DTIC ADA441196: Biosolids, Soils, and Ground-Water, and Streambed-Sediment Data for a Biosolids-Application Area Near Deer Trail, Colorado, 1999

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by  Defense Technical Information Center

Biosolids, Soils, Ground-Water, and
Streambed-Sediment Data for a

Biosolids-Application Area near
Deer Trail, Colorado, 1999
By Michael R. Stevens, Tracy J.B. Yager, David B. Smith, and
James G. Crock
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Open-File Report 02–51
Prepared in cooperation with the
METRO WASTEWATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT
and the
NORTH KIOWA BIJOU GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
Denver, Colorado
2003
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1. REPORT DATE 2. REPORT TYPE 3. DATES COVERED
2002 N/A -
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER
Biosolids, Soils, and Ground-Water, and Streambed-Sediment Data for a
5b. GRANT NUMBER
Biosolids-Application Area Near Deer Trail, Colorado, 1999
5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER
6. AUTHOR(S) 5d. PROJECT NUMBER
5e. TASK NUMBER
5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER
7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION
U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, NW Washington, DC REPORT NUMBER
20240
9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S ACRONYM(S)
11. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S REPORT
NUMBER(S)
12. DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
Approved for public release, distribution unlimited
13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
The original document contains color images.
14. ABSTRACT
15. SUBJECT TERMS
16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION OF 18. NUMBER 19a. NAME OF
ABSTRACT OF PAGES RESPONSIBLE PERSON

a. REPORT b. ABSTRACT c. THIS PAGE SAR 23
unclassified unclassified unclassified
Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8-98)
Prescribed by ANSI Std Z39-18
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
GALE A. NORTON, Secretary
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Charles G. Groat, Director
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not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey.
For additional information write to: Copies of this report can be purchased
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CCOONNTTEENNTTSS
Abstract.................................................................................................................................................................................. 1
Introduction............................................................................................................................................................................ 1
Purpose and Scope....................................................................................................................................................... 3
Acknowledgments....................................................................................................................................................... 3
Biosolids................................................................................................................................................................................ 3
Objectives of Monitoring Biosolids............................................................................................................................. 3
Approach for Monitoring Biosolids............................................................................................................................. 4
Sampling Methods for Biosolids....................................................................................................................... 4
Analytical Methods for Biosolids...................................................................................................................... 4
Quality Assurance for Biosolids........................................................................................................................ 4
Biosolids Data.............................................................................................................................................................. 5
Discussion of Biosolids Data....................................................................................................................................... 5
Soils....................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Objectives of Monitoring Soils.................................................................................................................................... 5
Approach for Monitoring Soils.................................................................................................................................... 5
Site Selection for Monitoring Soils................................................................................................................... 5
Sampling Methods for Soils.............................................................................................................................. 6
Analytical Methods for Soils............................................................................................................................. 6
Quality Assurance for Soils............................................................................................................................... 6
Soils Data..................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Discussion of Soils Data.............................................................................................................................................. 6
Alluvial and Bedrock Ground Water..................................................................................................................................... 6
Objectives of Monitoring Ground Water..................................................................................................................... 7
Approach for Monitoring Ground Water..................................................................................................................... 7
Site Selection for Monitoring Ground Water..................................................................................................... 8
Sampling Methods for Ground Water................................................................................................................ 9
Analytical Methods for Ground Water........................................................................................................................ 10
Quality Assurance for Ground Water.......................................................................................................................... 11
Ground-Water Data................................................................................................................................................................ 12
Meteorology Data........................................................................................................................................................ 12
Hydrogeology Data...................................................................................................................................................... 12
Hydrology Data........................................................................................................................................................... 12
Water-Quality Data...................................................................................................................................................... 13
Discussion of Ground-Water Data......................................................................................................................................... 13
Summary Statistics for Ground-Water-Quality Data................................................................................................... 13
Regulatory Standards................................................................................................................................................... 14
Trends.......................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Streambed Sediment.............................................................................................................................................................. 14
Objectives of Monitoring Streambed Sediment........................................................................................................... 15
Approach for Monitoring Streambed Sediment........................................................................................................... 15
Site Selection for Monitoring Streambed Sediment.......................................................................................... 15
Sampling Methods for Streambed Sediment.................................................................................................... 16
Analytical Methods for Streambed Sediment.................................................................................................... 16
Quality Assurance for Streambed Sediment...................................................................................................... 16
Streambed-Sediment Data........................................................................................................................................... 17
Discussion of Streambed-Sediment Data.................................................................................................................... 17
References.............................................................................................................................................................................. 17
Data Section........................................................................................................................................................................... 19
CONTENTS III
FIGURES
1–4. Maps showing:
1. Location of study area and U.S. Geological Survey monitoring sites near Deer Trail, Colorado, 1999.......... 21
2. Metro Wastewater Reclamation District biosolids-application areas near Deer Trail, Colorado..................... 22
3. Arapahoe County, Colorado, soil-monitoring site: T. 4 S., R. 58 W., sec. 22................................................... 23
4. Elbert County, Colorado, soil-monitoring site: T. 6 S., R. 57 W., sec. 8.......................................................... 24
5. Diagram showing well-completion information for USGS monitoring wells near Deer Trail, Colorado, 1999...... 25
6–8. Graphs showing:
6. Continuous water-level, water-temperature, precipitation, and air-temperature data for well D25 near
Deer Trail, Colorado, 1999............................................................................................................................... 44
7. Continuous water-level, water-temperature, precipitation, and air-temperature data for well DTX2 near
Deer Trail, Colorado, 1999............................................................................................................................... 45
8. Continuous water-temperature, precipitation, and air-temperature data for well DTX5 near
Deer Trail, Colorado, 1999............................................................................................................................... 46
9–10. Diagrams showing:
9. Water levels for the recharge-evaluation site containing well DTX7 and nested well DTX8 near Deer Trail,
Colorado, for July, August, and September 1999............................................................................................. 47
10. Water levels for the recharge-evaluation site containing well DTX9 and nested well DTX10 near Deer Trail,
Colorado, for July, August, and September 1999............................................................................................. 50
11. Graphs showing distribution of ground-water data collected near Deer Trail, Colorado, compared to regulatory
standards for selected constituents, 1999.................................................................................................................. 53
12. Map showing locations of basin pairs considered by the U.S. Geological Survey for streambed-sediment
monitoring near Deer Trail, Colorado, 1999............................................................................................................. 64
TABLES
1. Biosolids applications by Metro Wastewater Reclamation District to the study area near Deer Trail, 1993–99... 66
2. Methods used to analyze biosolids and soil samples collected near Deer Trail, Colorado, 1999........................... 73
3. Trace-element concentrations in biosolids samples collected at the Metro Wastewater Reclamation District
during 1999............................................................................................................................................................. 73
4. Radioactivity data for biosolids samples collected at the Metro Wastewater Reclamation District during 1999.. 74
5. Comparison of radioactivity data from two laboratories for biosolids samples..................................................... 74
6. Trace-element concentrations in soil samples collected on August 25, 1999, Arapahoe County site.................... 74
7. Radioactivity data for soil samples collected on August 25, 1999, Arapahoe County site.................................... 75
8. Trace-element concentrations in soil samples collected on August 26, 1999, Elbert County site.......................... 75
9. Radioactivity data for soil samples collected on August 26, 1999, Elbert County site.......................................... 75
10. Methods used to analyze ground-water samples collected near Deer Trail, Colorado, 1999................................. 76
11. Chemical data for bedrock-core samples from U.S. Geological Survey monitoring wells near Deer Trail,
Colorado, 1999........................................................................................................................................................ 77
12. Lithologic descriptions for U.S. Geological Survey monitoring wells near Deer Trail, Colorado, 1999............... 78
13. Monthly water-level data for U.S. Geological Survey monitoring wells near Deer Trail, Colorado, 1999........... 83
14. Water-quality data for alluvial-aquifer wells near Deer Trail, Colorado, 1999...................................................... 86
15. Water-quality data for bedrock-aquifer wells near Deer Trail, Colorado, 1999..................................................... 98
16. Quality-control data for blank samples associated with ground-water samples collected near Deer Trail,
Colorado, 1999........................................................................................................................................................101
17. Summary statistics for blank samples associated with ground-water samples collected near Deer Trail,
Colorado, 1999........................................................................................................................................................104
18. Comparison of water-quality data for replicate and regular ground-water samples collected near Deer Trail,
Colorado, 1999........................................................................................................................................................105
19. Summary statistics for data from all ground-water samples collected near Deer Trail, Colorado, 1999...............109
20. Statistical comparison of median concentrations for selected chemical constituents in ground-water samples
collected near Deer Trail, Colorado, 1999, and lowest applicable water-quality regulatory standard................... 111
21. Statistical evaluation of monotonic time-series trend using the Kendall’s tau correlation coefficient for
selected constituents in ground-water samples collected near Deer Trail, Colorado, 1999.................................... 115
IV CONTENTS
22. Selection criteria and information for basin pairs considered by the U.S. Geological Survey for streambed-
sediment monitoring near Deer Trail, Colorado, 1999........................................................................................... 116
23. Methods used to analyze streambed-sediment samples collected near Deer Trail, Colorado, 1999...................... 117
24. Streambed-sediment trace-element data collected from the biosolids-applied basin near Deer Trail, Colorado,
August 31, 1999...................................................................................................................................................... 117
25. Radioactivity data for quality-control samples and streambed-sediment samples collected from the
biosolids-applied basin near Deer Trail, Colorado, August 31, 1999..................................................................... 118
CONVERSION FACTORS, VERTICAL DATUM, AND ABBREVIATIONS
Multiply By To obtain
acre 0.4047 hectare (ha)
centimeter (cm) 0.3937 inch
foot (ft) 0.3048 meter
gallon (gal) 3.785 liter
gram (g) 0.035 ounce
inch 2.54 centimeter
liter (L) 0.2642 gallon (gal)
micrometer (µm) 0.00003937 inch
mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer
milliliter (mL) 0.0610 cubic inch
millimeter (mm) 0.03937 inch
square mile (mi2) 2.590 square kilometer
Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows:
°F = (1.8 × °C) + 32
Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (°F) may be converted to degrees Celsius (°C) as follows:
°C= (°F – 32) / 1.8
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.
ADDITIONAL ABBREVIATIONS
gal/min gallons per minute
mg milligrams
mg/g milligrams per gram
µg/L micrograms per liter
µS/cm microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius
mg/kg milligrams per kilogram
mg/L milligrams per liter
pCi/L picocuries per liter
pCi/g picocuries per gram
ROE residue on evaporation
CONTENTS V

Biosolids, Soils, Ground-Water, and Streambed-
Sediment Data for a Biosolids-Application Area Near
Deer Trail, Colorado, 1999
By Michael R. Stevens, Tracy J.B. Yager, David B. Smith, and James G. Crock
Abstract INTRODUCTION
In January 1999, the U.S. Geological
Since 1993, the Metro Wastewater Reclamation
Survey began an expanded monitoring program
District (MWRD) has been applying biosolids
near Deer Trail, Colorado, in cooperation with the
resulting from municipal sewage treatment in Denver,
Metro Wastewater Reclamation District and the Colo., to MWRD property near Deer Trail, Colo. The
North Kiowa Bijou Groundwater Management biosolids are trucked about 75 mi east from Denver to
District. Monitoring components were biosolids, the MWRD property and are applied to nonirrigated
soils, crops, ground water, and streambed sedi- farmland. From 1993 to 1999, the U.S. Geological
Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the MWRD,
ments. The monitoring program addresses
monitored the quality of shallow ground water on the
concerns from the public about chemical effects
MWRD central property (1993–99 monitoring
from applications of biosolids to farmland in the
program), which consisted of about 15 mi2 and was the
Deer Trail, Colorado, area. Constituents of
first property the MWRD purchased near Deer Trail.
primary concern to the public are arsenic,
In 1995, the MWRD traded some of the property and
cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, acquired additional property in the same area. The new
molybdenum, nickel, selenium, zinc, plutonium, property consisted of about 14.5 mi2 known as the
and gross alpha and beta activity and are included north property and about 50 mi2 known as the south
for all monitoring components. This report property. The three MWRD properties together are
known as the METROGRO Farm and include land in
presents chemical data from the first year of the
Arapahoe and Elbert Counties. The three MWRD
monitoring program, January–December 1999,
properties and surrounding private property are herein-
for biosolids, soils, alluvial and bedrock ground
after referred to as the study area (fig. 1 in the Data
water, and streambed sediments. The ground-
Section at the back of the report).
water section of this report also includes climate
The study area is located on the eastern plains of
data, lithologic descriptions, well-completion Colorado about 10 mi east of Deer Trail. The study
diagrams, water levels, summary statistics for the area is on the eastern margin of the Denver Basin, a
water-quality data, and results of statistical testing bowl-shaped sequence of sedimentary rocks. The sur-
of selected data for trends and for exceedance of ficial geology of the study area consists of interbedded
shale, siltstone, and sandstone, which may be overlain
Colorado regulatory standards. Data in this report
by clay, windblown silt and sand, or alluvial sand and
provide a geochemical baseline for each moni-
gravel (Sharps, 1980; Major and others, 1983; Robson
toring component prior to the planned water
and Banta, 1995). The primary water-supply aquifer is
transfer in 2000 from the Lowry Landfill Super-
the Laramie-Fox Hills aquifer, which is a bedrock
fund site to Metro Wastewater Reclamation aquifer that ranges from 0 to about 200 ft thick in the
District treatment facilities. study area and is the bottom aquifer in the Denver
Abstract 1
Basin aquifer sequence (Robson and others, 1981; sediments (remobilization). Water quality can be
Robson and Banta, 1995). Multiple alluvial aquifers affected indirectly by plowing that mobilizes or mixes
are present in the study area. These aquifers are associ- subsurface chemical constituents or by contributions
ated with the surficial drainage network but contain to natural processes such as nitrification. Contami-
water of variable quality, are of limited extent, and nated ground water or surface water could contaminate
generally yield little water (U.S. Geological Survey, ground water in bedrock water-supply aquifers or allu-
unpub. data, 1999). The study area is within the South vial aquifers, other surface-water bodies (ponds or
Platte River drainage basin; all streams in this area streams), or streambed sediments.
drain northward to the South Platte River (U.S. Public concern about applications of biosolids
Geological Survey, 1974; Seaber and others, 1987). to farmland increased after the MWRD agreed to
Short segments of some of the streams are intermit- accept treated ground water from the Lowry Landfill
tent, but in general, the streams are ephemeral and Superfund site near Denver. Because of this concern, a
flow only after storms. No surface water flows off the local stakeholder group formed about 1997 (including
MWRD properties except after storms. Most ponds in Arapahoe and Elbert Counties, North Kiowa Bijou
the area have been created by detention structures. Groundwater Management District, and area resi-
Soils in the area generally are sandy or loamy on flood dents) requested additional monitoring in the area. The
plains and stream terraces, clayey to loamy on gently MWRD agreed to fund additional monitoring related
sloping to rolling uplands, and sandy and shaley on to the biosolids-application program, and in spring
steeper uplands (Larsen and others, 1966; Larsen and 1998, the USGS was requested to work with the stake-
Brown, 1971). holders and provide additional monitoring. USGS
Land use in the study area was historically personnel met with the stakeholders to consider moni-
rangeland or cropland and pasture (U.S. Geological toring approaches and sites. In January 1999, the
Survey, 1980). Some petroleum exploration was done USGS began the new monitoring program in coopera-
in the area (Drew and others, 1979), but no oil or gas tion with the MWRD and the North Kiowa Bijou
production took place within the study area during Groundwater Management District. The USGS refers
1999. Land use in the study area during 1999 was to the new monitoring program (1999–2005) as the
rangeland or cropland. Cattle and sheep are the “expanded monitoring program.”
primary domesticated animals grazing the area, and The expanded monitoring program near Deer
wheat is the primary crop. Cropland is not irrigated. Trail is distinct from, but builds on, the 1993–99 moni-
Land use on the MWRD properties during 1999 was toring program in which the USGS monitored the
primarily cropland (with biosolids applied as a fertil- quality of shallow ground water on the MWRD central
izer) and some rangeland. property (fig. 1). Relative to the 1993–99 program, the
Biosolids are applied to MWRD properties near expanded program includes a larger study area (fig. 1)
Deer Trail according to agronomic loading rates. (all three MWRD properties and private-property loca-
Land-applied biosolids must meet Colorado regula- tions), more monitoring components (biosolids, soils,
tions for metals and radioactivity; otherwise, soils crops, and streambed sediments in addition to ground
could become overloaded. Soil quality either can be water), a more comprehensive list of chemical constit-
improved by biosolids applications through increased uents, expanded statistical analyses of data, and a later
nutrients and organic matter or degraded through accu- monitoring period (1999–2005). As with the 1993–99
mulation of excessive nutrients or metals. Pesticides, monitoring program, the expanded monitoring
herbicides, and fertilizers other than biosolids also program is designed, conducted, and interpreted inde-
may have been applied to the MWRD properties in the pendently by the USGS, and quality-assured USGS
past, but less information is available about these data and reports will be released to the public and the
applications. MWRD at the same time.
Applications of pesticides, herbicides, and The expanded monitoring program near Deer
fertilizers (including biosolids) can affect soil quality, Trail addresses concerns about biosolids applications
crops, water quality in alluvial and bedrock aquifers, and other farming-related effects on the environment
and streambed-sediment chemistry. Water quality can and should increase scientific insight about Denver
be affected directly by contaminated recharge water or Basin hydrology. The objectives of this USGS
by infiltration of water through contaminated soils or program are to: (1) evaluate the combined effects of
2 Biosolids, Soils, Ground-Water, and Streambed-Sediment Data for a Biosolids-Application Area Near Deer Trail, Colorado, 1999
biosolids applications, land use, and natural processes water) is monitored as a separate study. For each
on soils, crops, ground water in alluvial and bedrock monitoring component, the specific objectives, scope,
aquifers, and streambed sediments by comparing approach, analytical results, quality-assurance infor-
chemical data to (a) Colorado regulatory standards, mation, and a discussion of data are included. All data
(b) data from a site where biosolids are not applied (a in this report were collected by the USGS before water
control site), or (c) earlier data from the same site transfer began from the Lowry Landfill Superfund site
(trends); (2) monitor biosolids for trace elements and to MWRD treatment facilities in 2000. The data
radioactivity and compare trace-element concentra- provide geochemical baselines that will enable the
tions and radioactivity with Colorado regulatory stan- USGS to recognize and quantify potential chemical
dards; and (3) characterize the hydrology of the study changes in each monitoring component.
area. Each of the five monitoring components—
biosolids, soils, crops, ground water, and streambed
sediments—is a stand-alone study that includes radio- Acknowledgments
activity analyses because of public concerns about
possible effects from the water transfer from the The USGS thanks all private landowners for
Lowry Landfill Superfund site. More detailed informa- allowing access to their properties for data collection.
tion about each monitoring component is included The USGS especially thanks the Price and Weisensee
later in this report. families and the MWRD for allowing USGS instru-
ment or well installations on their property, and the
Kalcevic family for timely runoff information after
Purpose and Scope storms and for allowing streambed-sediment sampling
on their property.
The purpose of this report is to present informa-
tion from the expanded monitoring program near Deer
Trail for 1999 (January through December). This
BIOSOLIDS
report presents data for four of the five monitoring
components of the program: biosolids, soils, ground Biosolids are solid organic matter recovered
water (alluvial and bedrock), and streambed sediment. from a sewage-treatment process that meet State and
Collection of crop data will begin in 2000. Alluvial Federal regulatory criteria for beneficial use, such as
and bedrock ground water are separate components in for fertilizer. Land-applied biosolids must meet or
the monitoring program but are combined in this exceed Grade II, Class B criteria (Colorado Depart-
report because the data were collected in the same way ment of Public Health and Environment, 1998). Grade
and the types of data included are the same. The I exceeds Grade II. The MWRD applies Grade I, Class
ground-water sections include climate data, lithologic B biosolids to its properties near Deer Trail. The
descriptions, well-completion diagrams, hydrologic biosolids-application areas, dates of application, and
data (depth to ground water), water-quality data application rates provided by the MWRD for its prop-
(chemistry and field measurements), summary statis- erties near Deer Trail are listed in table 1 (located in
tics for the water-quality data, and results of statistical the Data Section at the back of the report); application
testing of selected data for trends and exceedance of areas (called “Destination Codes”) are marked DC and
Colorado regulatory standards. This report does not are shown in figure 2 (in the Data Section at the back
include the hydrogeologic structure map that was of the report).
prepared in 1999 as part of the ground-water moni-
toring component of the program. Plans are to include
the structure map, along with a more detailed discus- Objectives of Monitoring Biosolids
sion of the hydrogeology of the region, in an interpre-
tive USGS report. The structure map was used to The biosolids must meet regulatory standards
select bedrock-aquifer monitoring locations for the for trace elements and radioactivity. Exceeding these
expanded monitoring program. standards could adversely affect the quality of soil on
This report is organized by monitoring compo- which the biosolids are applied and could alter
nent because each component (such as soils or ground MWRD plans for the application of biosolids in
BIOSOLIDS 3