ASTM D5613-94(2003)
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Open-Channel Measurement of Time of Travel Using Dye Tracers
Standard Test Method for Open-Channel Measurement of Time of Travel Using Dye Tracers
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers a means of measuring the time-of-travel of water and waterborne solutes by the use of dye tracers and tracing techniques. This test method is similar to methods developed by the U.S. Geological Survey and described in other referenced documents.
1.2 This test method describes the dye tracers, measuring equipment used, and field and laboratory procedures customarily used.
1.3 This test method describes the methods of tracer study analysis and data presentation.
1.4 The user of this test method should address the following concerns regarding the use of tracers in water bodies:
1.4.1 Determine whether the chemical has clearance or approval or has potential or preceived impacts relating to potable, industrial, irrigation, or fish and wildlife use.
1.4.2 Determine whether approvals are required by involved agencies.
1.4.3 Document contacts regarding notification.
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units except for chemical concentrations and liquid volumes for step dilutions, which are stated in SI units, are to be regarded as the standard.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazards statements, see Section 9.
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Designation: D 5613 – 94 (Reapproved 2003)
Standard Test Method for
Open-Channel Measurement of Time of Travel Using Dye
Tracers
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5613; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope D 3858 Test Method for Open-Channel Flow Measurement
of Water by Velocity-Area Method
1.1 This test method covers a means of measuring the
D 4411 Guide for Sampling Fluvial Sediment in Motion
time-of-travel of water and waterborne solutes by the use of
2.2 ISO Standard:
dye tracers and tracing techniques. This test method is similar
ISO 555/2-1974 Liquid Flow Measurement in Open
to methods developed by the U.S. Geological Survey and
Channels—Dilution Methods for Measurement of Steady
described in other referenced documents.
Flow, Part 2: Integration (Sudden Injection) Method.
1.2 This test method describes the dye tracers, measuring
equipment used, and field and laboratory procedures custom-
3. Terminology
arily used.
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1.3 This test method describes the methods of tracer study
3.1.1 automatic programmable sampler—a portable device
analysis and data presentation.
designed to collect sequential, discrete water samples repre-
1.4 The user of this test method should address the follow-
sentative of the water mixture moving in the river in the
ing concerns regarding the use of tracers in water bodies:
vicinity of the sampler at a single point in a cross section.
1.4.1 Determine whether the chemical has clearance or
Depending on the make and model of the device, water
approval or has potential or preceived impacts relating to
samples can be collected at equal or variable time intervals.
potable, industrial, irrigation, or fish and wildlife use.
3.1.2 centroid—the center of mass of the dye response
1.4.2 Determinewhetherapprovalsarerequiredbyinvolved
curve calculated as outlined by Parker and Hunt (1) .
agencies.
3.1.3 depth-integrated sample—a water sample collected in
1.4.3 Document contacts regarding notification.
such a manner as to be representative of the water mixture
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units except for chemi-
moving in the river in the vicinity of the sampler at a single
cal concentrations and liquid volumes for step dilutions, which
vertical in a cross section.
are stated in SI units, are to be regarded as the standard.
3.1.4 dispersion—thethree-dimensionalprocessofdissemi-
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
nating the dye within a river’s waters.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.1.5 flow duration—the percentage of time during which a
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
specific discharge is equalled or exceeded.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.1.6 fluorometer—an instrument that measures the lumi-
bilityofregulatorylimitationspriortouse.Forspecifichazards
nescence of a fluorescent substance when subjected to a light
statements, see Section 9.
source of a given wave length.
2. Referenced Documents 3.1.7 injection site—a study site where the tracer is to be
introducedintoaparcelofriverwater.Thisstudysiteisusually
2.1 ASTM Standards:
a sufficient distance upstream of the study reach such that
D 1192 Guide for Equipment for Sampling Water and
complete vertical and lateral mixing of the tracer in a parcel of
Steam in Closed Conduits
riverwaterhasoccurredbeforethewaterparcel’sentryintothe
D 2777 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias of
study reach.
Applicable Methods of Committee D19 on Water
3.1.8 lateral dispersion—the process of disseminating the
D 3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Con-
dye within a river water’s horizontal axis perpendicular to its
duits
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.07 on Sediments, Geomor- Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.02.
phology, and Open-Channel Flow. Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
Current edition approved June 10, 2003. Published August 2003. Originally 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036.
approved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 1998 as D 5613 – 94 (1998). The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01. this test method.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D 5613 – 94 (2003)
longitudinal axis. The completion of this process is dependent samples and noting the time that each sample was collected
on the width of the river and velocity variations. since the tracer injection.
3.1.9 leading edge—the first detectable dye concentration 4.4 After tracer studies have been conducted at two or more
observed at a sampling site. flow durations on the study reach, estimation of the time-of-
3.1.10 longitudinal dispersion—the process of disseminat- travel and dispersion of a solute can be made at any flow
between those studied. Tracer studies are typically performed
ing the dye within a river’s waters along its upstream-
downstream axis. This component of the dispersion process at 40 to 90 % flow duration ranges.
continues downstream indefinitely.
3.1.11 mixing—the blending of two or more substances into 5. Significance and Use
one uniform mass.
5.1 Purpose:
3.1.12 peak—the maximum dye concentration observed at a
5.1.1 This test method covers the use of fluorescent dye
sampling site.
tracers in streams to determine the rate that a solute moves
3.1.13 point sample—a water sample collected in such a
along a streamline for a given river reach and the rate at which
manner as to be representative of the water mixture moving in
a solute disperses as it moves downstream.
the river in the vicinity of the sampler at a single point in a
5.1.2 Accurate measurements of a stream’s velocity and
cross section.
dispersion coefficient that can be determined by a tracer study
3.1.14 sample site—a study site where water samples are
are important parameters for water-quality models.
collected for determination of the tracer-concentration re-
5.1.3 Determined in advance to potential spilled or released
sponse curve.
noxious substances, velocity and dispersion rates are used to
3.1.15 standard integrated depth sampler—a device de-
predict the time of arrival, passage time, and maximum
signed to accumulate a water sample from a stream vertical at
concentration. Public health officials need this information to
such a rate that the velocity in the nozzle at the point of intake
decide whether, when, and how long to suspend operations of
is always as nearly as possible identical with the immediate
public water-supply intakes in the reach downstream of a spill.
stream velocity.
5.2 Assumptions:
3.1.16 study reach—the section of a river’s length that is to
5.2.1 This test method assumes that the dye tracer behaves
be studied.
in the same manner as the water in which it is injected.
3.1.17 study site—sections of a river where data are to be
Dispersion and mixing of the tracer in the receiving river occur
determined, monitored, measured, and where tracer is to be
in all three dimensions of the channel. Longitudinal mixing is
introduced into the river.
unending since boundaries do not exist in this direction.
3.1.18 tracer response curve—at each sampling site, the
5.2.2 The tracer response curve at a point downstream from
plots of tracer concentration versus time after the tracer
the point of tracer injection can be represented by plotting the
injection.
tracer concentration against elapsed time since the injection
3.1.19 trailing edge—thepointofthefallinglimbofthedye
(Fig. 1).
response curve that is equal to approximately 2 % of the peak
5.2.3 A tracer response curve has four important character-
concentration observed at a sampling site.
istics: the elapsed time to the response curve’s leading edge;
3.1.20 vertical dispersion—the process of disseminating the
elapsed time to the response curve’s peak concentration;
dye within a river’s water’s vertical axis perpendicular to its
elapsed time to the response curve’s centroid; and elapsed time
upstream-downstream axis. This dispersion process is usually
to response curve trailing edge at 2 % of the peak concentra-
completed first.
tion.
5.2.4 Between two monitoring locations separated by a long
4. Summary of Test Method
stream length, the time-of-travel for individual response curve
characteristics is the difference in the elapsed times since
4.1 Dyetracersinjectedintoastreamareassumedtobehave
injection for that characteristic at the two locations.
in the same manner as the water molecules themselves. A
measureofthelongitudinalmovementofatraceralongagiven 5.2.5 The duration or time of passage of a tracer response
curve at a particular river location is the difference between the
streamline will be a measure of the movement of an element of
fluid in the stream and of its dispersion characteristics for that slowest trailing edge elapsed time since injection and the
earliestleadingedgeelapsedtimesinceinjectiondeterminedin
streamline.
the cross section.
4.2 The initial planning of a dye tracer time-of-travel study
5.3 Tracers:
involves the estimation of stream velocities and the required
5.3.1 Conservative tracers used to investigate fluid motion
tracer injection volume. The information necessary for these
estimations is obtained by reviewing historical flow data and are generally extrinsic, artificial, and chemical substances and
are usually classified according to the methods of detection
topographic maps and by making a reconnaissance of the
proposed study reach. used and chemical composition.
4.3 The time-of-travel for a given flow is determined by 5.3.2 Properties to be considered when selecting a tracer for
a study include detectability, toxicity, solubility, cost, natural
observing the passage of a slug-injected dye tracer cloud at
previously identified locations along the study reach. The dye background concentration, and sorption characteristics.
cloud response curve is defined at each reach location (study 5.3.3 Fluorescent dye tracers such as Rhodamine WT,
site) by measuring the dye concentration in collected water pontacyl pink, and acid yellow 7 are generally good chemical
D 5613 – 94 (2003)
FIG. 1 Travel Time from Burnham Versus Concentration at Clinton, Maine, Sept. 18–20, 1979 (from Parker) (2)
tracers. Rhodamine WT has the most numerous qualities 6.3 Dye tracer fluorescence may be quenched by the action
preferred by many state and federal agencies for open-channel of other chemicals in the streamwater. The quenching agent
studies. may cause any of the following to occur (6): absorption of
5.3.4 Other tracers can be used when water-quality or exciting light, absorption of light emitted by the dye, degrada-
physical conditions are not suitable for the use of fluorescent tion of the excited-state energy, and chemically changing the
dyes in a proposed study reach. These include salt-based fluorescent compound of the dye tracer.
chemical tracers such as sodium chloride, radioactive tracers 6.4 The permanent reduction of Rhodamine dye tracer
such as tritium, and tracers determined with neutron activation fluorescence can be caused by photochemical decay as a result
analysis such as bromine and lithium (3). of exposure to sunlight (7). Sunlight degradation half-lives for
5.3.5 These tracers are considered to be generally conser- the dye at the water surface to a depth of 0.03 ft ranged from
vative and, in terms of this test method, differ primarily in the 15 to 30 days at 30° North latitude, depending on the season of
apparatus required to measure the concentrations in the study the year. The degradation half-lives ranged from 15 to 44 days
reach. Discussions in subsequent sections will be limited to at 40° North latitude, depending on the season of the year. The
fluorescent dye because of the simplicity of fluorometric photochemical decay half-life increases with increased water
analysis. depth and decreasing light intensity; it is therefore not a
5.3.6 Different tracers require varied levels of permits concern for most practical problems.
before being introduced into the environment. For example,
radioactive tracers require permits from the Nuclear Regula- 7. Apparatus
tory Commission (NRC) and usually state and local permits.
7.1 Dye is usually injected by pouring a measured amount
Fluorescent dye tracers do not usually require formal permits
asaslugintothecenteroftheflowfromagraduatedlaboratory
for use in a study.
cylinder. Graduated laboratory cylinders are convenient for
measuring and injecting small volumes. Large-volume injec-
6. Interferences
tions can be measured in terms of full dye containers. The
6.1 Natural water may exhibit background fluorescence that measured volumes of tracer to be injected can be mixed with
is not the result of a fluorescent dye tracer. This background streamwater in a larger container that can also be used as an
fluorescence may result from scattered light, fluorescence of injection vessel.
natural materials or pollutants, or other causes (4). 7.1.1 Multiple-point injections across the channel are used
6.2 The fluorescence of Rhodamine WT is stable in solu- onwidestreamstoshortentheeffectivelengthofriverrequired
tionshavingapHintherangefrom5to10,whichiswithinthe for lateral mixing of the tracer to be completed. The volume of
range of most streams. Rhodamine WT fluorescent decreases tracer to be injected is divided into several injection vessels
when in solutions having a pH below 5 (5). that are poured in the stream simultaneously at several points
D 5613 – 94 (2003)
along the cross section.Avariation of this approach is to make through device. Periodic samples are collected in glass bottles
a line injection by pouring the tracer continuously while from the discharge hose for later laboratory verification analy-
crossing the stream. Such an injection should be limited to the sis. This method is considered point sampling.
center 75 % of the flow. This limitation of injection will 7.2.4 Manyautomated,programmablesamplingsystemsare
optimize the reach length required for complete transverse currently available, and these can save significant manpower.
mixing of the tracer. The common-type have a peristaltic pump that collects and
7.
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