『Abstract
Reduction/oxidation (redox) conditions in 15 principal aquifer
(PA) systems of the United states, and their impact on several
water quality issues, were assessed from a large data base collected
by the National Water-Quality Assessment Program of the USGS.
The logic of these assessments was based on the observed ecological
succession of electron acceptors such as dissolved oxygen, nitrate,
and sulfate and threshold concentrations of these substrates needed
to support active microbial metabolism. Similarly, the utilization
of solid-phase electron acceptors such as Mn(IV) and Fe(III) is
indicated by the production of dissolved manganese and iron. An
internally consistent set of threshold concentration criteria
was developed and applied to a large data set of 1692 water samples
from the PAs to assess ambient redox conditions. The indicated
redox condition then were related to the occurrence of selected
natural (arsenic) and anthropogenic (nitrate and volatile organic
compounds) contaminants in ground water. For the natural and anthropogenic
contaminants assessed in this study, considering redox conditions
as defined by this framework of redox indicator species and threshold
concentrations explained many water quality trends observed at
a regional scale. An important finding of this study was that
samples indicating mixed redox processes provide information on
redox heterogeneity that is useful for assessing common water
quality issues. Given the interpretive power of the redox framework
and given that it is relatively inexpensive and easy to measure
the chemical parameters included in the framework, those parameters
should be included in routine water quality monitoring programs
whenever possible.』
Introduction
Source of water quality data
Framework for assessing redox processes on a regional scale
Redox processes in selected PAs of the United States
Effect of redox on water quality in PAs
Redox and the occurrence of naturally high concentrations
of As
Redox and the occurrence of nitrate
Redox and the occurrence of VOC
Conclusions
Acknowledgments
Supplementary material
References