Abstract
Dissolved Pb in 51 domestic wells screened from 18 to 48 m in glacial tills and outwash deposits were examined in conjunction with the characteristics of their corresponding submersible pump. Pb concentrations, ranging from 0.8 to 24.9 μg l−1, entering residential water supplies were measured during 2001–2004 in the Royal watershed, Maine. Principal component analyses assisted the weighting of pump age, well screen depth, and draw time variables. Preliminary Pb sequestration significance in the boreholes was predicted from geochemical speciation and synchrotron XAS analyses. Nascent 207Pb/206Pb and 208Pb/206Pb isotope analyses assisted the discrimination of possibly leached Pb from submersible pump materials among geogenic sources.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bacon, J. R., Berrow, M. L., & Shand, C. A. (1995). Isotopic characterization of lead in the Scottish upland environment. International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, 59, 253–264.
Davies, J. A., & Kent, D. B. (1990). Surface complexation modeling in aqueous geochemistry. In M. F. Hochella & A. F. White (Eds.), Reviews in mineralogy (Vol. 23): Mineral-water interface geochemistry (pp. 177–260). Washington D.C.: Mineralogical Society of America.
Dunteman, G. H. (1989). Principal component analysis (Quantitative applications in the social sciences). Boston: Sage.
Galer, S. G. (1999) Optimal double and triple spiking for high precision lead isotopic measurement. Chemical Geology, 157, 255–274.
Koningsberger, D. C., & Prins, R. (1988). X-ray absorption: Principles, applications, techniques of EXFAS, SEXAFS and XANES. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Ludwig, K. R. (1980). Calculation of uncertainties of U-Pb isotope data. Earth Planetary Science Letters, 46, 212–220.
Maine Public Health. (2000). Water well records database, Cumberland and Androscoggin counties.
Manceau, A., Boisset, M. C., Sarret, G., Hazemann, J. L., Mench, M., Cambier, P., & Prost, R. (1996). Direct determination of lead speciation in contaminated soils by EXFAS spectroscopy. Environmental Science & Technology, 30, 1540–1552.
Poimes, C., Cocherie, A., Guerrot, C., Marcoux, E., & Lancelot, J. (1998) Assessment of the precision and accuracy of lead-isotope ratios measured by TIMS for geochemical applications: example of massive sulphide deposits (Rio Tinto, Spain). Chemical Geology, 144, 137–149.
Rabinowitz, M. B. (2002). Isotopic characterization of various brands of corroding grade refined lead metal. Bulletin Environmental Contamination Toxicology, 69, 501–508.
Sidle, W. C., Roose, D. L., & Barndt, P. (2001) Isotopic evaluation of Pb occurrences in the riverine ecosystems of the Kankakee watershed, Illinois-Indiana. Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 37, 379–393.
Sidle, W. C. (2006). Diagnosis of trace Pb in domestic wells, upper Gloucester catchment, Maine. Environmental Geology. DOI 10.1007/s00254-006-0448-1.
Tera, F., & Wasserburg, G. J. (1975). Precise isotopic analysis of lead in picomole and subpicomole quantities. Analytical Chemistry, 47, 2214–2220.
Teo, B. K. (1986). EXAFS: Basic principles and data analysis. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.
Tessier, A., Campbell, P. C., & Bisson, M. (1979) Evaluation of the APDC-MIBK extraction method for the atomic absorption analysis of trace metals in river water. International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, 7, 41–54.
USEPA. (1996). United States Environmental Protection Agency, Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, from http://www.epa.gov/safewater/sdwa/text.html.
USEPA. (2005). United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Primary Drinking Water Regulations, from http://www.epa.gov/safewater/standards/standards.html.
Webster, R. K. (1960). Mass spectrometric isotope dilution analysis. In A. A. Smales & L. R. Wager (Eds.), Methods in geochemistry (pp. 202–246). New York: Interscience.
Acknowledgements
The cooperation of Maine Public Health is appreciated. Thanks to M. Cvetic of Groundwater Research Co., Lewiston for completing the field logistics. Also without the full cooperation of homeowners across Cumberland and Androscoggin counties, this research would not be possible. Special thanks are given to the field crews through the years for completing an uninterrupted sampling record through all seasons. Thanks to the USEPA Isotope Hydrology Laboratory (Cincinnati); D. Andrews, Dartmouth College; and V. Johnson, Brookhaven National Laboratory. Any opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors 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.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sidle, W.C., Li, P. Impact of submersible pumps on Pb constituents in residential wells. Environ Geochem Health 30, 1–9 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-007-9090-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-007-9090-4