Stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes of tap water reveal structure of the San Francisco Bay Area's water system and adjustments during a major drought

Tipple, Brett J.; Jameel, Yusuf; Chau, Thuan; Mancuso, Christy J.; Bowen, Gabriel J.; Dufour, A.; Chesson, Lesley A.; Ehleringer, James R.

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2017.04.022

Cited by 53 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…An isotopic mass balance using tap water in an urban area demonstrated interannual and intraannual variability in evaporative water losses within a water distribution network (Jameel et al, ). Local water management (e.g., water source switching and conservation) responses to drought events have also been identified through the isotope composition of tap water (Tipple et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water Source Signatures in the Spatial and Seasonal Isotope Variation of Chinese Tap Waters

Wang

Zhang

Bowen

et al. 2018

Water Resources Research

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Different water sources exploited for public use have different exposure to risks associated with climatic and environmental change. Isotope ratios of tap water have previously been studied as a potential tool to link public supply waters with water source characteristics at local to continental scales, providing information on the footprint of and potential risks associated with the water sources used. Work that combines intensive spatial and temporal sampling with independent water management data has been limited, however. In this study, an extensive observation network was established during 2014–2016 to provide monthly tap water sampling across China. We show that the spatial distribution of annual mean tap water isotope ratios is generally consistent with that of local precipitation across China. We identify seasonal correlation between tap water and precipitation isotope ratios in south China, where use of surface water is prevalent. In contrast, relatively invariant tap water isotope ratios elsewhere in China, which are not correlated with seasonal variation of precipitation isotope ratios, can be attributed to use of groundwater or water from river basins with longer storage times. The tap water isotope signatures identified here could be widely applied to characterize water supplies and associated sustainability challenges in different regions worldwide.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water Source Signatures in the Spatial and Seasonal Isotope Variation of Chinese Tap Waters

Wang

Zhang

Bowen

et al. 2018

Water Resources Research

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“…However, we note that measurements of the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio of tap waters showed significant spatial and temporal variation in some locations (Table ). Previous studies have shown significant variation in the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr and other isotope ratios of tap water on the local scale due to water management practices . While the hair samples presented in Figure did not suggest travel movement based on the isotopic comparisons of the hair‐leachate pairs (i.e., difference in 87 Sr/ 86 Sr of pairs <0.00034), it is possible that spatial and temporal variation in the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio of tap water added to the uncertainty in drawing geographic correlations between individuals and their environments.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 80%

Strontium isotope ratios of human hair from the United States: Patterns and aberrations

Tipple

Valenzuela

Chau

et al. 2019

Rapid Comm Mass Spectrometry

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Rationale Strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) of hair may be a valuable tool to estimate human provenance. However, the systematics and mechanisms controlling spatial variation in 87Sr/86Sr of modern human hair remain unclear. Here, we measure 87Sr/86Sr of hair specimens from across the USA to assess the presence of geospatial relationships. Methods Ninety‐eight human hair specimens were collected from salon/barbershop floors in 48 municipalities throughout the conterminous USA. [Sr] and 87Sr/86Sr ratios were measured from hair using quadrupole and multi‐collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers, respectively. The [Sr] and 87Sr/86Sr ratios of hair were compared with the measured [Sr] and 87Sr/86Sr ratios of tap waters from the collection locations. In addition, the 87Sr/86Sr ratio of hair was compared with the modeled ratios of bedrock and surface waters. Results Hair color was independent of the 87Sr/86Sr ratio, but related to [Sr]. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios of hair and leachate were not statistically different and were positively correlated; however, in several hair‐leachate pairs, the ratios were conspicuously different. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios of both hair and leachate were linearly correlated with tap water. The 87Sr/86Sr ratio of hair was also significantly correlated with the modeled ratio of bedrock and surface waters, although the 87Sr/86Sr ratio of hair was most strongly correlated with the measured ratio of tap water. Conclusions The 87Sr/86Sr ratio of hair is related to the ratio of tap water, which varied geographically. The ratio of hair provided geographic information about an individual's recent residence. Differences in the 87Sr/86Sr ratios of hair and hair leachate may be concomitant with travel and could potentially be used as a screening tool to identify recent movements.

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“…Recent work has shown the capacity of 525 water isotopes to record information about water management and quantify effects of climatic variability on water resources (Jameel et al, 2016;Tipple et al, 2017). Moving beyond the coarse resolution of these studies, our work has highlighted the ability of water isotopes to provide information about PWSS operation at a much finer scale.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…5). Our model builds upon the work of Jameel et al (2016) and Tipple et al (2017), but goes beyond their analyses by providing quantitative, spatially-and temporally-resolved estimates of source contributions at 315 locations throughout the SLV supply system. According to our model, most of the distribution sites (45 out of 65) received most (>70%) of their water from a single source.…”

Section: Source Contributions At the Distribution Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Here, geochemical tracers such as the stable isotopes in water (SIW) can also serve as a tool to study water management within complex urban distribution systems. Recent studies have shown that distributions of the SIW in urban areas relying on multiple water sources can be used to characterize active water management practices, identify linkages between socioeconomic 80 factors and water management practices, and quantify the effects of climate variability on water resources (Jameel et al, 2016;Tipple et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Isotopic reconnaissance of urban water supply system dynamics

Jameel¹,

Brewer²,

Fiorella³

et al. 2018

Preprint

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Abstract. Public water supply systems (PWSS) are critical infrastructure that are vulnerable to 10 contamination and physical disruption. Exploring susceptibility of PWSS to such perturbations requires detailed knowledge of supply system structure and operation. The physical structure of the distribution system (i.e., pipeline connections) and basic information on sources are documented for most industrialized metropolises. Yet, most information on PWSS function comes from hydrodynamic models that are seldom validated using observational data. In 15 developing regions, the issue may be exasperated as information regarding the physical structure of the PWSS may be incorrect, incomplete, undocumented, or difficult to obtain in many cities.Here, we present a novel application of stable isotopes in water (SIW) to quantify the contribution of different water sources, identify "static" and "dynamic" regions (e.g., regions supplied chiefly by one source vs. those experiencing active mixing between multiple sources), 20 and reconstruct basic flow patterns in a large, complex PWSS. Our analysis, based on a Bayesian mixing model framework, uses basic information on the SIW and production volumes of sources but requires no information on pipeline connections in the system. Our work highlights the ability of SIW to analyze PWSS and document aspects of supply system structure and operation

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Stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes of tap water reveal structure of the San Francisco Bay Area's water system and adjustments during a major drought

Cited by 53 publications

References 16 publications

Water Source Signatures in the Spatial and Seasonal Isotope Variation of Chinese Tap Waters

Water Source Signatures in the Spatial and Seasonal Isotope Variation of Chinese Tap Waters

Strontium isotope ratios of human hair from the United States: Patterns and aberrations

Isotopic reconnaissance of urban water supply system dynamics

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