Natural and Anthropogenic Processes Affecting Domestic Groundwater Quality within the Northwestern Appalachian Basin

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c04011
• Publication Date: 2022-09-21T15:23:08Z
• Authors: H. G. Siegel; M. A. Soriano; C. J. Clark; N. P. Johnson; H. G. Wulsin; N. C. Deziel; D. L. Plata; T. H. Darrah; J. E. Saiers
• Keywords: Manganese; Nitrates; Sewage; 0207 environmental engineering; 02 engineering and technology; 15. Life on land; 6. Clean water; Arsenic; Oxygen; 13. Climate action; Organic Chemicals; Groundwater; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Environmental Monitoring

Domestic wells serve as the primary drinking-water source for rural residents in northern Appalachian Basin (NAB), despite a limited understanding of contaminant distributions groundwater sources. We employ newly collected dataset 216 water samples from domestic Ohio and West Virginia an integrated contaminant-source attribution method to describe quality western NAB characterize key agents influencing distributions. Our results reveal arsenic nitrate concentrations above federal maximum levels (MCLs) 6.8 1.3% manganese health advisory 7.3% samples. Recently recharged groundwaters beneath upland regions appear vulnerable surface-related impacts, including pollution agricultural activities salinization road salting sewage Valley terminal discharge points long-residence-time groundwaters, where mixing with basin brines is possible. Arsenic impairments occurred alkaline major-ion compositions altered by ion exchange low-oxygen metal-rich groundwaters. Mixing much 4–10% mine discharge-like waters was observed near coal mining operations. study provides new insights into impairment understudied region presents approach applicable other intensive resource extraction.