Iron in water near wastewater lagoons in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1978 · J. Res. U.S. Geol. Surv.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6455078

Cox, E R

High dissolved-iron concentrations have been noted in water in wells used to monitor effluent that percolates from wastewater disposal lagoons near Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park. The concentration of dissolved iron in water in a well increased from 80 ..mu..g/l (micrograms per liter) before a nearby lagoon was used for disposal of effluent to 17,000 ..mu..g/l after the lagoon was used. The effluent contained 180 ..mu..g/l of dissolved iron, and nearby Iron Spring Creek contained 30 ..mu..g/l or less of dissolved iron above and below the lagoons. Organic carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur in the effluent as methane, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide are oxidized to carbon dioxide, nitrate, and sulfate, respectively, in the unsaturated zone and possibly in the saturated zone as ground water moves through sand and gravel toward Iron Spring Creek. This oxidation results in simultaneous reduction of iron in the sand and gravel from the insoluble ferric phase to the soluble ferrous phase. As ground water high in dissolved iron discharges at land surface near the stream, oxygen from the atmosphere oxidizes the iron back to the insoluble ferric phase, and ferric hydroxide precipitates. Ferric hydroxide also precipitates in some of the monitoring wells. Iron bacteria and other organisms are associated with the precipitates.

• OSTI ID: 6455078
• Journal Information: J. Res. U.S. Geol. Surv.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Res. U.S. Geol. Surv.; (United States) Vol. 6:3; ISSN JRGSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
152001* -- Geothermal Data & Theory-- Properties of Aqueous Solutions
ACID CARBONATES
ALKALI METALS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ALKANES
AMMONIA
BACTERIA
CALCIUM
CARBON
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
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ELEMENTS
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HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
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IRON
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IRON HYDROXIDES
LIQUID WASTES
MAGNESIUM
METALS
METHANE
MICROORGANISMS
MINERALS
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NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
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ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
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PH VALUE
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PUBLIC LANDS
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SEPARATION PROCESSES
SILICA
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SILICON OXIDES
SODIUM
SULFATES
SULFIDES
SULFUR
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE WATERS
TABLES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WASTE WATER
WASTES
WATER
WELLS
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK