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Determination of Ammonia Concentrations in the Kansas River during Stable, Low-Flow Conditions
Point-source pollution
The Kansas River drains about 60,000 square miles in Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas. The
downstream part of the drainage basin in northern Kansas supports a growing population of
more than 700,000 people and a wide range of urban and agricultural activities. Along the
Kansas River between Wamego and Kansas City, Kansas, there are 16 permitted wastewater
discharging sites (see map) with 22 others located on tributary streams. Rapid population
growth and urban development are a particular concern along the Kansas River between Topeka
and Kansas City. High concentrations of ammonia and bacteria have been detected in this reach
of the Kansas River because of the close proximity of communities that discharge to the river
and the additive effect of their wastewater treatment facilities. There are also several
proposed wastewater treatment facilities that will discharge to the Kansas River. Before
these proposed facilities can be allowed to discharge into the Kansas River, the assimilation
capacity for ammonia and bacteria decay rates in the river need to be determined so that
water-quality standards are not exceeded.
Objectives
The purpose of this study was to develop a water-quality model to
estimate ammonia concentrations in the Kansas River between Topeka and
the confluence of the Kansas River with the Missouri River at Kansas
City. The study was from April 2001 to January 2005. The specific
objectives of the report are to
- characterize ambient hydrologic and water-quality conditions
during the study period from November 2001 to August 2002,
- document calibration of the CE.QUAL.W2 water-quality model, and
- present the results of model simulations for selected hypothetical
situations describing the effects of an additional WWTF and changes in
WWTF effluent discharges on water quality of the Kansas River during
low streamflow conditions.
The water-quality model will assist the Kansas Department of Health
and Environment in estimating the probable effects of increased
wastewater discharge to the Kansas River. In the future, this
information can be used with additional data collection and numerical
modeling during high-flow conditions to further define Total Maximum
Daily Loads (TMDLs) in the Kansas River for ammonia.
A total of 146 samples were collected over three synoptic
surveys. These synoptic surveys occurred at low flow during November
and February when water temperatures were at annual lows and in July
when water temperatures were at annual maximums. Sample collection
sites are shown on the map below.
![](fig2.gif)
Publications
Hydrologic and Water-Quality Conditions in the Kansas River, Northeast Kansas, November 2001-August 2002, and Simulation of Ammonia Assimilative Capacity and Bacteria Transport During Low Flow , Rasmussen, P.P., Christensen, V.G., 2005, U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Invenstigations Report 2005-5188
Presentation
Kansas River Water Quality Model: A tool for evaluating ammonia and bacteria transport (pdf 1.5MB), Kansas Water Environment Association, Topeka, Kansas, April 12, 2006
Other Kansas River Web Information
Continuous Real-Time Water-Quality Network for Monitoring TMDLs in the Lower Kansas River Basin
Related Publications
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Estimation of constituent concentrations, densities, loads, and yields in lower Kansas River, northeast Kansas, using regression models and continuous water-quality monitoring, January 2000 through December 2003, Rasmussen, T. J., Ziegler, A. C., Rasmussen, P. P., 2005, U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5165
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Comparison and Continuous Estimates of Fecal Coliform and Escherichia Coli Bacteria in Selected Kansas Streams, May 1999 Through April 2002, Rasmussen, P. P.and Ziegler, A. C., 2003, U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4056
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Effects of urbanization on water quality in the Kansas River, Shunganunga Creek Basin, and Soldier Creek, Topeka, Kansas, October 1993 through September 1995 ,
Pope, L. M., Putnam, J. E., 1997, U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigation 97-4045
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Atrazine in Surface Water and Relation to Hydrologic Conditions Within the
Delaware River Basin Pesticide Management Area, Northeast Kansas, July 1992
Through December 1994 , Pope, L.M., 1995, U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 196-95
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Atrazine Concentrations in the Delaware River, Kansas ,
Stamer, John K., Gunderson, Kathryn D., Ryan, Barbara J., 1995, U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 001-94
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Surface-water-quality assessment of the lower Kansas River basin, Kansas and Nebraska; distribution of trace-element concentrations in dissolved and suspended phases, streambed sediment, and fish samples, May 1987 through April 1990 ,
Tanner, D. Q., 1995, U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigation 94-4201
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Concentrations and transport of atrazine in the Delaware River-Perry Lake system, northeast Kansas, July 1992 through September 1995 ,
Pope, Larry M., Brewer, Lesley D., Foley, Greg A., Morgan, Scott C., 1997, U.S. Geological Survey Water Supply Paper 2489
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Surface-water-quality assessment of the lower Kansas River basin, Kansas and Nebraska; distribution of trace-element concentrations in dissolved and suspended phases, streambed sediment, and fish samples, May 1987 through April 1990 ,
Tanner, D. Q., 1995, U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigation 94-4201
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Surface-water-quality assessment of the lower Kansas River Basin, Kansas and Nebraska : suspended-sediment conditions, May 1987 through April 1990, and trends, 1963 through April 1990 ,
Jordan, Paul Robert, 1995, U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigation 94-4187
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Surface-water-quality assessment of the lower Kansas River basin, Kansas and Nebraska; selected metals, arsenic, and phosphorus in streambed sediments of first- and second-order streams, 1987 ,
Tanner, D. Q., Ryder, J. L., 1996, U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigation 94-4196
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Surface-water-quality assessment of the lower Kansas River basin, Kansas and Nebraska; dissolved oxygen and Escherichia coli bacteria in streams during low flow, July 1988 through July 1989 ,
Pope, L. M., 1995, U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigation 94-4077
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Surface-water-quality assessment of the lower Kansas River basin, Kansas and Nebraska; results of investigations, 1987-90 ,
Helgesen, John O., 1996, U.S. Geological Survey Water Supply Paper 2451
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The occurrence and transport of agricultural pesticides in the Tuttle Creek lake-stream system, Kansas and Nebraska ,
Bevans, Hugh E., Fromm, Carla Hyde, Watkins, Sharon A., 1995, U.S. Geological Survey Water Supply Paper 2419
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The occurrence and transport of agricultural pesticides in the Tuttle Creek lake-stream system, Kansas and Nebraska ,
Bevans, H. E., Fromm, C. H., Watkins, S. A., 1993, U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 93-87
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Surface water-quality assessment of the lower Kansas River basin, Kansas and Nebraska; concentrations of major metals and trace elements in streambed sediments, 1987 ,
Tanner, D. Q., Sanzolone, R. F., Zelt, R. B., 1990, U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 90-581
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Statistical summaries of elemental constituents in streambed-sediments in the lower Kansas River basin; Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri ,
Ryder, Jean L., Sanzolone, R. F., 1989, U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 89-110
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Surface water-quality assessment of the lower Kansas River basin, Kansas and Nebraska; project description ,
Stamer, J. K., Jordan, P. R., Engberg, R. A., Dugan, J. T., 1987, U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 87-105
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Sediment and channel-geometry investigations for the Kansas River bank stabilization study, Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado ,
Osterkamp, W. R., Curtis, R. E., Crowther, H. G., 1982, U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 81-128
For additional information contact:
Patrick Rasmussen
U.S. Geological Survey
4821 Quail Crest Place
Lawrence, KS 66049-3839
Telephone: (785) 832-3542
Fax: (785) 832-3500
Email: pras@usgs.gov
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