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Work Plan and Time Schedule for Analyses of Background Groundwater Quality <br /> City of Stockton Regional wastewater Control Facility <br /> Page 10 <br /> 10.1.1 Two new shallow wells MW-1S and MW-2S <br /> New wells are required to resolve the anomalously high salinity reported from wells MW-1 and MW-2, <br /> east of Pond 1. These wells have relatively high salinity when compared with data from upgradient well <br /> MW-15, and data from effluent waters. These data suggest the existing monitoring wells draw from deep <br /> groundwater that has not minced with infiltrating pond water. To test this hypothesis, short-screened, 4- <br /> inch diameter,shallow wells, similar to MW-15 will be installed adjacent to the existing wells and will be <br /> designated MW-1S and MW-2S, correspondingly. The locations for the proposed new monitoring wells <br /> are shown on Figure 7. Also shown on Figure 7 is a cut out of an aerial photograph showing former land <br /> use at the location of MW-1 (circa 1940). An alternative hypothesis for explaining the higher apparent <br /> salinity, though less likely, would be this different former land use. The new wells will be monitored in <br /> addition to and on the same schedule as MW-1 and MW-2. Data from the new wells will be compared to <br /> data from the deeper wells, Pond 1 effluent data, and upgradient well MW-15 to develop appropriate <br /> background values for these monitoring points. <br /> 10.1.2 Two new monitoring wells MW-19 and MW-19S <br /> The degree to which pond water mixes with groundwater is important to determining BPTC. It is <br /> reasonable to conclude from existing data that little or no mixing occurs. Effluent water is generally less <br /> saline (i.e., less dense), and likely warmer (most of the year) than underlying groundwater, so unstable <br /> density gradients are not expected to occur. There are no significant hydrostatic gradients, and the <br /> stratigraphy indicates horizontal barriers to vertical flow are present. Impacts from chemical diffusion <br /> would be expected to be low because of the high organic content of the soil that provides adsorption sites <br /> for constituent molecules. If no significant mixing occurs, groundwater beneath the facility is effectively <br /> isolated and BPTC are in place. To demonstrate if this isolation occurs, paired monitoring wells,MW-19 <br /> and MW-19S will be installed on John Turk Road in the middle of the causeway between Pond 1 and <br /> Pond 2 (Figure 7). Data from these wells will be used to differentiate, the water quality of the uppermost <br /> groundwater and groundwater deeper in the geologic section. <br /> 10.1.3 Close Well MW4 <br /> Well MW-4 has been removed from the monitoring network and will be closed in accordance with San <br /> Joaquin County regulations. <br /> 10.2 EVALUATION OF BPTC IN THE VICINITY OF MW-10 <br /> Monitoring data from MW-10 exhibit degradation with respect to nitrate-N. The data have trended <br /> upward since initial values of 8.1 mg/L in 2003.This coincided with construction of the wetlands.Recent <br /> data show groundwater contains 23 mg/L nitrate-N with previous spikes as high as 64 mg/L. This well is <br /> located adjacent to the SJR and the Raw Water Channel, currently used for storage of wetlands effluent <br /> water prior to tertiary treatment. The river is a losing stream at this location, with stage elevation higher <br /> than ground surface. Depth to water in MW-10 averages 11.22 feet, so the groundwater gradient is <br /> landward, toward the Raw Water Channel. Average screen submergence is 4.22 feet and the screen <br /> length is five(5)fed, indicating the nitrate plume may extend nine(9) feet below the water table.Nitrate <br /> impact appears to be well contained by the hydrogeologic system and unlikely to migrate to the river or <br /> off-site. Gradients under the oxidation ponds and wetlands will keep the nitrate phone cornered in the <br /> vicinity of the Raw Water Channel. The extent of the nitrate plume is unknown; however, the risk of <br /> escape is small, as is the potential to compromise secondary beneficial uses off-site. <br /> A BPTC analysis of the plant operations at the Raw Water Channel will be performed and an analysis of <br /> BPTC for addressing this groundwater degradation will be completed. <br /> w <br /> t.l� CONDO <br />