Time-series analysis of groundwater chemistry in the west Tennessee sand aquifers

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Journal of the Tennessee Academy of Science; (United States)

OSTI ID:7183317

Wilson, T M; Ogden, A E; Mills, III, H H ^[1]

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1. Tennessee Valley Authority, Knoxville, TN (United States)

In West Tennessee, nearly all municipalities, industries, and rural residents rely on groundwater. To understand water quality changes caused by mans' activities, it is first important to establish background ionic concentrations from a time-series analysis of past data for wellhead protection purposes. For this analysis, well-water quality data from a 1964-1965 survey by the Tennessee Stream Pollution Control Board was compared to precipitation data. In all of the aquifers studied, calcium increased with depth probably due to the continual solution of calcium minerals as water moved downgradient. Iron also increased with depth to the aquifer associated with a change from oxidizing to reducing conditions downdip. A spatial analysis of nitrite and iron levels was made using data from the Tennessee Division of Water Supply for the period 1982 through 1987. Nitrate and chloride concentrations were higher in recharge areas possibly due to surface contamination sources. The significant variability of chemical constituents was found to be related to recharge events, depth to the aquifer, spatial changes in aquifer lithology, and man's activities in the recharge areas. The inter-relationships of these factors must be understood for determining site-specific ambient quality conditions before implementing a wellhead protection program. 9 refs., 6 figs.

• OSTI ID: 7183317
• Journal Information: Journal of the Tennessee Academy of Science; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of the Tennessee Academy of Science; (United States) Vol. 67:3; ISSN JTASAG; ISSN 0040-313X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AQUIFERS
CONTROL
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MATHEMATICS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL
TENNESSEE
TIME-SERIES ANALYSIS
USA
WATER
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
WATER QUALITY