) and
carbonate (CO3=) based on the pH of the
water.
“Color” • An integrative measurement of the
coloration of water due to dissolved
substances. In most natural waters color is
due to the presence of natural organic
matter dissolved from dead plants or peat.
“Dissolved Oxygen”
• A measure of the concentration of gaseous oxygen dissolved in water. Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration is dependent upon a highly dynamic balance between atmospheric diffusion and biological processes in the water column. Water holds a greater quantity of dissolved oxygen at lower temperatures. Many artesian springs have a low DO content. All living organisms are dependent upon the availability of oxygen.
“Chloride”
• Chloride is the negative ionic form of the element chlorine and is the principal component of sea salt (sodium chloride). Chloride is a highly conservative dissolved parameter in water that provides a useful tracer for determining the origin of water and for detecting dilution by waters of differing chlorinities.
“Specific Conductance”
• A measure of the ability of water to conduct electricity. Conductance is a function of the concentrations of various ions (charged atoms and molecules) in the water.
(Na+ , K+ , Ca++ , Mg++ , Cl- , SO4= ,
CO3=, etc.)
“Total Dissolved Solids”
• An integrative measure of all the solids dissolved in a sample of water determined by fully evaporating a sample.
(CaCO3, NaCl, SiO2, MgSO4, CaPO4, NO3=,
etc.)
“Hardness”
• A measure of the concentration of
divalent cations (principally Ca++
and Mg++) in water.
“Alkalinity”
• An integrative measure of the ability
of water to neutralize acidity. Due to
the combination of bicarbonate,
hydroxide, and carbon dioxide.
Summary of Spring Water Quality
Strong (2004)
• Evaluated water quality in 109 Florida springs
• Generally alkaline ( avg. pH = 7.4, alkalinity = 137 mg/L as CaCO3) and chemically rich (avg. sp. conductance = 713 uS/cm, hardness = 244 mg/L as CaCO3)
Springs Classification Based on Water Quality
Whitford (1956)
• Soft, freshwater – water table springs or seeps
• Hard, freshwater – artesian, low chloride
• Oligohaline – chlorides up to 600 mg/L
• Mesohaline – chlorides from 600 to 9,000 mg/L
• Sulfide – anoxic and high in sulfate and sulfide
• Salt, sulfide – high chloride and high sulfur
Springs Water Quality
Temperature
Dissolved
Oxygen
Specific
Conductance pH
Spring County (oC) (mg/L) (uS/cm) (s.u.)
Alexander Lake 23.6 1.13 1026.0 7.55
Blue Jackson 20.9 7.26 243 7.58
Blue Lafayette 21.7 0.92 382 7.17
Blue Volusia 23.1 0.45 1402 7.21
Chassahowitzka Citrus 22.9 3.68 2790 7.65
Crystal (group) Citrus 22.9-23.0 2.09-5.09 541-2130 7.72-8.02
Green Cove Clay 24.4 0.40 294 7.55
Homosassa (group) Citrus 23.3-23.6 3.86-4.09 1980-6330 7.62-7.81
Ichetucknee (group) Columbia 21.8-21.9 0.63-3.52 287-319 7.41
Manatee Levy 22.5 1.60 430 7.04
Rainbow (group) Marion 23.0-23.4 4.45-6.61 161-347 7.41-7.95
Salt Hernando 23.9 1.27 15500 7.31
Silver (group) Marion 23.2-23.6 2.38-3.73 443-471 7.2-7.24
Silver Glen Marion 23.4 3.66 1810 7.64
Troy Lafayette 21.7 0.85 357 7.49
Wacissa (group) Jefferson 20.5-21.0 0.9-5.6 272-326 7.4-7.6
Wakulla Wakulla 21.2 2.39 328 7.20
Warm Mineral Sarasota 30.2 0.37 28700 7.06
Weeki Wachee Hernando 23.7 1.30 320 7.70
Springs Water Quality Specific
Conductance Calcium Magnesium Hardness
Total Dissolved
Solids Sodium Chloride
Bicarbonate
Alkalinity Sulfate
Spring County (uS/cm) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L as CaCO3) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L as CaCO3) (mg/L)
Alexander Lake 1026.0 43.4 20.0 180-190 547.0 122.0 230.0 82.0 63.0
Blue Jackson 243 44.5 2.3 100-110 139 1.73 3.7 108 1
Blue Lafayette 382 67.2 11.7 180 233 4.68 9.0 200 13
Blue Volusia 1402 63.5 23 212-399 744 167 23.0 142 54
Chassahowitzka Citrus 2790 65.2 54.5 160-260 1470 393 680.0 150 110
Crystal (group) Citrus 541-2130 30.6-52.8 10.4-39.4 160 263-960 54.9-289 96-540 87-124 20-78
Green Cove Clay 294 28.6 15 130-140 165 4 6.4 86 55
Homosassa (group) Citrus 1980-6330 47.6-75.8 39.1-123 320-480 1020-3310 267-972 520-1900 110-120 74-260
Ichetucknee (group) Columbia 287-319 7.91 4.7-6.3 150-170 168-183 2.1-3.6 3.6-5.4 145-154 4.8-8.7
Manatee Levy 430 84.1 6.5 210-220 268 3.78 7.2 198 32
Rainbow (group) Marion 161-347 22.4-57.4 3.6-6.8 63-73 89-207 2.3-3.7 3.9-6.5 67-160 4.8-44
Salt Hernando 15500 167 344 15-440 8000 3020 5600.0 139 750
Silver (group) Marion 443-471 68.2-73.3 10.7-12 210-220 273-292 5.9-6.0 8.8-9.1 153-176 59-73
Silver Glen Marion 1810 69.7 35.6 340-410 1050 238 470.0 69 170
Troy Lafayette 357 57.3 7 160-170 196 2.68 5.3 163 12
Wacissa (group) Jefferson 272-326 41.4-53.8 8.3-8.4 120-170 159-184 2.8-2.9 4.9-5.1 132-160 5.3-6.4
Wakulla Wakulla 328 44.5 10.4 130-140 183 4.99 7.8 146 9.4
Warm Mineral Sarasota 28700 512 616 3700-3900 17800 5260 616.0 131 1700
Weeki Wachee Hernando 320 49.5 5.9 140-150 176 3.78 6.7 147 9.2
Silver Springs Source Water Quality
Source: Biddlecomb, unpublished data
RIGHT VENTLEFT VENT
22.64
22.65
22.66
22.67
22.68
22.69
22.70
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
Time (Hour)
Wate
r T
em
p (
C)
Avg Min Max
23.26
23.27
23.28
23.29
23.30
23.31
23.32
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
Time (Hour)
Wate
r T
em
p (
C)
Avg Min Max
7.20
7.30
7.40
7.50
7.60
7.70
7.80
7.90
8.00
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
Time (Hour)
pH
(S
U)
Avg Min Max
7.20
7.30
7.40
7.50
7.60
7.70
7.80
7.90
8.00
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
Time (Hour)
pH
(S
U)
Avg Min Max
Silver Springs Source Water Quality
Source: Biddlecomb, unpublished data
LEFT VENT RIGHT VENT
12.5
13.0
13.5
14.0
14.5
15.0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
Time (Hour)
DO
(%
)
Avg Min Max
37.5
38.0
38.5
39.0
39.5
40.0
40.5
41.0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
Time (Hour)
DO
(%
)
Avg Min Max
1.08
1.10
1.12
1.14
1.16
1.18
1.20
1.22
1.24
1.26
1.28
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
Time (Hour)
DO
(m
g/L
)
Avg Min Max
3.20
3.25
3.30
3.35
3.40
3.45
3.50
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
Time (Hour)
DO
(m
g/L
)
Avg Min Max
Temperature
21
21.5
22
22.5
23
23.5
24
24.5
0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21
Time (Hours)
Tem
p (
C)
Silver Springs Run Diurnal Water Quality
(Feb 2004 – Mar 2005 at 1,200 m)
Silver Springs Run Diurnal Water Quality
(Feb 2004 – Mar 2005 at 1,200 m)
Dissolved Oxygen
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21
Time (Hours)
DO
(m
g/L
)
Dissolved Oxygen (%)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21
Time (Hours)
DO
(%
)
Temperature
21
21.5
22
22.5
23
23.5
24
24.5
0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21
Time (Hours)
Tem
p (
C)
pH
6.8
7
7.2
7.4
7.6
7.8
0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21
Time (Hours)
pH
(S
U)
pH
6.8
7
7.2
7.4
7.6
7.8
0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21
Time (Hours)
pH
(S
U)
Silver Springs Run Diurnal Water Quality
(Feb 2004 – Mar 2005 at 1,200 m)
Specific Conductance
0
100
200
300
400
500
0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21
Time (Hours)
Sp
Co
nd
(u
S/c
m)
Silver Springs Run Diurnal Water Quality
(Feb 2004 – Mar 2005 at 1,200 m)
Silver Springs Historic Water Quality
Parameter 12/16/1907 10/21/1946 1950-1955 2/24/2004
Color 4 5
Sulfate (as SO4) 44 34 46
Total Alkalinity (as CaCO3) 219 201 195 180
Total Chlorides 7.7 7.8 9.6 12
Total Dissolved Solids 274 237 241 270
Calcium 73 68 72 72
Magnesium 9.2 9.6 9.3
Potassium 9.8 4 0.61
Sodium 1.1 6.1
Date Sampled
Summary of Spring Water Quality Trends
Strong (2004)
• pH – 86% decreasing
• Specific conductance – 96% increasing
• Chloride – 64% increasing
Illustration of the Ghyben-Herzberg Effect
The ratio of the distance z to distance h is 40
Land Surface
Water Table
Sea FloorSaltwater
Sea level
Freshwater
h
z
Springs
Nutrients
• Phosphorus
– Particulate
– Dissolved
– Organic
– Inorganic
• Nitrogen
– Organic
– Ammonia
– Nitrate
– Nitrite
TP = DOP + OrthoP + TPP
TDP
TP = Total phosphorus
Org P = Organic phosphorus
TDP = Total dissolved P
TPP = Particulate P
OrthoP = orthophosphate
Phosphorus Forms
Springs Long-term Phosphorus Trends
Odum, 1953
0.00
0.02
0.04
0.06
0.08
0.10
0.12
0.14
0.16
To
tal
Ph
osp
ho
rus
(TP
-T m
g/L)
Wekiwa Springs Rock Springs Blue Springs Silver Springs
Total Phosphorus in Springs
0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
1.40
1.60
1.80
2.00
Avera
ge T
P (
mg
/L)
Spring ID
Stats TP
Average 0.084
Min 0.008
Max 1.90
Spring ID Spring ID Spring ID Spring ID Spring ID
Weeki Wachee Main Spring 1 Holmes Blue Spring 27 Wakulla Tubing C-Tunnel 53 Rhodes Spring #4 79 Otter Spring 105
Little Springs (Hernando) 2 Ichetucknee Head Spring (Suwannee) 28 Juniper Springs 54 Wacissa Springs #2 80 Welaka Spring 106
Guaranto Spring 3 Chassahowitzka Spring Main 29 Wakulla Tubing B-Tunnel 55 Nutall Rise 81 Hart Springs 107
Gainer Spring #3 4 Gainer Spring #1C 30 Gilchrist Blue Spring 56 Natural Bridge Spring 82 Rock Springs 108
Washington Blue Spring (Econfina) 5 Morrison Spring 31 Mearson Spring 57 Reception Hall Spring 83 Bugg Spring 109
Gainer Spring #2 6 Hunter Spring 32 Troy Spring 58 Blue Hole Spring (Columbia) 84 Crays Rise 110
Gator Spring (Hernando) 7 Homosassa #3 33 Tarpon Hole Spring 59 Crystal Springs 85 Siphon Creek Rise 111
Green Cove Spring 8 Manatee Spring 34 Spring Creek Rise #2 60 Lafayette Blue Spring 86 Fenney Spring 112
Hays Spring (Jackson) 9 Ponce De Leon Springs 35 Falmouth Spring 61 Alexander Springs 87 Sulphur Spring (Hillsborough) 113
Magnolia Spring 10 Unknown 11365 36 Bubbling Spring 62 Branford Spring 88 Poe Spring 114
Salt Springs (Marion) 11 Brunson Landing Spring 37 Spring Creek Rise #1 63 Steinhatchee River Rise 89 Wekiwa Springs 115
Black Spring (Jackson) 12 Gum Spring Main 38 Copper Spring 64 Mission Spring 90 Alapaha River Rise 116
Gadsen Spring 13 Homosassa #2 39 Running Springs 65 Lithia Springs Major 91 Holton Creek Rise 117
Springboard Spring 14 Rainbow Spring #6 40 Wakulla Tubing A/D-Tunnel 66 Ellaville Spring 92 Suwannee Springs 118
Washington Blue Spring (Choctawhatchee) 15 Fern Hammock Springs 41 Madison Blue Spring 67 Telford Spring 93 Starbuck Spring 119
Newport Spring 16 Salt Spring (Hernando) 42 Blue Grotto Spring 68 Sun Springs 94 Big Spring (Big Blue Spring) (Jefferson) 120
Warm Mineral Spring 17 Wakulla Spring 43 St. Marks River Rise (Leon) 69 Deleon Spring (Volusia) 95 Sanlando Springs 121
Williford Spring 18 Rainbow Spring #1 44 Lafayette Ruth Spring 70 Fanning Springs 96 Rainbow Spring #4 122
Jackson Mill Pond Spring 19 Jackson Blue Hole Spring 45 Levy Blue Spring 71 Suwanacoochee Spring 97 Santa Fe Spring (Columbia) 123
Jackson Blue Spring 20 Shangri-La Springs 46 Rhodes Spring #2 72 Volusia Blue Spring 98 Treehouse Spring 124
Double Spring 21 Wakulla Tubing D-Tunnel 47 Devils Ear Spring (Gilchrist) 73 Hornsby Spring 99 Santa Fe River Rise (Alachua) 125
Turtle Spring 22 Wakulla Tubing K-Tunnel 48 Silver Spring Main 74 Owens Spring 100 Columbia Spring 126
Chassahowitzka Spring #1 23 Apopka Spring 49 Allen Mill Pond Spring 75 Shepherd Spring 101 Silver Glen Springs 127
Little River Spring 24 Cedar Head Spring 50 Ginnie Spring 76 Rock Bluff Springs 102 Homosassa #1 128
Cypress Spring 25 Citrus Blue Spring 51 Horn Spring 77 Waldo Spring 103 Beecher Spring 129
Beckton Springs 26 Wakulla Tubing A/K-Tunnel 52 Rhodes Spring #1 78 Orange Spring 104 Buckhorn Spring 130
Springs with
Elevated Total
Phosphorus
Concentrations
0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
1.40
1.60
1.80
2.00
Avera
ge T
P (
mg
/L)
Spring ID
Stats TP
Average 0.084
Min 0.008
Max 1.90
Spring ID Spring ID Spring ID Spring ID Spring ID
Weeki Wachee Main Spring 1 Holmes Blue Spring 27 Wakulla Tubing C-Tunnel 53 Rhodes Spring #4 79 Otter Spring 105
Little Springs (Hernando) 2 Ichetucknee Head Spring (Suwannee) 28 Juniper Springs 54 Wacissa Springs #2 80 Welaka Spring 106
Guaranto Spring 3 Chassahowitzka Spring Main 29 Wakulla Tubing B-Tunnel 55 Nutall Rise 81 Hart Springs 107
Gainer Spring #3 4 Gainer Spring #1C 30 Gilchrist Blue Spring 56 Natural Bridge Spring 82 Rock Springs 108
Washington Blue Spring (Econfina) 5 Morrison Spring 31 Mearson Spring 57 Reception Hall Spring 83 Bugg Spring 109
Gainer Spring #2 6 Hunter Spring 32 Troy Spring 58 Blue Hole Spring (Columbia) 84 Crays Rise 110
Gator Spring (Hernando) 7 Homosassa #3 33 Tarpon Hole Spring 59 Crystal Springs 85 Siphon Creek Rise 111
Green Cove Spring 8 Manatee Spring 34 Spring Creek Rise #2 60 Lafayette Blue Spring 86 Fenney Spring 112
Hays Spring (Jackson) 9 Ponce De Leon Springs 35 Falmouth Spring 61 Alexander Springs 87 Sulphur Spring (Hillsborough) 113
Magnolia Spring 10 Unknown 11365 36 Bubbling Spring 62 Branford Spring 88 Poe Spring 114
Salt Springs (Marion) 11 Brunson Landing Spring 37 Spring Creek Rise #1 63 Steinhatchee River Rise 89 Wekiwa Springs 115
Black Spring (Jackson) 12 Gum Spring Main 38 Copper Spring 64 Mission Spring 90 Alapaha River Rise 116
Gadsen Spring 13 Homosassa #2 39 Running Springs 65 Lithia Springs Major 91 Holton Creek Rise 117
Springboard Spring 14 Rainbow Spring #6 40 Wakulla Tubing A/D-Tunnel 66 Ellaville Spring 92 Suwannee Springs 118
Washington Blue Spring (Choctawhatchee) 15 Fern Hammock Springs 41 Madison Blue Spring 67 Telford Spring 93 Starbuck Spring 119
Newport Spring 16 Salt Spring (Hernando) 42 Blue Grotto Spring 68 Sun Springs 94 Big Spring (Big Blue Spring) (Jefferson) 120
Warm Mineral Spring 17 Wakulla Spring 43 St. Marks River Rise (Leon) 69 Deleon Spring (Volusia) 95 Sanlando Springs 121
Williford Spring 18 Rainbow Spring #1 44 Lafayette Ruth Spring 70 Fanning Springs 96 Rainbow Spring #4 122
Jackson Mill Pond Spring 19 Jackson Blue Hole Spring 45 Levy Blue Spring 71 Suwanacoochee Spring 97 Santa Fe Spring (Columbia) 123
Jackson Blue Spring 20 Shangri-La Springs 46 Rhodes Spring #2 72 Volusia Blue Spring 98 Treehouse Spring 124
Double Spring 21 Wakulla Tubing D-Tunnel 47 Devils Ear Spring (Gilchrist) 73 Hornsby Spring 99 Santa Fe River Rise (Alachua) 125
Turtle Spring 22 Wakulla Tubing K-Tunnel 48 Silver Spring Main 74 Owens Spring 100 Columbia Spring 126
Chassahowitzka Spring #1 23 Apopka Spring 49 Allen Mill Pond Spring 75 Shepherd Spring 101 Silver Glen Springs 127
Little River Spring 24 Cedar Head Spring 50 Ginnie Spring 76 Rock Bluff Springs 102 Homosassa #1 128
Cypress Spring 25 Citrus Blue Spring 51 Horn Spring 77 Waldo Spring 103 Beecher Spring 129
Beckton Springs 26 Wakulla Tubing A/K-Tunnel 52 Rhodes Spring #1 78 Orange Spring 104 Buckhorn Spring 130
Nitrogen
• A key element in proteins and required
for all life. Nitrogen occurs in a variety of
forms that undergo transformations.
Nitrogen in Springs
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
9000N
itro
gen
(p
pb
)
Silver Glen Silver Rainbow Fanning
Spring
NOx-N
NH4-N
Org N
0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
6.00
1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 43 46 49 52 55 58 61 64 67 70 73 76 79 82 85 88 91 94 97 100
103
106
109
112
115
118
121
124
127
130
Spring ID
Avera
ge N
Ox-N
(m
g/L
)
Stats NOx-N
Average 0.803
Min 0.004
Max 5.10
Spring ID Spring ID Spring ID
Beecher Spring 1 Fenney Spring 45 Cedar Head Spring 89
Copper Spring 2 Hornsby Spring 46 Wakulla Tubing D-Tunnel 90
Green Cove Spring 3 Horn Spring 47 Gum Spring Main 91
Holton Creek Rise 4 Cypress Spring 48 Little River Spring 92
Orange Spring 5 Starbuck Spring 49 Wakulla Tubing C-Tunnel 93
Suwannee Springs 6 Turtle Spring 50 Double Spring 94
Newport Spring 7 Salt Spring (Hernando) 51 Jackson Mill Pond Spring 95
Waldo Spring 8 Hunter Spring 52 Wakulla Tubing B-Tunnel 96
Warm Mineral Spring 9 Ellaville Spring 53 Rainbow Spring #6 97
Santa Fe Spring (Columbia) 10 Falmouth Spring 54 Silver Spring Main 98
Nutall Rise 11 Alapaha River Rise 55 Hart Springs 99
Alexander Springs 12 Wacissa Springs #2 56 Otter Spring 100
Silver Glen Springs 13 Wakulla Tubing A/K-Tunnel 57 Bubbling Spring 101
Washington Blue Spring (Choctawhatchee) 14 Black Spring (Jackson) 58 Wekiwa Springs 102
Steinhatchee River Rise 15 Wakulla Tubing K-Tunnel 59 Rainbow Spring #1 103
Santa Fe River Rise (Alachua) 16 Wakulla Tubing A/D-Tunnel 60 Deleon Spring (Volusia) 104
Welaka Spring 17 Holmes Blue Spring 61 Ginnie Spring 105
Williford Spring 18 Jackson Blue Hole Spring 62 Reception Hall Spring 106
Juniper Springs 19 Homosassa #1 63 Devils Ear Spring (Gilchrist) 107
Columbia Spring 20 Sanlando Springs 64 Blue Grotto Spring 108
Fern Hammock Springs 21 Suwanacoochee Spring 65 Madison Blue Spring 109
Treehouse Spring 22 Gator Spring (Hernando) 66 Rainbow Spring #4 110
Salt Springs (Marion) 23 Homosassa #2 67 Rock Springs 111
Crays Rise 24 Chassahowitzka Spring Main 68 Mearson Spring 112
Washington Blue Spring (Econfina) 25 Citrus Blue Spring 69 Gilchrist Blue Spring 113
Big Spring (Big Blue Spring) (Jefferson) 26 Levy Blue Spring 70 Manatee Spring 114
Morrison Spring 27 Mission Spring 71 Sun Springs 115
Spring Creek Rise #1 28 Allen Mill Pond Spring 72 Telford Spring 116
St. Marks River Rise (Leon) 29 Chassahowitzka Spring #1 73 Owens Spring 117
Gainer Spring #1C 30 Magnolia Spring 74 Troy Spring 118
Spring Creek Rise #2 31 Homosassa #3 75 Buckhorn Spring 119
Tarpon Hole Spring 32 Rock Bluff Springs 76 Crystal Springs 120
Gainer Spring #3 33 Bugg Spring 77 Lafayette Blue Spring 121
Poe Spring 34 Blue Hole Spring (Columbia) 78 Running Springs 122
Shepherd Spring 35 Springboard Spring 79 Unknown 11365 123
Brunson Landing Spring 36 Volusia Blue Spring 80 Lithia Springs Major 124
Gainer Spring #2 37 Branford Spring 81 Hays Spring (Jackson) 125
Ponce De Leon Springs 38 Siphon Creek Rise 82 Jackson Blue Spring 126
Sulphur Spring (Hillsborough) 39 Little Springs (Hernando) 83 Shangri-La Springs 127
Rhodes Spring #1 40 Weeki Wachee Main Spring 84 Lafayette Ruth Spring 128
Rhodes Spring #2 41 Ichetucknee Head Spring (Suwannee) 85 Fanning Springs 129
Rhodes Spring #4 42 Guaranto Spring 86 Apopka Spring 130
Natural Bridge Spring 43 Wakulla Spring 87
Beckton Springs 44 Gadsen Spring 88
>60% of Florida’s Springs are Impaired by N
• Springs Numeric
Nutrient
Standard for
Nitrate Nitrogen
is 0.35 mg/L
0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
6.00
1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 43 46 49 52 55 58 61 64 67 70 73 76 79 82 85 88 91 94 97 100
103
106
109
112
115
118
121
124
127
130
Spring ID
Averag
e N
Ox-N
(m
g/L
)Stats NOx-N
Average 0.803
Min 0.004
Max 5.10
Spring ID Spring ID Spring ID
Beecher Spring 1 Fenney Spring 45 Cedar Head Spring 89
Copper Spring 2 Hornsby Spring 46 Wakulla Tubing D-Tunnel 90
Green Cove Spring 3 Horn Spring 47 Gum Spring Main 91
Holton Creek Rise 4 Cypress Spring 48 Little River Spring 92
Orange Spring 5 Starbuck Spring 49 Wakulla Tubing C-Tunnel 93
Suwannee Springs 6 Turtle Spring 50 Double Spring 94
Newport Spring 7 Salt Spring (Hernando) 51 Jackson Mill Pond Spring 95
Waldo Spring 8 Hunter Spring 52 Wakulla Tubing B-Tunnel 96
Warm Mineral Spring 9 Ellaville Spring 53 Rainbow Spring #6 97
Santa Fe Spring (Columbia) 10 Falmouth Spring 54 Silver Spring Main 98
Nutall Rise 11 Alapaha River Rise 55 Hart Springs 99
Alexander Springs 12 Wacissa Springs #2 56 Otter Spring 100
Silver Glen Springs 13 Wakulla Tubing A/K-Tunnel 57 Bubbling Spring 101
Washington Blue Spring (Choctawhatchee) 14 Black Spring (Jackson) 58 Wekiwa Springs 102
Steinhatchee River Rise 15 Wakulla Tubing K-Tunnel 59 Rainbow Spring #1 103
Santa Fe River Rise (Alachua) 16 Wakulla Tubing A/D-Tunnel 60 Deleon Spring (Volusia) 104
Welaka Spring 17 Holmes Blue Spring 61 Ginnie Spring 105
Williford Spring 18 Jackson Blue Hole Spring 62 Reception Hall Spring 106
Juniper Springs 19 Homosassa #1 63 Devils Ear Spring (Gilchrist) 107
Columbia Spring 20 Sanlando Springs 64 Blue Grotto Spring 108
Fern Hammock Springs 21 Suwanacoochee Spring 65 Madison Blue Spring 109
Treehouse Spring 22 Gator Spring (Hernando) 66 Rainbow Spring #4 110
Salt Springs (Marion) 23 Homosassa #2 67 Rock Springs 111
Crays Rise 24 Chassahowitzka Spring Main 68 Mearson Spring 112
Washington Blue Spring (Econfina) 25 Citrus Blue Spring 69 Gilchrist Blue Spring 113
Big Spring (Big Blue Spring) (Jefferson) 26 Levy Blue Spring 70 Manatee Spring 114
Morrison Spring 27 Mission Spring 71 Sun Springs 115
Spring Creek Rise #1 28 Allen Mill Pond Spring 72 Telford Spring 116
St. Marks River Rise (Leon) 29 Chassahowitzka Spring #1 73 Owens Spring 117
Gainer Spring #1C 30 Magnolia Spring 74 Troy Spring 118
Spring Creek Rise #2 31 Homosassa #3 75 Buckhorn Spring 119
Tarpon Hole Spring 32 Rock Bluff Springs 76 Crystal Springs 120
Gainer Spring #3 33 Bugg Spring 77 Lafayette Blue Spring 121
Poe Spring 34 Blue Hole Spring (Columbia) 78 Running Springs 122
Shepherd Spring 35 Springboard Spring 79 Unknown 11365 123
Brunson Landing Spring 36 Volusia Blue Spring 80 Lithia Springs Major 124
Gainer Spring #2 37 Branford Spring 81 Hays Spring (Jackson) 125
Ponce De Leon Springs 38 Siphon Creek Rise 82 Jackson Blue Spring 126
Sulphur Spring (Hillsborough) 39 Little Springs (Hernando) 83 Shangri-La Springs 127
Rhodes Spring #1 40 Weeki Wachee Main Spring 84 Lafayette Ruth Spring 128
Rhodes Spring #2 41 Ichetucknee Head Spring (Suwannee) 85 Fanning Springs 129
Rhodes Spring #4 42 Guaranto Spring 86 Apopka Spring 130
Natural Bridge Spring 43 Wakulla Spring 87
Beckton Springs 44 Gadsen Spring 88
Florida’s Springs
with Low Nitrate-N
• Springs Numeric
Nutrient
Standard for
Nitrate Nitrogen
is 0.35 mg/L
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
Nit
rate
-Nit
rite
as N
(N
Ox-N
) m
g/L
Wekiwa Springs Rock Springs Blue Springs Silver Springs Background NOx-N
Long-term nitrate trends
Silver Springs Nitrate Nitrogen Trend
Year Nitrate
Load
(tons/yr)
1957 47
1979 407
1995 478
2005 529
2055
(projected)
880
Silver Springs
0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
1/1/1950 9/10/1963 5/19/1977 1/26/1991 10/4/2004
Nit
ra
te-N
(m
g/L
)
Greatly exceeds 0.35 mg/L
spring standard!
NO3 >3,000%
increase since
1907
Weeki Wachee Springs Nitrate
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
1970 1983 1997
Co
nce
ntr
ation
mg/L
NO2/NO3-N
PO3-P
Frydenburg 2008
Weeki Wachee Springs: Nitrate increase = 1,500% since 1970
DEP’s max.
allowed
concentration
Silver Springs Trace
Organics
Phelps 2004
• N,N'-diethyl-methyl-toluamide (DEET), urban uses, mosquito control
• Phenol, disinfectant, leachate
• Caffeine, diuretic, highly mobile/biodegradable
• Isophorone, solvent for lacquers, plastics, oils, silicon, resins
DEP’s max.
allowed
concentration
Summary
• Water has many unique properties
• Interactions between light and spring water are critical to ecosystem health
• Springs water quality varies naturally due to geology and geography
• Disturbing springs water quality trends are due to human activities
• Most of Florida’s springs are getting saltier, more acidic, and more polluted with nitrate nitrogen and trace organics
John Moran photo