Quality-Control Results for Ground-Water and Surface-Water ...

[Pages:59]Quality-Control Results for Ground-Water and Surface-Water Data, Sacramento River Basin, California, National Water-Quality Assessment, 1996?1998

By Cathy Munday and Joseph L. Domagalski

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 02-4201 NATIONAL WATER-QUALITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM

Sacramento, California 2002

6230-32

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

GALE A. NORTON, Secretary

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Charles G. Groat, Director

Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

For additional information write to:

District Chief U.S. Geological Survey Placer Hall ? Suite 2012 6000 J Street Sacramento, California 95819-6129

Copies of this report can be purchased from:

U.S. Geological Survey Information Services Building 810 Box 25286, Federal Center Denver, CO 80225-0286

FOREWORD

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is committed to serve the Nation with accurate and timely scientific information that helps enhance and protect the overall quality of life, and facilitates effective management of water, biological, energy, and mineral resources. Information on the quality of the Nation's water resources is of critical interest to the USGS because it is so integrally linked to the long-term availability of water that is clean and safe for drinking and recreation and that is suitable for industry, irrigation, and habitat for fish and wildlife. Escalating population growth and increasing demands for the multiple water uses make water availability, now measured in terms of quantity and quality, even more critical to the long-term sustainability of our communities and ecosystems.

The USGS implemented the National WaterQuality Assessment (NAWQA) Program to support national, regional, and local information needs and decisions related to water-quality management and policy. Shaped by and coordinated with ongoing efforts of other Federal, State, and local agencies, the NAWQA Program is designed to answer: What is the condition of our Nation's streams and ground water? How are the conditions changing over time? How do natural features and human activities affect the quality of streams and ground water, and where are those effects most pronounced? By combining information on water chemistry, physical characteristics, stream habitat, and aquatic life, the NAWQA Program aims to provide science-based insights for current and emerging water issues. NAWQA results can contribute to informed decisions that result in practical and effective water-resource management and strategies that protect and restore water quality.

Since 1991, the NAWQA Program has implemented interdisciplinary assessments in more than 50 of the Nation's most important river basins and aquifers, referred to as Study Units. Collectively, these Study Units account for more than 60 percent of the overall water use and population served by public water supply, and are representative of the Nation's major hydrologic landscapes, priority ecological resources, and agricultural, urban, and natural sources of contamination.

Each assessment is guided by a nationally consistent study design and methods of sampling and analysis. The assessments thereby build local knowledge about water-quality issues and trends in a particular stream or aquifer while providing an understanding of how and why water quality varies regionally and nationally. The consistent, multi-scale approach helps to determine if certain types of waterquality issues are isolated or pervasive, and allows direct comparisons of how human activities and natural processes affect water quality and ecological health in the Nation's diverse geographic and environmental settings. Comprehensive assessments on pesticides, nutrients, volatile organic compounds, trace metals, and aquatic ecology are developed at the national scale through comparative analysis of the Study-Unit findings.

The USGS places high value on the communication and dissemination of credible, timely, and relevant science so that the most recent and available knowledge about water resources can be applied in management and policy decisions. We hope this NAWQA publication will provide you the needed insights and information to meet your needs, and thereby foster increased awareness and involvement in the protection and restoration of our Nation's waters.

The NAWQA Program recognizes that a national assessment by a single program cannot address all water-resource issues of interest. External coordination at all levels is critical for a fully integrated understanding of watersheds and for cost-effective management, regulation, and conservation of our Nation's water resources. The Program, therefore, depends extensively on the advice, cooperation, and information from other Federal, State, interstate, Tribal, and local agencies, non-government organizations, industry, academia, and other stakeholder groups. The assistance and suggestions of all are greatly appreciated.

Robert M. Hirsch Associate Director for Water

iii

CONTENTS

Abstract ................................................................................................................................................................ 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................... 2 Quality-Control Sample Types............................................................................................................................. 6

Blank Samples............................................................................................................................................. 6 Field Blanks ....................................................................................................................................... 7 Equipment Blanks .............................................................................................................................. 7 Trip Blanks......................................................................................................................................... 7 Source Solution Blanks...................................................................................................................... 7 Ambient Blanks.................................................................................................................................. 7

Spiked Samples ........................................................................................................................................... 7 Replicate Samples ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Analysis....................................................................................................................................................... 8 Quality-Assurance and Quality-Control Design .................................................................................................. 11 Ground Water.............................................................................................................................................. 11

Blank Samples.................................................................................................................................... 11 Major Ions................................................................................................................................. 11 Dissolved Organic Carbon........................................................................................................ 13 Nutrients.................................................................................................................................... 14 Trace Elements.......................................................................................................................... 14 Arsenic ............................................................................................................................. 16 Aluminum ........................................................................................................................ 16 Copper.............................................................................................................................. 16 Chromium ........................................................................................................................ 16 Cadmium.......................................................................................................................... 17 Barium ............................................................................................................................. 17 Pesticides in Filtered Water Analyzed by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry ............. 17 Pesticides in Filtered Water Analyzed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography........... 17 Volatile Organic Compounds ................................................................................................... 18

Replicate Samples .............................................................................................................................. 19 Surrogate Recovery............................................................................................................................ 22 Field Spiked Samples......................................................................................................................... 23

Pesticides in Filtered Water Analyzed by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry ............. 23 Pesticides in Filtered Water Analyzed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography........... 25 Volatile Organic Compounds ................................................................................................... 27 Surface Water.............................................................................................................................................. 27 Blank Samples.................................................................................................................................... 29 Major Ions................................................................................................................................. 29 Dissolved Organic Carbon........................................................................................................ 29 Suspended Organic Carbon....................................................................................................... 31 Nutrients.................................................................................................................................... 31 Trace Elements.......................................................................................................................... 32

Aluminum ........................................................................................................................ 32 Chromium, Copper, Manganese, Nickel, Zinc, and Iron................................................. 33 Total Mercury ........................................................................................................................... 33 Methylmercury.......................................................................................................................... 33 Pesticides in Filtered Water Analyzed by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry ............. 33

iv Quality-Control Results for Ground-Water and Surface-Water Data, Sacramento River Basin, California, National Water-Quality Assessment, 1996?1998

Pesticides in Filtered Water Analyzed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography........... 33 Volatile Organic Compounds ................................................................................................... 33 Replicate Samples .............................................................................................................................. 33 Surrogate Recovery............................................................................................................................ 36 Field Spiked Samples......................................................................................................................... 37 Pesticides in Filtered Water Analyzed by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry ............. 37 Pesticides in Filtered Water Analyzed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography........... 39 Volatile Organic Compounds ................................................................................................... 41 Summary and Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 44 References Cited .................................................................................................................................................. 45

Contents v

FIGURES

Figure 1. Map showing National Water-Quality Assessment ground-water sampling sites in the Sacramento River Basin, California .................................................................................................. 3

Figure 2. Map showing National Water-Quality Assessment surface-water sampling sites in the Sacramento River Basin, California .................................................................................................. 4

Figure 3. Graph showing boxplots of boron concentration in ground-water environmental samples and field blanks in the Sacramento River Basin, California, 1996?1998................................................. 13

Figure 4. Graph showing boxplots of dissolved organic carbon concentration in ground-water environmental samples and field blanks in the Sacramento River Basin, California, 1996?1998 ............................ 13

Figure 5. Graph showing boxplots of ammonia concentration in ground-water environmental samples and field blanks in the Sacramento River Basin, California, 1996?1998.......................................... 15

Figure 6. Graph showing boxplots of aluminum concentration in ground-water environmental samples and field blanks in the Sacramento River Basin, California, 1996?1998.......................................... 17

Figure 7. Graph showing boxplots of copper concentration in ground-water environmental samples and field blanks in the Sacramento River Basin, California, 1996?1998.......................................... 17

Figure 8. Graph showing boxplots of trichloromethane (chloroform) concentration in ground-water environmental samples and field blanks in the Sacramento River Basin, California, 1996?1998.... 19

Figure 9. Graph showing boxplots of dissolved organic carbon concentration in surface-water environmental samples, field blanks, and source solution blanks in the Sacramento River Basin, California, 1996?1998 ....................................................................................................................... 31

Figure 10. Graph showing boxplots of suspended organic carbon concentration in surface-water environmental samples and field blanks in the Sacramento River Basin, California, 1996?1998.... 31

Figure 11. Graph showing boxplots of aluminum concentration in surface-water environmental samples and field blanks in the Sacramento River Basin, California, 1996?1998.......................................... 32

vi Quality-Control Results for Ground-Water and Surface-Water Data, Sacramento River Basin, California, National Water-Quality Assessment, 1996?1998

TABLES

Table 1. Critical constituents in the analysis and interpretation of ground- and surface-water data, Sacramento River Basin, California, National Water-Quality Assessment, 1996?1998................... 5

Table 2. Analytical methods by constituent category used during the Sacramento River Basin, California, National Water-Quality Assessment, 1996?1998............................................................ 9

Table 3. Detections of critical constituents in ground-water field blank samples, Sacramento River Basin, California, National Water-Quality Assessment, 1996?1998 ................................................ 12

Table 4. Comparison of ammonia detections in ground-water samples and field blanks by study type, Sacramento River Basin, California, National Water-Quality Assessment, 1996?1998................... 15

Table 5. Method reporting limit comparison between inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry analysis of ground-water environmental samples and low-level analysis of blank samples for selected constituents, Sacramento River Basin, California, National Water-Quality Assessment, 1996?1998 ......................................................................................................................................... 16

Table 6. Variability of ground-water replicate samples collected during the Sacramento River Basin National Water-Quality Assessment, 1996?1998.............................................................................. 20

Table 7. Recovery of surrogate compounds in Sacramento River Basin, California, ground-water samples, 1996?1998 ......................................................................................................................................... 23

Table 8. Recovery of field matrix spikes for pesticides from Sacramento River Basin, California, ground-water samples analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, 1996?1998 ............... 24

Table 9. Spike recovery data for selected pesticides from Sacramento River Basin, California, ground-water samples, 1996?1998, and recovery and precision data published in the methods of analysis report................................................................................................................................ 25

Table 10. Recovery of field matrix spikes for pesticides from Sacramento River Basin, California, ground-water samples analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography, 1996?1998 ............. 26

Table 11. Spike recovery data for selected pesticides from Sacramento River Basin, California, ground-water samples, 1996?1998, and recovery and precision data published in the methods of analysis report................................................................................................................................ 27

Table 12. Relative percentage difference and recovery of field matrix spikes for volatile organic compounds in ground-water samples collected during the Sacramento River Basin, California, National Water-Quality Assessment, 1996?1998.............................................................................. 28

Table 13. Detections of critical constituents in surface-water field blank samples collected during the Sacramento River Basin, California, National Water-Quality Assessment, 1996?1998................... 30

Table 14. Variability of surface-water replicate samples collected during the Sacramento River Basin, California, National Water-Quality Assessment, 1996?1998............................................................ 34

Table 15. Recovery of surrogate compounds in Sacramento River Basin, California, surface-water samples, 1996?1998........................................................................................................................... 36

Table 16. Recovery of field matrix spikes for pesticides from Sacramento River Basin, California, surface-water samples, 1996?1998, analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry .............. 38

Table 17. Spike recovery data for selected critical constituents from Sacramento River Basin, California, surface-water samples, 1996?1997, with recovery and precision data published in the methods of analysis report................................................................................................................................ 39

Table 18. Recovery of field matrix spikes for pesticides from Sacramento River Basin, California, surface-water samples, 1996?1998, analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography............ 40

Table 19. Spike recovery data for selected pesticides from Sacramento River Basin, California, surface-water samples, 1996?1998, and field matrix spike recovery and precision data published in the methods of analysis report....................................................................................... 41

Table 20. Recovery of field matrix spikes for volatile organic compounds from Sacramento River Basin, California, surface-water samples, 1996?1998.................................................................................. 42

Tables vii

CONVERSION FACTORS, VERTICAL DATUM, AND ABBREVIATIONS

CONVERSION FACTORS

Multiply

centimeter (cm) centimeter per year (cm/y) cubic meter per day (m3/d)

meter (m) meter per day (m/d) square kilometer (km2)

By

0.3937 0.3937 0.000811 3.281 3.281 0.3861

To obtain

inch inch per year cubic foot per day foot foot per day square mile

Temperature in degrees Celsius (?C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (?F) as follows: ?F = (1.8)?C + 32

VERTICAL DATUM

Sea level: In this report "sea level" refers to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD of 1929)--a geodetic datum derived from a general adjustment of the first-order level nets of both the United States and Canada, formerly called Sea Level Datum of 1929.

Abbreviations and Acronyms

?g/L ?S/cm mg/L

microgram per liter microsiemen per centimeter milligram per liter

DCP/AES DOC GC/MS HPLC ICP/AES ICP/MS MTBE NAWQA NWQL RPD SOC USGS VOC

direct current plasma-atomic emission spectrometry dissolved organic carbon gas chromatography/mass spectrometry high performance liquid chromatography inductively coupled plasma/atomic emission spectrometry inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry methyl tert-butyl ether National Water-Quality Assessment (Program) National Water Quality Laboratory relative percentage difference suspended organic carbon U.S. Geological Survey volatile organic compound

viii Quality-Control Results for Ground-Water and Surface-Water Data, Sacramento River Basin, California, National Water-Quality Assessment, 1996?1998

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