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Temporal trends in concentrations of DBCP and nitrate in groundwater in the eastern San Joaquin Valley, California, USA

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Abstract

Temporal monitoring of the pesticide 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP) and nitrate and indicators of mean groundwater age were used to evaluate the transport and fate of agricultural chemicals in groundwater and to predict the long-term effects in the regional aquifer system in the eastern San Joaquin Valley, California. Twenty monitoring wells were installed on a transect along an approximate groundwater flow path. Concentrations of DBCP and nitrate in the wells were compared to concentrations in regional areal monitoring networks. DBCP persists at concentrations above the US Environmental Protection Agency’s maximum contaminant level (MCL) at depths of nearly 40 m below the water table, more than 25 years after it was banned. Nitrate concentrations above the MCL reached depths of more than 20 m below the water table. Because of the intensive pumping and irrigation recharge, vertical flow paths are dominant. High concentrations (above MCLs) in the shallow part of the regional aquifer system will likely move deeper in the system, affecting both domestic and public-supply wells. The large fraction of old water (unaffected by agricultural chemicals) in deep monitoring wells suggests that it could take decades for concentrations to reach MCLs in deep, long-screened public-supply wells, however.

Résumé

Les suivis en temps du pesticide 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), des nitrates et des indicateurs de l’âge moyen des eaux souterraines ont été utilisés dans le but d’estimer le transport et le devenir des produits agrochimiques dans les eaux souterraines, et de prédire leurs effets à long terme dans le système aquifère régional de la San Joaquin Valley orientale, en Californie. Vingt piézomètres ont été implantés en alignement, approximativement selon une ligne de flux souterrain. Les concentrations en DBCP et nitrates mesurées dans les piézomètres ont été comparées aux concentrations dans les réseaux de surveillance du secteur. Le DBCP dépasse continuellement la valeur limite fixée par l’US Environmental Protection Agency, à des profondeurs proches de 40 m sous le niveau piézométrique, et plus de 25 ans après son interdiction. Les concentrations en nitrates supérieures aux limites se retrouvent à des profondeurs supérieures à 20 m sous le niveau piézométrique. Les écoulements verticaux sont prépondérants, du fait des pompages intensifs et de la réalimentation par irrigation. Les concentrations élevées (supérieures aux limites) présentes dans la tranche la plus superficielle de l’aquifère sont susceptibles de migrer plus en profondeur dans le système, et d’affecter les puits privés et ceux destinés à l’alimentation en eau potable. Cependant, la large proportion d’eau ancienne (non affectée par les produits agrochimiques) dans les piézomètres profonds suggère que les limites de concentration ne seront pas dépassées avant longtemps dans les puits d’alimentation en potable, qui sont profonds et présentent des hauteurs crépinées conséquentes.

Resumen

La monitorización temporal del plaguicida 1,2-dibromo-3cloropropano (DBCP) y de los nitratos así como indicadores de la media de edad del agua subterránea han sido utilizados para evaluar el transporte y el destino de los compuestos químicos en el agua subterránea y para predecir los efectos a largo plazo en el sistema acuífero regional situado al este del Valle de San Joaquín, California. Se instalaron veinte pozos de control en un transecto situado aproximadamente siguiendo la línea de flujo del agua subterránea. Las concentraciones de DBCP y nitratos en los pozos se compararon con las concentraciones en la red de control regional. DBCP persiste con concentraciones por encima de los niveles máximos contaminantes (MCL) de la Agencia de Protección Medioambiental de Estados Unidos a profundidades cercanas a los 40 fm por debajo del nivel piezométrico, más de 25 años después de haber sido prohibido. Las concentraciones de nitratos por encima de MCL alcanzaron profundidades de más de 20 m por debajo del nivel piezométrico. Debido al bombeo intensivo y los retornos de riego, las líneas de flujo verticales son dominantes. Las altas concentraciones (por encima de MCLs) situadas en la parte superficial del sistema acuífero regional probablemente se moverán más profundamente en el sistema, afectando a los pozos domésticos y a los pozos de abastecimiento. No obstante, la alta proporción de aguas antiguas (no afectadas por compuestos químicos de origen agrícola) en los pozos de control profundos sugiere que pueden pasar décadas para que se alcancen concentraciones que alcancen MCLs en profundidad, en los pozos de abastecimiento totalmente ranurados.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the landowners in the study area who allowed the USGS to access their property in support of ongoing monitoring efforts. The authors would also like to thank Gary Weissmann of the University of New Mexico, Yong Zhang of the Colorado School of Mines, and Graham Fogg of the University of California Davis for their critical insights on the hydrogeology of the study area and for the modeling work used in this analysis. The authors appreciate the efforts and thoughtful comments provided by the reviewers and the associate editor for Hydrogeology Journal. The authors would also like to thank Ken Belitz of the USGS for his insights on the flow system, and Jim Tesoriero and Matt Landon of the USGS for their careful early reviews of the manuscript. This effort was part of ongoing studies by the USGS NAWQA program in the eastern San Joaquin Valley.

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  1. US Geological Survey, Placer Hall, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA, 95819, USA

    K. R. Burow, N. M. Dubrovsky & J. L. Shelton

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  1. K. R. Burow
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  3. J. L. Shelton
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Correspondence to K. R. Burow.

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Burow, K.R., Dubrovsky, N.M. & Shelton, J.L. Temporal trends in concentrations of DBCP and nitrate in groundwater in the eastern San Joaquin Valley, California, USA. Hydrogeol J 15, 991–1007 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-006-0148-7

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