thumbnail

Perchlorate, Metals, Organic Compounds, and Lead Isotopes in Groundwater, Surface Water, Shallow Groundwater, and Soil Within and Near the Middleton Municipal Airport–Morey Field (C29), Middleton, Wisconsin, 2022

Scientific Investigations Report 2024-5113
Prepared in cooperation with the Town of Middleton, Wisconsin
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20245113

Links

Abstract

The Middleton Municipal Airport–Morey Field (C29) is in the City of Middleton and adjacent to the towns of Middleton and Springfield, Wisconsin. Nearby homes in the towns rely on private drinking water wells, and residents are concerned about the potential contamination of groundwater and surface water by airport activities, including flights by small aircraft that use leaded aviation fuel and a fireworks display in July 2021.

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Town of Middleton, completed a study in 2022 to characterize the occurrence and sources of perchlorate, metals (including lead), and organic compounds in samples of groundwater, surface water, shallow groundwater, and soils within and near the airport. Lead isotopes were also measured to determine sources of lead by comparing samples to environmental references.

Magnitudes of concentrations from samples of water and soil collected in 2022, and their spatial patterns across site locations, indicate the fireworks display in July 2021 was a likely source of perchlorate and metals in the airport study area. The highest perchlorate concentration was measured in surface water at the southeastern corner of the airport near the fireworks launch site; the highest concentrations of fireworks-associated metals were measured in shallow groundwater near the same location. Fireworks were not the only possible source of perchlorate and metals in the airport study area because both were also detected upgradient and away from the fireworks launch site.

Ratios of lead isotopes indicate that lead measured in water and soil within the airport study area was primarily sourced from background atmospheric lead deposition or Wisconsin galena lead ore. However, two groundwater samples (one upgradient and one downgradient from the airport; both with concentrations less than 1 microgram per liter) had isotopic signatures matching leaded aviation fuel sold at the airport.

Suggested Citation

Schachter, L.A., and Stuntebeck, T.D., 2024, Perchlorate, metals, organic compounds, and lead isotopes in groundwater, surface water, shallow groundwater, and soil within and near the Middleton Municipal Airport–Morey Field (C29), Middleton, Wisconsin, 2022: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2024–5113, 55 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20245113.

ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Methods
  • Detection of Perchlorate, Metals, and Organic Compounds and Lead-Isotope Ratios Within and Near the Middleton Municipal Airport
  • Summary and Conclusions
  • References Cited
  • Appendix 1. Constituent Concentrations of Surface-Water Samples Collected Within and Near Middleton Municipal Airport, 2022
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Perchlorate, metals, organic compounds, and lead isotopes in groundwater, surface water, shallow groundwater, and soil within and near the Middleton Municipal Airport–Morey Field (C29), Middleton, Wisconsin, 2022
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2024-5113
DOI 10.3133/sir20245113
Year Published 2024
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Upper Midwest Water Science Center
Description Report: viii, 55 p.; Data Release; Dataset
Country United States
State Wisconsin
City Middleton
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details