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

Class Schedule

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

The Water Molecule – H2O

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)

Electromagnetic Radiation – Visible Spectrum

Incoming Solar Radiation (Insolation)

Data from Silver Springs, FL (WSI 2006)

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

Florida Springs Initiative Monitoring Network (DEP 2007)

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

Water

Quality

Trends at

Volusia

DeLeon

Springs

(source: SJRWMD)

Possible

Mechanisms for

Saltwater-

Freshwater

Intrusion

(source: Copeland et al. 2009)

Water

Quality

Trends at

Fanning

Springs

(source: Strong 2005)

Water

Quality

Trends at

Weeki

Wachee

Springs

(source: Strong 2005)

Summary of Spring Water Quality Trends

Strong (2004)

• pH – 86% decreasing

• Specific conductance – 96% increasing

• Chloride – 64% increasing

Floridan Aquifer Freshwater Lens (source: Copeland et al. 2009)

Inner and Outer Transition Zones

(source: Copeland et al. 2009)

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

Possible

Mechanisms for

Saltwater-

Freshwater

Intrusion

(source: Copeland et al. 2009)

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 the Environment

Nitrogen 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

Rising Nitrate N Concentrations in 13 Florida First Magnitude Springs

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

Florida Springs

Protection Goal:

Restore and

Protect Springs

for Future

Generations

John Moran Photo www.floridaspringsinstitute.org