Municipal Supply Wells Research Articles

Efficacy of urban road salt reduction strategies on public supply well quality

Long-term road salt application has increased chloride (Cl−) concentrations in public drinking water wells in many cold climate communities. A range of Best Management Practices (BMPs) have been adopted to mitigate the impact of road deicing compounds on groundwater quality. Chronic increases in chloride levels have been observed in several municipal well fields within the southern Ontario Regional Municipality of Waterloo (RMOW). In response, the RMOW and City of Kitchener implemented a plan to reduce salt application on roads by 25% within the local capture zones of one of the impacted well fields, the Greenbrook Well Field. Here the influence of salt reduction BMPs on subsurface water quality are examined by documenting changes in pore water Cl− concentrations and stored salt mass in vadose zone core samples collected at sites near the well field both before and after the implementation of the BMPs. The data indicate that ~6 years after salt reduction measures were initiated, average pore water Cl− concentration and average cumulative stored chloride mass in the vadose zone had decreased by approximately 60% and 40%, respectively. Groundwater samples collected from shallow monitoring wells installed at each field site showed similar post-BMP reductions in shallow groundwater Cl− concentration (~35%). Long-term (1973–2022) trends in raw water Cl− concentration data from the deeper public drinking water supply wells clearly demonstrate a slow, time-lagged response of the municipal supply wells to the salt reduction BMPs. The combined results suggest that controlled reductions in road salt applications within vulnerable, capture zone regions of public supply wells can reduce the impact of road salt deicing practices on municipal groundwater supplies over time.

Groundwater Quality of Aquifers Overlying the Oxnard Oil Field, Ventura County, California

Groundwater samples collected from irrigation, monitoring, and municipal supply wells near the Oxnard Oil Field were analyzed for chemical and isotopic tracers to evaluate if thermogenic gas or water from hydrocarbon-bearing formations have mixed with surrounding groundwater. New and historical data show no evidence of water from hydrocarbon-bearing formations in groundwater overlying the field. However, thermogenic gas mixed with microbial methane was detected in 5 wells at concentrations ranging from 0.011–9.1 mg/L. The presence of these gases at concentrations <10 mg/L do not indicate degraded water quality posing a known health risk. Analysis of carbon isotopes (δ13C-CH4) and hydrogen isotopes (δ2H-CH4) of methane and ratios of methane to heavier hydrocarbon gases were used to differentiate sources of methane between a) microbial, b) thermogenic or c) mixed sources. Results indicate that microbial-sourced methane is widespread in the study area, and concentrations overlap with those from thermogenic sources. The highest concentrations of thermogenic gas were observed in proximity to relatively high density of oil wells, large injection volumes of water disposal and cyclic steam, shallow oil development, and hydrocarbon shows in sediments overlying the producing oil reservoirs. Depths of water wells containing thermogenic gas were within approximately 200 m of the top of the Vaca Tar Sand production zone (approximately 600 m below land surface). Due to the limited sampling density, the source and pathways of thermogenic gas detected in groundwater could not be conclusively determined. Thermogenic gas detected in the absence of co-occurring water from hydrocarbon-bearing formations may result from natural gas migration over geologic time from the Vaca Tar Sand or deeper formations, hydrocarbon shows in sediments overlying producing zones, and/or gas leaking from oil-field infrastructure. Denser sampling of groundwater, potential end-members, and pressure monitoring could help better distinguish pathways of thermogenic gases.

Utilizing 2D Electrical Resistivity Tomography and Very Low Frequency Electromagnetics to Investigate the Hydrogeology of Natural Cold Springs Near Virginia City, Southwest Montana

Virginia City, Montana, is located in the northern Rocky Mountains of the United States. Two natural springs supply the city’s water; however, the source of that water is poorly understood. The springs are located on the east side of the city, on the edge of an area affected by landslides. 2D electric resistivity tomography (ERT) and very low frequency electromagnetics (VLF-EM) were used to explore the springs and landslides. Two intersecting 2D resistivity profiles were measured at each spring, and two VLF profiles were measured in a landslide zone. The inverted 2D resistivity profiles at the springs reveal high resistivity basalt flows juxtaposed with low resistivity volcanic ash. The VLF profiles within the landslide show a series of fracture zones in the basalt, which are interpreted to be a series of landslide scarps. Results show a strong correlation between the inferred scarps and local topography. This study provides valuable geological information to help understand the source of water to the springs. The contact between the fractured basalt and the ash provides a sharp contrast in permeability, which causes water to flow along the contact and discharge at outcrop. The fracture zones along the scarps in the landslide deposits provide conduits of high secondary permeability to transmit water to the springs. The fracture zones near the scarps may also provide targets for municipal supply wells.

Salt vulnerability assessment methodology for municipal supply wells

Summary De-icing agents containing chloride ions used for winter road maintenance have the potential to negatively impact groundwater resources for drinking water supplies. A novel methodology using commonly-available geospatial data (land use, well head protection areas) and public accessible data (salt application rates, hydrometric data) to identify salt vulnerable areas (SVAs) for groundwater wells is developed to prioritize implementation of better management practices for road salt applications. The approach uses simple mass‐balance terms to collect chloride input from 3 pathways: surface runoff, shallow interflow and baseflow. A risk score is calculated, which depends on the land use within the respective municipal supply well protection area. Therefore, it is plausible to avoid costly and extensive numerical modeling (which also would bear many assumptions, simplifications and uncertainties). The method is applied to perform a vulnerability assessment on twenty municipal water supply wells in the Grand River watershed, Ontario, Canada. The calculated steady-state groundwater recharge chloride concentration for the supply wells is strongly correlated to the measured transient groundwater chloride concentrations in the case study evaluation, with an R 2 = 0.84. The new method provides a simple, robust, and practical method for municipalities to assess the long-term risk of chloride contamination of municipal supply wells due to road salt application.

Source and migration of dissolved manganese in the Central Nile Delta Aquifer, Egypt

Dissolved metals in waters in shallow deltaic sediments are one of the world’s major health problems, and a prime example is arsenic contamination in Bangladesh. The Central Nile Delta Aquifer, a drinking water source for more than 6million people, can have high concentrations of dissolved manganese (Mn). Standard hydrochemical analyses coupled with sequential chemical extraction is used to identify the source of the Mn and to identify the probable cause of the contamination. Fifty-nine municipal supply wells were sampled and the results compared with published data for groundwaters and surface waters. Drill cuttings from 4 wells were collected and analyzed by sequential chemical extraction to test the hypothesized Mn-generating processes. The data from this research show that the Mn source is not deep saline water, microbial reduction of Mn oxides at the production depth, or leakage from irrigation drainage ditches. Instead, Mn associated with carbonate minerals in the surficial confining layer and transported down along the disturbed well annulus of the municipal supply wells is the likely source. This analysis provides a basis for future hydrogeological and contaminant transport modeling as well as remediation–modification of well completion practices and pumping schedules to mitigate the problem.

Comparative Identification of Wellhead Protection Areas for Municipal Supply Wells in Gaza

Groundwater is the only source of fresh water in Gaza Strip while its inhabitants and its water consumption increased rapidly. This study aims at preserving and protecting the groundwater from any pollutants caused by 141 industrial installations through the work of delineation of Wellhead Protection Areas (WHPA) for 47 Municipal Supply Wells in Gaza Governorate boundaries. WHPA has been determined in three different methods: Calculated Fixed-Radius Method (CFR), Analytical Method (AM), and Wellhead Analytic Ele-ment Model (WhAEM2000) which is currently used by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These methods mainly depend on the time it takes groundwater to travel a specified horizontal dis-tance. Three well zones were delineated for each municipal production well, the first zone is 50 days time of travel (TOT), the second zone is 2 years TOT and the third zone is 5 years TOT. Different values of the ra-dius of WHPA of each well were obtained using the three methods. Consequently, several industrial installa-tions were laid inside the WHPA according to the radius values. The results show that CFR method is the weakest method because it does not take into account regional groundwater flow, causing a hydraulic gradi-ent. WHPAs identified by these methods may be either too large or too small, resulting in wellhead overpro-tection or under protection. Analytical Method incorporates hydrogeologic characteristics of the aquifer, groundwater flow, and hydrogeologic boundaries into the model. Often produces a WHPA that is smaller than the one produced using CRF. WhAEM2000 method is the best method because it uses a hydrogeologi-cal computer model of groundwater flow and it provides a more accurate delineation of the WHPA. It often produces a smaller area to manage than other methods. The study concluded that all industrial installations located in the WHPA should be carefully checked and investigated by governmental authorities. Mitigation measures for pollutants and licenses for the establishment of any new industrial installations could be based on the delineation of WHPAs using the previously mentioned methods.

Ground-water investigation following a jet fuel release

A tanker truck overturned releasing about 11,350 l of aviation fuel. As two municipal supply wells were within about 396 m of the release, contaminated soil was excavated and an assessment of hydrologic conditions was completed. A recovery well (RW) and five monitoring wells were installed. Ground-water samples were collected periodically from these wells and the municipal supply wells for analysis for volatile organic compounds. Pumping tests were completed on the RW and one municipal supply well. The results of the pumping test on the RWs were used to design a remediation system to remove jet fuel components from the ground water. The pumping tests also demonstrated that there was a ground-water divide separating the spill site from the municipal supply wells. After about 7 months of remediation, samples from the RW and municipal supply wells were clean and the state issued a clean closure.

Assessing the Vulnerability of a Municipal Well Field to Contamination in a Karst Aquifer

Proposed expansion of extractive lime-rock mines near the Miami–Dade County Northwest well field and Everglades wetland areas has garnered intense scrutiny by government, public, environmental stakeholders, and the media because of concern that mining will increase the risk of pathogen contamination. Rock mines are excavated to the same depth as the well field's primary producing zone. The underlying karst Biscayne aquifer is a triple-porosity system characterized by (1) a matrix of interparticle porosity and separate vug porosity; (2) touching-vug porosity that forms preferred, stratiform passageways; and, less commonly, (3) conduit porosity formed by thin solution pipes, bedding-plane vugs, and cavernous vugs. Existing ground-water flow and particle tracking models do not provide adequate information regarding the ability of the aquifer to limit the advective movement of pathogens and other contaminants. Chemical transport and colloidal mobility properties have been delineated using conservative and microsphere-surrogate tracers for Cryptosporidium parvum . Forced-gradient tests were executed by introducing conservative tracers into injection wells located 100 m (328 ft) from a municipal-supply well. Apparent mean advective velocity between the wells is one to two orders of magnitude greater than previously measured. Touching-vug, stratiform flow zones are efficient pathways for tracer movement at the well field. The effective porosity for a continuum model between the point of injection and tracer recovery ranges from 2 to 4 percent and is an order of magnitude smaller than previously assumed. Existing well-field protection zones were established using porosity estimates based on specific yield. The effective, or kinematic, porosity of a Biscayne aquifer continuum model is lower than the total porosity, because high velocities occur along preferential flow paths that result in faster times of travel than can be represented with the ground-water flow equation. Tracer tests indicate that the relative ease of contaminant movement to municipal supply wells is much greater than previously considered.

A comparison of fission track and laser fluorometry techniques for uranium analysis in water samples

Water samples were collected from different areas of the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab in India for uranium analysis. The sources of these samples comprise of drains ponds, springs, dug wells, handpumps, municipal committee supply and tube wells. Initially, the fission track technique was used for the estimation U-content. As some of the samples showed high values of U-content, all these samples along with some new samples were also analysed using the laser fluorometry technique in order to confirm the results. A comparative analysis of the results obtained from these two different techniques has been made. The comparison confirmed high U-content in some of the samples. It is observed that the laser fluorometry technique is more suitable for analysis of the water samples having high U-content than the fission track technique.

Flow of river water into a karstic limestone aquifer—2. Dating the young fraction in groundwater mixtures in the Upper Floridan aquifer near Valdosta, Georgia

Tritium/helium-3 ( 3H/ 3He) and chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs, CFC–11, CFC–12, CFC–113) data are used to date the young fraction in groundwater mixtures from a karstic limestone aquifer near Valdosta, Georgia, where regional paleowater in the Upper Floridan aquifer receives recharge from two young sources—the flow of Withlacoochee River water through sinkholes in the river bed, and leakage of infiltration water through post-Eocene semi-confining beds above the Upper Floridan aquifer. In dating the young fraction of mixtures using CFCs, it is necessary to reconstruct the CFC concentration that was in the young fraction prior to mixing. The 3H/ 3He age is independent of the extent of dilution with older ( 3H-free and 3He trit-free) water. The groundwater mixtures are designated as Type-1 for mixtures of regional paleowater and regional infiltration water and Type-2 for mixtures containing more than approximately 4% of river water. The fractions of regional paleowater, regional infiltration water, and Withlacoochee River water in the groundwater mixtures were determined from Cl − and δ 18O data for water from the Upper Floridan aquifer at Valdosta, Georgia. The chlorofluorocarbons CFC–11 and CFC–113 are removed by microbial degradation and/or sorption processes in most anaerobic (Type-2) groundwater at Valdosta, but are present in some aerobic Type-1 water. CFC–12 persists in both SO 4-reducing and methanogenic water. The very low detection limits for CFCs (approximately 0.3 pg kg −1) permitted CFC–11 and CFC–12 dating of the fraction of regional infiltration water in Type-1 mixtures, and CFC-12 dating of the river-water fraction in Type-2 mixtures. Overall, approximately 50% of the 85 water samples obtained from the Upper Floridan aquifer have CFC–12-based ages of the young fraction that are consistent with the 3H concentration of the groundwater. Because of uncertainties associated with very low 3H and 3He content in dilute mixtures, 3H/ 3He dating is limited to the river-water fraction in Type-2 mixtures containing more than about 10% river water. Of the 41 water samples measured for 3H/ 3He dating, dilution of 3H and low 3He concentration limited 3H/ 3He dating to 16 mixtures in which 3H/ 3He ages are defined with errors ranging from ±2 to ±7.5 a (1 σ). After correction for dilution with (assumed) CFC-free regional infiltration water and regional paleowater in the Upper Floridan aquifer, adjusted CFC–12 ages agree with 3H/ 3He ages within 5 a or less in 7 of the 9 co-dated Type-2 mixtures. Tritium data and dating based on both CFC–11 and CFC–12 in Type-1 mixtures indicate that travel times of infiltration water through the overlying Post-Eocene semi-confining beds exceed 35 a. The CFC and 3H/ 3He dating indicate that the river fraction in most groundwater entered the groundwater reservoir in the past 20 to 30 a. Few domestic and municipal supply wells sampled intercept water younger than 5 a. Calculated velocities of river water in the Upper Floridan aquifer downgradient of the sinkhole area range from 0.4 to 8.2 m/d. Radiocarbon data indicate that ages of the regional paleowater are on the 10 000-a time scale. An average lag time of approximately 10 to 25 a is determined for discharge of groundwater from the surficial and intermediate aquifers above the Upper Floridan aquifer to the Withlacoochee River.

Hair analysis does not support hypothesized arsenic and chromium exposure from drinking water in Woburn, Massachusetts.

We hypothesized that residents of Woburn, Massachusetts, had been exposed to as much as 70 microg/l of arsenic (As) and 240 microg/l of chromium (Cr) in drinking water from municipal supply wells G and H. To test this hypothesis, we measured the concentrations of As and Cr in 82 hair samples donated by 56 Woburn residents. Thirty-six samples were cut between 1964 and 1979, the period during which wells G and H were in operation. The remainder were cut either before 1964 (1938-1963; n = 26) or after 1979 (1982-1994; n = 20). Washed hair samples were analyzed by instrumental neutron activation. Exposure to the well water--measured as access--was estimated using well pumping records and a model of the Woburn water distribution system. Our results show that access to wells G and H water was not significantly correlated (95% confidence interval) with As and Cr concentrations measured in the hair of Woburn residents, but As concentrations have declined significantly over the last half century. Linear regression of As concentrations (micrograms per gram) upon year of hair cut and access to wells G and H water yielded a standard coefficient for year of -0. 0074 +/- 0.0017 (standard error; p = 2.5 -multiple- 10(-5)) and -0.12 +/- 0.10 (p = 0.22) for access. The r2 value for the model was 0.19. The geometric mean concentrations (geometric standard deviation) of As and Cr in the hair of residents who had access (i.e., relative access estimate >0) to wells G and H water (n = 27) were 0.14 (2.6) and 2.29 (1.8) microg/g, respectively; the geometric mean concentrations of As and Cr in all of the hair samples from residents who did not have access (1938-1994; n = 55) were 0.13 (3.0) and 2.19 (2.0) microg/g, respectively.

Hair Analysis Does Not Support Hypothesized Arsenic and Chromium Exposure from Drinking Water in Woburn, Massachusetts

We hypothesized that residents of Woburn, Massachusetts, had been exposed to as much as 70 microg/l of arsenic (As) and 240 microg/l of chromium (Cr) in drinking water from municipal supply wells G and H. To test this hypothesis, we measured the concentrations of As and Cr in 82 hair samples donated by 56 Woburn residents. Thirty-six samples were cut between 1964 and 1979, the period during which wells G and H were in operation. The remainder were cut either before 1964 (1938-1963; n = 26) or after 1979 (1982-1994; n = 20). Washed hair samples were analyzed by instrumental neutron activation. Exposure to the well water--measured as access--was estimated using well pumping records and a model of the Woburn water distribution system. Our results show that access to wells G and H water was not significantly correlated (95% confidence interval) with As and Cr concentrations measured in the hair of Woburn residents, but As concentrations have declined significantly over the last half century. Linear regression of As concentrations (micrograms per gram) upon year of hair cut and access to wells G and H water yielded a standard coefficient for year of -0. 0074 +/- 0.0017 (standard error; p = 2.5 -multiple- 10(-5)) and -0.12 +/- 0.10 (p = 0.22) for access. The r2 value for the model was 0.19. The geometric mean concentrations (geometric standard deviation) of As and Cr in the hair of residents who had access (i.e., relative access estimate >0) to wells G and H water (n = 27) were 0.14 (2.6) and 2.29 (1.8) microg/g, respectively; the geometric mean concentrations of As and Cr in all of the hair samples from residents who did not have access (1938-1994; n = 55) were 0.13 (3.0) and 2.19 (2.0) microg/g, respectively.

Elevated incidence of childhood leukemia in Woburn, Massachusetts: NIEHS Superfund Basic Research Program searches for causes.

Between 1966 and 1986, the childhood leukemia rate in Woburn, Massachusetts, was 4-fold higher than the national average. A multidisciplinary research team from MIT, which is being supported by the NIEHS Superfund Basic Research Program, has explored the possible importance of a temporal correlation between the period of elevated leukemia and a previously unrecognized mobilization of toxic metals from a waste disposal site in north Woburn. Residents of Woburn may have been exposed to arsenic (70 micrograms/l) and chromium (240 micrograms/l) at levels in excess of federal drinking water standards (50 micrograms/l for each metal) by consuming municipal groundwater contaminated with these metals. Research is currently underway a) to elucidate the mechanisms and the pathways by which these metals were transported from the waste disposal site to the drinking water supply; b) to determine the identity of the principal human cell mutagens in samples of aquifer materials collected from the site of the municipal supply wells; and c) to measure the extent of exposure and genetic change in residents who consumed the contaminated well water.

Investigation and Remediation of Groundwater Contamination at a Pesticide Facility — a Case Study

Abstract Soil and groundwater beneath a 22-year old agrichemical formulating and warehousing facility in Cambridge, Ontario, have been impacted with pesticides in addition to volatile organic and nitrosoamine compounds associated with their formulation. Thirty-three compounds, including 15 pesticides released to the soil from an underground process wastewater system, concrete-lined pits, storage areas and infrequent spills, are present in the water table at a depth of 10 m in overburden sediments. Groundwater flow in the overburden is complex and dissolved compound migration is influenced by spatially variable vertical hydraulic gradients induced from the underlying dolostone aquifer which is pumped by municipal supply wells located at distances ranging from 600 m to 1500 m from the site. One pesticide, metolachlor(2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-l-melhylethyl) acetamide), has been measured consistently above Ontario drinking water objectives in the overburden and at a depth of 30 to 39 m below ground surface in the bedrock aquifer adjacent to the site. A groundwater pump and treat system is operating and is controlling further off-site migration of dissolved compounds in the overburden, and treating the captured groundwater with granular activated carbon.

Cokriging of Geoelectric and Well Data to Define Aquifer Protective Layers

AbstractCokriging and ordinary kriging of geoelectric and well data are used to determine the thickness, lateral extent, and spatial variability of a naturally occurring clay layer near Ashland, Nebraska. The clay layer that protects the underlying ground water from contaminant sources is defined by mapping the estimated clay thickness; variance maps provide an assessment of the uncertainty of the thickness estimates. Two types of information are combined in the cokriging procedure: clay thickness data estimated from drillers'logs of 128 irrigation and municipal supply wells, and thicknesses estimated from interpretation of 44 vertical electrical soundings (VES); for the ordinary kriging, well data are used alone. Both types of maps demonstrate the existence of a continuous near‐surface clay layer extending over much of the Ashland wellfield; however, the cokriged map shows much more detail in the central part of the study area, where the well data are undersampled. The relatively dense VES network in the central area provides an important information bridge between the northern and southern areas making the cokriged map more continuous and accurate than the map prepared using the well data alone and ordinary kriging.