Abstract
Associations between groundwater quality and land usewere evaluated in the southeastern Gulf Coast Aquifer,Texas. Data from 19 234 oil/gas wells and 256 water wellswere mapped with a geographic information system (GIS) andstatistically analyzed. Water wells near oil/gas wells hadsignificantly higher levels of chloride, bromide, and totaldissolved solids (TDS). Bromide-chloride ratios were alsohigher at water wells near oil/gas wells. Shallower waterwells had significantly higher chloride, bromide, TDS, andnitrate concentrations. Nitrate concentrations were higherbeneath cropland compared to other land uses. Results ofthis study suggest that oil/gas production and agriculturehave impacted water quality in the Gulf Coast Aquifer.
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Hudak, P.F., Wachal, D.J. Oil Production, Agriculture, and Groundwater Quality in the Southeastern Gulf Coast Aquifer, Texas. Environ Monit Assess 72, 249–264 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012093020496
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012093020496