Gregg, L. E.

English

University of Kentucky

Highway Materials Research Laboratory 132 Graham Avenue, Lexington, 29t Ky. December 13, 1949 Pean D. V. Terrell Director of Research Re: Study of Acid Water Conditions in Kentucky D.2.1 D.1.7 On October 4, Mr. Bray wrote to you regarding a memorandum which had been prepared a few days prior to that time reporting on some unusual water conditions on the newly constructed portion of U. S. 60 betweAn Gray son and Ashland. The Di vi si on of Design had expressed concern over the very early disintegration of the invert of an uncoated corrugated metal pipe in one or two .loca-tions on that orojec~, and had suggested that the Research Labora-tory look into ~his if conditions permitted. Accordingly, J. H. Havens, Research Chemist, went to the se locations about the middle of September, sampled the water on both sides of the road at one point of in~erest, tested this water in the labora~ory, and prepared the memorandum which is attached. This is ~he report to which Mr. Bray made reference in his letter of October 4. In commenting on the report · Mr. Bray stated that ~he loca-~ion described ~.ras n •.• an unusual condition and one that probably no advance investigation of ground water quality would have anticipated; however, it should be possible to define by proper investiga~ion certain general geographic areas of the sjate in which acid ground waters are likAly to be prevalent". He then. expressed e.n opinion that the Department may be making a mistake in continuing to specify uncoated corrugated metal pipe for road construction and maintenance in t~ose sec~ions, and recommended that a study of these conditions be made if we thought it worth-While. A project for this ourpose has been established, and some preliminary worl{ has be en done. We are now in a position to exoedite this, but in order to approach it most intelligently and efficiently there are two things which we should know. 1. The localities where .the information is most urgently needed in order that effort can be concentrated on those areas. These may be areas in which grade and drain projects will 202 Dean D. V. Terrell -- 2 December 13, 1949 be se4 up in the very near future, and a decision on the pipP. must be made soon. 2. The localities ~here disintegration of the pipe has been prevalent in the past. Probably this informa~ion could be suoolied best by the District Engineers, ~ith s6me additions by the various Divisions involved in the Central Office. Considerable advance study and compilation of data is necessary on a project having such a broad geographical scope as this, in order to avoid was~ing a lot of time and effort before we become oriented. However, if information for some localities s~ould be expedited, we can give attention to those immediately. That is the principal reason for this memorandum and the schedul-ing of a discussion of this at the Research Commit~ee meeting on ne·cembe r 20 . Incidental to this, but still of primary importance, is use we intend to make of aerial photographs whenever they are available. By ~his mP.ans we wi 11 not only be able to view the watershe~ds and evaluate soils to the extent that that is possible, but also we sl-lould be able ~o establish some natural as rell as unnatural features (such as mining ooerations) ~1-lich contribute to or determine the acidity of runoff waters. In ins~ances where pho;:;ographs are not available in the Highway Denar~ment files in Frankfort -- and that will be the rule rather ~~n the exception since the Department has relatively few photo-graphs scattered throughout several counties -- we may have temporary access to them in the coun;:;y offices of the Production ~d Marketing Administration. Thus far we have been able to look at Photo Index Maps for most counties in their State Office here in Lexington, but they have only a few of the contact prints which are at a scale usable for our purpose. This use, plus the many other uses that have been made of aerial photographs in other operations throughout the Department, accentuates the value of t~ese photographs and the fact that e have only a frac~ion of those that have been taken in all but four or five counties of the state. It may be that plans are underway for the Deoar~ment to enlarge greatly on the aerial-photo coverage soon; but if that is not ~he case, I think the matter deserves a lo~ of consideration. We will oroceed with this inte:::'e s .. ·ing and worthwhile study acid water conditions both in the field and through labora;:;ory 203 to: Dean D. V. Terrell -- 3 December 13, 1949 tests to determine comparative effects of such water, on the various kinds of pi-pe used in highway work. I am certain that the results will be unique as well as useful. Resoectfully submit~ed, ~ t ·. __ n ~L -r.v-L. E. Greg~J .J Associa~e D1rActor of. Research Attachment Copies to: Research Committee Members Mack Galbreath 204 

Study of Acid Water Conditions in Kentucky

https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2468&amp;context=ktc_researchreports

Study of Acid Water Conditions in Kentucky

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

University of Kentucky