CHEMICAL MODELING OF CONSEQUENCES OF SURFACE-WATER DELIVERY THROUGH EXISTING CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE INFRASTURE
The City of
The existing infrastructure used by the City has previously
carried only ground water, in some cases for as long as 50 years. Over this
period of time, precipitates from ground water have likely accumulated in pipes
and on other surfaces of the water-supply system, including residential plumbing
and appliances. Because water from the Rio Grande can differ substantially in
chemical characteristics from ground water in the Albuquerque area, delivery
of surface water or mixtures of surface water and ground water through the existing
infrastructure could potentially result in dissolution/dislodging of precipitates
that were deposited (and subsequently remained in equilibrium with) ground water.
Depending upon the chemical composition of these precipitates, their dissolution
could impart unusual color, flavor, and (or) odor to water that is delivered
to customers, and could potentially increase the trace-element concentration
of delivered water. In addition, dissolution of precipitates (particularly calcium
carbonate) could expose large sections of the infrastructure to corrosion. Mixtures
of surface and ground water also could potentially cause precipitation of new
minerals in the distribution system, reducing efficiency of water delivery.
By performing chemical and mineralogical analysis of existing precipitates and
modeling their likely behavior with surface water and surface-water/ground-water
mixtures, as well as modeling possible precipitation of minerals from new water
mixtures, knowledge could be gained to aid in preventing or alleviating potential
problems associated with the change in water source.
The objective of this project is to determine the potential
chemical effects of delivering
This study will be done in two phases: collection and compilation
of mineralogical and chemical data, followed by modeling of geochemical reactions.
Phase I:
Samples of material precipitated by ground water on surfaces
of the existing distribution system will be collected and analyzed for mineralogy
and, in some cases, chemical composition. Efforts will be made to compile any
existing data of this nature and (or) to obtain previously collected samples
from the City. Sample collection/analysis will focus on obtaining information
on precipitates in different areas of the City and from different components
of the distribution system – in particular, distribution lines, reservoirs,
and residential water heaters.
Historical data about the chemical compositions of surface
water from the
The geochemical modeling package PHREEQC will be used to evaluate
the likely results of mixing Rio Grande surface water and City of Albuquerque
ground water from various well fields, and of placing these mixtures in contact
with mineral precipitates found to be present in the City’s water-distribution
system. Specific mineral phases to be included in the modeling will be determined
based on minerals expected to precipitate during mixing, as well as on the mineral
and chemical analysis of existing precipitates. The availability of water-quality
data on redox conditions and minor-element concentrations could limit the mineral
phases that can be modeled. The mixtures of surface water and ground water to
be used will be based on current knowledge of the likely future operation of
the water-supply system. Models will be run using a range of temperatures, redox
conditions, and partial pressures of selected gases that can be expected to
occur within the distribution system. Results of the modeling will be examined
for indications of mineral precipitation during mixing, as well as for the potential
that minerals already present within the distribution system will dissolve.
Conditions under which precipitation and (or) dissolution is most likely to
occur will be evaluated. Also, the general compositions of the resulting water,
as well as any new mineral precipitates, will be determined.
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