“Groundwater provides more than 40 percent of California’s drinking water. To protect this vital resource, the State of California created the Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment Program.” Quoted from the USGS press release.
Several varieties of bottled water are actually geological products. Do you know what is required for a product to be labled as “mineral water”, “spring water” or “artesian water”? Do they have any special properties?
USGS has published: “Lineament Analysis of Mineral Areas of Interest in Afghanistan“. The report provides lineament maps that identify areas that warrant further investigation for optimal bedrock water-well placement within 24 target areas for mineral resources. The data may also support the identification of faults related to modern seismic hazards and support studies attempting to understand the relationship between tectonic and structural controls on hydrothermal fluid flow, subsequent mineralization, and water-quality issues near mined and unmined mineral deposits.
“The chances of rogue fractures due to shale gas fracking operations extending beyond 0.6 kilometres from the injection source is a fraction of one percent, according to new research led by Durham University. The analysis is based on data from thousands of fracking operations in the USA and natural rock fractures in Europe and Africa.” Quoted from the Durham University press release.
“The Floridan aquifer system covers an area of approximately 100,000 square miles in Florida and parts of Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi. Groundwater wells for water supply were first drilled in the late 1800s and by the year 2000, the FAS was the primary source of drinking water for about 10 million people.” Quoted from the USGS press release.
Shallow wells drilled outside of the geology building as part of an upper-level hydrology course have launched Tufts University into a geothermal heating and cooling program.
“Across the country, about half of the American public uses groundwater as a primary drinking source. Groundwater is also a critical resource for agriculture, energy production, and a vast array of industries. Yet because groundwater is a hidden resource lying below the land surface, it suffers from “out of sight, out of mind” syndrome. People often overlook it, underappreciate it, take it for granted.” Quoted from the USGS press release.
“A USGS study found that groundwater in aquifers on the East Coast and in the Central United States has the highest risk of contamination from radium. [...] Radium is naturally occurring, so human activity is not the sole source of the problem.” Quoted from the USGS press release.
Groundwater pumping was curtailed around Venice several decades ago but the city is still subsiding at a rate of about 2mm per year. Combine that with a sea level rise of 2mm per year and the city is still in trouble.
While the ownership of oil and natural gas beneath a property has been rather well defined there are still significant uncertainties about who owns the ground water.
USGS investigates the long-term decline in water-levels in basalt aquifers near Mosier Oregon. “…water levels continued to drop at approximately the same, nearly constant annual rate of about 4 feet per year, resulting in a current total decline of between 150 and 200 feet in many wells with continued downward trends.” Quoted from the USGS press release.
William Fritz and Robert Thomas have completed a second edition of the popular Roadside Geology of Yellowstone Country. This 6″x9″ paperback has 311 pages that are packed with detailed information about Yellowstone Geology.
“Hydraulic fracturing of shale formations to extract natural gas has no direct connection to reports of groundwater contamination [...] many problems ascribed to hydraulic fracturing are related to processes common to all oil and gas drilling operations, such as casing failures or poor cement jobs.” Quoted from the University of Texas at Austin press release.
“A recent USGS study found that groundwater in aquifers on the East Coast and in the Central United States has the highest risk of contamination from radium, a naturally occurring radioactive element and known carcinogen.” Quoted from the USGS press release.
The National Ground Water Association has published a position paper titled: “Hydraulic Fracturing: Meeting the Nation’s Energy Needs While Protecting Groundwater Resources.”
In the United States and other developed countries, fluoride is often added to drinking water and toothpaste to help strengthen teeth. But too much naturally occurring fluoride can have exactly the opposite effect.
Henry Darcy is sometimes called the Father of Hydrology for his insights into how fluids move through geologic materials. But in his day, he was known as the hometown hero who transformed an unhealthy village with bad water into a vibrant town. By Jackson School of Geosciences.
Sinkholes are a common geological hazard in many parts of Pennsylvania. The state geological survey has an educational publication and small website to inform the public about sinkholes.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has temporarily shut down a waste injection well that is suspected to have triggered earthquakes. The state has nearly 200 other injection wells that have not been associated with seismic activity.
“A newly released U.S. Geological Survey study of decreasing groundwater resources in the Denver Basin aquifer provides information on water movement within the system and how it responds to changes in climatic and human activities.” Quote from the USGS press release.
“Water-level declines began in parts of the High Plains aquifer soon after the beginning of substantial irrigation with groundwater in the aquifer area. This report presents water-level changes in the High Plains aquifer from the time before substantial groundwater irrigation development had occurred (about 1950 and termed “predevelopment” in this report) to 2009, from 2007-08, and from 2008-09. The report also presents change in water in storage in the aquifer, from predevelopment to 2009.” Quoted from the USGS report release.
The National Ground Water Association has a website where teachers can find a collection of classroom experiments and activities that are age appropriate for grades K-3, 4-8 and 9-12.
Researchers at Montana State University are monitoring geothermal change beneath Yellowstone National Park in an effort to determine if commercial development of geothermal energy outside of the Park might damage Old Faithful and other park resources.
A number of people are reacting to EPA’s draft report: “Investigation of Ground WaterContamination near Pavillion, Wyoming” which links hydraulic fracturing to fresh water aquifer contamination. Hydraulic fracturing in they Wyoming study was done just 1200 feet below the ground while the fracturing done in the major shale gas plays in other parts of the country occurs and far greater depths.
New groundwater and soil moisture drought indicator maps produced using data from NASA’s Grace satellite show unusually low groundwater storage levels in Texas.
Researchers have used Krypton 81 to study the flow of water through the Nubian Aquifer of North Africa. Krypton isotopes can be used to determine how long water has been underground and how fast it has moved.
In a NewsOK.com article, Larry Nichols, of Devon Energy says that hydraulic fracturing for natural gas and oil is receiving too much blame for contaminating ground water and causing earthquakes.
Early results from a University of Texas at Austin study of hydraulic fracturing and groundwater contamination suggest that there is no direct link between the fracturing and contamination. Problems of contamination are instead related to other parts of the drilling and well management process such as leaking casings, failed cement jobs and above-ground spills.
An Associated Press article examines how people who favor and oppose Marcellus Shalenatural gas development have very different perceptions of problems and opportunities.
“A NASA-led team has used radar sounding technology developed to explore the subsurface of Mars to create high-resolution maps of freshwater aquifers buried deep beneath an Earth desert, in the first use of airborne sounding radar for aquifer mapping.” Quoted from the NASA press release.
“About 20% of untreated water samples from public, private, and monitoring wells across the nation contain concentrations of at least one trace element, such as arsenic, manganese and uranium, at levels of potential health concern, according to a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey.” Quoted from the USGS news release.
The National Ground Water Association has named September 13, 2011 as “Protect Your Ground Water Day”. They have a list of simple ways to protect ground water on their website along with many other ground water topics.
Groundwater coming into contact with hot rock is thought to have caused phreatic explosions at Popocatepetl Volcano sending plumes of ash towards Mexico City.
“Trace-element concentrations in groundwater were evaluated for samples collected between 1992 and 2003 from aquifers across the United States as part of the U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Assessment Program.
USGS has published: A Water-Budget Model and Assessment of Groundwater Recharge for the Island of Hawaiʻi.
“Concern surrounding increasing demand for groundwater on the Island of Hawaiʻi, caused by a growing population and an increasing reliance on groundwater as a source for municipal and private water systems, has prompted a study of groundwater recharge on the island using the most current data and accepted methods.” Quoted from the USGS report.
The High Plains Aquifer underlies some of the most important agricultural land in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. The Aquifer is in trouble because overpumping has dropped water levels in many areas over 100 vertical feet. This USGS report summarizes changes in the Aquifer from predevelopment to 2009.
Water banking is a system in which water-rights holders store water underground, outside of the aquifer, for their own future use during droughts or to sell to others. This practice is resulting in law suits as small communities in these areas are running out of water.
“The study [...] reports that measurable amounts of the mercury emitted by coal-fired power plants is deposited in local soil and subsequently enters regional watersheds, contaminating fish and making them unsafe for human consumption.” Quoted from the Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis news release.
“In a typical year, California gets about 30 percent of its water from groundwater wells. Yet when it comes to managing this precious resource, the state of California relies on a mixed bag of more than 2,000 local water agencies with varying degrees of authority.” Quoted from the Stanford University news release.
Marvin Odum, President of Shell Oil explains how hydraulic fracturing is used to enhance the production of natural gas from shale and why he believes the process will not harm private well water supplies.
The Arizona Department of Water Resources has a new set of land subsidence maps and a land subsidence fact sheet available for viewing on the web. Most of the land subsidence problems in Arizona are “generally due to compaction of the alluvium caused by lowering of the water table.”
With high ground water levels in many parts of the country, lots of people are dealing with the problem of a flooded basement. An article in the Sioux City Journal explains some of the methods for recovering from that mess.
By studying small variations in Earth’s gravity scientists have been able to identify areas around the world where people are taking up unsustainable amounts of groundwater.
In Sri Lanka the government is considering legislation that will regulate the use of ground water from commercial wells. Some view this as an attempt to privatize the ground water resource.
A well-known activist claims that ground water exploitation in the Great Lakes region will pump the lakes “bone dry” in 80 years – and promotes a moratorium on any new ground water pumping. A USGS scientist who has done a water budget on the Great Lakes reports that “withdrawals for human use in the entire Great Lakes Basin are dwarfed by the amounts that cycle through the system from rainfall, evaporation and rivers flowing into the lakes.”
A study of ground water in southwest Montana, United States Geological Survey researchers found levels of radionuclides that exceed EPA’s safety standards in 29% of wells sampled. In response a county sanitarian found that installing reverse osmosis systems in well-water homes reduced the radionuclide levels.
“The purpose of these investigations is to document and map the extent of Holocene channel and floodplain alluvium associated with the San Pedro River and its major tributaries in southeastern Arizona. Mapping done in this study will be used by Arizona Department of Water Resources staff as part of their effort to delineate subflow zones in the San Pedro River Watershed. The Maricopa County Superior Court has requested that ADWR delineate subflow zones associated with the San Pedro River as part of its work in the Gila River water rights adjudication.” Quote from the project webpage.
This report was the 2011 winner of the John C. Frye Memorial Award, for the best nominated environmental geology paper published by GSA or a state survey.
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