Cl/Br ratios and environmental isotopes as indicators of recharge variability and groundwater flow: An example from the southeast Murray Basin, Australia

Cartwright, Ian; Weaver, Tamie Renee; Fifield, L.K.

doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2005.12.009

Cited by 190 publications

(90 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Processes that govern the evolution of groundwater geochemistry and sources of solutes in the Eastern View Formation can be determined from the major ion geochemistry. The observation that Cl / Br ratios are between 500 and 1000, which is similar to those expected in rainfall, and do not increase with increased TDS implies that evapotranspiration rather than halite dissolution is the major process controlling groundwater salinity (Herczeg et al, 2001;Cartwright et al, 2006). This conclusion is also consistent with an absence of halite in the aquifer lithologies.…”

Section: Groundwater Chemistrysupporting

confidence: 52%

“…Evapotranspiration during recharge is commonly the dominant process in determining the salinity of groundwater in SE Australia (Herczeg et al, 2001). Low recharge rates result in higher degrees of evapotranspiration and higher salinity groundwater, and the resultant correlation between Cl concentrations and 14 C ages has been noted in other catchments (Leaney et al, 2003;Cartwright et al, 2006). Variable recharge rates could result in a wide range of recharge ages in the Gellibrand Valley, with the high Cl-low a 14 C groundwater being derived from regions with locally low recharge rates.…”

Section: Ages and CLmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Using 14C and 3H to understand groundwater flow and recharge in an aquifer window

Atkinson

Cartwright

Gilfedder

et al. 2014

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. Knowledge of groundwater residence times and recharge locations is vital to the sustainable management of groundwater resources. Here we investigate groundwater residence times and patterns of recharge in the Gellibrand Valley, southeast Australia, where outcropping aquifer sediments of the Eastern View Formation form an "aquifer window" that may receive diffuse recharge from rainfall and recharge from the Gellibrand River. To determine recharge patterns and groundwater flow paths, environmental isotopes (3H, 14C, δ13C, δ18O, δ2H) are used in conjunction with groundwater geochemistry and continuous monitoring of groundwater elevation and electrical conductivity. The water table fluctuates by 0.9 to 3.7 m annually, implying recharge rates of 90 and 372 mm yr−1. However, residence times of shallow (11 to 29 m) groundwater determined by 14C are between 100 and 10 000 years, 3H activities are negligible in most of the groundwater, and groundwater electrical conductivity remains constant over the period of study. Deeper groundwater with older 14C ages has lower δ18O values than younger, shallower groundwater, which is consistent with it being derived from greater altitudes. The combined geochemistry data indicate that local recharge from precipitation within the valley occurs through the aquifer window, however much of the groundwater in the Gellibrand Valley predominantly originates from the regional recharge zone, the Barongarook High. The Gellibrand Valley is a regional discharge zone with upward head gradients that limits local recharge to the upper 10 m of the aquifer. Additionally, the groundwater head gradients adjacent to the Gellibrand River are generally upwards, implying that it does not recharge the surrounding groundwater and has limited bank storage. 14C ages and Cl concentrations are well correlated and Cl concentrations may be used to provide a first-order estimate of groundwater residence times. Progressively lower chloride concentrations from 10 000 years BP to the present day are interpreted to indicate an increase in recharge rates on the Barongarook High.

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Section: Groundwater Chemistrysupporting

confidence: 52%

Section: Ages and CLmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using 14C and 3H to understand groundwater flow and recharge in an aquifer window

Atkinson

Cartwright

Gilfedder

et al. 2014

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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“…The high chloride concentrations in the Zone II water samples reflect another source of chloride such as rock-water interaction in regional groundwater flow. A similar effect was studied in Australia, where researchers distinguished between evaporation-induced increases in chloride concentrations and rock-water interaction using a suite of isotopic and geochemical tools [45][46][47]. The southern region of Hulun Lake has salt-rich solonchak soil, suggesting the discharge of, and potential presence of, salt-rich groundwater [26].…”

Section: Isotopic Composition and Chloride Concentrations In Presentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the Role of Groundwater in a Remote Transboundary Lake (Hulun Lake, China)

Gao

Ryan

et al. 2017

Water

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Hulun Lake, located in a remote, semi-arid area in the northeast part of Inner Mongolia, China, shares a transboundary basin with Mongolia and supports a unique wetland ecosystem that includes many endangered species. Decadal scale decreases in the lake stage and increased salinity make an understanding of the lake's water and salt sources critical for appropriate design of strategies to protect and manage the lake. Multiple tracers (chloride, and δ 18 O and δ 2 H in water) in samples collected from lake water, rivers, and nearby water wells were used in conjunction with an annual water balance based on historic data to better understand the lake's major water and salt sources. The average annual water balance was conducted for two time periods : 1981-2000 and 2001-2013. The contribution of river discharge to the annual lake input decreased by half (from 64% to 31%) between the two time periods, while the volumetric contribution of groundwater discharge increased four-fold (from about 11% to about 50% of the total lake input). Significant evaporation was apparent in the stable isotope composition of the present-day lake water, however, evaporation alone could not account for the high lake water chloride concentrations. Limited domestic well water sampling, a regional salinity survey, and saline soils suggest that high chloride groundwater concentrations exist in the region south of the lake. The chloride mass balance suggested that groundwater currently contributes more than 90% of the annual chloride loading to the lake, which is likely four times greater than the earlier period (1981)(1982)(1983)(1984)(1985)(1986)(1987)(1988)(1989)(1990)(1991)(1992)(1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000) with lower groundwater input. The use of water and chloride mass balances combined with water isotope analyses could be applied to other watersheds where hydrologic information is scarce.

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“…Here, the use of Cl/Br mass ratios can be used to assess potential sources of chloride. [44][45][46][47][48] Reported values for Cl/Br mass ratios range from 50-150 for precipitation, 100-200 for shallow groundwater, 300-600 for septic leachate, and 1,000-10,000 for halite. [44,48] Produced water from unconventional shale gas extraction may have concentrations of chloride in excess of 100,000 mg L…”

Section: ¡1mentioning

confidence: 99%

Well water contamination in a rural community in southwestern Pennsylvania near unconventional shale gas extraction

Alawattegama

Kondratyuk

Krynock

et al. 2015

Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A

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Reports of ground water contamination in a southwestern Pennsylvania community coincided with unconventional shale gas extraction activities that started late 2009. Residents participated in a survey and well water samples were collected and analyzed. Available pre-drill and post-drill water test results and legacy operations (e.g., gas and oil wells, coal mining) were reviewed. Fiftysix of the 143 respondents indicated changes in water quality or quantity while 63 respondents reported no issues. Color change (brown, black, or orange) was the most common (27 households). Well type, when known, was rotary or cable tool, and depths ranged from 19 to 274 m. Chloride, sulfate, nitrate, sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese and strontium were commonly found, with 25 households exceeding the secondary maximum contaminate level (SMCL) for manganese. Methane was detected in 14 of the 18 houses tested. The 26 wells tested for total coliforms (2 positives) and E. coli (1 positive) indicated that septic contamination was not a factor. Repeated sampling of two wells in close proximity (204 m) but drawing from different depths (32 m and 54 m), revealed temporal variability. Since 2009, 65 horizontal wells were drilled within a 4 km (2.5 mile) radius of the community, each well was stimulated on average with 3.5 million gal of fluids and 3.2 million lbs of proppant. PA DEP cited violations included an improperly plugged well and at least one failed well casing. This study underscores the need for thorough analyses of data, documentation of legacy activity, pre-drill testing, and long term monitoring.

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Cl/Br ratios and environmental isotopes as indicators of recharge variability and groundwater flow: An example from the southeast Murray Basin, Australia

Cited by 190 publications

References 40 publications

Using <sup>14</sup>C and <sup>3</sup>H to understand groundwater flow and recharge in an aquifer window

Using <sup>14</sup>C and <sup>3</sup>H to understand groundwater flow and recharge in an aquifer window

Understanding the Role of Groundwater in a Remote Transboundary Lake (Hulun Lake, China)

Well water contamination in a rural community in southwestern Pennsylvania near unconventional shale gas extraction

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Cl/Br ratios and environmental isotopes as indicators of recharge variability and groundwater flow: An example from the southeast Murray Basin, Australia

Cited by 190 publications

References 40 publications

Using &lt;sup&gt;14&lt;/sup&gt;C and &lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;H to understand groundwater flow and recharge in an aquifer window

Using &lt;sup&gt;14&lt;/sup&gt;C and &lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;H to understand groundwater flow and recharge in an aquifer window

Understanding the Role of Groundwater in a Remote Transboundary Lake (Hulun Lake, China)

Well water contamination in a rural community in southwestern Pennsylvania near unconventional shale gas extraction

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Using <sup>14</sup>C and <sup>3</sup>H to understand groundwater flow and recharge in an aquifer window

Using <sup>14</sup>C and <sup>3</sup>H to understand groundwater flow and recharge in an aquifer window