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Analysis of ground water quality and water level data and the effects of recharge on ground water quality at Smelterville Flats, Idaho Item Info

The Smelterville Flats are located in the Coeur D'Alene River Valley in Northern Idaho. Mine wastes from zinc, silver and lead mines were discharged into the river and have been deposited in thicknesses up to seven feet over a large area of the Flats causing significant water quality degradation in the underlying aquifer. Water levels and water quality were monitored in ten pairs of piezometers (10 shallow and 10 deep) through two spring recharge events to study the effects of hydrology on water quality. Heavy metal concentrations measured in the shallow wells were consistently higher than those measured in the deep wells. Despite a significant difference in water quality between the shallow and deep sets of piezometers, dissolved constituents change congruently in the deep and shallow piezometers. Zinc concentrations in the shallow wells varied widely across the Flats. Zinc concentrations could be correlated with depth in the deep piezometers implying the existence of a downward concentration gradient away from the wastes above the aquifer. A linear relation between zinc and cadmium concentrations and to a lesser extent between zinc and lead concentrations supports the use of zinc as an indicator of contamination by the mine waste. While overall zinc concentration correlates positively with electrical conductivity collectively, well by well correlation is not consistent. Zinc concentration correlates negatively with pH in the deep wells but this correlation is not conclusive in the shallow wells. Variations in zinc concentrations are associated with antecedent precipitation and therefore recharge more than with water level rise. Therefore remediation efforts should focus on decreasing recharge. A conceptual model of heavy metal influx has been established consisting of three stratigraphic layers. Infiltrating ground water passes through the first layer and dissolves heavy metal ions. The heavy metal bearing water then moves downward through the second layer and mixes with horizontally migrating ground water of lower zinc concentration in the third layer. Some of this water eventually enters the South Fork of the Coeur D'Alene River.

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Title:
Analysis of ground water quality and water level data and the effects of recharge on ground water quality at Smelterville Flats, Idaho
Authors:
Swope, S. P.
Date Created (ISO Standard):
1990-09
Description:
The Smelterville Flats are located in the Coeur D'Alene River Valley in Northern Idaho. Mine wastes from zinc, silver and lead mines were discharged into the river and have been deposited in thicknesses up to seven feet over a large area of the Flats causing significant water quality degradation in the underlying aquifer. Water levels and water quality were monitored in ten pairs of piezometers (10 shallow and 10 deep) through two spring recharge events to study the effects of hydrology on water quality. Heavy metal concentrations measured in the shallow wells were consistently higher than those measured in the deep wells. Despite a significant difference in water quality between the shallow and deep sets of piezometers, dissolved constituents change congruently in the deep and shallow piezometers. Zinc concentrations in the shallow wells varied widely across the Flats. Zinc concentrations could be correlated with depth in the deep piezometers implying the existence of a downward concentration gradient away from the wastes above the aquifer. A linear relation between zinc and cadmium concentrations and to a lesser extent between zinc and lead concentrations supports the use of zinc as an indicator of contamination by the mine waste. While overall zinc concentration correlates positively with electrical conductivity collectively, well by well correlation is not consistent. Zinc concentration correlates negatively with pH in the deep wells but this correlation is not conclusive in the shallow wells. Variations in zinc concentrations are associated with antecedent precipitation and therefore recharge more than with water level rise. Therefore remediation efforts should focus on decreasing recharge. A conceptual model of heavy metal influx has been established consisting of three stratigraphic layers. Infiltrating ground water passes through the first layer and dissolves heavy metal ions. The heavy metal bearing water then moves downward through the second layer and mixes with horizontally migrating ground water of lower zinc concentration in the third layer. Some of this water eventually enters the South Fork of the Coeur D'Alene River.
Subjects:
mine wastes heavy metals zinc water quality groundwater pollution
Location:
Coeur d'Alene Basin
Latitude:
47.52
Longitude:
-116.56
Collection:
Coeur d'Alene Basin
Rights:
Rights to the digital resource are held by the University of Idaho. http://www.uidaho.edu/
Publisher:
University of Idaho
Contributing Institution:
University of Idaho
Type:
Text
Format:
application/pdf
Cataloger:
wbv
Date Digitized:
2012

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Source
Preferred Citation:
"Analysis of ground water quality and water level data and the effects of recharge on ground water quality at Smelterville Flats, Idaho", Idaho Waters Digital Library, University of Idaho Library Digital Collections, https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/iwdl/items/iwdl-cda_swope_1990.html
Rights
Rights:
Rights to the digital resource are held by the University of Idaho. http://www.uidaho.edu/
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