Risk Assessment Analysis of Cookeville Karst Aquifer Systems Using Winter Snow as a Tracer

Presented on Thursday, December 17, 2015
Joseph Asante, PhD, Earth Science Department, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN, United States

Due to the unique hydraulic properties of karstic aquifers, groundwater in these aquifers are prone to contamination produced by human utilization of earth resources and environment. Groundwater in karstic aquifers is a valuable resource for domestic, agricultural, and industrial purposes. Groundwater from karst is linked to rivers, lakes, and wetlands that support water dependent ecosystems. Therefore is imperative to protect karst groundwater. Integral part of measures to protect karst groundwater from soil surface contamination originating from anthropogenic sources is groundwater risk assessment. Several karst groundwater studies have focused on identifying quick and slow flow components through karst aquifer systems. However, with the exception of dating and dye-tracing techniques, these approaches often do not provide insight into how much time is needed for a contaminant, originating at the land surface, to move into and through the karst system. In this study, stable isotopic variation of the 2015 winter snow fall in Middle Tennessee, rainfall, and City Lake Spring discharge (Cookeville, TN) was used to demonstrate the potential use of seasonal snow as tracer for risk assessment analysis of karst groundwater. Ten spring water samples collected monthly (December and January) and almost daily during winter snow fall and snow melt (February19 - March 1) contained constant δD values (-38‰ to -36‰) and δ18O values (-6.3‰ to -6.1‰) which plot marginally above the GMWL. Melting snow increased discharge significantly. Temporal changes in discharge were photographed. Representative snow samples contained δD values of -147‰ and -105‰ and δ18O values of -19.3‰ and -15.6‰. Correlation between air temperature and precipitation indicates gradual snow melting and high diffuse recharge. Major ions, field temperature, alkalinity, and pH analysis supports the conclusion that snow melt diffuses slowly and displaces older water (> 11days) in the karst system. This study has implications for landuse planning, management, and accidental pollution.

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Joseph Asante, PhD
Earth Science Department, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN, United States
Joseph Asante is Assistant Professor at Earth Sciences Department of Tennessee Technological University. Joseph Asante completed his Ph.D. in Geoscience at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Joseph obtained his B.Sc. in Geology from the University of Ghana and M.Sc. in Environmental Engineering from the Technical University of Hamburg-Harbug. Before joining Tennessee Technological University, Joseph was a Visiting Professor at Oberlin College in Ohio. He has also worked in the past with the Community Water of Sanitation of Ghana and the Geological Survey of Ghana. His research involves the use of hydrochemistry and isotopes to study hydrologic and hydrochemical processes for sustainable water resources and for the effect of environmental changes to water quantity and quality.
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