BASELINE GROUNDWATER COMPOSITION AND QUALITY BELOW IRRIGATED ALMOND AND WALNUT ORCHARDS IN DURHAM, CA, USA. Candace A. Gallion This study investigated groundwater quality in the Durham, California, USA area. The goal of the study was to determine baseline groundwater quality for the study area, whether crop type or time of year influenced groundwater quality, whether groundwater quality was significantly different among sample sites, and if groundwater quality test factors were correlated, and if any limiting factors for irrigation were present. Groundwater samples were collected and analyzed from eleven wells in almond (A2, A4, A5, A6, A7 and A8) and walnut (W1, W2, W3, W4 and W5) orchards and samples were sent to a laboratory to be analyzed for calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), sodium (Na), sulfate (SO4), bicarbonate (HCO3), iron (Fe), chloride (Cl), and nitrate (NO3) concentrations, total dissolved solids (TDS), hardness, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and sodium adsorption ratio (S.A.R.). Groundwater samples were collected in September 2008, March 2009, May 2009 and September 2009. Results were analyzed using One-Way ANOVA testing and a correlation analysis, both at alpha levels equal to 0.05. Not many differences were discovered among sampling times or between tree types. Potassium was the only factor significantly different between the almond (0.98 ppm) and walnut (0.73 ppm) sites, a trend possibly resulting from greater usage of potassium fertilizer in almond orchards as compared to walnut orchards. Sodium adsorption ratio was greater in March 2009 (0.35) and May 2009 (0.34) than either September sample (both 0.26) due to leaching of sodium into groundwater following rain events. Mean potassium concentration was greater in March 2009 (1.49 ppm) than in May 2009 (0.69 ppm), September 2008 (0.75 ppm) or September 2009 (0.63 ppm), also due to leaching of potassium into groundwater during the rainy winter months. Many differences were found among the sampling sites. In general, W1, W3, W5, A2, A4, A6 and A8 had lower concentrations of the test factors, and therefore purer groundwater, than W2, W4, A5 and A7. The majority of the test factors had significant, positive correlations with other test factors, with the exception of pH; pH had primarily significant negative correlations with the other test factors. Test factors were not present in groundwater at levels to cause any severe irrigation restrictions. Slight-to-moderate limitation levels were found for HCO3 (all sample sites), TDS and EC (W2, W4, A5, and A7), and NO3 (W1, W2, W3, W4, A4, A5, and A7). Overall, groundwater at the sampled sites was suitable for use as irrigation water, not many tree type or temporal differences in groundwater quality were discovered, many differences were found among sample sites, and many correlations were present among test factors. The information gathered and interpreted in this study will be useful for making management decisions regarding use of the tested groundwater for irrigation. Keywords: groundwater quality, irrigation suitability

No description available.

<p>Cilj rada je ispitivanje kvaliteta podzemnih voda tri izvori&scaron;ta na teritoriji op&scaron;tine<br />Lakta&scaron;i u naseljima Kri&scaron;kovci, Maglajani i Lakta&scaron;i, kao i uticaja prirodnih uslova i<br />antropogenih de&scaron;avanja u okolini izvori&scaron;ta na kvalitet ispitivanih podzemnih voda.<br />Detaljno dizajnirana laboratorijska istraživanja i planiran eksperimentalni deo ove<br />disertacije predstavlja polaznu osnovu u re&scaron;avaju kompleksne problematike iz oblasti upravljanja kvalitetom voda za piće istražnog područja. Poseban doprinos nauci u oblasti za&scaron;tite voda predstavlja integrisan pristup u analizi selektovanih organskih, neorganskih i fizičko-hemijskih parametara podzemnih voda i definisanje osnovnih i specifičnih zavisnih varijabli hemometrijskom analizom podataka kao i kreiranje eksperimentalnih i laboratorijskih uslova za demanganizaciju vode kritičnih izvori&scaron;ta. Ovaj sveobuhvatni pristup u skeniranju op&scaron;tih i specifičnih varijabli i definisanje veza između elemenata, grupisanje na osnovu njihovih sličnosti ili razlika u specijalne klase prema karakterističnim fizičko-hemijskim svojstvima i sposobnosti ka kompleksiranju, ukazuje na način pojavljivanja promenljivih, njihovo poreklo u vodi i defini&scaron;e uzroke njihove varijabilnosti (antropogeni - tačkasti ili difuzni, ili nativni, dominantno geolo&scaron;ki). Svi analizirani in situ parametri zadovoljavaju kriterijum propisan važećim Pravilnikom o higijenskoj ispravnosti vode za piće (2003). Od 1632 merenja u laboratoriji (72 parametara), 26 merenja (1,59%) nisu zadovoljavala kriterijume propisane ovim Pravilnikom (15 merenja u vodi sa izvori&scaron;ta Kri&scaron;kovci (57,6%), 7 sa izvori&scaron;ta Maglajani (26,9%) i 4 sa izvori&scaron;ta Lakta&scaron;i (15,4%)). Parametri koji odstupaju od kriterijuma datih Pravilnikom (2003) su mutnoća, nitriti, mangan, ulja i masti. Sa mikrobiolo&scaron;kog aspekta voda izvori&scaron;ta u Lakta&scaron;ima je zdravstveno ispravna, dok je voda izvori&scaron;ta u Kri&scaron;kovcima u najlo&scaron;ijem stanju, na izvori&scaron;tu u Maglajanima nisu detektovane bakterije indikatori fekalnog zagađenja, dok je voda reke Vrbas jako lo&scaron;eg kvaliteta. U okviru ove doktorske disertacije ostvaren je značajan doprinos u otkrivanju i razumevanju međusobnih odnosa pojedinih elemenata i parametara u složenom sistemu kakav je voda posebno imajući u vidu analizu organskog i neorganskog kompleksiranja, &scaron;to predstavlja značajan doprinos u ovom polju imajući u vidu ograničen broj literaturnih referenci. Iz rada se može doneti zaključak da se rezultatiispitivanih parametara na izvori&scaron;tima menjaju u toku godine, da je potrebno izvr&scaron;iti dodatna geolo&scaron;ka ispitivanja da bi se sa sigurno&scaron;ću utvrdila veza između vode reke Vrbas i vode izvori&scaron;ta, da na izvori&scaron;te u Kri&scaron;kovcima ima uticaj biolo&scaron;ko pođubravanje zemlji&scaron;ta i otpadne vode okolnog naselja, dok za druga dva izvori&scaron;ta nije dokazana sumnja da de&scaron;avanja na povr&scaron;ini iznad izvori&scaron;ta utiču na samo izvori&scaron;te i da padavine nemaju značajan uticaj na iste. Data ispitivanja su bazirana na osnovnim zahtevima okvirne direktive o vodamna (EU Water Framework Directive (WFD)) na prvom mestu izboru prioritetnih i ostalih supstanci od interesa u cilju praćenja i definisanja indikatora pritisaka i uticaja na vodna tela. Dobijeni podaci će poslužiti za razvoj strategija i planova kontrole i sprečavanja zagađenja, definisanje programa za praćenje kvaliteta podzemnih voda i vode za piće, upravljanja rečnim slivom, dostupnost informacijama u cilju pobolj&scaron;anja<br />kvaliteta vode za piće.</p> / <p>The aim of this paper is to examine the quality of groundwater of three springs on the<br />territory of the municipality of Lakta&scaron;i in the Kri&scaron;kovci, Maglajani and Lakta&scaron;i settlements, as well as the influence of natural conditions and anthropogenic activities in the spring areas on the quality of examined groundwater. Detailed designed laboratory research and the planned experimental part of this dissertation represent the starting point for solving of complex problems in the field of quality management of drinking water in the investigated area. The special contribution to water protection science is an integrated approach to the analysis of selected organic, inorganic and physicochemical parameters of groundwater, as well as the definition of basic and specific dependent variables, by chemometric data analysis, and the creation of experimental and laboratory conditions for the demanganization of water from critical sources. This is a comprehensive approach to scanning general and specific variables and defining links between elements &ndash; grouping them on the basis of their similarities or differences in special classes according to the characteristic physicochemical properties and their ability to complex, which indicates the way of change, its origin in water and defines the causes of their variability (anthropogenic -pointic or diffuse, or native, predominantly geological). All analyzed in situ parameters meet the criterion prescribed by the relevant Regulation on Hygienic Quality of Drinking Water (2003). Out of the 1632 measurements in the laboratory, only 72 parameters and 26 measurements (1.59%) did not meet the criteria prescribed by this Regulation: 15 water measurements from sources Kri&scaron;kovci (57.6%), 7 from Maglajani sources (26.9%) and 4 from the sources of Lakta&scaron;i (15.4%). Parameters that deviated from the criteria given in the Regulation (2003) were turbidity, nitrite, manganese, oil and fat. From the microbiological aspect,<br />water source in Lakta&scaron;i is health safety, while the source of water in Kri&scaron;kovci is in the<br />worst condition. In water from sources in Maglajani did not detect bacterial indicators of fecal pollution, while the water of the river Vrbas is of very poor quality.<br />Within this doctoral dissertation, a significant contribution was made in the discovery<br />and understanding of the mutual relations of certain elements and parameters in a<br />complex system such as water, especially in the view of the analysis of organic and<br />inorganic complexation. Keeping in mind the limited number of literary references,<br />these results represent a significant contribution in this field. It can be concluded from the dissertation that the findings of the tested parameters at the sources change during the year. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out additional geological investigations in order to establish with certainty that there is a connection between the water of the river Vrbas and the water sources. From the dissertation can be concluded that the biological fertilization of the soil and the waste water of the surrounding settlement has an impact on the spring in Kri&scaron;kovci. For the sources of other two settlements there no has proven that surface activities above the sources affect the source itself and that precipitation does not have a significant impact on them. Conducted tests was based on the basic requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) and in the first place on the selection of priority and other substances of interest for the purpose of monitoring and defining pressure indicators and impacts on water bodies. The obtained data will: (1) serve to develop strategies and plans for pollution control and prevention, (2) define programs for monitoring the quality of groundwater and drinking water, (3) enable improved river basin management, and (4) provide availability of information for improving the quality of drinking water.</p>

No description available.

M. Tech. / Background: Groundwater is essential for many human activities, especially as a source of drinking water. Contaminated groundwater threatens many valuable water resources which may have adverse human health consequences. Groundwater contamination often goes unnoticed as it occurs underground and it is often impossible to, and often very expensive to rehabilitate. Groundwater pollution originating from industrial sites is a general problem in many industrialized countries, but also in developing countries such as South Africa. Among the various types of groundwater contamination, DNAPL (Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids) contamination is a common one. A generic test for determining DNAPL contamination in water and their adverse effects on human health that consume this water does not exist. This study was aimed, by using two known immunoassays, to asses the toxicity and DNA damaging potential, using known techniques, of two index DNAPL and untested groundwater from newly drilled boreholes in areas suspected of DNAPL contamination. Objectives: To compile a DNAPL guideline based the use of index chemicals (Tricloroethylene [TCE] and Aroclor® 1254 [ARO]) to determine the high-end values and a series of reference (non-contaminated ground, and other treated waters) samples used to determine low-end values. PBMC were exposed to these samples and the test reactions for cytotoxicity and DNA damage measured. The methodology was then applied to groundwaters taken from an industrial site. This was to establish the health effects of these waters as well as determining whether they had DNAPL contamination.

Chapter I presents an investigation of a TCE-contaminated aquifer beneath Tucson International Airport, Arizona. Shallow soil gas (< 2m deep) was collected and analyzed for halocarbon contaminants to determine the relationship with vadose zone and groundwater contamination directly below. The TCE plume in shallow soil gas was mapped with 46 probes and spanned 3 orders of magnitude in concentration (< 0.001 to 2.0 μg/L). TCE concentrations in water from 5 monitoring wells around the Airport property ranged from 4 to 2800 ppb and had a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.90 with TCE concentrations in shallow soil gas. Vertical borings were completed to the water table at four locations in order to obtain profiles of soil gas contamination, air porosity, and water saturation. Vertical concentration gradients and effective diffusion coefficients were used to calculate flux rates for volatile organic contaminants (VOC's). Flux values ranged from 0.094 to 680 pg/day per m² for the four borings, and an annual mass transfer of TCE from groundwater to the atmosphere was estimated at 4 kg over the 0.5 km² site. Contaminant concentrations in shallow soil gas provided an accurate indication (r = 0.94) of vadose zone flux on a site-specific basis. The success in delineating the areal extent of subsurface contamination via soil gas sampling is not diminished by geologic or hydrologic anomalies if they are not laterally extensive compared to the plume. Chapter II introduces an environmental rates model which provides an estimate of the subsurface fate of volatile organic chemicals. Six hydrochemical indices are estimated (dissolved flow retardation, immiscible flow retardation, air-water partitioning, soil gas diffusion, hydrolysis, biodegradation) from compound-specific properties and site-specific characteristics. In addition, the carcinogenic potential and metabolic intermediates (two biochemical indices) of 75 volatile organic chemicals are estimated from the compounds' chemical structure. The model output is designed to assist water resource and environmental decision-makers in assessing the severity of existing problems and in avoiding potential problems.

No description available.

M.Tech. Biomedical Technology / Previous studies have reported on the potential health risks associated with direct contact with chemicals (such as DNAPLs) via inhalation or drinking of contaminated groundwater. Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids (DNAPLs) enter into groundwater through incorrect storage or disposal and pose risk to human health. Industrialization contributes considerably to contamination of ground water with waste disposal practices leading to the deposition of hazardous waste at geologically/hydro-geologically unsuitable locations. Many hazardous chemicals found their way into groundwater by this mean and might cause problems if ingested in drinking water. Most of these compounds undergo only limited degradation in the subsurface, and persist for long periods of time while slowly releasing soluble organic constituents that present hazardous health effects (both toxic and non-toxic) to humans.

The recent emergence of the critical problem of groundwater contamination due to materials leaching from toxic waste disposal sites and other sources has had a sobering impact on society. The rash of unexpected contamination has led to a plethora of legislation designed to address this problem. Along with this legislation has come the need to be able to accurately, effectively, and economically detect the contamination of groundwater. The primary objectives of the research reported here were to investigate the use of the parameters total organic carbon (TOC), total organic halide (TOX), and the photoluminescent bacterial bioassay, Microtox (Beckman Instruments, Carlsbad, CA.) as screening parameters for the evaluation of groundwater quality. This objective was accomplished through an analysis of background information from the literature including a Virginia State Water Control Board study of groundwater quality in Southwestern Virginia, a laboratory study, a United States Department of Agriculture groundwater project, and analysis of five field samples collected from uncontaminated and contaminated sources. The TOC and TOX tests were shown to provide important information. Microtox bioassays were performed on all samples and the results were correlated with the chemical analysis. It was concluded that the Microtox bioassay was a useful screening test for groundwater quality and that this assay in combination with the TOC and TOX parameters provided a reasonable indication of groundwater quality. / M.S.

The State of Arizona adopted strict groundwater conservation policies under the Arizona Groundwater Act of 1980. The Act mandates direct controls on groundwater use and provides incentives to seek alternative water supplies to offset the groundwater overdraft and restrict the expansion of municipal well fields. The City of Tucson, to reduce its groundwater dependency, is contracting for Central Arizona Project (CAP) water. CAP water comes from the Colorado River and carries with it nearly a ton of salts per acre-foot. Conservation programs being investigated by the city include reclaimed wastewater reuse for municipal use and artificial recharge. Salinity, a conservative contaminant, will rise as the water carrying it evaporates away during use. Some saline incidental recharge from wastewater irrigated acreage in the municipal well field is picked-up by groundwater pumpage in what is described as the municipal water-salinity cycle. The rate of salinity pick-up is compounded in the cycle. Those responsible for achieving groundwater conservation under the mandates of the Act do not include the costs generated by salinity damages and suffered by municipal water-consumers into their conservation plans. Salinity damages costs are generated by the direct use of CAP water and the use of degraded groundwater supplies. The study results show that under assumptions of limited groundwater dilution volumes the annual rate of salinity pick-up can range from about 1.4 percent to nearly 2.0 percent. An annual average pick-up rate of 2.0 percent could degrade Tucson's groundwater supplies from the present average salinity of 300 mg/1 to 1000 mg/1 in 61 years. Thirteen scenarios were evaluated and the present value of incremental costs of both salinity damage and expenditures associated with conservation were calculated. While estimates of salinity damage costs are many times lower than the conservation program expenditures, increased salinity in groundwater will lower the future capital value of the resource in the future if ignored.