Data Series 283

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Data Series 283

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Table 3. Statistical summary of the concentration of major ions, trace elements, nutrients, and isotopes in spring samples, type of comparison threshold for drinking water and the corresponding threshold level, and threshold levels for freshwater aquatic life.

[Threshold levels are maximum permissible levels unless otherwise indicated (For example, the alkalinity CCC for freshwater aquatic life indicates that the alkalinity concentration should be greater than 20 mg/L as CaCO3; HA-L, lifetime health advisory (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006b); MCL-CA, California Department of Health Services Maximum Contaminant Level (California Department of Health Services, 2005); MCL-US, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Maximum Contaminant Level (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006b); MCLtt-US, action level for treatment technique (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006b); SMCL-US, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006b); CCC, Criterion Continuous Concentration (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006c); CMC, Criterion Maximum Concentration (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006c); n/a, not applicable; E, value is estimated at or less than USGS reporting limit, or estimated flow rate; M, constituent detected but not quantified; gal/min, gallons per minute; µS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; pCi/L, picocuries per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; <, less than; >, greater than]

Constituent Springs at Pinnacles National Monument   Drinking Water   Freshwater Aquatic Life
Maximum Minimum Median Type of
comparison
threshold		 Threshold level CMC CCC
Field Parameters
Flow rate (gal/min) E6.0 E0.10 0.70 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) 7.0 1.5 6.0 n/a n/a (1) (1)
pH 7.4 6.3 6.7 SMCL-US 6.5-8.5 n/a 6.5-9
Specific Conductance (µS/cm) 497 171 297 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Temperature (°C) 19.5 14.5 17.0 n/a n/a (1) (1)
Alkalinity (mg/L as CaCO3) 196 30 92 n/a n/a n/a >20
Major Ions (mg/L)
Calcium 40.8 9.37 21.9 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Magnesium 3.35 0.257 2.47 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Potassium 1.93 0.33 1.08 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Sodium 79.5 19.9 35.7 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Bromide 0.14 0.07 0.09 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Chloride 34.0 17.6 22.6 SMCL-US 250 860 230
Fluoride 0.6 0.1 0.1 MCL-CA 2.0 n/a n/a
Iodide 0.009 E0.001 E0.002 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Silica 89.1 23.2 77.6 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Sulfate 43.1 4.7 6.0 SMCL-US 250 n/a n/a
Residue on evaporation 310 163 258 SMCL-US 500 n/a n/a
Nutrients (mg/L)
Ammonia 0.022 E0.006 E0.009 HA-L 30 (1) (1)
Nitrite + Nitrate 2.93 <0.06 0.87 SMCL-US 10 (as N) n/a n/a
Nitrite 0.011 <0.002 <0.002 SMCL-US 1 (as N) n/a n/a
Total Nitrogen 2.86 0.29 0.93 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Orthophosphate 0.521 0.010 0.218 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Phosphorus 0.50 <0.04 0.20 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Trace Elements (µg/L)
Aluminum 16 E1 <2 MCL-US 1,000 750 87
Antimony 0.32 E0.11 0.21 MCL-US 6 n/a n/a
Arsenic 19.2 3.4 8.2 MCL-US 10 340 150
Barium 8 2 5 MCL-CA 1,000 n/a n/a
Beryllium 0.24 E0.05 <0.06 MCL-US 4 n/a n/a
Boron 56 19 23 HA-L 1,000 n/a n/a
Cadmium <0.04 <0.04 <0.04 MCL-US 5 2 0.25
Chromium [total/VI](III/VI) 0.10 E0.03 0.06 MCL-CA [50/1] (570/16) (74/11)
Cobalt 0.097 E0.031 0.056 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Copper 1.5 E0.2E <0.4 MCLtt-US 1,300 13 9
Iron 63 E4 <6 SMCL-US 300 n/a 1000
Lead 0.31 E0.05 <0.08 MCLtt-US 15 65 2.5
Lithium 158 7.1 65.3 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Manganese 8.4 E0.1 2.5 SMCL-US 50 n/a n/a
Molybdenum 3.1 E0.2 E0.4 HA-L 40 n/a n/a
Nickel 0.85 0.21 0.50 MCL-CA 100 470 52
Selenium 1.9 0.09 0.26 MCL-US 50 n/a 5
Silver <0.2 <0.2 <0.2 HA-L 100 3.2 n/a
Strontium 664 85.7 214 HA-L 4,000 n/a n/a
Thallium <0.04 <0.04 <0.04 MCL-US 2 n/a n/a
Uranium 23.8 0.16 2.86 MCL-US 30 n/a n/a
Vanadium 1.6 E0.06 0.31 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Zinc 1.8 0.6 1.4 SMCL-US 5,000 120 120
Stable Isotopes (per mil)
Deuterium/Protium ratio –51.30 –59.10 –56.40 n/a n/a n/a n/a
18O/16O ratio –7.45 –8.67 –8.42 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Radioisotopes (pCi/L)
Tritium 2.2 M 0.6 MCL-CA 20,000 n/a n/a

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