Concentration of 23 trace elements in ground water and surface water at and near the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho, 1988-91

Water samples from 167 wells and 12 surface-water sites at and near the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory were analyzed for a suite of as many as 23 trace elements in 1988-91. The samples were collected and analyzed as a continuation of a water-quality program initiated in 1987 and as part of studies conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey. Water samples were collected from 148 wells completed in the Snake River Plain aquifer, 18 wells completed in discontinuous deep perched-water zones, and 1 well completed in an alluvial aquifer. Samples were collected from these wells using dedicated or portable pumps. Grab samples were collected at surface-water sites. Data indicated that water locally contained detectable concentra- tions of aluminum, arsenic, barium, beryllium, bromide, cadmium, chromium, hexavalent chromium, cobalt, copper, iron fluoride, lead, lithium, manganese, mercury, nickel, selenium, silver, strontium, vanadium, and zinc. Molybdenum and thallium were not detected. Except for chromium, the concentrations of trace elements from all sites were less than the Maximum Contaminant Levels for drinking water established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Chromium equaled or exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level at 12 water-quality monitoring wells. (USGS)