Preliminary study of wastewater movement in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, July 1975 through September 1976

Abstract

This report describes a study by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the National Park Service to determine the effects on nearby lakes and streams of wastewater effluents that percolate from sewage lagoons at four sites in Yellowstone National Park. A network of observation wells has been established near the sites, and data have been collected from the wells and from nearby streams. Ground-water mounds have built up under the lagoons as percolation of effluents occurred. Percolating effluents mix with ground water and form plumes of ground water that contain chemical constituents for the effluents. Each plume tends to move down the hydraulic gradient in a direction generally perpendicular to the water-level contours. Water-level contours and most likely areas of movement of the plumes are shown on maps. Tests using rhodamine WT dye and dissolved solids as tracers suggested that chemical constituents in the plumes travel at different velocities as a result of dispersion and adsorlption. Chemical constituents from effluent percolating from the Old Faithful lagoons probably discharge into nearby Iron Spring Creek. Constituents from lagoons at the other three sites studied probably have not reached nearby streams or lakes. (Woodard-USGS)