The impact of cattle pasturing on groundwater quality in bedrock aquifers having minimal overburden

Widespread agricultural activity may threaten water quality in fractured bedrock aquifers having little overburden protection. A study in Canada improves the understanding of the potential impact of agriculture on water quality in bedrock aquifers, focusing on spatial and temporal variability of nitrate and bacteria. A research site was developed in and adjacent to a hay field where a gneissic aquifer is overlain by a thin veneer of unconsolidated glacial material. Ten wells were installed, hydraulically tested and completed as multilevel piezometers. Results of monthly sampling for nitrate, dissolved organic carbon, and E. coli show significant temporal and spatial variation in concentrations. Intensive 5-day sampling rounds conducted during baseflow and recharge conditions indicate that bacterial concentrations vary daily, with higher concentrations during recharge periods. The location of the impacted monitoring wells is correlated to an upgradient cattle pasture that is used periodically each summer. It is evident that periodic upgradient sources, dilution from recharge, and heterogeneous flow systems lead to varied and unpredictable contaminant concentrations. The temporal and spatial variability of contaminants in bedrock aquifers with minimal overburden must be considered for the protection of human health, as annual or even monthly groundwater monitoring may not capture unsafe concentrations.     

Arsenic variability and groundwater age in three water supply wells in southeast New Hampshire

Three wells in New Hampshire were sampled bimonthly over three years to evaluate the temporal variability of arsenic concentrations and groundwater age.All samples had measurable concentrations of arsenic throughout the entire sampling period and concentrations in individual wells had a mean variation of more than 7 μg/L.The time series data from this sampling effort showed that arsenic concentrations ranged from a median of 4 μg/L in a glacial aquifer well(SGW-65)to medians of 19μg/L and37 μg/L in wells(SGW-93 and KFW-87)screened in the bedrock aquifer,respectively.These high arsenic concentrations were associated with the consistently high pH(median≥8)and low dissolved oxygen(median0.1 mg/L)in the bedrock aquifer wells,which is typical of fractured crystalline bedrock aquifers in New Hampshire.Groundwater from the glacial aquifer often has high dissolved oxygen,but in this case was consistently low.The pH also is generally acidic in the glacial aquifer but in this case was slightly alkaline(median = 7.5).Also,sorption sites may be more abundant in glacial aquifer deposits than in fractured bedrock which may contribute to lower arsenic concentrations.Mean groundwater ages were less than 50 years old in all three wells and correlated with conservative tracer concentrations,such as chloride;however,mean age was not directly correlated with arsenic concentrations.Arsenic concentrations at KFW-87 did correlate with water levels,in addition,there was a seasonal pattern,which suggests that either the timing of or multiple sampling efforts may be important to define the full range of arsenic concentrations in domestic bedrock wells.Since geochemically reduced conditions and alkaline pHs are common to both bedrock and glacial aquifer wells in this study,groundwater age correlates less strongly with arsenic concentrations than geochemical conditions.There also is evidence of direct hydraulic connection between the glacial and bedrock aquifers,which can influence arsenic concentrations.Correlations between arsenic concentrations and the age of the old fraction of water in SGW-65 and the age of the young fraction of water in SGW-93 suggest that water in the two aquifers may be mixing or at least some of the deeper,older water captured by the glacial aquifer well may be from a similar source as the shallow young groundwater from the bedrock aquifer.The contrast in arsenic concentrations in the two aquifers may be because of increased adsorption capacity of glacio-fluvial sediments,which can limit contaminants more than fractured rock.In addition,this study illustrates that long residence times are not necessary to achieve more geochemically evolved conditions such as high pH and reduced conditions as is typically found with older water in other regions.     

Glacial geomorphology of Teesdale,northern Pennines,England: Implications for upland styles of ice stream operation and deglaciation in the British-Irish Ice Sheet

The glacial geomorphology of Teesdale and the North Pennines uplands is analysed in order to decipher: a) the operation of easterly flowing palaeo-ice streams in the British-Irish Ice Sheet; and b) the style of regional deglaciation. Six landform categories are: i) bedrock controlled features, including glacitectonic bedrock megablocks or ‘rubble moraine’; ii) discrete mounds and hills, often of unknown composition, interpreted as weakly streamlined moraines and potential ‘rubble moraine’; iii) non-streamlined drift mounds and ridges, representing lateral, frontal and inter-ice stream/interlobate moraines; iv) streamlined landforms, including drumlins of various elongation ratios and bedrock controlled lineations; v) glacifluvial outwash and depositional ridges; and vi) relict channels and valleys, related to glacial meltwater incision or meltwater re-occupation of preglacial fluvial features. Multiple tills in valley-floor drumlin exposures indicate that the subglacial bedform record is a blend of flow directions typical of areas of discontinuous till cover and extensive bedrock erosional landforms. Arcuate assemblages of partially streamlined drift mounds are likely to be glacially overridden latero-frontal moraines related to phases of “average glacial conditions” (palimpsests). Deglacial oscillations of a glacier lobe in mid-Teesdale are marked by five inset assemblages of moraines and associated drift and meltwater channels, named the Glacial Lake Eggleshope, Mill Hill, Gueswick, Hayberries and Lonton stages. The Lonton stage moraines are thought to be coeval with bedrock-cored moraines in the central Stainmore Gap and likely record the temporary development of cold-based or polythermal ice conditions around the margins of a plateau-based icefield during the Scottish Readvance.     

Redox evolution in glacial drift aquifers: role of diamicton units in reduction of Fe(III)

High iron concentrations create water quality problems for municipal use in glacial drift aquifer units. The chemical evolution of oxic groundwater in shallow aquifer units to anoxic groundwater in deeper aquifer units, in which soluble Fe(II) is stable, is attributed to coupled reduction of Fe(III) on aquifer solids with oxidation of organic carbon. The objective of this study was to characterize the distribution of organic carbon in aquifer and aquitard sediments to determine the availability of potential electron donors to drive these reactions. To do this, four complete rotasonic cores in a glacial aquifer/aquitard system were sampled at close intervals for analyses of grain-size distribution and organic carbon content. The results indicate significantly higher organic carbon concentrations in diamicton (till) units that function as aquitards, relative to coarse-grained aquifer units. In addition, readily reducible iron content in the diamicton units and lower aquifer unit materials is sufficient to produce far more dissolved iron than is present in the aquifer. Groundwater evolves to the level of iron reduction as a terminal electron-accepting process as it moves downward through aquitard units along flow paths from upland recharge areas to downgradient discharge areas. Deeper aquifer units are therefore unlikely to contain groundwater with low iron concentration.     

Recharge and discharge controls on groundwater travel times and flow paths to production wells for the Ammer catchment in southwestern Germany

Travel times and flow paths of groundwater from its recharge area to drinking-water production wells will govern how the quality of pumped groundwater responds to contaminations. Here, we studied the 180 km² Ammer catchment in southwestern Germany, which is extensively used for groundwater production from a carbonate aquifer. Using a 3-D steady-state groundwater model, four alternative representations of discharge and recharge were systematically explored to understand their impact on groundwater travel times and flow paths. More specifically, two recharge maps obtained from different German hydrologic atlases and two plausible alternative discharge scenarios were tested: (1) groundwater flow across the entire streambed of the Ammer River and its main tributaries and (2) groundwater discharge via a few major springs feeding the Ammer River. For each of these scenarios, the groundwater model was first calibrated against water levels, and subsequently travel times and flow paths were calculated for production wells using particle tracking methods. These computed travel times and flow paths were indirectly evaluated using additional data from the wells including measured concentrations of major ions and environmental tracers indicating groundwater age. Different recharge scenarios resulted in a comparable fit to observed water levels, and similar estimates of hydraulic conductivities, flow paths and travel times of groundwater to production wells. Travel times calculated for all scenarios had a plausible order of magnitude which were comparable to apparent groundwater ages modelled using environmental tracers. Scenario with groundwater discharge across the entire streambed of the Ammer River and its tributaries resulted in a better fit to water levels than scenario with discharge at a few springs only. In spite of the poorer fit to water levels, flow paths of groundwater from the latter scenario were more plausible, and these were supported by the observed major ion chemistry at the production wells. We concluded that data commonly used in groundwater modelling such as water levels and apparent groundwater ages may be insufficient to reliably delineate capture zones of wells. Hydrogeochemical information relating only indirectly to groundwater flow such as the major ion chemistry of water sampled at the wells can substantially improve our understanding of the source areas of recharge for production wells.     

Groundwater mining of bedrock aquifers in the Denver Basin – past,present, and future

The Denver Basin bedrock aquifer system is an important source of water for municipal and agricultural uses in the Denver and Colorado Springs metropolitan areas. The Denver area is one of the fastest growing areas in the United States with a population of 1.2 million in 1960 that has increased to over 2.4 million by 2000. This rapid population growth has produced a corresponding increase in demand for potable water. Historically, the Denver area has relied on surface water, however, in the past 10 years new housing and recreation developments have begun to rely on groundwater from the bedrock aquifers as the surface water is fully appropriated and in short supply.The Denver Basin bedrock aquifer system consists of Tertiary and Cretaceous age sedimentary rocks known as the Dawson, Denver, Arapahoe and Laramie-Fox Hills Aquifers. The number of bedrock wells has increased from 12,000 in 1985 to 33,700 in 2001 and the withdrawal of groundwater has caused water level declines of 76 m. Water level declines for the past 10 years have ranged from 3 to 12 m per year. The groundwater supplies were once thought to last 100 years but there is concern that the groundwater supplies may be essentially depleted in 10 to 15 years in areas on the west side of the basin.Extensive development of the aquifer system has occurred in the last 25 years especially near the center of the basin in Douglas and El Paso Counties where rapid urban growth continues and surface water is lacking. Groundwater is being mined from the aquifer system because the discharge by wells exceeds the rate of recharge. Concern is mounting that increased groundwater withdrawal will cause water level declines, increased costs to withdraw groundwater, reduced well yield, and reduced groundwater storage. As the long-term sustainability of the groundwater resource is in doubt, water managers believe that the life of the Denver Basin aquifers can be extended with artificial recharge, water reuse, restrictions on lawn watering, well permit restrictions and conservation measures.     

Geochemical indicators of interbasin groundwater flow within the southern Rio Grande Valley, southwestern USA

Increased groundwater withdrawals for the growing population in the Rio Grande Valley and likely alteration of recharge to local aquifers with climate change necessitates an understanding of the groundwater connection between the Jornada del Muerto Basin and the adjoining and more heavily used aquifer in the Mesilla Basin. Separating the Jornada and Mesilla aquifers is a buried bedrock high from Tertiary intrusions. This bedrock high or divide restricts and/or retards interbasin flow from the Jornada aquifer into the Mesilla aquifer. The potentiometric surface of the southern Jornada aquifer near part of the bedrock high indicates a flow direction away from the divide because of a previously identified damming effect, but a groundwater outlet from the southern Jornada aquifer is necessary to balance inputs from the overall Jornada aquifer. Differences in geochemical constituents (major ions, δD, δ¹⁸O, δ³⁴S, and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) indicate a deeper connection between the two aquifers through the Tertiary intrusions where Jornada water is geochemically altered because of a geothermal influence. Jornada groundwater likely is migrating through the bedrock high in deeper pathways formed by faults of the Jornada Fault Zone, in addition to Jornada water that overtops the bedrock high as previously identified as the only connection between the two aquifers. Increased groundwater withdrawals and lowering of the potentiometric surface of the Jornada aquifer may alter this contribution ratio with less overtopping of the bedrock high and a continued deeper flowpath contribution that could potentially increase salinity values in the Mesilla Basin near the divide.     

应用水文地球化学方法分析郑家泉域水文地质条件

本文利用钻孔水化学数据和地球化学模拟方法,分析了郑家泉泉域基岩裂隙含水层各钻孔之间的水力联系和地下水补迳排特征。研究表明泉域北部的基岩裂隙含水层为条带状分布,到南部逐渐混合,郑家泉水的补给源主要来自西部和北部。     

Fracture detection and groundwater flow characterization using He and Rn in soil gases,Manitoba, Canada

Surveys of the distribution and migration of He and Rn were carried out in the well-characterized granitic terrane of the AECL Underground Research Laboratory (URL), Manitoba as part of a joint AECL Research, United Kingdom Department of the Environment, and United States Department of Energy research initiative. The investigations were designed to determine whether concentrations of He and Rn in soil gases could be used to identify locations of groundwater recharge and discharge from bedrock fractures. The results obtained indicate that subsurface transport of He and possibly Rn in this setting appears to be controlled largely by the groundwater flow system in the bedrock. Release of dissolved gases near the ground surface causes soil gas anomalies, which reflect discharge from the deeper flow system. In the recharge area of the deep groundwater flow system at the URL site, He abundances are close to the atmospheric level, but the discharge area of the deep flow system is characterized by significant He anomalies (up to 0.5 ppm above atmosphere levels). For Rn, the recharge area has broadly distributed high concentrations, probably caused by local Rn production in U-rich overburden, while the discharge area has only localized concentrations of Rn, which are not at the same location as the He anomalies. The general nature of the groundwater flow regime in both areas is reflected in the presence and distribution of the soil gas anomalies. In addition, major fractures in bedrock, which act as preferential groundwater flow paths, have been located from soil gas anomalies, even when obscured by overburden of variable thickness and character. The distribution of He in soil gas appears to be most representative of groundwater recharge and discharge conditions in the granitic rock, while Rn may be useful for locating specific channels where more rapid groundwater discharge is occurring from deep fracture zones.     

Key Groundwater Control Factors of Deep Buried Coalfield by Landform and Sedimentation in the Northern Ordos Basin

There were three landforms (i.e. desert, bedrock platform and loess gully) in deep-buried coalfield of northern Ordos Basin. Water inflow of working face in desert area was 1~2 orders of magnitude larger than that in other landform areas. In order to find out the key controlling factors of the directly water filled aquifers on the roof of the coal seam, we carried out research from the aspects of topography, landform and geological sedimentation. The results showed that desert landform provides abundant recharge water for underlying aquifers because of gentle topography, large precipitation infiltration coefficient, thick and water-rich quaternary system. While bedrock platform and loess gully landform were the water sources with weak recharge capacity of underlying aquifers. The sandstone-mudstone interbedding structure formed by continental deposits resulted in the absence of regional stable aquifers in Jurassic and Cretaceous strata on the roof of coal seams. Pumping tests of boreholes showed that all strata belong to weak to medium water-rich aquifers. The groundwater level of Cretaceous aquifer decreased by 20~130 m in three mines. There was a close hydraulic relationship between shallow and deep aquifers. The Mesozoic strata belonged to fluvial deposits. Qilizhen sandstone and Zhenwudong sandstone aquifers were mainly developed on the roof of the coal seam, which were characterized by thick medium-coarse sandstone sections. The geological and sedimentary conditions of direct water-filled aquifer were similar, but the amount of borehole water, cumulative pre-drainage water and water inflow from goaf in desert geomorphic area were much larger than those in bedrock platform and loess gully geomorphic area. The water-rich of the aquifer was mainly controlled by geomorphology, and the water sources of the deep aquifers were meteoric precipitation and Quaternary aquifer. In different mines with similar Quaternary conditions in Mu Us Desert, there were also great differences in the amount of borehole water, cumulative pre-drainage water and water inflow from goafs. The difference was related to the thickness and lithology of the aquifers. It reflected that the geological sedimentary conditions of the coal seam roof were also important factors to control the water-rich of the aquifers. Topography, landform and geological sedimentation were the key factors to control the water-rich of the aquifer directly and the water inflow from the working face.     

Groundwater and surface-water interactions in a confined alluvial aquifer between two rivers: effects of groundwater flow dynamics on high iron anomaly

In a confined alluvial aquifer located between two rivers, discrete zones of anomalously high concentrations of redox species such as iron, are thought to be a result of groundwater flow dynamics rather than a chemical evolution along continuous flow paths. This new hypothesis was confirmed at a study site located between Nan and Yom rivers in Phitsanulok, Thailand, by analyzing concentrations of redox species in comparison with dynamic groundwater flow patterns. River incision into the confined alluvial aquifer and seasonally varying river stages result in truncated flow paths. The groundwater flow dynamics between two rivers has four phases that are cyclic, including: aquifer discharge into both rivers, direct flow from one river toward another, aquifer recharge from both rivers, and reverse of river-to-river flow. The resulting groundwater flow direction has a zigzag pattern and its general trend is almost parallel to the river flow. High iron anomaly appears as discrete zones in the transition areas of the confined alluvial aquifer because the lateral recharge from rivers penetrates into the aquifer only by tens of meters. The high iron anomaly, which is nearly constant in space and time, is a result of groundwater/surface-water interactions and related groundwater flow dynamics.     

Groundwater resource sustainability in the Wadi Watir delta, Gulf of Aqaba, Sinai, Egypt

The Wadi Watir delta, in the arid Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, contains an alluvial aquifer underlain by impermeable Precambrian basement rock. The scarcity of rainfall during the last decade, combined with high pumping rates, resulted in degradation of water quality in the main supply wells along the mountain front, which has resulted in reduced groundwater pumping. Additionally, seawater intrusion along the coast has increased salinity in some wells. A three-dimensional (3D) groundwater flow model (MODFLOW) was calibrated using groundwater-level changes and pumping rates from 1982 to 2009; the groundwater recharge rate was estimated to be 1.58?×?10⁶ m³/year. A variable-density flow model (SEAWAT) was used to evaluate seawater intrusion for different pumping rates and well-field locations. Water chemistry and stable isotope data were used to calculate seawater mixing with groundwater along the coast. Geochemical modeling (NETPATH) determined the sources and mixing of different groundwaters from the mountainous recharge areas and within the delta aquifers; results showed that the groundwater salinity is controlled by dissolution of minerals and salts in the aquifers along flow paths and mixing of chemically different waters, including upwelling of saline groundwater and seawater intrusion. Future groundwater pumping must be closely monitored to limit these effects.     

Hydrogeochemistry and Origin of Thermal Groundwater in Bedrock Aquifers in Tianjin, China

INTRODUCTIONThermalgroundwaterisfoundtohaveoccurredinthebedrockcarbonateaquifersofLowerPaleozoicandMeso toNeo ProterozoicErathemsnearTianjin ,China .Thebedrockaquifersexistinthelayersbetweenabout 10 0 0mandmorethan 4 0 0 0mbelowthelandsurface .Thethermalwaterhasbeensuccessfullydevelopedoverthepast2 0yearstoprovideasourceofhotwaterforavarietyofresidentialandindustri alpurposes.Geothermalwellstappingtheaquifersarecapa bleofproducingcommercialquantitiesofhotwaterwiththetemperaturesranging…     

吉林省龙井市石井金银矿矿区水文地质条件评价

吉林省龙井市石井金银矿位于长白山系老爷岭南麓的丘陵地貌中,区内地下水的形成、分布、埋藏条件严格受地质构造、岩性、地貌等条件控制,地下水的补给来源为大气降水。矿区含水层主要类型为：第四系砂砾石孔隙潜水含水层、基岩风化构造裂隙水含水层、构造裂隙脉状水含水层（带）;三种地下类型水富水性都较小,对矿床影响不大,该矿区水文地质条件属简单类型。     

鄂尔多斯盆地北部深埋区“地貌—沉积”控水关键要素研究

鄂尔多斯盆地北部深埋煤田区地表主要有沙漠、基岩台地和黄土沟壑等地貌类型,沙漠区工作面涌水量比其他地貌区大1~2个数量级。为了查清煤层顶板直接充水含水层补给水源、导水通道和充水强度的控制要素,从地形地貌和地质沉积方面开展了研究,结果表明:沙漠地貌地势平缓,降水入渗系数大,第四系厚度大、富水性强,为下伏含水层提供了丰富的补给水源;基岩台地和黄土沟壑地貌,地形起伏大,降水入渗系数极小,浅部地层富水性极弱,是下伏含水层补给能力较弱的水源。陆相沉积形成的砂泥岩互层结构,不存在区域性稳定隔水层,各层段均属于弱-中等富水性含水层,3个矿井的白垩系含水层水位下降了20~130 m,证明浅部与深部含水层存在较密切的水力联系。煤层顶板主要发育七里镇砂岩和真武洞砂岩含水层,为厚度较大的中粗砂岩段,直接充水含水层地质沉积条件相似,但是沙漠区工作面顶板钻孔水量、累计预疏放水量和采空区涌水量均远大于其他地貌区,直接充水含水层富水性主要受地貌控制,深部含水层的水源为大气降水和第四系含水层。沙漠地貌区的不同矿井,工作面顶板钻孔水量、累计预疏放水量、采空区涌水量也存在较大差异,该差异与直接充水含水层厚度和岩性等有关,反映了地质沉积条件也是控制含水层富水性的重要因素。地形地貌和地质沉积是控制直接充水含水层富水性和工作面涌水量的关键要素。     

Characterization of the shallow groundwater system in an alpine watershed: Handcart Gulch,Colorado, USA

Water-table elevation measurements and aquifer parameter estimates are rare in alpine settings because few wells exist in these environments. Alpine groundwater systems may be a primary source of recharge to regional groundwater flow systems. Handcart Gulch is an alpine watershed in Colorado, USA comprised of highly fractured Proterozoic metamorphic and igneous rocks with wells completed to various depths. Primary study objectives include determining hydrologic properties of shallow bedrock and surficial materials, developing a watershed water budget, and testing the consistency of measured hydrologic properties and water budget by constructing a simple model incorporating groundwater and surface water for water year 2005. Water enters the study area as precipitation and exits as discharge in the trunk stream or potential recharge for the deeper aquifer. Surficial infiltration rates ranged from 0.1–6.2×10^?5 m/s. Discharge was estimated at 1.28×10^?3 km³. Numerical modeling analysis of single-well aquifer tests predicted lower specific storage in crystalline bedrock than in ferricrete and colluvial material (6.7×10^?5–2.0×10^?3 l/m). Hydraulic conductivity in crystalline bedrock was significantly lower than in colluvial and alluvial material (4.3×10^?9–2.0×10^?4 m/s). Water budget results suggest that during normal precipitation and temperatures water is available to recharge the deeper groundwater flow system.     

Groundwater geochemistry in shallow aquifers above longwall mines in Illinois, USA

 Aquifers above high-extraction underground coal mines are not affected by mine drainage, but they may still exhibit changes in groundwater chemistry due to alterations in groundwater flow induced by mine subsidence. At two active longwall mine sites in Illinois, USA, glacial-drift aquifers were largely unaffected by mining, but the geochemistry of the bedrock aquifers changed during the post-mining water-level recovery. At the Jefferson site, brackish, high-sulfate water present in the upper bedrock shale briefly had lower values of total dissolved solids (TDS) after mining due to increased recharge from the overlying drift, whereas TDS and sulfate increased in the sodium-bicarbonate water present in the underlying sandstone due to downward leakage from the shale and lateral inflow of water through the sandstone. At the Saline site, sandstones contained water ranging from brackish sodium-chloride to fresh sodium-bicarbonate type. Post-mining recovery of the potentiometric levels was minimal, and the water had minor quality changes. Longwall mining affects geochemistry due to subsidence-related fracturing, which increases downward leakage from overlying units, and due to the temporary potentiometric depression and subsequent recovery, whereby water from surrounding areas of the aquifer recharges the affected zone above and adjacent to the mine. Received, December 1998 / Revised, August 1999 / Accepted, August 1999     

Mass balance simulation and its application to refining flow field in Binchang area,China

Groundwater flow fields in aquifers are often determined by water level data measured in monitoring wells. The flow field can be further refined by mass balance simulations, especially when groundwater level data is limited. The mass balance simulation is based on the principle of mass conservation and relies on water quality data in the same aquifer. The approach is applied to the Luohe aquifer in the Binchang area, China. The water-rock interactions and the hydrogeochemical evolution were studied along four typical flow paths. The study indicates that groundwater in the Luohe formation flows from the southern border to the interior of the Ordos Basin. The southern border, approximately 1,400 km², is a recharge zone, where the Luohe formation outcrops. The total dissolved solids of the groundwater in the southern boarder are less than 1 g/l, and the hydrochemistry type is HCO₃–Na. This new finding refines the flow field of the water-bearing formation, and an additional 1,400 km² is included in the water resource planning of the area.     

Hydrogeochemical and isotopic evidence of groundwater evolution and recharge in aquifers in Beijing Plain, China

An investigation was conducted in Beijing to identify the groundwater evolution and recharge in the quaternary aquifers. Water samples were collected from precipitation, rivers, wells, and springs for hydrochemical and isotopic measurements. The recharge and the origin of groundwater and its residence time were further studied. The groundwater in the upper aquifer is characterized by Ca-Mg-HCO₃ type in the upstream area and Na-HCO₃ type in the downstream area of the groundwater flow field. The groundwater in the lower aquifer is mainly characterized by Ca-Mg-HCO₃ type in the upstream area and Ca-Na-Mg-HCO₃ and Na-Ca-Mg-HCO₃ type in the downstream area. The δD and δ¹⁸O in precipitation are linearly correlated, which is similar to WMWL. The δD and δ¹⁸O values of river, well and spring water are within the same ranges as those found in the alluvial fan zone, and lay slightly above or below LMWL. The δD and δ¹⁸O values have a decreasing trend generally following the precipitation → surface water → shallow groundwater → spring water → deep groundwater direction. There is evidence of enrichment of heavy isotopes in groundwater due to evaporation. Tritium values of unconfined groundwater give evidence for ongoing recharge in modern times with mean residence times <50 a. It shows a clear renewal evolution along the groundwater flow paths and represents modern recharge locally from precipitation and surface water to the shallow aquifers (<150 m). In contrast, according to ¹⁴C ages in the confined aquifers and residence time of groundwater flow lines, the deep groundwater is approximately or older than 10 ka, and was recharged during a period when the climate was wetter and colder mainly from the piedmont surrounding the plain. The groundwater exploitation is considered to be “mined unsustainably” because more water is withdrawn than it is replenished.     

Hydraulic relationships between buried valley sediments of the glacial drift and adjacent bedrock formations in northeastern Ohio,USA

Buried valleys are ancient river or stream valleys that predate the recent glaciation and since have been filled with glacial till and/or outwash. Outwash deposits are known to store and transmit large amounts of groundwater. In addition to their intrinsic hydraulic properties, their productivity depends on their hydraulic relationships with the adjacent bedrock formations. These relationships are examined using a steady-state three-dimensional groundwater flow model through a section of a buried valley in northeastern Ohio, USA. The flow domain was divided into five hydrostratigraphic units: low-conductivity (K) till, high-K outwash, and three bedrock units (Pottsville Formation, Cuyahoga Group and Berea Sandstone). The model input was prepared using the data from well logs and drilling reports of residential water wells. The model was calibrated using observed heads with mean residual head error of 0.3 m. The calibrated model was used to quantify flux between the buried valley and bedrock formations. Mass balance was calculated to within an error of 2–3 %. Mass balance of the buried valley layer indicates that it receives 1.6 Mm³/year (≈40 % of the total inflow) from the adjacent bedrock aquifers: Pottsville Formation contributes 0.96 Mm³/year (60 %) while the Berea Sandstone 0.64 Mm³/year (40 %).