Shallow Groundwater Quality in Alberta (Canada) with a Focus on the Occurrence of Nitrate and Methane

This study characterized the hydrogeochemistry and redox state of shallow groundwater (< 150 mbgs) in Alberta, with a focus on the occurrence of nitrate and methane. Chemical analyses of > 60,000 groundwater samples collected from landowner wells (part of the Alberta Health Services dataset) were interpreted revealing a dominance of geochemically evolved groundwater (56%, Na-HCO3) and overall highly reducing redox conditions (72%) favourable to denitrification. Redox conditions favourable to the formation and persistence of methane were found in 43% of all samples. Over 31% of the groundwater samples had detectable nitrate concentrations with 9.7% of these samples (3.1% of total samples) exceeding Health Canada’s health-based maximum acceptable concentration of 45 mg NO3/L. Additionally, it was observed that samples exceeded the Health Canada aesthetic objective for total dissolved solids, sodium, sulphate, and chloride in 79%, 61%, 9.4%, and 3.2% of samples, respectively

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MSc)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Geoscience

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Science

Year dc:date.issued

2019

Author dc:creator

• Wilson, Leah Josephine

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Mayer, Bernhard

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Cey, Edwin E.
• Ryan, M. Cathryn

• hydrogeochemistry
• redox
• landowner wells
• groundwater

Statement dc:rights

• University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/36487

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:1880/110311