The Toyohira River, the source for Sapporo's waterworks, receives inflow discharged from mines and hot springs. The concentration of potentially hazardous substances in such inflow is high for some flow regimes, which raises concerns related to water quality management. We conducted a water quality survey during and after rainfall (Aug. 21-24, 2001). Rainfall totaled 79 mm. This report reviews the movement of arsenic identified from its runoff characteristics based on continuous observation of water quality during the rainfall. Dissolved arsenic was found to showpoint-type discharge (distilled) whereby the concentration decreased according to the increase in discharge. Suspended arsenic was found to show a non-point-type (outflow) discharge, as was true for suspended solids. Arsenic stored in thesilt and clay of bottom sediment at normal times is tracted by the turbulent flow that occurs during rainfall, becomes suspended, and flows down in high concentration.
