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Diagnosis of trace Pb in domestic wells, Upper Gloucester Catchment, Maine, USA

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

Dissolved Pb in 32 wells associated with corroding submersible pumps is examined within a rural water district after almost 20 years (1984–2002). Groundwater Pb ranged from 0.4–24.9 μg L−1 after 24 h pump flushing. Preliminary geochemistry and representative borehole lithology examinations were extrapolated by Markov chain modeling. The first-order geostatistical realizations of glacial sediments coupled with the Monte Carlo Metropolis-Hasting method suggest that elevated trace Pb persists in sand and gravel units, and continues at least to 40 m depth in the catchment. The 207Pb/206Pb and 208Pb/206Pb isotope compositions of groundwater Pb were decisive in discriminating the importance of leached Pb from submersible pump materials among geogenic sources.

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Acknowledgements

Research is funded in part by an internal United States Environmental Protection Agency program development of watershed studies. The cooperation of Maine Public Health is appreciated. Thanks to M. Cvetic of Groundwater Research Co., Lewistown for effecting the field logistics. Also without the full cooperation of homeowners across Cumberland County this research would not be possible. Special thanks are given to the field crews through the years to complete an uninterrupted sampling record through all seasons. Thanks to the USEPA Isotope Hydrology Laboratory (Cincinnati); R. Johnson, Dartmouth University; P. Barndt, Oak Ridge National Laboratory; and D. Allen, USEPA (Cincinnati). Any opinions expressed in this paper are those of the author and do not, necessarily, reflect the official positions and policies of the USEPA. Any mention of products or trade names does not constitute recommendation by the USEPA.

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  1. US Environmental Protection Agency, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Water Supply and Water Resources Division, 26 West Martin Luther King Blvd., Cincinnati, OH, 45268, USA

    W. C. Sidle

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  1. W. C. Sidle
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Sidle, W.C. Diagnosis of trace Pb in domestic wells, Upper Gloucester Catchment, Maine, USA. Environ Geol 52, 51–62 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0448-1

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