Scientific Investigations Report 2008–5089
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Scientific Investigations Report 2008–5089
An Update of Hydrologic Conditions and Distribution of Selected Constituents in Water, Snake River Plain Aquifer and Perched-Water Zones, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, Emphasis 2002–05
By Linda C. Davis
Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy DOE/ID-22203
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Figures
Figure 1. Location of the Idaho National Laboratory, surface-water gaging stations, and selected facilities, Idaho.
Figure 2. Location of wells in the U.S. Geological Survey aquifer water-level monitoring network at and near the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho, and frequency of water-level measurements, as of December 2005.
Figure 3. Location of wells in the U.S. Geological Survey aquifer water-level monitoring network at the Reactor Technology Complex (RTC), Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC), and Radioactive Waste Management Complex (RWMC), Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho, and frequency of water-level measurements, as of December 2005.
Figure 4. Location of wells in the U.S. Geological Survey perched water-level monitoring network at the Reactor Technology Complex (RTC), Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC), and Radioactive Waste Management Complex (RWMC), Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho, and frequency of water-level measurements, as of December 2005.
Figure 5. Location of wells in the U.S. Geological Survey aquifer water-quality monitoring network, Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and vicinity, Idaho, and frequency of water-sample collections, as of December 2005.
Figure 6. Location of wells in the U.S. Geological Survey aquifer water-quality monitoring network at the Reactor Technology Complex (RTC), Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC), and Radioactive Waste Management Complex (RWMC), Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho, and frequency of water-sample collections, as of December 2005.
Figure 7. Location of wells in the U.S. Geological Survey perched ground-water-quality monitoring network at the Reactor Technology Complex (RTC), Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC), and Radioactive Waste Management Complex (RWMC), Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho, and frequency of water-sample collections, as of December 2005.
Figure 8. Amount of tritium discharged, tritium as a percentage of total radioactive constituents in wastewater discharged, and volume of wastewater discharged to the radioactive-waste infiltration and evaporation ponds at the Reactor Technology Complex, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, 1962–2005.
Figure 9. Amount of tritium discharged, tritium as a percentage of total radioactive constituents in wastewater, and volume of wastewater discharged to disposal well and percolation ponds, Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, 1962–2005.
Figure 10. Streamflow at gaging stations along the Big Lost River: Big Lost River below Mackay Reservoir, water years 1904–06, 1912–14, and 1919–2005; Big Lost River below the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) diversion, near Arco; and INL diversion at head, near Arco, Idaho, water years 1965–2005.
Figure 11. Altitude of the water table in the Snake River Plain aquifer at and near the Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, March–May 2005.
Figure 12. Generalized decline in ground-water levels in the Snake River Plain aquifer at and near Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho, March–May 2001 to March–May 2005.
Figure 13. Water levels in four wells in the central part of the Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, 1960–2005.
Figure 14. Distribution of tritium in water from wells at and near the Reactor Technology Complex, Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center, Central Facilities Area, and Radioactive Waste Management Complex at the Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, October 2005.
Figure 15. Distribution of strontium-90 in water from wells at and near the Reactor Technology Complex (RTC), Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC), Central Facilities Area (CFA), and Radioactive Waste Management Complex (RWMC), Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho, October 2005.
Figure 16. Distribution of chloride in water from wells at and near the Reactor Technology Complex (RTC), Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC), Central Facilities Area (CFA), and Radioactive Waste Management Complex (RWMC), Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho, October 2005.
Figure 17. Amount of chloride in wastewater discharged to the disposal well and percolation ponds at the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC), and the location and amount of chloride in water from wells USGS 37 and USGS 57, Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho, 1971–2005.
Figure 18. Distribution of nitrate in water from wells at and near the Reactor Technology Complex (RTC), Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC), Central Facilities Area (CFA), and Radioactive Waste Management Complex (RWMC), Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho, October 2005.
Figure 19. Carbon tetrachloride concentrations in water from the Radioactive Waste Management Complex (RWMC) Production Well, Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho, 1987–2005.
Figure 20. Distribution of specific conductance of water from wells at and near the Reactor Technology Complex (RTC), Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC), Central Facilities Area (CFA), and Radioactive Waste Management Complex (RWMC), Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho, October 2005.
Figure 21. Location of wells in the U.S. Geological Survey perched water-quality monitoring network at the Reactor Technology Complex (RTC), Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC), and Radioactive Waste Management Complex (RWMC), Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho, and frequency of water-sample collections, as of December 2005.
Figure 22. Concentrations of tritium in water from wells completed in deep perched ground water, Reactor Technology Complex, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, April–October 2005.
Figure 23. Water-level changes in selected wells, Reactor Technology Complex, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, 1960–2005.
Figure 24. Concentrations of strontium-90 in water from wells completed in deep perched ground water, Reactor Technology Complex, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, April–October 2005.
Figure 25. Concentrations of dissolved chromium in water from wells completed in deep perched ground water, Reactor Technology Complex, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, April–October 2005.
Figure 26. Concentrations of tritium in water from wells completed in perched ground water, Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, April–October 2005.
Figure 27. Concentrations of strontium-90 in water from wells completed in perched ground water, Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, April–October 2005.
Tables
Table 1. Summary of selected previous investigations (1961–2006) on geology, hydrology, and water characteristics of ground water and perched ground water, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho.
Table 2. Location and construction of wells in the U.S. Geological Survey aquifer water‑quality monitoring network and sample-collection method and frequency, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, as of December 2005.
Table 3. Location and construction of wells in the U.S. Geological Survey perched ground water-quality monitoring network and sample-collection method and frequency at the Reactor Technology Complex, Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center, and Radioactive Waste Management Complex, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, as of December 2005.
Table 4. Average annual streamflow at gaging stations along Big Lost River, Idaho, water years 2002–05.
Table 5. Tritium concentrations in water from selected wells at and near the Central Facilities Area and the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, 1980–2005.
Table 6. Strontium-90 concentrations in water from selected wells at and near the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, 1980–2005.
Table 7. Sodium concentrations in water from selected wells at and near the Central Facilities Area and the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, 1981–2005.
Table 8. Chloride concentrations in water from selected wells at and near the Central Facilities Area and the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, 1980–2005.
Table 9.
Trace elements disposed during various periods, number of wells sampled, and range of concentrations detected, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, 2002–05.
Table 10. Concentrations of tritium, strontium-90, and cesium-137 in perched ground water from selected wells, Reactor Technology Complex, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, 2002–05.
Table 11. Concentrations of selected dissolved ions in perched ground water from selected wells, Reactor Technology Complex, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, 2002–05.
Table 12. Concentrations of tritium, strontium-90, and cesium-137 in perched ground water from selected wells, Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, 2002–05.
Table 13. Concentrations of selected dissolved ions in perched ground water from selected wells, Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, 2002–05.
Table 14. Concentrations of tritium, strontium-90, cesium-137, selected transuranic elements, and dissolved chloride in perched ground-water from well USGS 92, Radioactive Waste Management Complex, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, 2002–05.
Table 15. Concentrations of selected volatile organic compounds in perched ground water from well USGS 92, Radioactive Waste Management Complex, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, 2002–05.
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Send questions or comments about this report to the author, L.C. Davis, (208) 282-4702.
For more information about USGS activities in Idaho, visit the USGS Idaho Water Science Center home page.
U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey