Water Monitoring

(Project in collaboration with Dr. Tara Kishbaugh, Chemistry)

Although Virginia has not yet seen natural gas drilling using the controversial hydrofracking technique, an area near Bergton, VA was considered as a potential hydrofracking site. We have partnered with the Shenandoah Valley Network, the Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, and Bergton area residents to establish baseline values for several parameters in surface and well water. Stream flow, pH, conductivity, TDS, and Ba and Sr levels are being monitored at multiple sites. Four sites both upstream and downstream from the original proposed drilling site were monitored starting in 2011, in addition to well water from several Bergton area residents. Monitoring was expanded in 2012 to include more surface and well water sites.

Students are working to continue monitoring at the original Bergton sites, monitoring additional areas in the county that would be potential areas for drilling. Baseline data also provides information on "normal" water quality patterns (e.g. maps at right for geographic variation). We are currently sampling on a quarterly basis. Work in 2014 expanded to partnering with Trout Unlimited on water analysis across a wider region. In addition, a long-term, integrated project with Ecosystems Services LLC is being initiated to assess and improve regional stream habitat health.

Click here for maps of sampling area, and gas leases

Instrumentation is funded by a major NSF CCLI grant. Supplies are funded by a grant from the Shenandoah Valley Network, and Trout Unlimited.

Major Findings:

• Baselines values for these parameters are established since 2011, providing a baseline for future comparisons.
• Both Ba and Sr at the Bergton sites were in the range of what was expected based on other published values. Sr in particular was generally at relatively low levels. Barium concentrations were below the EPA maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 2 ppm, and strontium levels were below the EPA health advisory for lifetime health of 4 ppm (Sr is not regulated as a primary contaminate, and therefore does not have an MCL).
• Conductivity and TDS show seasonal fluctuations with increases in the winter period.
  • These results suggest they could be used as indicators of anthropogenic inputs (additional inputs would be detected as increases above the normally low levels).
• Ba and Sr were at higher concentrations in the valley, vs in the surrounding mountain regions.

Future Research:

• We are continuing and expanding baseline monitoring
• Continuous monitors (data collected every ~30 minutes) for temperature and conductivity will give more detailed baseline information on both short-term (e.g. storm related) and long-term (e.g. long use changes, climate change) temporal patterns
• Expanded testing should clarify the patterns of Ba and Sr throughout the valley.