The Effect of Close-Proximity Blasting on Groundwater Quality and Impacts on Communal Drinking Water Supply Systems

The Effect of Close-Proximity Blasting on Groundwater Quality and Impacts on Communal Drinking Water Supply Systems: A Case Study by Farouk Abu-Hijleh, Andrew Bingeman, Peter A. Gray, and Kassandra Wallace Abstract

This paper investigates the influence of close-proximity blasting for a utility corridor on groundwater quality within a dolostone bedrock aquifer and the effect on a hydraulically down-gradient communal drinking water supply system. Mobilization of fine-grained materials in the fractures of a bedrock aquifer system can be attributed to the agitation of the system due to blasting. A case study is presented on a drinking water supply system where blasting was occurring in close proximity to the supply well. Comparisons of the filter replacement frequencies were used to assess groundwater quality prior, during and post-blasting. A cause-and-effect relationship was identified between the close-proximity blasting and increased filter replacement frequency, demonstrating the effects that close-proximity blasting can have on groundwater quality and down-gradient drinking water supply systems.