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Hydraulic and Water-Quality Indicators of Aquifer Zones Contributing Groundwater Flow to Wells in the Santa Fe Group Aquifer System near Southeast Albuquerque, New Mexico, 2013–16

Scientific Investigations Report 2018-5138
Prepared in cooperation with the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority and the U.S. Air Force
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20185138

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Abstract

An ethylene dibromide (EDB) plume extends approximately 5,880 feet northeast from the Bulk Fuels Facility on Kirtland Air Force Base. The leading edge of the EDB plume is about 3,700 feet upgradient from several water-supply wells. The water-supply wells are screened in the upper Santa Fe Group aquifer system. Within the upper Santa Fe Group, two primary clay-rich layers, the A1 and A2 units, separate water-producing zones. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority and the U.S. Air Force, installed four sentinel well nests and two aquifer-test pumping wells between the EDB plume and the water-supply wells. The purpose of the sentinel wells is to provide early warning of EDB plume migration towards water-supply wells. The sentinel well nests include at least three wells that are screened above, in between, and below the A1 and A2 units. The two aquifer-test pumping wells, installed for performing hydraulic tests on the aquifer system, are screened across both clay layers, as are the nearby water-supply wells. Well-bore flow logging indicated that greater than 60 percent of groundwater flow to the wells was through the deepest interval below the lowermost clay layer (A1 unit). The interval between the A1 and A2 units is the second most productive interval. Water-quality data also indicated that water drawn from the aquifer-test pumping wells and previously studied nearby water-supply wells is most similar in composition to water from the sentinel wells screened in the middle and deep intervals.

Suggested Citation

Travis, R.E., and Myers, N.C., 2019, Hydraulic and water-quality indicators of aquifer zones contributing groundwater flow to wells in the Santa Fe Group aquifer system near southeast Albuquerque, New Mexico, 2013–16 (ver. 1.1, May 2019): U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2018–5138, 21 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20185138.

ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Methods
  • Groundwater Flow To Wells
  • Summary
  • Acknowledgments
  • References
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Hydraulic and water-quality indicators of aquifer zones contributing groundwater flow to wells in the Santa Fe Group aquifer system near southeast Albuquerque, New Mexico, 2013–16
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2018-5138
DOI 10.3133/sir20185138
Edition Version 1.1 : May 14, 2019
Year Published 2019
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) New Mexico Water Science Center
Description v, 21 p.
Time Range Start 2013-01-01
Time Range End 2016-12-31
Country United States
State New Mexico
County Bernalillo County
City Albuquerque
Other Geospatial Kirtland Air Force Base, Santa Fe Group Aquifer
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details