D. K. Solomon

The geochemistry and mixing of leakage in a semi-confined aquifer at a municipal well field, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Abstract The Memphis aquifer in southwestern Tennessee is confined to a semi-confined unconsolidated sand aquifer and is the primary municipal water source in the Memphis metropolitan area. Past studies have identified regions in the metropolitan area in which the overlying upper Claiborne confining unit lacks significant clay and provides a hydraulic connection between the shallow aquifer and the Memphis aquifer. In this study, major solute chemistry, 3H, and 3H/3He groundwater dating are used to investigate the extent and chemical effects of leakage through the confining unit to the Memphis aquifer in the vicinity of a municipal well field. The 3H/3He dates and geochemical modeling of the chemical data are used to constrain mixing fractions and the timing of modern recharge. Tritium activities of as much as 2.8 TU are observed in shallow production wells, but deeper production wells have 3H activities that approach the detection limit. Trends in water chemistry indicate vertical mixing in the aquifer of shallow Na–SO4–Cl-rich water and deeper Ca–Mg–HCO3-rich water. Water chemistry does not vary consistently with seasonal pumping, but 3H activity generally decreases during low use periods. Stable O and H isotopes show little variation and are not useful groundwater tracers for this study. The 3H-bearing, Na–SO4–Cl-rich water is interpreted to reflect recharge of modern water through the upper Claiborne confining unit. The 3H/3He dates from 5 production wells indicate modern recharge, that infiltrated 15–20 a ago, is present in the shallow production wells. Geologic data and hydrologic boundary conditions suggest that the most likely source for continued leakage is a nearby stream, Nonconnah Creek. Geochemical reaction modeling using the NETPATH computer code suggests that proportions of shallow aquifer water leaking into the Memphis aquifer range from 6 to 32%. The 3H/3He dating and NETPATH modeling results correlate well, suggesting that these complementary analytical tools provide an effective means to evaluate proportions of modern water leaking into semi-confined aquifers. These results also indicate a need to carefully consider connections between surface water and semi-confined groundwater resources in wellhead protection programs.

Separation of groundwater-flow components in a karstified aquifer using environmental tracers

Abstract Groundwater discharges from the intensively karstified Taurus Mountains to the Mediterranean Sea, either along the contact zone between the mountains and the Travertine Plateau (the Kirkgozler Springs, 15 m3/s), or through the travertine (e.g. the Dudenbasi Spring, 18 m3/s) and underneath it (unnamed submarine springs, unknown discharges). In an attempt to identify the hydraulic connections between the various outlet points, groundwater was analyzed for stable and radioactive isotopes, CFCs and He. The upgradient springs, belonging to the Kirkgozler–Dudenbasi system, were proven to be a mixture of recent and older water on the basis of their low 14C values (12–22.4 pmc), their exceptionally high He content (429–991 μcc/kg) and 3He:4He (R:Ra) ratios (1.471–2.602) and their measurable 3H and CFC contents (1.9–5.9 TU and 0.84 to 3.27 pmoles/kg, respectively). The older component probably contains an even lower amount of modern C. However, the undersaturation of the mixture with respect to calcite, its high CO2 content (up to 83 mg/L) and its enriched 13C values (−2.2 to −4.1‰) suggest intensive water/rock interactions, which would contribute 14C-devoid bicarbonates to the solution. Downgradient springs discharging along the Mediterranean coast contain groundwater contributions from higher altitudes, as evidenced by their depleted δ18O and δD composition with respect to the local precipitation; however, a larger portion of the recent water component could be contributed from direct precipitation on the travertine. This larger component is reflected in the increased 3H (3.4 to 8.4 TU) and 14C (32.7–63.6 pmc) contents, atmospheric He (43–82 pmoles/kg), R:Ra values (1.006–1.198) and CFC contamination of the water.