A COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF WATER CHEMISTRIES AND AQUIFERS IN THE CONCHO RIVER WATERSHED, TX

The primary objective of this research is to compile and model chemical compositions of various aquifers to the Concho River Watershed of West-Central Texas for comparative purposes with recently sampled waters to aid in water source determination. The chemical analysis (consisting of the “major 8” ions and physiochemical parameters including: pH, Eh, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, water temperature) from approximately 2000 wells with lat/long coordinates (Texas Water Development Board data) in the Concho River watershed covering 14 Texas counties has been compiled in attribute tables with ArcGIS 10. Buffer zones were created to separate these aquifers according to well depth and chemical composition. These data have been used to create maps of 35 major to minor aquifers within the watershed. Furthermore, maps display regional and local groundwater flow patterns and chemical signatures of these various aquifers. Piper diagrams also demonstrate the percent composition of major ions of these individual aquifers within the Concho River watershed. Post completion of this database will allow for comparative analysis for obtained water samples to aid in determining origins of regional waters by chemical analysis/compositions. These models will also be used as an interactive learning tool for individuals visiting the Department of Physics and Geosciences at Angelo State University by using a new touch screen interface displayed in the lobby of our building.