Hydrogeology, chemical characteristics, and water sources and pathways in the zone of contribution of a public-supply well in San Antonio, Texas

Musgrove, MaryLynn; Fahlquist, Lynne; Stanton, Gregory P.; Houston, Natalie A.; Lindgren, R.J.

doi:10.3133/sir20115146

Cited by 8 publications

(13 citation statements)

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“…Multiple investigations have sought to characterize sources of contaminants to public-supply wells by studying observations of groundwater chemistry and age ( Aeschbach-Hertig et al 1998 ; Manning et al 2005 ; Katz et al 2007 ; Jurgens et al 2008 ; Landon et al 2008 ; McMahon et al 2008 ; Plummer et al 2008 ; Brown et al 2009 ; Hinkle et al 2009 ; Katz et al 2009 ; Landon et al 2010b ; Ayotte et al 2011 ; Musgrove et al 2011 ; Bexfield et al 2012 ; Eberts et al 2012 ); however, few studies appear to have used these observational data to explore whether seasonal variability in well operations can have important effects on water quality. Seasonal to multi-year variability has been described for public-supply wells in karst systems dominated by relatively young water (commonly less than about 50 years) ( Katz et al 2007 ; Musgrove et al 2011 ), where the quality of water from supply wells could be expected to respond to even short-term changes in hydrologic conditions. Results of these studies, though, are not clearly applicable outside of karst systems and do not distinguish the potential effects of supply well pumping from the effects of seasonal changes in recharge.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Seasonal Operation on the Quality of Water Produced by Public‐Supply Wells

Bexfield¹,

Jurgens

2014

Groundwater

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Seasonal variability in groundwater pumping is common in many places, but resulting effects of seasonal pumping stress on the quality of water produced by public-supply wells are not thoroughly understood. Analysis of historical water-quality samples from public-supply wells completed in deep basin-fill aquifers in Modesto, California (134 wells) and Albuquerque, New Mexico (95 wells) indicates that several wells have seasonal variability in concentrations of contaminants of concern. In Modesto, supply wells are more likely to produce younger groundwater with higher nitrate and uranium concentrations during the summer (high) pumping season than during the winter (low) pumping season. In Albuquerque, supply wells are more likely to produce older groundwater with higher arsenic concentrations during the winter pumping season than during the summer pumping season. Seasonal variability in contaminant concentrations in Modesto is influenced primarily by effects of summer pumping on vertical hydraulic gradients that drive migration of shallow groundwater through the aquifer to supply wells. Variability in Albuquerque is influenced primarily by the period of time that a supply well is idle, allowing its wellbore to act as a conduit for vertical groundwater flow and contaminant migration. However, both processes are observed in each study area. Similar findings would appear to be likely in other alluvial basins with stratified water quality and substantial vertical head gradients. Results suggest that even in aquifers dominated by old groundwater, changes to seasonal pumping patterns and/or to depth of well completion can help reduce vulnerability to selected contaminants of either natural or anthropogenic origin.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Seasonal Operation on the Quality of Water Produced by Public‐Supply Wells

Bexfield¹,

Jurgens

2014

Groundwater

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“…This has been previously demonstrated for the EA ( Musgrove and Banner 2004 ; Musgrove et al 2010 ). Age-tracer results for the EA, however, do not correlate with Mg/Ca ratios ( Figure 2 b) or with several other geochemical indicators of groundwater residence time or of relatively recent anthropogenic effects on water quality ( Musgrove et al 2011 ). These results indicate that hydrogeologic conceptual models used in age interpretations might not adequately account for mixing in the EA.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…TANC study results are described in detail by Jagucki et al (2011) , Lindgren et al (2011) , and Musgrove et al (2011) for the EA, and by Katz et al (2007) , Crandall et al (2009) , and Jagucki et al (2009) for the UFA. Results are summarized herein for comparative purposes (Table 1 ) and for identifying key factors affecting the vulnerability of PSWs to contamination in these aquifers.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Results for the EA indicate that the selected PSW/wellfield is representative of the regional aquifer with respect to general geochemistry ( Musgrove et al 2011 ). Nitrate concentrations were similar in the regional PSWs, the selected PSW/wellfield, and the MWs ( Figure 3 a, Table 1 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… Schematic diagrams of conceptual models for the Edwards (a) and Upper Floridan (b) aquifers. Modified from Musgrove et al (2011) and Katz et al (2007) , respectively. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Factors Affecting Public‐Supply Well Vulnerability in Two Karst Aquifers

Musgrove¹,

Katz

Fahlquist

et al. 2014

Groundwater

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Karst aquifers occur in a range of climatic and geologic settings. Nonetheless, they are commonly characterized by their vulnerability to water-quality impairment. Two karst aquifers, the Edwards aquifer in south-central Texas and the Upper Floridan aquifer in western Florida, were investigated to assess factors that control the movement of contaminants to public-supply wells (PSWs). The geochemistry of samples from a selected PSW or wellfield in each aquifer was compared with that from nearby monitoring wells and regional PSWs. Geochemistry results were integrated with age tracers, flow modeling, and depth-dependent data to refine aquifer conceptual models and to identify factors that affect contaminant movement to PSWs. The oxic Edwards aquifer is vertically well mixed at the selected PSW/wellfield, although regionally the aquifer is geochemically variable downdip. The mostly anoxic Upper Floridan aquifer is affected by denitrification and also is geochemically variable with depth. In spite of considerable differences in geology and hydrogeology, the two aquifers are similarly vulnerable to anthropogenic contamination. Vulnerability in studied PSWs in both aquifers is strongly influenced by rapid karst flowpaths and the dominance of young (<10 years) groundwater. Vulnerability was demonstrated by the frequent detection of similar constituents of concern in both aquifers (nitrate, atrazine, deethylatrazine, tetrachloroethene, and chloroform). Specific consideration of water-quality protection efforts, well construction and placement, and aquifer response times to land-use changes and contaminant loading are discussed, with implications for karst groundwater management.

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The role of fault pathways for modern and deep recharge to a semi-confined aquifer: revised analysis of modern water leakage pathways in the Davis wellfield, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Towell,

Larsen,

Schoefernacker

et al. 2024

Environ Earth Sci

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Hydrologic tracer, borehole log and geophysical data provide new insight into recharge sources and pathways to the semi-confined Memphis aquifer in the Davis wellfield, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.A. New data and recent studies highlight the importance of faults as potential pathways for the migration of modern water into the Memphis aquifer, an important regional public, industrial, and agricultural water supply. Geochemical and environmental tracer data collected over the past 28 years, combined with hydrologic, stratigraphic, and structural data, were used to evaluate changes in water quality and different recharge pathways to the Memphis aquifer. Assessment of stratigraphic and structural relationships argue for the wellfield being bound by a fault along the bluff line (west) and another fault or faults along the eastern and southeastern margins. Modern water recharge (< 60 years old) occurs through the fault along the western boundary of the wellfield, whereas modern water and, seasonally, deep-seated (helium-bearing) fluids recharge along the fault on the southeastern margin. Each recharge source and pathway present different vulnerabilities, suggesting that the role of faults in wellfields within active tectonic regions needs to be assessed.

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Hydrogeology, chemical characteristics, and water sources and pathways in the zone of contribution of a public-supply well in San Antonio, Texas

Cited by 8 publications

References 0 publications

Effects of Seasonal Operation on the Quality of Water Produced by Public‐Supply Wells

Effects of Seasonal Operation on the Quality of Water Produced by Public‐Supply Wells

Factors Affecting Public‐Supply Well Vulnerability in Two Karst Aquifers

The role of fault pathways for modern and deep recharge to a semi-confined aquifer: revised analysis of modern water leakage pathways in the Davis wellfield, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

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