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Age distribution of groundwater in fractured aquifers of the St. Lawrence Lowlands (Canada) determined by environmental tracers (3H/3He, 85Kr, SF6, CFC-12, 14C)

Distribution des âges des eaux souterraines dans des aquifères fracturés des Basses terres du Saint-Laurent (Canada) déterminée par des traceurs environnementaux (3H/3He, 85Kr, SF6, CFC-12, 14C)

Distribución de la edad de las aguas subterráneas en acuíferos fracturados de St. Lawrence Lowlands (Canadá) determinada por trazadores ambientales (3H/3He, 85Kr, SF6, CFC-12, 14C)

加拿大St. Lawrence低地裂隙含水层根据环境示踪物 (3H/3He, 85Kr, SF6, CFC-12, 14C) 确定的年龄分布

Distribuição das idades da água subterrânea em aquíferos fraturados na Terras Baixas de St. Lawrence (Canadá) determinadas por traçadores ambientais (3H/3He, 85Kr, SF6, CFC-12, 14C)

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Abstract

Information about the age distribution of groundwater provides unique and particularly relevant insights about groundwater flow and mixing conditions, as well as about the vulnerability and sustainability of the resource. Constraining flow paths in heterogeneous and fractured aquifers requires spatially distributed and depth-related observations. Where multiple wellbores are not available, depth-specific samples from individual long open-borehole wells may provide useful information. In this study, results from depth-specific sampling of environmental tracers (3H, 85Kr, SF6, CFC-12, noble gases, 13C, 14C) are reported from seven long open-borehole wells (depths ≤100 m below the surface) in the area of the St Lawrence Lowlands (Quebec, Canada). The multitracing approach allowed for the determination of the groundwater mixing conditions within the fractured-rock aquifers. The results indicate that fracture networks induce complex groundwater mixing patterns, without any evidence that the residence times significantly increase with the depth. Under unstressed conditions, the investigated aquifers contain 20–50% “modern” water (less than 60 years old) and 50–80% “old” water with residence times of ~4–11,000 years. The observed groundwater bi-modal age distribution is caused by fast flows through interconnected fractures and slow flows through poorly connected fractures or the primary porosity of the rock. Within the catchment of the wellfields, the pumped groundwater becomes essentially “modern” because of the preferential draining of productive fractures, while the water within the less transmissive volumes cannot be leaked out as fast. Thus, groundwater abstraction increases the aquifer’s intrinsic vulnerability to anthropogenic pollution.

Résumé

L’information sur la distribution des âges des eaux souterraines apporte une information unique et particulièrement pertinente sur les flux d’eau souterraine et les conditions de mélange, de même que sur la vulnérabilité et la durabilité de la ressource. La détermination des trajectoires d’écoulement dans les aquifères hétérogènes et fracturés nécessite des observations spatialisées et en relation avec les profondeurs. Lorsque des forages multiniveaux ne sont pas disponibles, des échantillons à différentes profondeurs dans des foragesouverts dans le roc peut apporter des informations utiles. Dans cette étude, les résultats des échantillonnages à des profondeurs spécifiques pour les traceurs environnementaux (3H, 85Kr, SF6, CFC-12, gaz nobles, 13C, 14C) sont rapportés pour sept forages (profondeurs ≤ 100 m sous la surface) dans la zone des Basses Terres du Saint Laurent (Québec, Canada). L’approche multitraceur permet de déterminer les conditions de mélange au sein de l’aquifère rocheux fracturé. Les résultats indiquent que le réseau de fractures induit des schémas de mélange complexe, sans que les temps de séjour augmentent de manière significative avec la profondeur. Quand ils ne sont par exploités, les aquifères étudiés contiennent entre 20 et 50% d’eau « moderne» (moins de 60 ans) et 50 à 80% d’eau « ancienne» avec des temps de résidence d’environ 4–11,000 ans. La distribution bimodale des âges observée dans les eaux souterraines est causée par les flux rapides par les fractures interconnectées et des flux lents par les fractures mal connectées ou via la porosité primaire des roches. Dans le secteur des champs de captage, les eaux des aquifères exploités deviennent essentiellement « moderne» du fait du drainage préférentiel par les fractures productives, alors que l’eau contenue dans les volumes moins transmissifs ne peut pas s’écouler aussi rapidement. Ainsi, l’exploitation des aquifères augmente la vulnérabilité intrinsèque aux pollutions anthropiques.

Resumen

La información sobre la distribución de la edad de las aguas subterráneas proporciona conocimientos únicos y especialmente relevantes sobre el flujo de las aguas subterráneas y las condiciones de mezcla, así como sobre la vulnerabilidad y la sostenibilidad del recurso. La determinación de las trayectorias de flujo en acuíferos heterogéneos y fracturados requiere observaciones distribuidas espacialmente y relacionadas con la profundidad. Cuando no se dispone de múltiples pozos, las muestras específicas de profundidad de pozos individuales de sondeo abierto de gran longitud pueden proporcionar información útil. En este estudio se presentan los resultados del muestreo en profundidad de trazadores ambientales (3H, 85Kr, SF6, CFC-12, gases nobles, 13C, 14C) de siete pozos profundos abiertos (profundidades ≤ 100 m por debajo de la superficie) en la zona de St Lawrence Lowlands (Quebec, Canadá). El enfoque multitrazado permitió determinar las condiciones de mezcla de las aguas subterráneas dentro de los acuíferos de roca fracturada. Los resultados indican que las redes de fracturas inducen patrones complejos de mezcla de las aguas subterráneas, sin que haya pruebas de que los tiempos de residencia aumenten significativamente con la profundidad. En condiciones normales, los acuíferos investigados contienen entre un 20% y un 50% de agua “moderna” (menos de 60 años) y entre un 50 y un 80% de agua “antigua” con tiempos de residencia de entre 4 y 11,000 años. La distribución bimodal de la edad del agua subterránea observada se debe a flujos rápidos a través de fracturas interconectadas y flujos lentos a través de fracturas mal conectadas o a la porosidad primaria de la roca. Dentro de la cuenca de los campos de pozos, el agua subterránea bombeada se vuelve esencialmente“moderna” debido al drenaje preferente de las fracturas productivas, mientras que el agua dentro de los volúmenes menos transmisivos no puede filtrarse tan rápidamente. Así pues, la extracción de agua subterránea aumenta la vulnerabilidad intrínseca del acuífero a la contaminación antropogénica.

摘要

地下水年龄分布的信息提供了关于地下水流动和混合条件、资源的脆弱性和可持续性的独特而相关的信息。在非均质和断裂的含水层中限制流动路径需要具有空间分布和深度相关观测。如果没有多个井眼可用, 则来自个别长裸眼钻井的深度特定样品可能提供有用的信息。本研究报道了在加拿大魁北St Lawrence低地的七个长裸眼钻井 (深度在地表以下100 m) 进行的环境示踪剂 (3H、85Kr、SF6、CFC-12、惰性气体、13C、14C) 深度特定采样的结果。多示踪方法确定了岩石裂隙含水层内的地下水混合条件。结果表明, 裂缝网络引起复杂的地下水混合模式, 没有证据表明滞留时间随深度显著增加。在无应力条件下, 研究区的含水层含有20%到50%的 “现代”水 (不到60年) 和50%到80%的 “古老”水, 滞留时间约为4,000到11,000年。观察到的地下水双峰年龄分布是由于通过相互连接的裂缝快速流动和通过连接较差的裂缝或岩石的主要孔隙的慢速流动。在水源地的集水区内, 由于优先排干出水量大的裂缝, 抽取的地下水基本上成为 “现代”水, 而较低渗透性区域内的水无法被迅速泄漏。因此, 地下水开采增加了含水层对人为污染的固有脆弱性。

Resumo

A informação sobre a distribuição da idade das águas subterrâneas fornece uma compreensão única e particularmente relevante sobre o fluxo das águas subterrâneas e suas condições de mistura, como também sobre a vulnerabilidade e sustentabilidade do recurso. Caminhos de fluxo limitados em aquíferos heterogêneos e fraturados requer observações espacialmente distribuídas e relacionadas a profundidade. Onde múltiplos poços não estão disponíveis, amostras de profundidades específicas em furos individuais profundos podem fornecer informações úteis. Neste estudo, resultados sobre a amostragem em profundidades específicas de isótopos ambientais (3H, 85Kr, SF6, CFC-12, gases nobres, 13C, 14C) são descritas em sete poços profundos (profundidades ≤ 100 m abaixo da superfície) na área da Terras Baixas de St. Lawrence (Quebec, Canadá). A proposta de utilizar múltiplos traçadores permitiu a determinação da condição de mistura da água subterrânea em aquíferos de rocha fraturada. Os resultados indicam que os sistemas de fraturas induzem padrões de mistura complexa das águas subterrâneas, sem nenhuma evidência de que os tempos de residência aumentam significativamente com a profundidade. Sob condições sem estresse, os aquíferos investigados contêm de 20 a 50% de água “moderna” (menor que 60 anos) e de 50 a 90% de água “antiga”, com tempos de residência entre 4 e 11,000 anos. A distribuição de idade bimodal observada da água subterrânea é causada por fluxos rápidos através de fraturas interconectadas e fluxos lentos através de fraturas mal conectadas, ou pela porosidade primária da rocha. Na captação da água do poço, a água subterrânea torna-se essencialmente “moderna” por conta da drenagem preferencial de fraturas produtivas, sendo que a água de volumes menos transmissivos não drena tão rápido quanto. Portanto, a captação da água subterrânea aumenta a vulnerabilidade intrínseca do aquífero a poluição antropogênica.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Quebec Ministry of Environment (Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les Changements Climatiques) as well as TechnoRem Inc. and Envir’Eau-Puits Inc. who kindly provided access to the sampling sites.

Funding

The authors also thank the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada from which this research was made possible through an industrial partnership and a collaborative grant with TechnoRem Inc. and Envir’Eau-Puits Inc.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geotop and Département des Sciences de la Terre et de l’atmosphère, Université du Québec À Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada

    G. Meyzonnat, F. Barbecot & D. L. Pinti

  2. Climate and Environmental Physics and Oeschger Center for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    S. Musy & R. Purtschert

  3. Spiez Laboratory, Federal Office for Civil Protection, Spiez, Switzerland

    J. A. Corcho-Alvarado

  4. TechnoRem Inc., Laval, QC, Canada

    J.-M. Lauzon

  5. Envir’Eau-Puits Inc., Lévis, QC, Canada

    R. McCormack

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Meyzonnat, G., Musy, S., Corcho-Alvarado, J.A. et al. Age distribution of groundwater in fractured aquifers of the St. Lawrence Lowlands (Canada) determined by environmental tracers (3H/3He, 85Kr, SF6, CFC-12, 14C). Hydrogeol J 31, 2139–2157 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-023-02671-0

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