A Reconnaissance-Level Quantitative Comparison of Reclaimed Water, Surface Water, and Groundwater

Principal Investigators
Tom Helgeson, P.E., CH2M HILL, Inc.
Mark McNeal, P.G., ASRus, LLC

This study is a reconnaissance effort designed to understand the occurrence and distribution of constituents that occur typically in very low concentrations, e.g., micrograms per liter or nanograms per liter, in reclaimed water, groundwater, and surface water. To allow for a comprehensive comparison of water matrices, the tasks for this research were to perform a literature survey, develop an analyte list for testing, develop a sampling plan, and perform the sampling and analysis. Ultimately, and in concert with performing these four tasks, the research evolved to establish the presence or absence of 244 analytes, including pharmaceuticals, hormones and steroids, volatile organics, semivolatile organics, nutrients, microbiologicals, and synthetic organic chemical constituents in five matrices: groundwater, groundwater under the influence of surface or reclaimed water, surface water, surface water under the influence of reclaimed water, and reclaimed water. In addition, this research sought to quantify concentrations of these analytes that were present in any of the matrices studied. (2009, 140 pages, 02-008-01)