Geochemical Analysis Results of Hueco Bolson Production Well Groundwater Samples - Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Program

The Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Act was established to systematically assess priority aquifers along the U.S.-Mexico international boundary. The priority aquifers that were specified include the Hueco-Mesilla Bolsons aquifer in Texas and New Mexico and its counterpart in Mexico, the Conejos-Medanos Aquifer system, and the Santa Cruz and San Pedro aquifers in Arizona (Texas Water Development Board, 2019). The Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Program (TAAP) was started in 2009 and is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Geological Survey, Arizona Water Resources Research Center, New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute, and the Texas Water Resources Institute (U.S. Geological Survey, 2018) to better understand these aquifers. More information about TAAP can be found at the TAAP project website: https://webapps.usgs.gov/taap/. This data release contains data from water-quality analyses of groundwater samples collected from production wells within the Hueco Bolson which is part of the Hueco-Mesilla Bolsons aquifer system. Sampling locations were determined in coordination with El Paso Water and the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center to meet TAAP goals of understanding groundwater-quality data and providing useful information to decision makers. Groundwater samples were collected from 20 production wells operated by El Paso Water and Fort Bliss Water Services during August 29-September 23, 2016. These samples were analyzed for major ions, trace elements, nutrients, pesticides, carbon isotopes, strontium isotopes, hydrogen isotopes, and oxygen isotopes. Three additional Fort Bliss Water Services wells were sampled between May 31 and June 1, 2017. These samples were analyzed for major ions, trace elements, dissolved gasses, carbon isotopes, strontium isotopes, hydrogen isotopes, oxygen isotopes, boron isotopes, and uranium isotopes.