Abstract
The Waterloo Moraine is a stratigraphically complex system and is the major water supply to the cities of Kitchener and Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. Despite over 30 years of investigation, no attempt has been made to unify existing geochemical data into a single database. A composite view of the moraine geochemistry has been created using the available geochemical information, and a framework created for geochemical data synthesis of other similar flow systems. Regionally, fluid chemistry is highly heterogeneous, with large variations in both water type and total dissolved solids content. Locally, upper aquifer units are affected by nitrate and chloride from fertilizer and road salt. Typical upper-aquifer fluid chemistry is dominated by calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate, a result of calcite and dolomite dissolution. Evidence also suggests that ion exchange and diffusion from tills and bedrock units accounts for some elevated sodium concentrations. Locally, hydraulic “windows” cross connect upper and lower aquifer units, which are typically separated by a clay till. Lower aquifer units are also affected by dedolomitization, mixing with bedrock water, and locally, upward diffusion of solutes from the bedrock aquifers. A map of areas where aquifer units are geochemically similar was constructed to highlight areas with potential hydraulic windows.
Résumé
La Moraine de Waterloo est un système stratigraphiquement complexe et fournit la principale alimentation en eau des villes de Kitchener et de Waterloo en Ontario, au Canada. Malgré plus de 30 ans d’investigation, il n’a pas été tenté d’unifier les données géochimiques existantes dans une base de données unique. On a créé une vue composite de la géochimie de la moraine en utilisant l’information géochimique disponible, et une structure pour la synthèse des données géochimiques de systèmes d’écoulement similaires. La chimie des fluides présente une forte hétérogénéité régionale, avec des variations importantes à la fois sur le type d’eau et le contenu en solides dissous totaux. Localement, les unités aquifères supérieures sont marquées par les nitrates et les chlorures des fertilisants et des sels pour les routes. La chimie des fluides de l’aquifère supérieure est classiquement dominée par le calcium, le magnésium, et les bicarbonates, ce qui résulte de la dissolution de la calcite et de la dolomie. Des indices suggèrent également que les échanges d’ions et la diffusion depuis les unités des tills ou du socle expliquent les concentrations élevées en sodium. Localement, des « fenêtres » hydrauliques raccordent les unités aquifères supérieures et inférieures, qui sont habituellement séparées par un till argileux. Les unités aquifères inférieures sont également affectées par la dédolomitisation, le mélange avec l’eau du socle, et localement, la diffusion ascendante des solutés depuis les aquifères de socle. Une carte des zones où les unités aquifères sont géochimiquement similaires a été construite pour mettre en évidence des secteurs à possibles fenêtres hydrauliques.
Resumen
La morena de Waterloo es un sistema estratigráficamente complejo y es el principal proveedor de agua a las ciudades de Kitchener y Waterloo en Ontario, Canadá. A pesar de más de 30 años de investigación, no se ha hecho ningún intento para unificar los datos geoquímicos existentes en una base de datos única. Se ha desarrollado una visión abarcativa de la geoquímica de la morena usando la información geoquímica disponible, y se creó un marco de referencia para la síntesis de datos geoquímicos de otros sistemas de flujo similares. Regionalmente, la química de un fluido es altamente heterogénea, con grandes variaciones tanto en el tipo de agua como en el contenido total de sólidos disueltos. Localmente, las unidades acuíferas superiores están afectadas por nitratos y cloruros provenientes de fertilizantes y de cloruro de sodio. Típicamente la química del fluido del acuífero superior está dominado por el calcio, el magnesio, y el bicarbonato como resultado de la disolución de calcita y dolomita. La evidencia también sugiere que el intercambio iónico y la difusión a partir del till y de las unidades de la roca de base explican algunas concentraciones elevadas de sodio. Localmente, las “ventanas” hidráulicas entrecruzan las unidades superior e inferior de acuífero, las cuales están típicamente separadas por un till arcilloso. Las unidades acuíferas inferiores están también afectadas por la desdolomitización, la mezcla con aguas de la roca de base, y localmente, la difusión ascendente de solutos a partir de los acuíferos de la roca de base. Se construyó un mapa de áreas donde las unidades acuíferas son geoquímicamente similares para resaltar las áreas con ventanas hidráulicas potenciales.
摘要
滑铁卢冰碛含水层是一个复杂的含水层系统, 并且是加拿大安大略地区Kitchener 和滑铁卢市主要的供水源。尽管开展了30多年的调查, 却并没有将现存的地球化学数据统一于一个数据库中。本文利用已有的地球化学资料, 构建了可用于其它类似含水系统的冰碛地球化学数据分析框架。从区域上讲, 流体化学呈现高度非均质性, 水化学类型和矿化度均有很大的变化。从局部来讲, 上层含水层单元受到来自肥料和路盐带来的硝酸盐和氯化物的影响。作为钙和白云石溶解的结果, 典型的上层含水层流体化学离子主要以钙、镁、重碳酸根为主。证据还表明, 冰碛物与基岩的离子交换及扩散作用也是钠离子组分增加的原因。局部上, 上下含水层单元之间透过天窗发生水力联系, 中间通常被粘土冰碛物所隔开。下层含水层单元同时受到脱白云石化作用的影响, 混合了基岩水, 并受到了基岩含水层的溶质扩散作用的影响。绘制了一个地球化学特征相似的含水层区域分布图, 以突出经由天窗存在潜在水力联系的区域。
Resumo
A Moreia de Waterloo é um sistema estratigraficamente complexo e é a principal origem de abastecimento de água para as cidades de Kitchener e Waterloo, em Ontário, no Canadá. Apesar de mais de 30 anos de investigação, nenhuma tentativa foi feita para juntar os dados geoquímicos existentes numa única base de dados. Foi criada uma visão global da geoquímica das moreias utilizando a informação geoquímica disponível, e foi criado um quadro-síntese de dados geoquímicos para outros sistemas de fluxo similares. Em termos regionais, a hidroquímica é altamente heterogénea, com grandes variações nos tipos de água, assim como no teor de sólidos dissolvidos totais. Localmente, as unidades aquíferas superiores são afectadas por nitratos e cloretos de fertilizantes e sal das estradas. A hidroquímica dos aquíferos superiores é tipicamente dominada por cálcio, magnésio e bicarbonato, provenientes da dissolução de calcite e dolomite. Os dados também sugerem que a troca iónica e a difusão nos sedimentos glaciares e na rocha mãe contribuem para algumas ocorrências de concentrações elevadas de sódio. Localmente, "janelas" hidráulicas fazem a ligação entre as unidades aquíferas superiores e inferiores, que tipicamente são separadas por um material glaciar argiloso. As unidades aquíferas inferiores são também afectadas por desdolomitização, mistura com água da rocha mãe, e, localmente, por difusão ascendente de solutos dos aquíferos formados na rocha mãe. Foi realizado um mapa das áreas com unidades aquíferas geoquimicamente similares, para identificar as áreas com potenciais janelas hidráulicas.
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Acknowledgements
We wish to thank the Regional Municipality of Waterloo and local well owners for access to their wells and land during sampling. Field assistance was provided by A. Brookfield, D. Brunner, T. Shanoff, O. Shouakar-Stash, D. Thompson, K. Toporowska, A. Vadenhoff, and M. Zhang. The project was funded through research grants from the Regional Municipality of Waterloo and NSERC grants to S. Frape and E. Sudicky. Thoughtful comments from S. Earman and two anonymous reviewers were appreciated and improved the manuscript.
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Geochemical heterogeneity in small stratigraphically complex moraine aquifer system (Ontario, Canada): Interpretation of flow and recharge using multiple goechemical parameters; Stotler, Frape, el Mugammar, Johnston, Judd-Henrey, Harvey, Drimmie, Jones (PDF 80 kb)
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Stotler, R.L., Frape, S.K., El Mugammar, H.T. et al. Geochemical heterogeneity in a small, stratigraphically complex moraine aquifer system (Ontario, Canada): interpretation of flow and recharge using multiple geochemical parameters. Hydrogeol J 19, 101–115 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-010-0628-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-010-0628-7