Utilization of Intrinsic Boron Isotopes as Co‐Migrating Tracers for Identifying Potential Nitrate Contamination Sources

Leenhouts, James M.; Basset, R.; Maddock, Thomas

doi:10.1111/j.1745-6584.1998.tb01089.x

Cited by 60 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…cit.). Urban wastewaters and borate fertilisers are important anthropogenic source of boron, and these usually give very low δ 11 B values (−15 a +5‰; Vengosh et al 1994a;Leenhouts et al 1998). For all these reasons, the boron isotope ratio (δ 11 B) is used as a tracer of the evolution of natural systems, and to identify processes of groundwater pollution.…”

Section: Boron In Groundwatermentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of the Salinisation Processes in Aquifers Using Boron Isotopes; Application to South-Eastern Spain

Morell

Pulido−Bosch

Martos

et al. 2007

Water Air Soil Pollut

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Registro de acceso restringido Este recurso no está disponible en acceso abierto por política de la editorial. No obstante, se puede acceder al texto completo desde la Universitat Jaume I o si el usuario cuenta con suscripción. Registre d'accés restringit Aquest recurs no està disponible en accés obert per política de l'editorial. No obstant això, es pot accedir al text complet des de la Universitat Jaume I o si l'usuari compta amb subscripció. Restricted access item This item isn't open access because of publisher's policy. The full--text version is only available from Jaume I University or if the user has a running suscription to the publisher's contents.

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Section: Boron In Groundwatermentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of the Salinisation Processes in Aquifers Using Boron Isotopes; Application to South-Eastern Spain

Morell

Pulido−Bosch

Martos

et al. 2007

Water Air Soil Pollut

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Hydrogeological applications of boron isotopes began in recent decades with studies tracing sources of groundwater contamination (Davidson and Bassett 1993;Vengosh et al 1994;Leenhouts et al 1998). Boron is useful for this purpose due to distinct isotopic signatures between end members and its prevalent nature (Bassett 1990).…”

Section: Boron-10 and Bromide Tracersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The standard ratio (NIST SRM 951; Coplen et al 2002) Natural waters range widely from −16 to þ59‰ δ 11 B, with uncontaminated groundwater around þ30‰ δ 11 B (Vengosh et al 1994). Treated municipal wastewater tends to be higher in 10 B, producing values around þ1‰ to þ10‰ δ 11 B (Vengosh et al 1994;Bassett et al 1995;Leenhouts et al 1998). Boron in wastewater generally originates from soaps and other detergents (Bassett et al 1995).…”

Section: Boron-10 and Bromide Tracersmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Heat, B10-Enriched Boric Acid, and Bromide as Recycled Groundwater Tracers for Managed Aquifer Recharge: Case Study

Becker

Clark

Johnson³

2015

J. Hydrol. Eng.

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California guidelines for indirect potable recycled wastewater reuse projects currently require groundwater tracers to demonstrate subsurface residence time for pathogenic microorganism control. Residence times over 6 months from infiltration to drinking water extraction are required. Two prospective tracers were evaluated in this case study: boron-10 (as 10 B-enriched boric acid) and heat (with recharging water ∼10°C warmer than native groundwater). Bromide (Br − ) was also released as a control. 10 B is attractive as a deliberate tracer because (1) reasonably accurate and affordable measurements can be made on an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) system, and (2) isotopic tracers require significantly less mass to tag an equivalent water volume than concentration-based salt tracers like Br − . 10 B and Br − tracer breakthroughs were observed at seven of nine monitoring wells, although at one well the detection of 10 B was barely observable and may have resulted from a slight change in source water composition. 10 B arrived 25% later than Br − on average, showing retardation through exchange with clay surfaces. Heat flow, requiring no artificial input, was interpreted from temperature changes recorded hourly at well loggers. Residence times to all wells were successfully determined from temperature changes with the longest flow path of 6 months. This implies that dilution of Br − and 10 B is a limitation the geochemical tracer experiment.

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“…For these reasons, the use of multiple tracers is an important tool in source attribution. As an example, a wastewater origin indicated by nitrate isotopic evidence can often be confirmed by analysis of a major cation such as Na + , and septic or municipal waste can be distinguished from animal waste by the occurrence of trace constituents such as EDTA or caffeine, or by the presence of high levels of boron with distinct isotopic composition (see for example Aravena and Robertson, 1998;Leenhouts et al, 1998).…”

Section: Improve Nitrate Source Attribution and Assess The Occurrencementioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrate Contamination in California Groundwater: An Integrated Approach to Basin Assessment and Resource Protection

Esser¹,

Hudson²,

Moran³

et al. 2011

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Esser et al. (2002) Nitrate Contamination in California GroundwaterPage 5 of 62 Executive Summary BACKGROUNDNitrate contamination of California drinking water supplies is pervasive-about 10% of California public drinking water supply wells produce water that exceeds the regulatory drinking water limit, and a much larger fraction produce water which approaches the limit. As the population of California increases by 50% over the next 20 years, water resources will be in critically short supply. If the State can develop acceptable methods to prevent nitrate contamination of susceptible groundwaters and to remediate contaminated groundwaters, then the volume of available "new" water will be a critical benefit to California's continuing growth and prosperity.Nitrate is commonly viewed as an intractable problem for three reasons. First, nitrate contamination is ubiquitous in both surface and groundwater -a substantial number of California public and especially private groundwater wells have nitrate levels that exceed or approach regulatory limits for drinking water, and a significant fraction of surface water supplies have nitrate concentrations that would preclude their use for groundwater recharge if draft DHS regulations were adopted.  Second, the activities that contribute anthropogenic nitrate to groundwater -animal operations, crop fertilization, wastewater treatment discharge, septic systems -are ongoing and essential to the industry and commerce of the State of California.  Finally, nitrate is expensive to remove from drinking water supplies, especially in public and private systems that rely on untreated groundwater and do not have the necessary water treatment infrastructure. These factors combine to make nitrate the number-one contaminant threat to California's drinking water supply and at the same time may represent an opportunity to make important strides in providing sufficient water to meet California's future growth. A working group at LLNL has surveyed the current approach to characterizing and managing groundwater nitrate contamination in California, and has identified specific opportunities for developing better characterization methods. SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GROUNDWATER NITRATE MANAGEMENT Conduct a Groundwater Basin Assessment of Nitrate Inventories and ImpactsThe ultimate goal of the Groundwater Quality Monitoring Act of 2001 (AB599) is the implementation of a comprehensive monitoring program to allow groundwater basin assessment. Assessment is a broad term still being defined by the AB599 Interagency Task Force and Advisory Board, but encompasses assessing susceptibility of groundwater to contamination, characterizing current water quality in a basin, and predicting future water quality under different conditions. To meet these goals, basin assessment must consider the current inventory of nitrate in basin soils and waters, current and past source loading, groundwater recharge and transport, An LLNL Water Initiative White Paper (LLNL-TR-466420)Page 6 of 62 and nitrogen cycling in the so...

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Utilization of Intrinsic Boron Isotopes as Co‐Migrating Tracers for Identifying Potential Nitrate Contamination Sources

Cited by 60 publications

References 17 publications

Characterization of the Salinisation Processes in Aquifers Using Boron Isotopes; Application to South-Eastern Spain

Characterization of the Salinisation Processes in Aquifers Using Boron Isotopes; Application to South-Eastern Spain

Heat, B10-Enriched Boric Acid, and Bromide as Recycled Groundwater Tracers for Managed Aquifer Recharge: Case Study

Nitrate Contamination in California Groundwater: An Integrated Approach to Basin Assessment and Resource Protection

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