Shallow ground water in the Whitney Area, southeastern Las Vegas Valley, Clark County, Nevada - Part 1. Description of chemical quality, 1986-87

Book · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:6762891

Emme, D H; Prudic, D E ^[1]

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1. Geological Survey, Carson City, NV (United States)

A prototype groundwater detention basin was proposed by the US Bureau of Reclamation to reduce the quantity of dissolved solids entering Las Vegas Wash, Nevada from groundwater seepage, as part of an overall plan to reduce salinity in the lower Colorado River. This report describes groundwater quality in the area of the proposed basin and processes that may control the chemical quality. The 1-sq mi study area is adjacent to the wash jest downstream from two wastewater treatment facilities. The sediments beneath the proposed detention basin are primarily flood-plain deposits dominated by silt near land surface, silty sand between depths of 10 and 25 ft, and silt and clay below about 25 ft. Groundwater flow generally parallels the course of Las Vegas Wash. The water table at the proposed basin site is generally 1 to 4 ft below land surface, and it fluctuates seasonally in response to the changing rates of evapotranspiration. Water samples were collected during a 16 month period from about 65 wells ranging in depth 5 to 45 ft. Measured dissolved-solids concentrations in the shallow groundwater range from about 2,000 mg/L, in an area affected by seepage of treated effluent and urban and storm runoff, to about 28,000 mg/L along the western edge of the study area. Geochemical interpretation of the water-quality data suggests that the amount and distribution of major ions in the groundwater is controlled by: seepage of treated effluent and urban runoff; dissolution of minerals by groundwater; and evapotranspiration, which tends to concentrate solutes near the water table.

• OSTI ID: 6762891
• Resource Relation: Related Information: USGS Water-Resources Investigations Report 89-4117
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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