Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

This site is currently in beta, and your feedback is helping shape its ongoing development.

Coupling the dual-isotope indicators of water and nitrate indicates legacy groundwater pollution

Published by U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD) | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Metadata Last Checked: August 02, 2025 | Last Modified: 2020-07-22
Shallow groundwater samples were collected since 2006 for routine analysis by ODEQ from 16 domestic wells (installation dating from the 1970s) and 23 ODEQ groundwater monitoring wells (installation dating between 2003-2006) across the SWV-GWMA. In 2012, sampling and analysis for water isotopes (δH2O:2H-H2O and 18O-H2O) were added to the monitoring program. At that time, ODEQ collected samples quarterly in all wells. However, in 2016, ODEQ decreased sampling frequency to once a year (May/June) for all 39 wells, while 12 wells continued to be sampled every quarter. At the same time, sampling and analysis for NO3- isotopes (δNO3-: 15N-NO3- and 18O-NO3-) were added to the monitoring program. This study reports on the monitoring results through 2019, which includes 8 years of water isotope and 4 years for nitrate isotope data. Data were added to include data collected through May 2024, adding 4 additional years. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Weitzman, J., J.R. Brooks, P. Mayer, W. Rugh, and J. Compton. Coupling the dual isotopes of water (δ2H and δ18O) and nitrate (δ15N and δ18O): A new framework for classifying current and legacy groundwater pollution. Environmental Research Letters. IOP Publishing LIMITED, Bristol, UK, 16(4): 045008, (2021).

data.gov

An official website of the GSA's Technology Transformation Services

Looking for U.S. government information and services?
Visit USA.gov