From 2007 to 2021, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collaborated with the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology on evaluating the forms of arsenic in Nevada groundwater resources. A total of 190 groundwater samples were collected from wells and springs throughout Nevada. Concentrations of arsenic ranged from <1.6 to 2,408 micrograms per liter (µg/L); in most cases, arsenate was the dominant species. All arsenic data collected as part of this collaborative effort are available through the Water Quality Portal.
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element commonly associated with volcanic rocks and the soils/sediments derived from them (Welch and others, 1988; USEPA 2000). Human related activities, such as mining, irrigation, and the use of phosphate containing fertilizers, can influence the concentration of arsenic in groundwater (Welch and others, 1988; Campos, 2002; Busbee and others 2009; Lin and others, 2016). As groundwater moves through an aquifer with volcanic rocks and associated soils/sediments, it can mobilize arsenic contained in them (Cherry and others, 1979; USEPA, 2000). Consumption of water with arsenic concentrations exceeding the maximum contaminant level (MCL) has been associated with incidences of cardiovascular, liver, and neurological disease and certain cancers, including but not limited to, blood, lung, skin, kidney, and prostate (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2014). In 2001, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) lowered the MCL for arsenic in drinking water from 50 to 10 µg/L (USEPA, 2001). Using a statistical modeling approach to evaluate the regional occurrence of arsenic in basin-fill aquifers throughout the southwestern United States, Anning and others (2012) showed that much of Nevada’s groundwater resources likely contain arsenic. A study published in 2022 on the occurrence of arsenic in groundwater used for domestic supply in Nevada showed that 22 percent of samples collected from 174 domestic wells exceeded the 10 µg/L drinking water criterion (Arienzo and others, 2022). While the form arsenic takes (speciation) isn’t commonly evaluated as part of arsenic occurrence surveys, arsenic speciation is important to consider when treating drinking water for arsenic (Kanel and others, 2023). Generally, arsenate is more effectively removed from water than is arsenite (USEPA, 2001; Walker and others, 2008; Paul and others, 2010).
References
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2014, Toxicological profile for arsenic: Health effects, accessed January 11, 2024 at url, Arsenic | Toxicological Profile | ATSDR (cdc.gov).
Anning, D.W., Paul, A.P., McKinney, T.S., Huntington, J.M., Bexfield, L.M., Thiros, S.A., 2012, Predicted nitrate and arsenic concentrations in basin-fill aquifers of the southwestern United States: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific-Investigations Report 2012-5065, 78p. and Appendices. Available at url, sir20125065.pdf (usgs.gov)
Arienzo, M.M., Saftner, D., Bacon, S.N., Robtoy, E., Neveux, I., Schlauch, K., Carbone, M., Grzymski, J., 2022, Naturally occurring metals in unregulated domestic wells in Nevada, USA: Science of the Total Environment available at url, Naturally occurring metals in unregulated domestic wells in Nevada, USA - PubMed (nih.gov) [FD1]
Busbee, M.W., Kocar, B.D., Benner, S.G., 2009, Irrigation produces elevated arsenic in underlying groundwater of a semi-arid basin in Southwestern Idaho: Applied Geochemistry, vol. 24, pp. 843-859. Available at url, Irrigation produces elevated arsenic in the underlying groundwater of a semi-arid basin in Southwestern Idaho - ScienceDirect
Campos, V., 2002, Arsenic in groundwater affected by phosphate fertilizers at São Paulo, Brazil: Environmental Geology, vol. 42, pp. 83-87. Available at url, Arsenic in groundwater affected by phosphate fertilizers at São Paulo, Brazil | Environmental Geology (springer.com)
Cherry, J.A., Shaikh, A.U., Tallman, D.E., Nicholson, R.V., 1979, Arsenic species as an indicator of redox conditions in groundwater: Journal of Hydrology, Vol. 43, pp. 373-392, available at url, Arsenic Species as an Indicator of Redox Conditions in Groundwater - ScienceDirect
Kanel, S.R., Das, R.K., Varma, R.S., Kurwadkar, S., Chakraborty, S., Joshi, T.P., Bezbaruah, A.N., Nadagouda, M.N., 2023, Arsenic contamination in groundwater: Geochemical basis of treatment technologies: ACS Environmental Au, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 135-152. Available at url, Arsenic Contamination in Groundwater: Geochemical Basis of Treatment Technologies (acs.org)
Lin, T., Wei, C., Huang, C., Chang, C., Hsu, F., Liao, V.H., 2016, Both phosphorus fertilizers and indigenous bacteria enhance arsenic release into groundwater in arsenic-contaminated aquifers: Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, vol. 64, no. 11, pp. 2214-2222.
Paul, A.P., Maurer, D.K., Stollenwerk, K.G., Welch, A.H., 2010, In-Situ arsenic remediation in Carson Valley, Douglas County, west-central Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific-Investigations Report 2010-5161, 24 p. available at url, https://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2010/5161/pdf/sir20105161.pdf
USEPA, 2000, Arsenic occurrence in public drinking water supplies EPA-815-R-00-023 accessed January 11, 2024 at url: ARSENIC OCCURRENCE IN PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES, EPA-815-R-00-023, December 2000
USEPA[FD2] [PAP3] , January 22, 2001, Final Rule. National Primary Drinking Water Regulations; arsenic and clarification to compliance and new source contaminants monitoring: Federal Regulations, Rules and Regulations, Vol. 66, No. 14, 40 CFR Parts 9, 141, 142, 92 p. Accessed July 5, 2023 at url, https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2001-01-22/pdf/01-1668.pdf
Walker, M., Seiler, R.L., Meinert, M., 2008, Effectiveness of household reverse-osmosis systems in a western U.S. region with high arsenic in groundwater: Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 389, No 2-3, pp. 245-252. Accessed July 14, 2023 at url, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17919687/
Welch, A.H., Lico, M.S., Hughes, J.L., 1988, Arsenic in ground water of the western United States: Ground Water, Vol. 26, No. 3, pp. 333-347. Available at url, Arsenic in Ground Water of the Western United States (wiley.com)
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Collection of arsenic and associated geochemical data important to occurrence and mobility of arsenic in groundwater used for public supply in southern Carson Valley, Douglas County, Nevada
Occurrence and Mobility of Arsenic in Groundwater Used for Public Supply in Southern Carson Valley, Douglas County, Nevada
From 2007 to 2021, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collaborated with the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology on evaluating the forms of arsenic in Nevada groundwater resources. A total of 190 groundwater samples were collected from wells and springs throughout Nevada. Concentrations of arsenic ranged from <1.6 to 2,408 micrograms per liter (µg/L); in most cases, arsenate was the dominant species. All arsenic data collected as part of this collaborative effort are available through the Water Quality Portal.
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element commonly associated with volcanic rocks and the soils/sediments derived from them (Welch and others, 1988; USEPA 2000). Human related activities, such as mining, irrigation, and the use of phosphate containing fertilizers, can influence the concentration of arsenic in groundwater (Welch and others, 1988; Campos, 2002; Busbee and others 2009; Lin and others, 2016). As groundwater moves through an aquifer with volcanic rocks and associated soils/sediments, it can mobilize arsenic contained in them (Cherry and others, 1979; USEPA, 2000). Consumption of water with arsenic concentrations exceeding the maximum contaminant level (MCL) has been associated with incidences of cardiovascular, liver, and neurological disease and certain cancers, including but not limited to, blood, lung, skin, kidney, and prostate (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2014). In 2001, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) lowered the MCL for arsenic in drinking water from 50 to 10 µg/L (USEPA, 2001). Using a statistical modeling approach to evaluate the regional occurrence of arsenic in basin-fill aquifers throughout the southwestern United States, Anning and others (2012) showed that much of Nevada’s groundwater resources likely contain arsenic. A study published in 2022 on the occurrence of arsenic in groundwater used for domestic supply in Nevada showed that 22 percent of samples collected from 174 domestic wells exceeded the 10 µg/L drinking water criterion (Arienzo and others, 2022). While the form arsenic takes (speciation) isn’t commonly evaluated as part of arsenic occurrence surveys, arsenic speciation is important to consider when treating drinking water for arsenic (Kanel and others, 2023). Generally, arsenate is more effectively removed from water than is arsenite (USEPA, 2001; Walker and others, 2008; Paul and others, 2010).
References
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2014, Toxicological profile for arsenic: Health effects, accessed January 11, 2024 at url, Arsenic | Toxicological Profile | ATSDR (cdc.gov).
Anning, D.W., Paul, A.P., McKinney, T.S., Huntington, J.M., Bexfield, L.M., Thiros, S.A., 2012, Predicted nitrate and arsenic concentrations in basin-fill aquifers of the southwestern United States: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific-Investigations Report 2012-5065, 78p. and Appendices. Available at url, sir20125065.pdf (usgs.gov)
Arienzo, M.M., Saftner, D., Bacon, S.N., Robtoy, E., Neveux, I., Schlauch, K., Carbone, M., Grzymski, J., 2022, Naturally occurring metals in unregulated domestic wells in Nevada, USA: Science of the Total Environment available at url, Naturally occurring metals in unregulated domestic wells in Nevada, USA - PubMed (nih.gov) [FD1]
Busbee, M.W., Kocar, B.D., Benner, S.G., 2009, Irrigation produces elevated arsenic in underlying groundwater of a semi-arid basin in Southwestern Idaho: Applied Geochemistry, vol. 24, pp. 843-859. Available at url, Irrigation produces elevated arsenic in the underlying groundwater of a semi-arid basin in Southwestern Idaho - ScienceDirect
Campos, V., 2002, Arsenic in groundwater affected by phosphate fertilizers at São Paulo, Brazil: Environmental Geology, vol. 42, pp. 83-87. Available at url, Arsenic in groundwater affected by phosphate fertilizers at São Paulo, Brazil | Environmental Geology (springer.com)
Cherry, J.A., Shaikh, A.U., Tallman, D.E., Nicholson, R.V., 1979, Arsenic species as an indicator of redox conditions in groundwater: Journal of Hydrology, Vol. 43, pp. 373-392, available at url, Arsenic Species as an Indicator of Redox Conditions in Groundwater - ScienceDirect
Kanel, S.R., Das, R.K., Varma, R.S., Kurwadkar, S., Chakraborty, S., Joshi, T.P., Bezbaruah, A.N., Nadagouda, M.N., 2023, Arsenic contamination in groundwater: Geochemical basis of treatment technologies: ACS Environmental Au, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 135-152. Available at url, Arsenic Contamination in Groundwater: Geochemical Basis of Treatment Technologies (acs.org)
Lin, T., Wei, C., Huang, C., Chang, C., Hsu, F., Liao, V.H., 2016, Both phosphorus fertilizers and indigenous bacteria enhance arsenic release into groundwater in arsenic-contaminated aquifers: Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, vol. 64, no. 11, pp. 2214-2222.
Paul, A.P., Maurer, D.K., Stollenwerk, K.G., Welch, A.H., 2010, In-Situ arsenic remediation in Carson Valley, Douglas County, west-central Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific-Investigations Report 2010-5161, 24 p. available at url, https://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2010/5161/pdf/sir20105161.pdf
USEPA, 2000, Arsenic occurrence in public drinking water supplies EPA-815-R-00-023 accessed January 11, 2024 at url: ARSENIC OCCURRENCE IN PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES, EPA-815-R-00-023, December 2000
USEPA[FD2] [PAP3] , January 22, 2001, Final Rule. National Primary Drinking Water Regulations; arsenic and clarification to compliance and new source contaminants monitoring: Federal Regulations, Rules and Regulations, Vol. 66, No. 14, 40 CFR Parts 9, 141, 142, 92 p. Accessed July 5, 2023 at url, https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2001-01-22/pdf/01-1668.pdf
Walker, M., Seiler, R.L., Meinert, M., 2008, Effectiveness of household reverse-osmosis systems in a western U.S. region with high arsenic in groundwater: Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 389, No 2-3, pp. 245-252. Accessed July 14, 2023 at url, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17919687/
Welch, A.H., Lico, M.S., Hughes, J.L., 1988, Arsenic in ground water of the western United States: Ground Water, Vol. 26, No. 3, pp. 333-347. Available at url, Arsenic in Ground Water of the Western United States (wiley.com)
Below are other science projects associated with this project.