Geochemical assessment of aquifer recharge effects in the southwest Denver basin

Technical Report · Tue Aug 29 04:00:00 EDT 1989

OSTI ID:6479321

Aikin, A R; Turner, A K

Recharge of the Denver groundwater basin by injection recharge has been proposed as a result of increasing depletion of the water supply. However, injection recharge can cause physical and chemical changes in the geologic materials of the recharged aquifer, depending on the chemistry of both the host and injected waters, as well as the mineralogy of the aquifer's rock matrix. The Denver groundwater basin contains four principal bedrock aquifers, of which the Arapahoe aquifer is considered to be the best in terms of water quality and quantity. Some preliminary field injection tests have been undertaken using drinking water supplies. However, water that meets drinking water standards contains constituents which may react upon injection, resulting in aquifer damage. As a preliminary step in designing future field tests, analyses of aquifer water and Denver Water Board municipal drinking water were evaluated by a geochemical equilibrium computer model (PHREEQE), developed by the U.S. Geological Survey, to determine the potential for reaction. The results of these simulations confirm that the Arapahoe aquifer is a good candidate for injection recharge.

• Research Organization: Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO (United States). Water Resources Research Inst.
• OSTI ID: 6479321
• Report Number(s): PB-93-200384/XAB; COMPLETION--146; CNN: DI-14-08-0001-G1006; DI-14-08-0001-G1214
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
AQUIFERS
CHEMISTRY
COLORADO
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DATA
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DRINKING WATER
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
EQUILIBRIUM
EVALUATED DATA
FIELD TESTS
GEOCHEMICAL SURVEYS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GROUND WATER
HOST
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
INJECTION
INTAKE
MINERALOGY
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RECHARGE
SIMULATION
STANDARDS
SURVEYS
TESTING
USA
VERIFICATION
WATER
WATER QUALITY
WATER SUPPLY
WATER USE