Artesian Water Research Articles

Geoinformation system of assessment of the susceptibility of arid area landscapes in the Terek-Kuma Lowland to pollution

The Terek-Kuma Lowland is characterized by a wide range of anthropogenic impacts. At the same time, with respect to other arid regions of Dagestan, the anthropogenic impact on the geological environment (hydrocarbon and artesian water extraction) is of great importance. The extensive development of sandy soils and the development of animal husbandry also lead to a number of significant geoenvironmental problems. Assessment of the current geoenvironmental state of the area shows that the degree of degradation of the landscapes is small, while the possibility of their self-regeneration is at a high level.

Assessing the impacts of uncontrolled artesian flows on the management of groundwater resources in the Jordan Valley

The deep wells drilled along the eastern escarpment of the Jordan Valley penetrate confined aquifers that produce thermal and mineralized artesian water. Uncontrolled flows from poorly constructed and uncapped artesian wells over the last 30 years have caused the deterioration of the quality of shallow groundwater and surface water. They also have been accelerating the discharge of saline water from deep aquifers and have caused the loss of shallow fresh groundwater resources through the downward percolation of fresh water to replace the extracted deep salty groundwater. A lack of adequate controls on the construction and maintenance of artesian wells is leading to widespread water quality problems in the region, which limits the ability of future generations to access high-quality water, a clear breach of the principle of intergenerational equity.

Groundwater circulation and hydrogeochemical evolution in Nomhon of Qaidam Basin, northwest China

In this study, analysis of hydrogeological conditions, as well as hydrochemistry and isotopic tools were used to get an insight into the processes controlling mineralization, recharge conditions, and flow pattern of groundwater in a typical arid alluvial-lacustrine plain in Qaidam Basin, northwest China. Analysis of the dissolved constituents reveals that groundwater evolves from fresh water (TDS =300–1000 mg/l) to saline water (TDS ≥5000 mg/l) along the flow paths, with the water type transiting from HCO 3⋅Cl–Na ⋅Mg to HCO 3⋅Cl–Na, and eventually to Cl–Na. Groundwater chemical evolution is mainly controlled by water–rock interaction and the evaporation–crystallization process. Deuterium and oxygen-18 isotopes in groundwater samples indicate that the recharge of groundwater is happened by meteoric water and glacier melt-water in the Kunlun Mountains, and in three different recharge conditions. Groundwater ages, estimated by the radiogenic (3H and 14C) isotope data, range from present to Holocene (∼28 ka). Based on groundwater residence time, hydrogeochemical characteristics, field investigation, and geological structure distribution, a conceptual groundwater flow pattern affected by uplift structure is proposed, indicating that shallow phreatic water is blocked by the uplift structure and the flow direction is turned to the northwest, while high pressure artesian water is formed in the confined aquifers at the axis of the uplift structure.

К ВОПРОСУ О КАЧЕСТВЕ ПИТЬЕВОЙ ВОДЫ СИСТЕМ ЦЕНТРАЛИЗОВАННОГО ХОЗЯЙСТВЕННО-ПИТЬЕВОГО ВОДОСНАБЖЕНИЯ РЕСПУБЛИКИ МОРДОВИЯ

Surface water resources of Mordovia Republic characterized by an inconstant output during a year, therefore, underground artesian waters use for household and drinking water supply. In 2009–2015 the quality of drinking water samples taken in 22 districts of Mordovia was unfavorable according to content of fluorine (taken in 13 districts and city of Saransk), iron (taken in 11 districts and city of Saransk), strontium (1 district), iodine was absent in all water samples. The main contaminant was fluorides, their level was up to 1,5–5,2 MAC. The development and scientific substantiation of hygienic actions on group and individual prevention of exposure to elevated concentrations of fluorine as well as iodine deficiency in human body are required.

Possibilities and limitations of color quench correction methods for gross alpha/beta measurements

Gross alpha/beta activity determination is utilized as a very popular Liquid Scintillation Counting (LSC) technique widely used in routine monitoring of drinking, surface and waste waters. Since quenching phenomena are most problematic effect during LSC measurements, the objectives of this paper are to present, consider and evaluate two methods for color quench correction as a proposal for supplement to the ASTM D 7283-06 method for gross α/β determination. The first method is PSA adjustment: application of previously established dependence of optimal PSA discriminator between alpha and beta events on quench level of sample. The second method assumes counting on usual optimal PSA setting and application of previously determined quench calibration curves in order to correct count rates in alpha and beta channels afterwards. Application on obtained activity results of few artesian well water samples and colored spiked samples, based on the measured SQP(E) value of samples, has been demonstrated, as the opportunity to compare the validity, reliability and limitations of both methods. All samples have been counted on low-background liquid scintilllation counter Quantulus 1220™.

DEFECTS IN LARGE HOLLOW POROUS CYLINDRICAL FILTERS MADE BY SHS

The relevance of research is connected with the use of ceramic filters in biology and medicine for fine filtration of air and biological fluids abroad. Due to the unique combination of chemical and thermal resistance, high strength and thermal conductivity, ceramic filters are used to clean aggressive liquids, superheated high pressure steam and other gases. The dependence of burning rate on the relative density and granulometric composition of FeTiO 3 –Al–Si–SiO 2 –C powder mixtures is studied. The paper provides experimental results on the influence of initial charge compact density and composition on the quality of products obtained. The main types of defects appearing in the synthesis are identified. The causes of defects are found. Feedstock with particle sizes larger than specified values results in penetrations (cavities) occurring in the product. Their formation is caused by the increased liquid phase content in these regions due to decelerating reaction rate and rising temperature. Higher density results in transverse and longitudinal laminations in the product. Such laminations are formed under the pressure of gaseous products with the low gas permeability of the sample that declines as density increases. The technology of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis of large porous products is developed with the photographs of filtering elements presented: for the typical industrial gas burner GG-2, for superheated steam and demineralized water purification (filtering elements used in polyvinyl chloride process vessels at JSC «Sayanskkhimplast»), for iron removal from artesian water. Defect-free large porous products can be obtained with an optimal ratio of the sample grain size distribution and density, as well as reaction rate and heat removal rate.

INVESTIGATION OF THE PRESENCE AND VIRULENCE TRAITS OF VANCOMYCIN-RESISTANT ENTEROCOCCUS IN WATER SAMPLES

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in tap and artesian well waters and to detect the vancomycin resistance genes and virulence genes of the isolates obtained from the samples. For this purpose, 200 samples (119 tap and 81 artesian well waters) were collected from several water supplies during November 2013 and June 2015 period in Bursa province. Seven isolates were recovered from artesian well waters and confirmed as Enterococcus by PCR method. E-test performed for vancomycin and teicoplanin MIC values indicated that only two isolates had the intermediate-level (8 μg/mL) resistance to vancomycin. No resistance was observed to teicoplanin in any of these isolates by E-test . All of 7 isolates were tested for vancomycin resistance genes ( van A, van B and van C) and virulence genes ( gel E, agg, esp and ace ). The results showed that enterococci isolates had no these genes. The present study suggested that the presence of the intermediate level VRE in artesian well waters and, also the waters from environmental supplies near human and animal niches could be play a role as potential reservoirs for enterococci having several types of resistance to vancomycin. Also, vancomycin resistant strains can be possible the spread in environment and also the transmission to human and animals through contaminated water sources.

Interrelations between the atmospheric electric field, air pressure, and hydrogeological processes

The rise of the level of aquifers enhances soil radon transport that causes the decay of the atmospheric electric field. The decrease in aquifer levels provides the opposite effect. The aquifer level rise may be caused by precipitation infiltration, hydrofracturing, and air pressure drop. The reasons for the aquifer level decline are the pumping of artesian water and air pressure rise.

Towards Sustainable Aquaculture in Armenia: Strengthening Capacity through Advanced Technologies of Trout-Farm Management for Small-Scale Producers

The present study examines the possibility of introducing a new approach for rainbow trout production for small scale producers in Armenia. This approach is based on the intensity of economic activity by modernizing the production processes leading to measurable economic and environmental benefits. The study shows that the modernization of the standard model of the enterprise, which initially produces two tons, results in an increase of the annual performance of the module up to eight tons. By investing; slightly over 25,000 USD; in modernizing the production processes, it becomes possible to reduce the production cost (USD/kg fish) from 3.04 USD using the traditional approach to 2.68 USD in the first year reaching 2.24 USD by the fourth. At the same time, the production technology changes; during the implementation of the pilot module (including change of water disinfection technology); result in a water consumption reduction of the enterprise of more than 300,000 m3 per year, along with the pollution reduction of natural water bodies by persistent disinfectants. Thus, introducing the advanced technology leads to: a. A significant reduction in the production costs, which in turn increases the income for small scale producers b.Rationalizes the consumption of limited resources of artesian water which reduces the pressure on the freshwater ecosystems c. Increasing the level of environmental sustainability.

The smectite to corrensite transition: X-ray diffraction results from the MH-2B core, western Snake River Plain, Idaho, USA

AbstractThe MH-2B borehole, a part of Project HOTSPOT, was drilled to a depth of 1821 m in late Cenozoic basalts, hyaloclastites and interbedded lake sediments, on the Mountain Home Air Force Base in southern Idaho, USA. Drillers encountered hot water (145°C) under artesian pressure at 1745 m in a narrow zone of highly fractured rock associated with a major sub-surface fault. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis identified corrensite (with and without smectite) between 1700 and 1800 m, but only smectite above 1700 m and below 1800 m. This corrensite horizon contains a relatively narrow zone of fracturing and hot artesian water near its centre but for the most part occurs in relatively massive basalt flows. No evidence was found for randomly interstratified chlorite-smectite.

Artesian water supply control system in transient conditions

The paper describes an artesian water supply control system in the transition mode. The control system searches for the optimal performance trajectory of the water supply on the basis of a maximum return with a view to the fastest mode of stabilization. The analysis of artesian water supply control systems in transition mode and methods of improvement was conducted

Seepage carbonate mounds in Cenozoic sedimentary sequences from the Las Minas Basin, SE Spain

A number of carbonate mounds composed of indurate, strongly folded and/or brecciated calcite and dolomite beds occur interstratified in Cenozoic sedimentary sequences from the Las Minas Basin. Part of the fabric of the rock forming the carbonate mounds is composed of laminated to banded dolostone similar to the host rock but showing contrasted lithification. Moreover, the carbonate deposits of the mounds display aggrading neomorphism of dolomite, partial replacement of dolomite by calcite, calcite cementation, and extensive silicification, locally resulting in box-work fabric. Eight main lithofacies were distinguished in the carbonate mound deposits. In some lithofacies, chert is present as both microcrystalline to fibro-radial quartz and opal, the latter occurring mainly as cement whereas the former replace the carbonate and infill voids. Yet one of the carbonate mounds shows distinctive petrography and geochemical features thus suggesting a distinctive growth pattern. The carbon isotope compositions of calcite from the mound samples range from −11.56 to −5.15 δ‰ whilst dolomite is depleted in 13C, with values of −12.38 to 3.02 δ‰. Oxygen isotopic compositions vary from −9.42 to −4.64 δ‰ for calcite and between −6.68 and 8.19 δ‰ for dolomite. Carbonate in the mounds shows significant enrichment in Co, Cr, Ni and Pb content, especially in the strongly deformed (F-2-2 lithofacies) and brecciated carbonate (F-4). The carbonate deposits show depletion in REE and Y in contrast to that determined in lutite. The formation of the carbonate mounds was related to local artesian seepage thermal water flows of moderate to relative high temperatures. Pressure differences between the low permeability host rock and the circulating fluids accounted for dilational fracturing and brecciation of the host sediment packages, which combined with precipitation of new carbonate and silica mineral phases. Locally, some carbonate mounds developed where groundwater intersected the lake floor, this resulting in bedded carbonate deposits composed of organic constituents.

Ground Water Assessment for Kotovsky District of Odessa Region

Purpose. Spatial analysis of ground water pollution for Kotovskiy district of Odessa region in 2015. Methods. Photometric, gauge, geographic information systems. Results. There are digital maps which show distribution of ground water pollution for Kotovsiy district. There are determined: maximum permissible concentration by oxidation in groundwater and artesian waters in nitrates were observed. The concentration of nitrates in groundwater varies between 2 – 4.9 MPC on over meadow territory and 25% of the territory – 7 MPC. Conclusions. The highest nitrate pollution of groundwater is typical for the eastern part of the Kotovsky district. It is proposed to reduce the amount of nitrate fertilizers, taking into account the vulnerability of groundwater to nitrate nitrogen based on the zoning of the level of contamination of the Kotovsky district of Odessa region.

Characterization of water-types and their influence on the antimicrobial proper-ties of Kombucha ferments against bacteria and yeast

Understanding the relationships between diet, gut microflora, and health is an increasingly important area of research. Recent studies have demonstrated that Kombucha tea provides variable antimicrobial activity against pathogenic microbes. In this study, we tested Kombucha tea for antimicrobial activity against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as yeast, using an agar diffusion method. Standard zone of inhibition assays were used to test the hypothesis that variance in antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans may be due to the varying levels of cations, like Ca2+, found in different water-types (well water, artesian water, city water, type-II water and distilled water). Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES) results indicated that high cationic (Ca2+, Mg2+, and Na+) content water (well water) resulted in the largest zone of inhibition against S. aureus, with a 12.3% difference when compared to low cationic content water (type-II water). E. coli maintained a constant zone of inhibition regardless of water-type or batch-type, while C. albicans showed no zones of inhibition. Inhibition is either through a synergistic relationship with the pH conditions, the other cations present (Mg2+, Na+, Si, etc.) or a mix of both, as pH in the range of 4.5 - 3 is not enough to inhibit the growth of S. aureus. These results indicate that a direct relationship exists between cationic concentrations of water used to prepare Kombucha, and antibacterial activity against S. aureus, due to the improved fermentation of the tea with high concentrations of cations. Strong antimicrobial potential exists, particularly against S. aureus, which may be useful in determining novel approaches to synthesize antimicrobial drugs. Further study is needed to assess other S. aureus strains, as well as to determine how this relationship translates to human microbiota interactions and their microbial metabolic profiles.

Comprehensive experimental study on prevention of land subsidence caused by dewatering in deep foundation pit with hanging waterproof curtain

Abstract. Land subsidence caused by dewatering of deep foundations pit has currently become the focus of prevention and control of land subsidence in Shanghai. Because of the reliance on deep foundation dewatering pit projects, two comprehensive test sites were established to help prevent land subsidence. Through geological environmental monitoring during dewatering of a deep foundation pit, the analysis of the relation between artesian water level and soil subsidence, some basic features of land subsidence caused by dewatering of deep foundation pits are elucidated. The results provide a scientific basis for prevention and control of land subsidence caused by dewatering in deep foundation pits.

Displacements of tower foundations in permafrost regions along the Qinghai–Tibet Power Transmission Line

In permafrost regions along the Qinghai–Tibet Power Transmission Line (QTPTL) from Golmud, Qinghai Province to Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China, 130 tower foundations were selected for foundation displacement observations. Based on observations, displacement characteristics and mechanisms of tower foundations in plateau permafrost soils were analyzed. The results showed that vertical displacement of the footings (VDF) was the dominant displacement type of tower foundations, while changes in footing span (horizontal distance between two tower footings) (CFS) and differences in vertical displacement (DVD) between two adjacent footings of each tower were relatively small. The VDF of most tower foundations (about a quarter of the 130 observed foundations) performed as settlement rather than frost jacking. Due to the effective cooling of thermosyphons, frost jacking of tower foundations mainly occurred in cold seasons (from October to the next May); and because of the hysteresis of heat transfer process in foundation soils, settlement happened in cold seasons, too. Combining with the analysis of the thermal regimes of foundation soils, it was found that the ground temperature under the foundation was the most important factor influencing the VDF of tower foundations. In addition, the creep of the underlying warm and high ice-content permafrost was inferred as the main cause for the foundation settlement. The relatively slight frost jacking of tower foundations mainly resulted from frost heaving in situ of foundation soils and heaving possibly due to considerable water migration within the foundation pit. On slope terrains, the downslope movement (creep) of active layer soils resulted in considerable CFS of tower foundations. DVD between two adjacent tower footings might be derived from jacking of tower foundations with thermosyphons and the artesian sub-permafrost water migration. The effect of the latter was stronger, especially when the artesian water resulted in the development of ground icing. These results and conclusions may provide valuable references for the design and maintain of similar structures in permafrost regions.

Evaluation of Microstructural Parameters of Reservoir Rocks of the Guarani Aquifer by Analysis of Images Obtained by X- Ray Microtomography

Microstructural parameters evaluation of porous materials, such as, rocks reservoir (water, petroleum, gas...), it is of great importance for several knowledge areas. In this context, the X-ray microtomography (μ-CT) has been showing a technical one quite useful for the analysis of such rocks (sandstone, limestone and carbonate), object of great interest of the petroleum and water industries, because it facilitates the characterization of important parameters, among them, porosity, permeability, grains or pore size distribution. The X-ray microtomography is a non-destructive method, that besides already facilitating the reuse of the samples analyzed, it also supplies images 2-D and 3-D of the sample. In this work samples of reservoir rock of the Guarani aquifer will be analyzed, given by the company of perforation of wells artesian Blue Water, in the municipal district of Videira, Santa Catarina, Brazil. The acquisition of the microtomographys data of the reservoir rocks was accomplished in a Skyscan 1172 μ-CT scanner, installed in Applied Nuclear Physics Laboratory (LFNA) in the State University of Londrina (UEL), Paraná, Brazil. In this context, this work presents the microstructural characterization of reservoir rock sample of the Guarani aquifer, analyzed for two space resolutions, 2.8 μm and 4.8 μm, where determined average porosity was 28.5% and 21.9%, respectively. Besides, we also determined the pore size distribution for both resolutions. Two 3-D images were generated of this sample, one for each space resolution, in which it is possible to visualize the internal structure of the same ones.

Single peak parameters technique for simultaneous measurements: Spectrophotometric sequential injection determination of Fe(II) and Fe(III)

Spectrophotometric sequential injection system (SI) is proposed to automate the method of simultaneous determination of Fe(II) and Fe(III) on the basis of parameters of a single peak. In the developed SI system, sample and mixture of reagents (1,10-phenanthroline and sulfosalicylic acid) are introduced into a vessel, where in an acid environment (pH≅3) appropriate compounds of Fe(II) and Fe(III) with 1,10-phenanthroline and sulfosalicylic acid are formed, respectively. Then, in turn, air, sample, EDTA and sample again, are introduced into a holding coil. After the flow reversal, a segment of air is removed from the system by an additional valve and as EDTA replaces sulfosalicylic acid forming a more stable colorless compound with Fe(III), a complex signal is registered. Measurements are performed at wavelength 530nm. The absorbance measured at minimum of the negative peak and the area or the absorbance measured at maximum of the signal can be used as measures corresponding to Fe(II) and Fe(III) concentrations, respectively. The time of the peak registration is about 2min. Two-component calibration has been applied to analysis. Fe(II) and Fe(III) can be determined within the concentration ranges of 0.04–4.00 and 0.1–5.00mgL−1, with precision less than 2.8% and 1.7% (RSD), respectively and accuracy better than 7% (RE). The detection limit is 0.04 and 0.09mgL−1 for Fe(II) and Fe(III), respectively. The method was applied to analysis of artesian water samples.

Ra-226 and Rn-222 in saline water compartments of the Aral Sea region

The Aral Sea has been shrinking since 1963 due to extensive irrigation and the corresponding decline in the river water inflow. Understanding of the current hydrological situation demands an improved understanding of the surface water/groundwater dynamics in the region. 222Rn and 226Ra measurements can be used to trace groundwater discharge into surface waters. Data of these radiometric parameters were not previously available for the study region. We determined 222Rn activities after liquid phase extraction using Liquid Scintillation Counting (LSC) with peak-length discrimination and analyzed 226Ra concentrations in different water compartments of the Amu Darya Delta (surface waters, unconfined groundwater, artesian water, and water profiles from the closed Large Aral Sea (western basin).The water samples comprise a salinity range between 1 and 263g/l. The seasonal dynamics of solid/water interaction under an arid climate regime force the hydrochemical evolution of the unconfined groundwater in the Amu Darya Delta to high-salinity Na(Mg)Cl(SO4) water types. The dissolved radium concentrations in the waters were mostly very low due to mineral over-saturation, extensive co-precipitation of radium and adsorption of radium on coexisting solid substrates.The analysis of very low 226Ra concentrations (<10ppq) at remote study sites is a challenge. We used the water samples to test and improve different analytical methods. In particular, we modified a procedure developed for the α-spectrometric determination of 226Ra after solid phase extraction of radium using 3M Empore™ High Performance Extraction Disks (Purkl, 2002) for the analysis of the radionuclide using an ICP sector field mass spectrometer. The 226Ra concentration of 17 unconfined groundwater samples ranged between 0.2 and 5 ppq, and that of 28 artesian waters between <0.2 and 13ppq. The ICP-MS results conformed satisfactorily to analytical results based on γ-measurements of the 222Rn ingrowth after purging and trapping on super-cooled charcoal. The 226Ra concentrations were positively correlated with the salinity and the dissolved NaCl concentrations. The occurrence of unusually high 226Ra activities is explained by radium release from adsorption sites with increasing salinity. The inferred spatial variability of 222Rn in the Aral Sea and of 222Rn and 226Ra in the groundwater of the Amu Darya Delta is discussed in the context of our own previous hydrochemical studies in the study sites. Relatively low 222Rn activities in the unconfined GW (1–9.5Bq/l) indicate the alluvial sediments hosting the GW to be a low-238U(226Ra) substrate. Positive correlations between U and 226Ra, and U and 222Rn are likely related to locally deposited Fe(Mn)OOH precipitates. The 222Rn activity of the GW, however, distinctly exceeds the 222Rn concentration in the Aral Sea (10mBq/l), in principle, making 222Rn a sensitive tracer for the inflow of GW. The high water volume of the Large Aral Sea and wind induced mixing of its water body, however, hamper the detection of local groundwater inflow.

Radionuclide, scintillation cocktail and chemical/color quench influence on discriminator setting in gross alpha/beta measurements by LSC

Gross alpha/beta measurements in drinking waters enable radiochemical composition analysis in environmental studies providing efficient screening method that can indicate whether water contains elevated levels of any radionuclide. Routine gross alpha/beta activity monitoring in drinking waters has been carried out for a few years in laboratory for low-level radioactivity measurements in Novi Sad according to ASTM method, performing measurements on liquid scintillation counter Quantulus 1220 which can simultaneously generate alpha/beta spectra of samples by Pulse Shape Analysis (PSA circuit). In this paper, PSA discriminator impact was investigated to ensure obtaining of accurate and reliable alpha/beta activities. One novelty of presented work is PSA parameter setup with two combinations of radionuclides (241Am, 226Ra and 90Sr/90Y) with varying activity concentrations. Performed experiments also make contribution to investigations on the manner in which chemical and color quench affect optimal PSA parameter setting and further on, their altogether influence on gross alpha/beta activity measurements. Nitromethane, 15.8 M nitric acid and water, as well as yellow and yellow-orange dye, were used as quenching agents in order to test PSA/interference factor behavior in the presence of quenchers with different quenching strengths. Variation of PSA setting in quenched samples with two different commercially available cocktails (Ultima Gold LLT and OptiPhase HiSafe 3) was also tested. Lastly, application i.e. assessment of obtained PSA-SQP(E) correlation on the obtained results of activity concentrations of few artesian well water samples and colored spiked samples, based on the measured SQP(E) value of samples, has been demonstrated.