Processes affecting the distribution of selenium in shallow ground-water of agricultural areas, western San Joaquin Valley, California

Book · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6940972

Deverel, S J; Fujii, R

A study was undertaken to evaluate the processes affecting the chemistry of shallow groundwater associated with agricultural drainage systems in the western San Joaquin Valley, California. The study was prompted by a need for an understanding of selenium mobility in areas having high selenium concentrations in shallow groundwater. Groundwater samples were collected along transects in three artificially drained fields where the age of the drainage system varied. Selenium concentrations in the drainage water also varied. Isotopic enrichment and chemical composition of the groundwater samples indicate that saline- and selenium- enriched water has evolved as a result of evaporation of groundwater. This evaporated, isotopically enriched water is being displaced by more recent, less saline irrigation water percolating through the root zone. This placement seems to be a process in which sodium chloride and sodium sulfate water is being replaced by more dilute calcium sulfate and calcium bicarbonate water. 24 refs., 13 figs.

• OSTI ID: 6940972
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ACID CARBONATES
CALIFORNIA
CHEMISTRY
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
CONTAMINATION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEDERAL REGION IX
GROUND WATER
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MASS TRANSFER
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SELENIUM
SEMIMETALS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
USA
WATER
WATER CHEMISTRY
WATER POLLUTION