Effective Management Changes to Reduce Halogens, Sulfate, and TDS in the Monongahela River Basin, 2009–2019

The Monongahela River Basin has an extensive history of fossil fuel development, including coal mining and natural gas extraction. In late summer 2008, total dissolved solids (TDS) concentrations exceeding the United States Environmental Protection Agency′s (EPA) secondary drinking water standards were detected. After determining source, a voluntary discharge management plan (VDMP) was developed by West Virginia Water Research Institute (WVWRI) implemented industry (2010). Additional remediation actions included Pennsylvania’s prohibition produced wastewater in publicly owned treatment facilities (2011) construction reverse osmosis facility (2013). We used locally weighted polynomial regression conjunction with segmented to assess concentration trends/changepoints for bromide, chloride, sulfate, at various locations relative three remedial actions. detected significant (α < 0.05) positive trends negative solids. conjunction, we also 1–4 changepoints within each model. Additionally, linear mixed effects model containing measure effectiveness action reducing TDS over time. Of actions, VDMP itself effective maintaining river sulfate levels below (−0.12, p-value = 0.002). combination (−0.16, 0.001) (−0.19, effective. use all strongest effect (−0.37, Since implementation these changes, primarily which encompasses most watershed, not exceeded EPA′s standards. Future decisions should include efforts further expand monitor changes land or severe discharge.