USE OF BR:CL RATIOS TO TRACK SOURCES OF TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS IN THE MONONGAHELA RIVER BASIN

The objective of this work is to characterize the sources of total dissolved solids in the Monongahela River Basin to identify sources of contamination. Tributaries to the Monongahela River receive discharges from coal mines and wastewater from coal-burning power plants. The recent expansion of natural gas exploration from the Marcellus Shale gas reservoir threatens significant water quality impacts as well. Considerable water withdrawals occur in this region, likely affecting the concentration of total dissolved solids. Since the Monongahela River is the source for 17 surface water treatment plants in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, serving more than 700,000 people, these water quality impacts will have effects on drinking water. The entire Monongahela basin provides drinking water to more than a million people predominately through surface water sources including the Monongahela and its major tributaries.

A two year field study beginning in September 2009 spanning 100 miles of the Monongahela River Basin is being conducted to track the sources of total dissolved solids. The work presented here will be preliminary results on the characterization of these solids and the implications for future water quality concerns in this region.