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Characterization of fracture connectivity in a siliciclastic bedrock aquifer near a public supply well (Wisconsin, USA)

Caractérisation de la conductivité de fracture dans un aquifère de socle clastique silicaté près d’un puits public d’alimentation public (Wisconsin, USA)

Caracterización de la conectividad de fracturas en un acuífero de basamento silicoclástico cercano a un pozo de abastecimiento público (Wisconsin, EEUU)

美国威斯康星州公共供水井附近硅质碎屑基岩含水层的裂隙连通性特征

Caraterização da conetividade entre fraturas num aquífero em bedrock siliciclástico nas proximidades de um furo de abastecimento público (Wisconsin, EUA)

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Abstract

In order to protect public supply wells from a wide range of contaminants, it is imperative to understand physical flow and transport mechanisms in the aquifer system. Although flow through fractures has typically been associated with either crystalline or carbonate rocks, there is growing evidence that it can be an important component of flow in relatively permeable sandstone formations. The objective of this work is to determine the role that fractures serve in the transport of near-surface contaminants such as wastewater from leaking sewers, to public supply wells in a deep bedrock aquifer. A part of the Cambrian aquifer system in Madison, Wisconsin (USA), was studied using a combination of geophysical, geochemical, and hydraulic testing in a borehole adjacent to a public supply well. Data suggest that bedrock fractures are important transport pathways from the surface to the deep aquifer. These fractured intervals have transmissivity values several orders of magnitude higher than non-fractured intervals. With respect to rapid transport of contaminants, high transmissivity values of individual fractures make them the most likely preferential flow pathways. Results suggest that in a siliciclastic aquifer near a public supply well, fractures may have an important role in the transport of sewer-derived wastewater contaminants.

Résumé

Afin de protéger des puits publics d’alimentation contre une large gamme de polluants, il est impératif de comprendre le flux physique et les mécanismes de transport dans le système aquifère. Bien qu’un flux à travers des fractures ait été typiquement associé à des roches soit cristallines soit carbonatées, il y a une évidence grandissante qu’il peut être une composante importante de flux dans des formations gréseuses relativement perméables. L’objectif de ce travail est de déterminer le rôle que les fractures jouent dans le transfert de contaminants de sub-surface, tels que eaux usées d’égouts fuyants, à des puits d’alimentation dans un substrat aquifère profond. Une partie du système aquifère de Madispn, Wisconsin (USA) a été étudié en utilisant une combinaison de tests géophysique, géochimique et hydraulique dans un forage adjacent à un puits d’alimentation publique. Les données suggèrent que les fractures du substrat sont des chemins importants de passage depuis la surface à l’aquifère profond. Ces intervalles fracturées ont une transmissivité d’ordre de grandeur plusieurs fois supérieure à celle des intervalles non fracturés. En raison du transport rapide des contaminants, des valeurs de transmissivité élevées des fractures singulières en font les chemins préférentiels les plus vraisemblables. Les résultats suggèrent que dans un aquifère silicaté près d’un puits d’alimentation public, des fractures peuvent avoir un rôle important dans le transport de contaminants d’eau résiduaire provenant d’égouts.

Resumen

Con el objeto de proteger a los pozos de abastecimiento público de un amplio rango de contaminantes, es imperativo entender los mecanismos físicos de transporte y flujo en el sistema acuífero. Aunque el flujo a través de las fracturas ha sido típicamente asociado con rocas cristalinas o bien carbonáticas, hay una evidencia creciente que ello puede ser una importante componente de flujo en formaciones de areniscas relativamente permeables. El objetivo de este trabajo es determinar el rol que desempeñan las fracturas en el transporte de contaminantes en las proximidades de la superficie, tales como aguas residuales proveniente de las pérdidas de alcantarillas, a pozos de abastecimiento público en un acuífero de basamento profundo. Se estudió una parte del sistema acuífero cámbrico en Madison, Wisconsin (EEUU), usando una combinación de ensayos geofísicos, geoquímicos, e hidráulicos en una perforación adyacente a un pozo de abastecimiento público. Los datos sugieren que las fracturas del basamento son trayectorias importantes de transporte desde la superficie al acuífero profundo. Estos intervalos fracturados tienen valores de transmisividad de varios órdenes de magnitud más altos que los intervalos de rocas no fracturadas. Con respecto al transporte rápido de los contaminantes, altos valores transmisividad de las fracturas individuales hacen a ellas probablemente las mayores trayectorias de flujo preferencial. Los resultados sugieren que en un acuífero silicoclástico cercano a un pozo de abastecimiento público, las fracturas pueden tener un rol importante en el transporte de contaminantes provenientes de aguas residuales de las alcantarillas cloacas.

摘要

为防止公共供水井受到各种污染物污染,了解含水层系统中物理流动和运移机理是必要的。尽管裂隙中的流动代表性地与结晶岩或碳酸岩相联系,越来越多的证据表明它可以是相对可渗透的砂岩地层中流动的重要组成部分。本文旨在确定近地表污染物运移中裂隙所起的作用,比如从渗漏下水道到深层基岩含水层中的公共供水井的污水。利用地球物理、地球化学以及公共供水井附近钻孔液压测试相结合的手段对美国威斯康星州麦迪逊市部分寒武系含水层系统进行研究。数据表明基岩裂隙是从地表到深部含水层的重要运移路径。有裂隙的区间导水系数比无裂隙区间高若干个数量级。考虑到污染物的快速运移,个别裂隙的高导水系数使它们成为最可能优先运动路径。结果表明在靠近公共供水井的硅质碎屑含水层中,裂隙在下水道起源的污水污染物运移中起重要作用。

Resumo

Com o objetivo de proteger os furos de captação de abastecimento público de uma grande variedade de contaminantes, é imperativo compreender o fluxo físico e mecanismos de transporte no sistema aquífero. Embora o fluxo através de fraturas tenha sido associado tipicamente a rochas cristalinas ou a rochas carbonatadas, existe uma evidência crescente de que ele possa ser uma componente importante do fluxo em formações granulares relativamente permeáveis. O objetivo deste trabalho é determinar o papel que as fraturas assumem no transporte subsuperficial de contaminantes, tais como águas residuais provenientes da drenagem de esgotos para furos de abastecimento público que captam um aquífero rochoso profundo. Uma parte do sistema aquífero Câmbrico, em Madison, Wisconsin (EUA), foi estudada usando uma combinação de ensaios geofísicos, geoquímicos e hidráulicos num furo adjacente a uma captação de abastecimento público. Os dados sugerem que as fraturas no maciço são importantes vias de transporte a partir da superfície para o aquífero profundo. As zonas fraturadas têm valores de transmissividade várias ordens de magnitude mais elevados que as zonas não-fraturadas. Valores elevados de transmissividade em fraturas individuais torna-as nos caminhos preferenciais de fluxo em relação ao transporte rápido de contaminantes. Os resultados sugerem que, num aquífero siliciclástico perto de uma captação de abastecimento público, as fraturas podem ter um papel importante no transporte de contaminantes com origem no esgoto de águas residuais.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the US Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, Army Research Office grant W911NF-10-1-0095 and by the US Environmental Protection Agency Science to Achieve Results (STAR) grant No. R834869. Additional funding for monitoring well installation was provided by the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists Veterans Memorial Scholarship Fund. Peter Chase, WGNHS, assisted with field work and the design and construction of the light-weight straddle packer. Jacob Krause, WGNHS, assisted with field work to include borehole-flow logging and interpretation of the resulting data. Lauren Lande, University of Wisconsin-Madison, assisted with many aspects of field work to include straddle-packer slug testing and water-chemistry sampling. Water-chemistry samples were analyzed by E. Calvin Alexander at the University of Minnesota Hydrogeochemistry Laboratory. The City of Madison Water Utility granted access to the unit well 7 site and provided invaluable assistance and data.

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  1. Christopher A. Gellasch

    Present address: Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geoscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1215 W. Dayton St., Madison, WI, 53706, USA

    Christopher A. Gellasch & Jean M. Bahr

  2. Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, University of Wisconsin-Extension, 3817 Mineral Point Road, Madison, WI, 53705, USA

    Kenneth R. Bradbury & David J. Hart

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  1. Christopher A. Gellasch
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Correspondence to Christopher A. Gellasch.

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Gellasch, C.A., Bradbury, K.R., Hart, D.J. et al. Characterization of fracture connectivity in a siliciclastic bedrock aquifer near a public supply well (Wisconsin, USA). Hydrogeol J 21, 383–399 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-012-0914-7

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