Madeleine J Mathews | Geology Reports

USGS2022

Comparison of radium analytical methods for municipal drinking water well operation

Radium (Ra) is a geogenic contaminant that occurs at high levels in the Midwestern Cambrian-Ordovician aquifer system (MCOAS), a regionally important sandstone and carbonate drinking water aquifer. Water utilities using the MCOAS often must adopt treatment methods or use alternative water sources to maintain high-quality drinking water. Here, we show that Ra in water obtained from a municipal well in Wisconsin remains consistent despite variation in pumping conditions. However, widely used analytical methods (e.g., scintillation counting) for measuring Ra are less precise for quantifying Ra variability given the site conditions. Although not currently used for EPA compliance, mass spectrometry improves the precision of Ra measurements by an order of magnitude over the currently used counting method (e.g., 95 ± 3 mBq/L vs. 110 ± 30 mBq/L) at the concentrations observed in this study. The use of more precise analytical methods will increase understanding of trends in Ra levels important for operating public water systems.

Water Science and Engineering↗

USGS2022

Isotopic analysis of radium geochemistry at discrete intervals in the Midwestern Cambrian-Ordovician aquifer system

Radium (Ra) is a geogenic radioactive contaminant that frequently occurs at elevated levels in the Midwestern Cambrian-Ordovician aquifer system (MCOAS). Geochemical indicators (e.g., redox conditions or total dissolved solids) can broadly characterize conditions associated with elevated Ra levels in groundwater, but do not consistently correlate to elevated Ra within specific stratigraphic horizons. A coupled geochemical and isotopic study of groundwater and aquifer solids for major and trace elements, Ra, and uranium (U) at discrete intervals in the MCOAS was used to elucidate processes that may be responsible for this disconnect, via analysis of groundwater as well as extracted and digested solid aquifer samples. We find that the potential for Ra mobilization varies by stratigraphic unit, as observed by whole-rock 226 Ra/ 238 U (dis)equilibrium. Overall, the examined aqueous geochemical characteristics (e.g., redox conditions, total dissolved solids) do not explain Ra concentrations within the system, suggesting that alternative factors, like solid-phase associations or the extent of alpha recoil damage, may be more important. A relation between aqueous 87 Sr/ 86 Sr and 226 Ra suggests that minerals with radiogenic 87 Sr/ 86 Sr are more likely to release 226 Ra to the aqueous system. Overall, the release of U and Ra due to water-rock interaction varies with discrete stratigraphy, depending on aqueous geochemistry and available mineral associations. Due to complex Ra-rock interactions and the heterogeneous geology of the MCOAS, aqueous geochemistry does not fully predict the mobilization and concentration of Ra in groundwater. As sources and sinks of Ra within the MCOAS vary across stratigraphy, knowledge of aqueous geochemistry, available solid-phase associations, and nuclide leachability all are important to consider for understanding elevated Ra occurrence in aquifer systems.

Wisconsin↗