Puerto Rico ground-water quality

Zack, Allen L.; Rodrigues-Alonso, Teresita; Roman-Mas, Angel

doi:10.3133/ofr87749

Cited by 7 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 7 publications

(1 reference statement)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Same as pathogens, not much research has been conducted regarding seawater intrusion in coastal karst aquifer of Puerto Rico. Although Zack et al stated that the freshwater-saltwater interface of the North Coast limestone aquifer of PR is probably seaward and freshwater discharges to the seabed, by extracting water from public supply wells which results in decreasing GW level, seawater intrusion can be a potential problem in NPR (Zack et al, 1987). Not much chloride concentration data is available within USGS database and other resources.…”

Section: Groundwater Contamination and Remediation Techniquesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of groundwater quality and remediation in karst aquifers: A review

Kalhor

Ghasemizadeh

Rajić

et al. 2019

Groundwater for Sustainable Development

161

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Karst aquifers, capable of storing and transmitting large amount of water, are the main source of drinking water in many regions worldwide. Their excessive permeability leads to an enhanced vulnerability to retain and spread the contamination accordingly. From sustainability perspective, the environmental, economic and social impacts of karst contamination on water resources management are gaining more attention. In this study, an overview of hydrogeological processes and concepts regarding groundwater flow and contaminant transport in karstic systems is presented, followed by a short discussion on surface water and groundwater interaction. Due to the complexity of karstic systems, different approaches have been developed by researchers for investigating and understanding hydrogeological processes and groundwater behavior in karst which are reviewed herein. Additionally, groundwater contamination issues and the most common and effective remediation techniques in karstic terrains are discussed. Lastly, modeling techniques and remote sensing methods, as beneficial and powerful tools for assessing groundwater flow and contaminant transport in karst terrains, are reviewed and evaluated. In each section, relevant research works conducted for Puerto Rico are discussed and some recommendations are presented to complement the ongoing hydrogeological investigations on this island.

show abstract

Section: Groundwater Contamination and Remediation Techniquesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of groundwater quality and remediation in karst aquifers: A review

Kalhor

Ghasemizadeh

Rajić

et al. 2019

Groundwater for Sustainable Development

161

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The feeder tanks are connected to a 4 m 3 stainless steel storage tank that receives water from a groundwater well located at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez. Measured water quality parameters (pH, Ca +2 , Mg +2 , Na + , total dissolved solids, SO 4 −2 , NO 2 − , NO 3 − , PO 4 −3 , Cl − , F − ) in the well water show general geochemical characteristics similar to those found in the northern coast of Puerto Rico (Giusti ; Zack et al ). The storage tank is equipped with a primary disinfection system comprised of ultraviolet light lamps (75 W/m 2 output, emitting at wavelengths of 320 nm).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 61%

Estimating Preferential Flow in Karstic Aquifers Using Statistical Mixed Models

et al. 2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Karst aquifers are highly productive groundwater systems often associated with conduit flow. These systems can be highly vulnerable to contamination, resulting in a high potential for contaminant exposure to humans and ecosystems. This work develops statistical models to spatially characterize flow and transport patterns in karstified limestone and determines the effect of aquifer flow rates on these patterns. A laboratory-scale Geo-HydroBed model is used to simulate flow and transport processes in a karstic limestone unit. The model consists of stainless-steel tanks containing a karstified limestone block collected from a karst aquifer formation in northern Puerto Rico. Experimental work involves making a series of flow and tracer injections, while monitoring hydraulic and tracer response spatially and temporally. Statistical mixed models are applied to hydraulic data to determine likely pathways of preferential flow in the limestone units. The models indicate a highly heterogeneous system with dominant, flow-dependent preferential flow regions. Results indicate that regions of preferential flow tend to expand at higher groundwater flow rates, suggesting a greater volume of the system being flushed by flowing water at higher rates. Spatial and temporal distribution of tracer concentrations indicates the presence of conduit-like and diffuse flow transport in the system, supporting the notion of both combined transport mechanisms in the limestone unit. The temporal response of tracer concentrations at different locations in the model coincide with, and confirms the preferential flow distribution generated with the statistical mixed models used in the study.

show abstract

“…Industries in the region have relied on the use of hazardous materials, which can enter the karst groundwater from accidental spills and deliberate disposal. This region, which is among the areas with highest groundwater extraction in Puerto Rico (Molina-Rivera and Gómez-Gómez 2008), has indeed been affected by a long history of toxic spills, chemical waste and industrial solvent release into the subsurface (Zack et al 1987;Hunter and Arbona 1995;Padilla et al 2011Padilla et al , 2015; U.S. EPA 2011). Liquid-waste was also injected into the confined aquifer system prior to the 1970s (Zack et al 1987).…”

Section: Site Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of hydrogeological and anthropogenic factors on the spatial and temporal distribution of CVOCs in the karst system of northern Puerto Rico

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study evaluates factors affecting the spatial and temporal distribution of chlorinated volatile organic contaminants (CVOCs) in the highly productive aquifers of the karst region in northern Puerto Rico (KR-NPR). Historical records from 1982 to 2016 are analyzed using spatial and statistical methods to evaluate hydrogeological and anthropogenic factors affecting the presence and concentrations of multiple CVOCs in the KR-NPR. Results show extensive spatial and temporal distributions of CVOCs, as single entities and as mixtures. It is found that at least one type of CVOC is present above detection limits in 64% of the samples and 77% of the sampling sites during the study period. CVOC distribution in the KR-NPR is contaminant-dependent, with some species being strongly influenced by the source of contamination and hydrogeological characteristics of the system. Persistent presence of CVOCs in the KR-NPR system, even after contaminated sites have been subjected to active remediation, reflect the high capacity of the system to store and slowly release contaminants over long periods of time. This study shows that karst aquifers are highly vulnerable to contamination and can serve as a long-term route of contaminants to potential points of exposure.

show abstract

Puerto Rico ground-water quality

Cited by 7 publications

References 7 publications

Assessment of groundwater quality and remediation in karst aquifers: A review

Assessment of groundwater quality and remediation in karst aquifers: A review

Estimating Preferential Flow in Karstic Aquifers Using Statistical Mixed Models

Effect of hydrogeological and anthropogenic factors on the spatial and temporal distribution of CVOCs in the karst system of northern Puerto Rico

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About