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Wastewater impacts on groundwater at a fractured sedimentary bedrock site in Ontario, Canada: implications for First Nations’ source-water protection

Impacts des eaux usées sur les eaux souterraines au niveau d’un site de substratum rocheux sédimentaire fracturé en Ontario, Canada: répercussions en terme de protection des sources d’eau des Premières Nations

Impactos de las aguas residuales en las aguas subterráneas de un basamento sedimentario fracturado en Ontario, Canadá: implicancias para la protección de las fuentes de agua de las Naciones Originarias

加拿大安大略省破碎沉积基岩场地废水对地下水的影响:原著民水源保护的影响

Impactos de águas residuais em um aquífero sedimentar fraturado em Ontário, Canadá: implicações na proteção das fontes de água das Primeiras Nações

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Abstract

The impacts of wastewater on Indigenous drinking water sources is an issue of concern across Canada. This study investigated the wastewater impacts on groundwater resources at a First Nations reserve located on a vulnerable fractured sedimentary bedrock aquifer in southern Ontario. The objectives were to examine the spatiotemporal variability of a variety of tracers of wastewater and their movement to groundwater. The tracers included nitrate, E. coli, total coliforms, and the artificial sweeteners sucralose, acesulfame, and cyclamate. Isotopes in the groundwater were also examined, including tritium and the isotopes of oxygen and nitrogen in dissolved inorganic nitrate. Three multilevel monitoring systems (seven-channel continuous multi-channel tubing) were retrofitted in unused drinking-water wells on the reserve and monitored from December 2015 to November 2016. Results indicate that groundwater at various depths has been impacted by the septic systems on the reserve. The fractures intersected by the three retrofitted wells contain a mix of newly recharged and older water, and contaminant peaks do not always correspond with ports aligned with higher hydraulic conductivity, showing variable travel times for the constituents. The selection of wastewater management systems that are appropriate for the particular hydrogeological setting on the reserves is critical to providing safe, clean drinking water to Indigenous communities. In particular, special consideration should be made for communities situated on fractured sedimentary bedrock aquifers with thin overburden.

Résumé

Les répercussions des eaux usées sur les sources d’eau pour l’alimentation des peuples autochtones sont un sujet de préoccupation pour l’ensemble du territoire canadien. Cette étude a porté sur l’impact des eaux usées sur les ressources en eau souterraine d’une réserve des Premières Nations située sur un aquifère sédimentaire fracturé vulnérable dans le Sud de l’Ontario. Les objectifs étaient d’examiner la variabilité spatio-temporelle d’une variété de traceurs d’eaux usées et leur migration vers les eaux souterraines. Les traceurs comprenaient les nitrates, E.coli, les coliformes totaux, et les édulcorants artificiels tels que le sucralose, l’acesulfame, et le cyclamate. Les isotopes dans les eaux souterraines ont également été examinées, avec le tritium et les isotopes de l’oxygène et de l’azote du nitrate inorganique dissous. Trois systèmes de surveillance multi-niveaux (tubes multicanaux continus à sept canaux) ont été déployés dans des puits d’eau potable inutilisés dans la réserve et surveillés de décembre 2015 à novembre 2016. Les résultats indiquent que les eaux souterraines à différentes profondeurs ont été impactées par les systèmes septiques sur le territoire de la réserve. Les fractures recoupées par les trois puits réaménagés contiennent un mélange d’eau de recharge récente et plus ancienne, et les pics de contaminations ne correspondent pas toujours avec les ports alignés avec un horizon à conductivité hydraulique plus élevée, montrant des temps de transit variables pour les composants. La sélection des systèmes de gestion des eaux usées qui sont appropriés pour le contexte hydrogéologique des réserves est essentielle pour fournir une eau potable salubre et propre aux communautés des autochtones. En particulier, une attention particulière devrait être accordée aux communautés situées sur des aquifères de substratum sédimentaire fracturé avec une faible couverture géologique.

Resumen

El impacto de las aguas residuales en las fuentes de agua potable de los indígenas es un tema de preocupación en todo Canadá. Este estudio investigó los impactos de las aguas residuales en los recursos de aguas subterráneas de una reserva de las Naciones Originarias ubicada en un acuífero sedimentario vulnerable y fracturado en el sur de Ontario. Los objetivos eran examinar la variabilidad espacio temporal de una variedad de trazadores de aguas residuales y su movimiento hacia las aguas subterráneas. Los trazadores incluían nitrato, E. coli, coliformes totales y los edulcorantes artificiales sucralosa, acesulfamo y ciclamato. También se examinaron los isótopos en las aguas subterráneas, incluyendo el tritio y los isótopos de oxígeno y nitrógeno en el nitrato inorgánico disuelto. Tres sistemas de monitoreo multinivel (tubería multicanal continua de siete canales) fueron instalados en pozos de agua potable no utilizados en la reserva y monitoreados entre diciembre de 2015 y noviembre de 2016. Los resultados indican que el agua subterránea a diferentes profundidades ha sido impactada por los sistemas sépticos de la reserva. Las fracturas intersectadas por los tres pozos readaptados contienen una mezcla de agua recién recargada y más vieja, y los picos de contaminantes no siempre se corresponden con los puertos alineados con una conductividad hidráulica más alta, lo que muestra tiempos de desplazamiento variables para los constituyentes. La selección de sistemas de manejo de aguas residuales que sean apropiados para el entorno hidrogeológico particular en las reservas es crítica para proporcionar agua potable segura y limpia a las comunidades indígenas. En particular, se debe prestar especial atención a las comunidades situadas en acuíferos sedimentarios fracturados con una sobrecarga delgada.

摘要

废水对原著民饮用水源的影响是整个加拿大令人关注的问题。这项研究调查了安大略省南部脆弱的裂隙沉积基岩含水层的原著民保护区废水对地下水资源的影响。目的是研究不同废水示踪剂及其向地下水运动的时空变异性。示踪剂包括硝酸盐,大肠杆菌,总大肠菌群和人造甜味剂三氯蔗糖,乙酰磺胺酸和甜蜜素。研究还用了包括溶解无机硝酸盐中氚和氮氧同位素的地下水同位素。三个多层监测系统(七通道连续多通道管道)在储备水源未使用的饮用水井中进行了改造并在2015年12月至2016年11月开展了监测。结果表明,不同深度的地下水受到了水源储备区化粪池系统的影响。三个改造井相交的裂缝包含新补给和老水的混合,污染物峰值并不总是与具有较高的水力传导率位置相对应,显示了组分运移时间是可变的。选择适合水源储备特定水文地质环境的废水管理系统对于原著民社区提供安全,清洁的饮用水至关重要。特别是,应特别考虑位于具有薄覆盖层的裂隙沉积基岩含水层上的社区。

Resumo

Os impactos das águas residuais nas fontes de água potável indígenas são uma questão preocupante em todo o Canadá. Este estudo investigou os impactos das águas residuais sobre os recursos hídricos subterrâneos em uma reserva das Primeiras Nações localizada sobre um aquífero sedimentar fraturado vulnerável no sul de Ontário. Os objetivos foram examinar a variabilidade espaço-temporal de uma série de traçadores de águas residuais e sua movimentação para as águas subterrâneas. Os traçadores incluíram nitrato, E. coli, coliformes totais, e os adoçantes artificiais sucralose, acessulfame e ciclamato. Isótopos nas águas subterrâneas também foram examinados, incluindo trítio e isótopos de oxigênio e nitrogênio em nitrato inorgânico dissolvido. Três sistemas de monitoramento multinível (tubos contínuos de sete canais) foram readaptados em poços de água potável não utilizados na reserva e monitorados de dezembro de 2015 a novembro de 2016. Os resultados indicam que a água subterrânea à várias profundidades foi impactada pelos sistemas sépticos na reserva. As fraturas interceptadas pelos três poços readaptados contêm uma mistura de água de recarga recente e mais velha, e os picos de contaminantes nem sempre correspondem a portas alinhadas com trechos de maior condutividade hidráulica, indicando tempos de deslocamento variáveis para os compostos. A escolha de sistemas de gestão de águas residuais apropriados para o cenário hidrogeológico da reserva é crucial para fornecer água potável segura e limpa para as comunidades indígenas. Em particular, deve-se considerar especialmente as comunidades situadas nos aquíferos sedimentares fraturados com cobertura pouco espessa.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge our partner community, the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation, for their continued commitment to and support of this project. Thank you to Michele Desjardine for her ongoing community engagement work and fieldwork support. Thank you to the G360 Institute for Groundwater Research staff scientists for field and technical support with geophysical logging, interpretation and CMT designs, including Ryan Kroeker, Dr. Peter Pehme, and many others; to Steven Sadura for his guidance on CMT construction; to Dr. Stewart Hamilton and to Dr. Frank Brunton for support with lithological, isotopic, and geophysical interpretation; to Professor Chris Metcalfe at Trent University (Ontario) for his support with artificial sweetener analyses; to Joanne Ryks at the University of Guelph School of Engineering for laboratory and anion analysis support; and to Professor Kim Anderson and Professor Sherilee Harper for their continued support with Indigenous research methods.

Funding

The authors would like to acknowledge Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Ontario Graduate Scholarship program, and the RBC Ontario Resource Field Program for providing funding for this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada

    Rachael E. Marshall, Jana Levison, Edward A. McBean & Beth Parker

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  1. Rachael E. Marshall
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  2. Jana Levison
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  3. Edward A. McBean
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  4. Beth Parker
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Correspondence to Rachael E. Marshall.

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Marshall, R.E., Levison, J., McBean, E.A. et al. Wastewater impacts on groundwater at a fractured sedimentary bedrock site in Ontario, Canada: implications for First Nations’ source-water protection. Hydrogeol J 27, 2739–2753 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-019-02019-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-019-02019-7

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