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Groundwater geochemistry of the Outaouais Region (Québec, Canada): a regional-scale study

Géochimie des eaux souterraines en Outaouais (Québec, Canada): une étude à échelle régionale

Geoquímica del agua subterránea de la región Outaouais (Quebec, Canadá): un estudio a escala regional

(加拿大魁北克省) 渥太华地区地下水中的地球化学:一项区域尺度的研究

Geoquímica da água subterrânea da Região de Outaouais (Quebec, Canadá): um estudo à escala regional

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Abstract

As part of a province-wide groundwater characterization program, a detailed groundwater geochemistry survey was undertaken in the Outaouais Region (Québec, Canada) in order to identify the primary processes responsible for groundwater quality and to develop a conceptual model for groundwater flow and geochemical evolution. During the summers of 2011 and 2012, 139 samples were collected from municipal and private wells which were analysed for major ions, nutrients, trace elements and sulphides. About 70 % of the samples were obtained from bedrock wells, mainly in the silicate rocks of the Canadian Shield and the remainder from wells screened in Quaternary deposit aquifers. Hydrogeochemical facies distributions were determined from 127 of these samples which had anion-cation charge balance errors within ±10 %. The classification by facies was also supported by a multivariate statistical analysis, namely factor analysis combined with hierarchical cluster analysis. The study identified Champlain Sea invasion, cation exchange and freshwater recharge as the main geochemical processes affecting groundwater chemistry in this region. Secondary processes, related to the bedrock geology, are responsible for exceedances of Canadian drinking-water standards, namely for fluoride, uranium, iron and manganese.

Résumé

Dans le cadre d’un programme de caractérisation des eaux souterraines à l’échelle provinciale, une étude hydrogéochimique a été menée dans l’Outaouais (Québec, Canada) dans le but d’identifier les principaux processus responsables de la qualité des eaux souterraines et de développer un modèle conceptuel d’évolution géochimique. Pendant les étés 2011 et 2012, 139 échantillons ont été prélevés dans des puits municipaux et privés et ont été analysés pour les ions majeurs, les nutriments, les éléments traces et les sulfures. Environ 70 % des échantillons proviennent de puits au roc, principalement dans le Bouclier Canadien, et le restant de puits localisés dans les dépôts du Quaternaire. La répartition des faciès hydrogéochimiques a été déterminée pour les 127 échantillons ayant une balance électronique entre ±10 %. La classification par les facies est étayée par une analyse statistique multivariée incluant une analyse factorielle et une analyse hiérarchique par groupement. L’invasion par la Mer de Champlain, l’échange cationique et la recharge par des eaux météoriques peu minéralisées sont les principaux processus géochimiques affectant la géochimie des eaux souterraines de la région. Les processus secondaires, liés à la nature géologique du roc, sont responsables des dépassements des normes d’eau potable canadiennes pour les fluorures, l’uranium, le fer et le manganèse.

Resumen

Como parte de un programa de caracterización del agua subterránea en un ámbito provincial, se llevó a cabo un detallado relevamiento geoquímico del agua subterránea en la región de Outaouais (Quebec, Canadá) con el objeto de identificar los procesos primarios responsables de la calidad de agua subterránea y para desarrollar un modelo conceptual de flujo subterráneo y de evolución geoquímica. Durante los veranos de 2011 year 2012, se recolectaron 139 muestras de pozos municipales y privados que fueron analizadas para caracterizar iones mayoritarios, nutrientes, elementos trazas y sulfuros. Alrededor del 70 % de las muestras se obtuvieron de pozos del basamento, principalmente en rocas silicatadas del Escudo Canadiense y el resto fueron cubiertas de pozos en depósitos acuíferos del Cuaternario. Las distribuciones de facies hidrogeoquímicas se determinaron para 127 de estas muestras que tuvieron errores del balance aniónico—catiónico dentro del ±10 %. La clasificación por facies fue también apoyada por análisis estadísticos multivariados, es decir análisis de factores combinados con análisis jerárquico de cluster. El estudio identificó la invasión del mar Champlain intercambio catiónico y recarga de agua dulce como los principales procesos geoquímicos que afectan la química del agua subterránea en esta región. Procesos secundarios, relacionados con la geología del basamento, son responsables de las excedencias de los estándares del agua potable de Canadá, es decir flúor, uranio, hierro y manganeso.

摘要

作为全省地下水特性描述项目的一部分, 在 (加拿大魁北克省) 渥太华地区开展了详细的地下水地球化学调查工作,以确定决定地下水水质的原始过程及开发地下水流和地球化学演化概念模型. 2011 年和2012年夏季, 从市政和私有井中采集了139个样品,进行了主要离子、营养物、微量元素和硫化物分析。大约70%的样品主要从加拿大地盾硅酸盐岩石中的基岩井获取, 其余样品从滤水管在第四纪沉积物含水层的井中获取. 根据这些样品其中的127个样品确定了水文地球化学相分布情况,这127个样品阴离子-阳离子电荷平衡误差在 ± 10 %之内。依赖于水文地球化学相的分类也得到了多元统计分析的支持, 即聚类分析结合因子分析. 研究确定了山普伦海入侵、阳离子交换和淡水补给是影响本区域地球化学状况的主要地球化学过程。与基岩地质相关的次要过程是氟、铀、铁和锰超过加拿大饮用水标准的主要原因.

Resumo

Como parte de um programa de caraterização das águas subterrâneas em toda a província, foi realizado um levantamento detalhado da geoquímica das águas subterrâneas na Região de Outaouais (Quebec, Canadá), a fim de identificar os principais processos responsáveis pela qualidade das águas subterrâneas e desenvolver um modelo concetual para o fluxo de águas subterrâneas e evolução geoquímica. Durante os verões de 2011 e 2012, foram recolhidas 139 amostras de poços municipais e particulares, tendo sido analisados os iões maiores, os nutrientes, elementos traço e sulfuretos. Cerca de 70 % das amostras foram obtidas a partir de poços em rocha, principalmente nas rochas silicatadas do Escudo Canadiano, e os restantes a partir de poços com ralos em aquíferos nos depósitos do Quaternário. Foram determinadas as distribuições das fácies hidrogeoquímicas a partir de 127 destas amostras, as quais apresentaram erros de balanço de carga iónica dentro de ±10 %. A classificação por fácies também foi apoiada por uma análise estatística multivariada, nomeadamente análise fatorial combinada com a análise grupal hierárquica. Como principais processos geoquímicos que afetam a química das águas subterrâneas na região o estudo identificou a intrusão do Mar de Champlain, a troca catiónica e a recarga de água doce. Os processos secundários, relacionados com a geologia do substrato rochoso, são responsáveis pela ultrapassagem dos padrões canadianos de qualidade da água potável, em particular para o fluoreto, o urânio, o ferro e o manganês.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Research Assistants G. Comeau, M.-C. Talbot-Poulin and Y. Tremblay, as well as numerous summer work-term students (field work), for their help with the Outaouais PACES project. P. Therrien of Université Laval provided invaluable computer technical support during the data analysis. This project was funded primarily by the Quebec Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment, Wildlife and Parks (MDDEFP), with significant contributions from the following Regional Partners: l’Agence de Traitement de l’Information Numérique de l’Outaouais (L’ATINO), WESA Enviro-Eau, Regional County Municipalities (Collines de l’Outaouais, Vallée de la Gatineau, Pontiac and Papineau), the City of Gatineau, Regional Watershed Organisations (ABV des 7, COBALI and OBV-RPNS), the Regional Council for Environment and Sustainable Development in Outaouais (CREDDO) and the Regional Conference of Elected Officers of Outaouais (CRÉ-O). The authors also acknowledge research support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and from a Canada Research Chair in Quantitative Hydrogeology of Fractured Porous Media held by the second author. Finally, the authors acknowledge two anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments which significantly improved the manuscript.

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  1. Department of Geology & Geological Engineering, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada, G1V 0A6

    N. Montcoudiol, J. Molson & J.-M. Lemieux

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  1. N. Montcoudiol
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Correspondence to N. Montcoudiol.

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Montcoudiol, N., Molson, J. & Lemieux, JM. Groundwater geochemistry of the Outaouais Region (Québec, Canada): a regional-scale study. Hydrogeol J 23, 377–396 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-014-1190-5

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