Processes Affecting the Trihalomethane Concentrations
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Processes Affecting the Trihalomethane Concentrations Associated with the Third Injection, Storage, and Recovery Test at Lancaster, Antelope Valley, California, March 1998 through April 1999 U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4062 Prepared in cooperation with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works and the Antelope Valley-East Kern Water Agency Processes Affecting the Trihalomethane Concentrations Associated with the Third Injection, Storage, and Recovery Test at Lancaster, Antelope Valley, California, March 1998 through April 1999 By Miranda S. Fram1, Brian A. Bergamaschi1, Kelly D. Goodwin2, Roger Fujii1, and Jordan F. Clark3 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4062 Prepared in cooperation with the LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS and the ANTELOPE VALLEY–EAST KERN WATER AGENCY 7212-58 1U.S. Geological Survey, Placer Hall, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, California 95819-6129 2Cooperative Institute of Marine and Atmospheric Chemistry 4301 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida 33149 3University of California, Santa Barbara, Department of Geological Sciences Webb Hall, Santa Barbara, California 92106 Sacramento, California 2003 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR GALE A. NORTON, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Charles G. Groat, Director Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. For additional information write to: District Chief U.S. Geological Survey Placer Hall– Suite 2012 6000 J Street Sacramento, California 95819-6129 http://ca.water.usgs.gov CONTENTS Abstract ................................................................................................................................................................ 1 I. Introduction....................................................................................................................................................... 3 Purpose and Scope ...................................................................................................................................... 5 Previous Studies.......................................................................................................................................... 5 Project Design ............................................................................................................................................. 6 Site Description and Chronology of Third Cycle ....................................................................................... 7 Acknowledgments....................................................................................................................................... 11 II. Formation and Fate of Trihalomethanes during the Injection, Storage, and Recovery Cycle ........................ 11 Variations in Water Quality and Water Levels during the Third Cycle ..................................................... 11 Trihalomethanes................................................................................................................................. 13 Dissolved Organic Carbon and Ultraviolet Absorbance.................................................................... 18 pH....................................................................................................................................................... 18 Residual Chlorine............................................................................................................................... 19 Chloride and Bromide........................................................................................................................ 19 Bromine to Chlorine Ratio in the Trihalomethanes ........................................................................... 20 Water Levels ...................................................................................................................................... 22 Trihalomethane Formation.......................................................................................................................... 23 Trihalomethane-Formation-Potential Experiments............................................................................ 23 Storage Experiment............................................................................................................................ 24 Estimate of Trihalomethane Formation in the Injected Water........................................................... 28 Trihalomethane Fate.................................................................................................................................... 29 Biodegradation ................................................................................................................................... 29 Sorption.............................................................................................................................................. 29 Mixing................................................................................................................................................ 30 Mass Balance of Chloride, Dissolved Organic Carbon, and Trihalomethanes.................................. 31 Mass Balance Calculations .......................................................................................................31 Mass Balance Results ............................................................................................................... 34 Chloride ........................................................................................................................... 34 Dissolved Organic Carbon............................................................................................... 34 Trihalomethanes............................................................................................................... 36 Implications for Water Flow in the Aquifer................................................................................................ 37 Conclusions................................................................................................................................................. 40 III. Modeling Dissolved Constituents, Trihalomethanes, and Sulfur Hexafluoride Tracer Concentrations in Extracted Water.................................................................................................................................................... 41 Sulfur Hexafluoride as a Tracer .................................................................................................................. 41 Experimental Methods ....................................................................................................................... 42 Tracer Results .................................................................................................................................... 43 Modeling ..................................................................................................................................................... 44 Tracer Mixing Model ......................................................................................................................... 44 Descriptive Mixing Model ................................................................................................................. 47 Potential Implications of Mixing for Repetitive Cycles of Injection, Storage, and Recovery.................... 51 Conclusions................................................................................................................................................. 53 IV. The Potential for Biodegradation of Trihalomethanes by Aquifer Bacteria.................................................. 54 Sediment Microcosm Experiments ............................................................................................................. 55 Water Enrichment Microcosm Experiments............................................................................................... 60 Bacterial Density......................................................................................................................................... 60 Contents iii Conclusions................................................................................................................................................. 65 V. Summary and Conclusions.............................................................................................................................. 66 References Cited .................................................................................................................................................. 68 iv Contents FIGURES Figure 1. Map showing locations of sites and geographic features relevant to the third injection, storage, and recovery test (March 1998 through April 1999) at Lancaster, Antelope Valley, California............................................................................................................................... 4 Figure 2. Generalized subsurface geology and locations of wells and nested piezometers used for the third injection, storage, and recovery test (March 1998 through April 1999), Lancaster, Antelope Valley, California............................................................................................................................... 8 Figure 3. Graph showing average daily pumping rates (A) and cumulative volumes of water injected and extracted (B) at well 7N/12W-27P2 (well 4-32) and well 7N/12W-27P3 (well 4-34),