HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - September 5, 2007 K-02AGENDA ITEM Ko I
CITY OF LODI
COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
TM
AGENDA TITLE: Receive White Slough Water Pollution Control Facility Capital Improvement Project
Update and Authorize the City Manager to Effectuate the Financing Plan for the
Project
MEETING DATE: September 5, 2007
PREPARED BY: Public Works Director/Deputy City Manager
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive White Slough Water Pollution Control Facility Capital
Improvement Project Update and authorize the City Manager to
effectuatethe financing plan for the project by the following actions:
1) Adopt resolution authorizing Stone & Youngberg to serve as Senior Managing Underwriter and Bear
Stearns as Co -Manager, directing the City Manager to execute contracts on the City's behalf (payable
from proceeds in an approximate amount of $100,000 excluding "takedown" fee); 2) Authorize the City
Managerto engage Lamont Financial Services for a not -to -exceed amount of $50,000 to provide financial
advisor services; and 3) Authorize the City Manager to engage Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP to
serve as Bond Counsel (payablefrom proceeds in an approximate amount of $110,000).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The City has made substantial progress on the State -mandated
improvements at the White Slough Water Pollution Control Facility.
Phase 1 — Interim Aeration Improvements and miscellaneous
electrical and earthwork improvements was completed in 2003.
Phase 2 — Year 2004 Improvements Project, which was completed in 2006, included the installation of
tertiary filters, UV disinfection equipment, additional aeration improvements, emergency generator, and
associated electrical and mechanical facilities.
The Phase 3 project, which is underway, includes the construction of an additional secondary clarifier, an
additional digester, aeration basins, headworks modifications, minor administration building modifications,
and associated electrical, mechanical, utility, site preparation and demolition work. The improvements to
the secondary process are necessary to meet current and anticipated State of California regulatory
requirements and improve treatment process reliability. This project is being built by Western Water
Constructors and is progressing well.
One element of the project consists of capital maintenance work on the headworks, which is the entry -
point into the treatment plant. Performing this work requires switching flow from the domestic system to
the industrial side of the facility, which involves significant temporary diverting and pumping facilities.
Staff has worked with Western Water to design a permanent facility (without pumps) that will save money
in the long run. (More on this in the Planned Projects discussion below.)
The total project estimate for Phase 3 is $20,600,000 which includes: prepurchased equipment,
construction administration services, environmental survey, construction contract, testing and inspection
contract, construction contingencies, and other project -associated expenses.
APPROVED: lz>e,
Blair, City Manager
N:tiAdministration\CMlSusan\Council Communicationsl9_5_07 White Slough Financing.doc 8/31/2007
White Slough Water Pollution Control Facility Capital Improvement Project Update and Financing
September 5, 2007
Page 2
This project will bring the Facility's treatment capacity back to 8.5 million gallons per day, which has been
the basis for the City's planning and financial studies for many years. This capacity should last the City
another 15 to 20 years, depending on growth rates (2% to 1.5% respectively). Note that growth in
wastewater generation does not necessarily track population growth. Improved water conservation
measures in new construction will reduce demands on the treatment facility. However, this capacity is
dependent on regulatory standards. For example, the new Air District regulations on volatile organic
compounds will lead to changes in the way the City land -applies biosolids. Since we already have a very
low-cost method of land application (biosolids are added to the irrigation water), and changing to either
land spreading/disking or landfill disposal will require construction of de -watering facilities.
Discharae Permit
The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board has issued for public comment, a Tentative
Permit for Lodi's Facility. The comment period ended August 17, 2007, and Lodi, as well as others,
commented on the permit. Lodi's comments focused on technical matters and compliance schedules. In
brief, our comments were:
• The limits for mercury should be revised upward. The proposed permit drastically reduces the
mercury limit from the previous permit. While staff believes a reduction is warranted, the levels
proposed by the Board, in effect, penalize the City for the performance of the new tertiary
facilities.
• The limits for ammonia should be revised. We believe there is a technical oversight in the
calculation of the monthly average limit and it should be increased from 1.1 to 2.5 mg/L.
• The compliance time for the new ammonia, nitrate and nitrite limits should be extended from the
proposed May 17, 2010 date to the end of the permit term. The proposed limits are stricter than
anticipated in the design of the current improvement project, thus the City may need more time to
plan and implement measures to meet the new limits. For example, the design anticipated a
"floating limit" similar to other recent permits with an ammonia limit ranging from 2.5 to 6.1 mg/L.
• The loading limit for field application should be revised. The tentative permit contains a new limit
on Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) to the agricultural fields. The limit is designed to maintain
aerobic conditions in the upper soil profile. While we do not dispute the concept, we had a
number of technical comments on how to compute the loading and the time necessary for
compliance.
• In addition, the City hada number of relatively minortechnical/editorial comments on the permit.
Comments from other agencies, organizations and individuals were fairly extensive and questioned a
wide range of issues. Many included references to a report issued by an engineer with the State Water
Resources Control Board. This report was the topic of local newspaper articles on August 18, 2007. City
staff became aware of this report on Friday, August 17 when we were contacted by the press. Having
reviewed the report, staff is preparing detailed responses for the record with the Regional Board. In
general, we believe:
• The report excluded pertinent information from reports issued in 2004 and 2006 and regular
monitoringdata.
• The report is replete with inaccuratetechnical statements.
• The report contains many unsubstantiatedconclusions and opinions that are presented as facts.
• The report contains inaccurate legal statements not supported by current State law and policy.
The Regional Board has not yet released their responses to the comments, although staff believes there
will likely be additional changes to the tentative permit. The Board intends to conduct a public hearing on
the permit on September 13/14, 2007, at its regular meeting to be held in Fresno. (Note that the City's
cover letter transmitting our comments requested the hearing be held in Sacramento.)
NAAdministration\ClASusanlCounci! Communications%_5_07 White slough Financing.doc 8/31/2007
White Slough Water Pollution Control Facility Capital Improvement Project Update and Financing
September 5, 2007
Page 3
Planned Projects
Staff has prepared a five-year capital program for the White Slough Facility. This program will be used in
the financial analysis (discussed later). In addition, we will have increased operating costs as both flow
and regulatory requirements increase.
Issue/Project Estimated Cost Comments
Trunk Sewer $7.5 million Although the Phase 3 project includes some minor repairs on
Rehabilitation the pipeline between Lodi and the Facility, the entire length of
the line is in need of rehabilitation in the next year. This
project will require flow diversion. As part of the Phase 3
project, a permanent diversion structure is being built at the
western edge of the City.
Regulatory $365,000 per The new discharge permit requires a number of reports,
Compliance year over 5 years studies and plans:
Studies (avg.) Toxicity Reduction Evaluation
• Site Specific Temperature Study
• Constituents of Concern/Pollution Prevention Plan
• Flow Increase Report
• Industrial Influent Characterization Study
• Background Groundwater Quality Study
• Title 22 Engineering Report
•
Effluent Receiving Water Characterization Study
• Pollution Prevention Plan for Mg, Al, THM's
• Salinity Evaluation and Minimization Plan
• Report of Waste Discharge (for next permit)
Storage Ponds $1.5 to $3 million Additional storage for effluent is needed to provide operational
flexibility to manage plant upsets and irrigation demands.
Additional storage will certainly be needed if a recycled water
distribution system is implemented. Studies on these needs
are underway.
Biosolids/Effluent Approx. $5 to $8 Staff and our wastewater consultants are studying various
Land Application million ways to meet current and anticipated regulatory requirements
Management pertaining to land application at White Slough. A
recommendation has not yet been made. The cost estimate
shown assumes drying and removal of biosolids.
Need for Financing
The capital improvements are of a type and nature that have a useful life expectancy of approximately 30
to 50 years. Improvementsthat have a useful life expectancy of this length of time are typically financed
with long term debt that is repaid over a similar time period as the useful life expectancy of the asset.
Thus, there is a matching of the utilization of the capital improvement over its useful life with the burden
of funding/financing it over its useful life. In addition to the financing needed for the phase 3 plant
improvements, there is an opportunity to refinance at a lower interest rate, debt that was issued (1991)
for capital improvements at the White Slough plant. The remaining balance of the 1991 debt is
approximately $8.6 million. Preliminary estimates show a need for issuing Certificates of Participation
(COP) of approximately $30 million to pay for the phase 3 improvements, to refinance the remaining
balance of the 1991 COP and to pay for the cost of issuing the COP (underwriting, bond counsel,
financial advisor, rating agency reviews, surety costs and other related issuance costs). It is necessaryto
procure the services of financial and legal experts to complete the financing of the project. Each of the
professional engagements is discussed below starting with the Investment Banker/Underwriter.
N:1Administration%CMlSusanlCoundi Communicationsl9_5_07 While Sbugh Rrkandrig.dw 8/3712007
White Slough Water Pollution Control Facility Capital Improvement Project Update and Financing
September 5, 2007
Page 4
Investment Ban ker/Underwriter
Two options that are typically used to sell the COP are: 1) a comuetitive bid process at the point of sale.
or 2) a negotiated sale through an Investment Bank/ Underwriter: Although the size of this debt issue is
significant to the City of Lodi, it is likely that it will not be viewed as such in the debtlinvestment market
place. With the objective to sell the COP at the lowest net interest cost and consequently to keep the end
cost to the utility customer as low as possible, the second option is recommended. Although competition
typically results in the lowest interest cost, debt issues that are less than $50 million are not considered
large enough to attract more than one or two bids in a competitive sale. Under option two, the cost of the
underwriting bank is thereby fixed before the sale occurs versus waiting to determine the cost of
underwriting and the resultant net interest cost until bids during a competitive sale. Due to the relatively
small amount of this sale, staff (in conjunction with the advice of our financial advisor Lamont Financial
Services), is recommending two Underwriting Banks be engaged for this financing. Seven underwriting
firms were contacted and based on a review of their qualifications, which included fee for services,
familiarity with the City of Lodi, ability to market the COP to buyers and other related factors, two firms
(Stone & Youngberg and Bear Stearns) were invited for interviews. The following table lists the results of
the initial evaluation:
The interviews were conducted by the City Manager, Public Works Director, Deputy City Manager,
Budget Manager, a representative from Lamont Financial Services and two members of the
Budget/Finance Committee. The interviews were completed on August 28, 2007 and the
recommendation from the interview team is to engage Stone & Youngberg as the Senior Manager and
Bear Stearns as the Co -Manager on the financing. The fee for services will be split between the two firms
and is estimated to be $100,000 in total.
Bond Counsel
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliff has provided services to the City of Lodi on numerous occasions related to
various debt issues over the course of several years. In particularthey have served as Bond Counsel for
the 2004 Wastewater COP. Based on their familiarity with the covenants associated with previous
Wastewater issues and their expertise in dealing with the issues associated with the City of Lodi, staff
recommends utilization of them as Bond Counsel on the 2007 Wastewater COP. There fees are
estimated to be $110,000. The scope of services includes preparation of the installment sale agreement,
trust agreement, escrow deposit agreement and tax certificate for the transaction, preparation of all
required resolutions for the transaction, preparation of closing documents for the City and the
corporation, participation in document discussions with the working group, delivery of our standard forms
of approving opinion and supplemental opinion and attendance at such meetings of the City Council and
corporation board as the City may request.
N:1Administration\CPASusankCoungl Communication8l9_5_07 White Slough Financing.doc 8/31/2007
White Slough Water Pollution Control Facility Capital Improvement Project Update and Financing
September 5,2007
Page 5
Financial Advisor
The City Council approved the utilization of Lamont Financial Services in February 2007. At that time
Council -provided direction for staff to advise them on a project by project basis as financial advisory
services are needed. Lamont Financial Services has given staff an estimate of $50,000 to provide
financial advisory services on this 2007 COP project. Their scope of work is attached as Exhibit A.
Lamont will provide overall financial advisory services for this project, which includes coordinating all of
the necessary events through the issuance of the new COP, providing projections on the various options
related to sizing and timing of the debt issue, analyzing and confirming the interest rates on the sale of
securities by the Investment Banker/Underwriter, coordinating with City staff, Bond Counsel, rating
agencies and the Investment Banker/Underwriter related to provision of preliminary documents and
Official Statement and all other necessary documents necessaryto complete the 2007 COP transaction.
FISCAL IMPACT The rate increase adopted in 2004 assumed a three-phase project and
included allowances for three COP financings and two financings have
been done. Approximately $13.3 million of proceeds from the second
financing are being applied to the Phase 3 project and an additional $1.5 million in wastewater impact
fees is also available. Thus, the third financing, which will be needed to complete the project, was not
done at the time the project was awarded. Staff has been working with our financial advisor on the timing
and amount of the Phase 3 financing(s); taking into account the above described issues and projects, as
well as potentially refinancing the older 1991 Certificates of Participation. The recommended time frame
for the third financing is in the fall of 2007. We are evaluating alternative borrowing structures and
phasing, as well as the possibility of State Revolving Loan fund financing for the pipeline project. Our
goal will be to structure the projects and financing such that the 2004 rate increases, as well as the
annual adjustments, will be sufficient for the near future.
FUNDING AVAILABLE: Funding is provided through Wastewater Rates and the COP is
appropriately included in the 2007-08 budget as appim2l
Richard C. Prima, Jr.
PubTicWorks Director
4a s R. Krueger
eputy City Manager
cc Charles Svu mley, Water Services Manager
Brice West, West Yost and Assoc ales
Del Kerlin, Wastewater Treatment Superintendent
Tom Dunphy, LaMont Financial Services
N:\AdministrationlCNASusanlCounoil Communicational9_5_07 White Slough Financing.doc B/3112007
City of Lodi
Wastewater System
Refunding & New Money Issue
Time and Responsibility Revised Schedule as of August 17, 2007
Week of:
Activity
Parties
July 16
0 Preparation of Reimbursement Resolution
CFO, PW, CA,
BC
■ Discussion regarding Wastewater Rate Study Consultant
PW
■ Preliminary Bond Sizing Numbers Circulated to Working Group
FA
■ Selection of Financing Team i.e. Underwriter, Bond Counsel,
CM, CFO, PW,
Verification Agent --- Need to Bid for Services?
CA, FA
July 23
0 Draft RFQ Circulated for Underwriting Services
FA
■ Revised Underwriting RFQ Circulated for Approval
FA
July 30
0 Retain Rate Consultant for Bond Financing
PW
■ RFQ Sent to Selected Underwriters
CFO, FA
■ City Council Approval of Reimbursement Resolution
CM, CFO
August 20
0 Underwriter Interviews/Recommended Underwriter to Counsel
WG
■ Cash Flow Analysis/Bond Sizing Requirements
FA
■ Refunding/New Money Bond Structure
FA
August 27
0 Distribute 1" Draft of Plan of Finance
FA
■ Initial Draft of Legal Documents Circulated
BC
September 3
• Selection of Underwriter by City Counsel
CM, CFO
■ Bond Financing "Kick -Off' Meeting
WG
■ Bond Document Meeting/Review Initial Rate Study Findings
WG
■ Review 1 St Draft of Legal Documents/Circulate 2" Draft
BC
September
0 Document Session to Review 2 na Legal Document Drafts
BC
10
0 Distribute 1St draft of Preliminary ratings presentation
WG
■ Review Final Draft of Rate Study
UW
■ Initial Draft of Preliminary Official Statement ("POS") Circulated
PW
■ Preliminary Discussions with Bond Insurers
UC
■ Initial Conversation with Rating Agencies
UW, FA, CFO
September
0 Distribute 3rd draft of Legal Documents, 2nd draft of POS
UC,BC
17
■ Structure Bond Sizing Model with Rate Study Findings
FA, UW
■ Meeting/call on 2nd draft of POS, 3rd draft of Legal Documents
WG
■ Distribute 2nd draft of Preliminary ratings presentation
UW, FA
September
■ Call/meeting to review 2" draft of Preliminary ratings presentation
WG
24
0 Distribute 3rd draft of POS, 4th draft of Legal Documents
UC/BC
■ Rehearsal call/meeting for Preliminary ratings meeting
WG
October 1
0 Preliminary Rating Agency Meetings
WG
■ Call to review 3'd draft of POS, 4th draft of bond documents
UC
■ Distribute 1St draft of Bond Purchase Agreement (BPA)
UC
■ Distribute 5th draft of POS
UC
October 8
■ Call to release 5 draft of POS and Legal Documents to rating
WG
agencies and credit enhancers
■ Distribute 2nd draft of BPA and 1St draft of syndicate policies
UC,CFO
October 15
■ Calls with bond insurers
UW, FA, PW,
CFO
■ Distribute draft internet road -show presentation and hold conference
UW
call to review same
■ Receive credit enhancement proposals; conference call to review
UW, FA, CFO
same
■ Conference call to review and finalize syndicate policies
UW, CM, CFO,
0 Distribute 3`d draft of BPA
UC
City of Lodi
Wastewater System
Refunding & New Money Issue
Time & Responsibility Schedule
Leaend — Interested Parties
Lodi
City of Lodi
CM
October 22
0 Receive rating indications; negotiate final terms
UW, FA
CA
■ Distribute revised POS and legal documents reflecting any changes
WG
Public Works
for consideration by the City Council
Bond Counsel — Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe
FA
■ Distribute and finalize internet road show
UW
Underwriters' Counsel
■ One -on -One conference calls with investors as requested
UW
WRC
■ Distribute financing schedule of events and calls and syndicate
UW, FA
Co -Managing Underwriters
policies to CMs
Working Group
October 29
0 Due diligence call with CMs
WG
Trustee
■ City Council approve documents
WG
■ Post POS
UC
November 5
0 Retail Order Period and Pricing
UW
November 8
0 Mail Final POS
WG
November 15
■ Closing
WG
February 1,
Call Series 1991 Wastewater System Revenue Bonds
T
2008
Leaend — Interested Parties
Lodi
City of Lodi
CM
City Manager
CFO
Chief Financial Officer
CA
City Attorney
PW
Public Works
BC
Bond Counsel — Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe
FA
Financial Advisor — Lamont Financial
UC
Underwriters' Counsel
UW
Senior Manager
WRC
Wastewater Rate Consultant
CM
Co -Managing Underwriters
WG
Working Group
VA
Verification Agent
T
Trustee
RESOLUTION NO. 2007-
A RESOLUTION OF THE LODI CITY COUNCIL
AUTHORIZING STONE & YOUNGBERG TO SERVE AS
SENIOR MANAGING UNDERWRITER AND BEAR
STEARNS AS CO -MANAGER
WHEREAS, the City of Lodi needs to procure Investment Banking/Underwriting,
services for the financing of White Slough Wastewater Treatment Plant Capital
Improvements ; and
WHEREAS, the City of Lodi has reviewed and ranked the qualifications of seven
Investment Banking/Underwriter firms that were requested to submit qualifications after
which two of those firms (Stone & Youngberg and Bear Stearns) were interviewed; and
WHEREAS, a committee of City staff, the City's financial advisor and two
members of the Budget and Finance Committee recommended that Stone & Youngberg
serve as Senior Managing Underwriter and Bear Stearns as Co -Manager; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Lodi
does hereby authorize the City Manager to enter into agreements to provide financial
services with Stone & Youngberg and Bear Stearns.
Dated: September 5, 2007
I hereby certify that Resolution No. 2007- was passed and adopted by the City
Council of the City of Lodi in a regular meeting held September 5, 2007, by the following
vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS —
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS —
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS —
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS —
RANDI JOHL
City Clerk
2007-
Sources of High -Chloride Water to Wells, Eastern San
Joaquin Ground -Water Subbasin, California
By John A. Izbicki, Loren F. Metzger, Kelly R. McPherson, Rhett R. Everett, and George L Bennett V
chloride of 250 milligrams per
liter (mglL) (fig. 1) Ill Oil
m.ation showing chloride con-
centrations in waterfrom wells,
1984 to 2004). Some of these
wells have been removed from
service. High -chloride water
from delta surface water, delta
sediments, saline aquifers that
underlie freshwater aquifers,
and irrigation return are possible
sources of high -chloride water
to wells (fig. 2). It is possible
that different sources contribute
high -chloride water to wells in
different parts of the subbasin or
even to different depths within
the same well.
U S Department of the Interior
U S Geological Survey
38°
00'
121`30' 121°00'
EXPLANATION
;hloride concontra-
tion in water from
wells, in milligrams
per liter
o Less than 50
t 501.100
J 100 to 250
• Greater than 250
Maximum extent of
chloride concentra-
tions greaterthan
1,000 mifligrams
per liter in surface
water of the
San Joaquin Delta,
1931 (Modified from
Piper and others,
1939!
Eastern San Joaquin
Ground -Water
Subbasin
�1.
Vl[ 14
:m'
Figure 1. Chloride concentrations in water from wells inthe Eastern San Joaquin
Ground -Water Subbasin, California, 1984-2004.
9rIY�"." EXPIANATION
_ Saline water in delta deposits
ME Unsaturated deposits
LA Freshwater aquifers
Bedrock = Underlying saline aquifers
Figure 2, Sources of high -chloride water to wells, Eastern San Joaquin Ground -Water
Subbasin, California.
1
November2005
Hydrogeology
The study area is the Eastern San
Joaquin Ground -Water Suhhasin near
Stockton, California. The ground-
water subbasin is about 1,100 square
miles (California Department of Water
Resources. 2006) and is part of the larger
San Joaquin Ground -Water Basin that
forms the southern half of the Central
Valley of California. The climate of the
area is characterized by hot, dry sum-
mers and cool, moist winters. Average
annual precipitation ranges from about 10
to 18 inches (Soil Conservation Service,
1992), Precipitation is greater in the
Sierra Nevada to the cast of the study
area. Runoff from those mountains, pri-
marily as snowmelt, sustains flows in riv-
ers and streams that cross the study area.
The largest of these, the Mokelumne and
Stanislaus Rivers, bound the study area
to the north and south, respectively. The
San Joaquin River, which drains the San
Joaquin Valley to the south, bounds the
study area to the west, and the foothills of
the Sierra Nevada bound the study area to
the cast (i i I).
The study area is underlain by
several thousand feet of consolidated,
partly -consolidated, and unconsolidated
sedimentary deposits (California Depart-
ment of Water Resources. 1967). Volca-
nic deposits about 1,000feet (ft) below
land surface in the Stockton area, and
at shallower depths to the cast, sepa-
rate overlying deposits from underlying
marine deposits. Although they contain
freshwaternear the mountain front, the
marine deposits contain saline water in
most parts of the study area. The marine
deposits have been explored for oil and
gas and for the potential storage of waste.
The overlying deposits can he divided
into alluvial -fan deposits eroded from the
Sierra Nevada. and delta deposits along
the San Joaquin River. The alluvial -fan
deposits arc pumped extensively for water
supply.
Under predevelopment conditions
prior to the onset of ground -water pump-
ing, ground -water movement in the allu-
vial -fan deposits was from the front of the
Sierra Nevada to ground -water discharge
areas near the San Joaquin Delta. Ground-
water discharge to springs and seeps
US Department of the Interim
US Geological Survey
in this area was fresh and low in dissolved
solids (Mendenhall, 1908). Surface water
also infiltrated from the upstream reaches of
rivers and streams into underlying alluvial
deposits and ground water discharged along
the downstream reaches of these streams
(Piper and others, 1939). Regional ground-
water movement in the San Joaquin Valley
under predevelopment conditions was from
south to north along the axis of the valley,
with regional ground -water discharge to the
delta. In a large part of the study area, ground
water in deep wells completed below the vol-
canic deposits flowed to land surface under
artesian conditions. Water from most of these
deep artesian wells was saline (Mendenhall,
1908) and not used for agricultural or public
supply. Saline water extracted from deep
wells, especially those used for natural gas
production, was "allowed to waste" (Menden-
hall, 1908), or in the Stockton area was used
for recreational swimming pools because of
its warm temperature (fig.3).
Figure 3. Recreational pools developed from
saline ground water discharge in the San
Joaquin Ground -Water Subbasin, Stockton.
California, circa 1910. (Photographcourtesy of
the Stockton Record.)
In 2000, the study area bad a popula-
tion of about 580,000 (CDM, Inc., 2001),
and population is expected to increase to
more than 1.2mil Iion by 2040 (CDM Inc.,
2001). Ground -water recharge is about
900,000 acre-feet per year (acre-ft/yr), and
pumping exceeds recharge by 150,000 acre-
ft/yr. Water levels in parts of the suhbasin
declined to below sea level in the early 1950's
(California Department of Water Resources,
1967). The pumping depression expanded
and shifted eastward in recent years (link to
animation showing chunges in water -level
contours, 1974to 1999), and water levels
in parts of the basin were declining at rates
as high as 2 feet per year (Northeastern San
Joaquin County Groundwater Bank-
ing Authority, 2004). Within the
pumping depression, ground water
flowed from recharge areas near the
mountain front, from major streams
and rivers, and from the San Joaquin
Delta toward pumping wells.
Purpose and Scope
The purpose of this report is to
illustrate the types of data collected.
and to present preliminary (2006)
results from an ongoing study of
the source of high -chloride water
to wells in the Eastern San Joaquin
Ground -Water Subbasin. The scope
of the study includes test -drilling,
geophysical logging, and identifica-
tion of the source of high -chloride
water to wells using geochemical
techniques. The study couples a
basin -wide areal assessment of
water quality with more detailed
geologic, geophysical, and geo-
chemical data collection along geo-
logic sections in the area affected by
declining water levels and increas-
ing chloride concentrations (fig. 4).
Although beyond the scope of this
preliminary report, extrapolation
of data along the cross-sections is
intended to extend detailed data col-
lected from multiple -well monitor-
ing sites and from large -capacity
wells to other wells along the geo-
logic sections. This approach will
aid in the development and a more
complete understanding of how the
spatial and vertical distribution of
subsurface geology, hydrology, and
geochemistry combine to influence
the movement of high -chloride
water to wells.
Test Drilling and Well
Installation
Test drilling and well instal-
lation was done to obtain samples
of geologic materials, lithologic
and geophysical logs, and to install
wells for use as measuring points
for water -level and water -quality
data collection. Between May and
October 2005, three multiple -well
sites—each containing three to
November 2006
EXPLANATION respectively (fig. 5). Data from the wells
wieu r v �— UaNuiKN uiSraucu UL uuicicur Well cumber
depths, were completed. Data from these 2 :2 X Q
sites were supplemented with data from U
multiple -well sites installed previously at
two locations by the California Depart-
ment of Water Resources (2003), and at an
additional location by the City of Stockton
(rig 4) zoo
Geophysical logs and well-comtruc-
tion data for multiple -well site 2N/5E-
1 A 1-5, installed near the eastern edge of
the San Joaquin Delta, are shown in fig- a Aa0
ure 5. This site was selected because two A
wells less than one-half mile east of this o
site were removed from service as a result a
of high -chloride concentrations. Water
levels at this multiple -well site ranged 2 600
from about 13 to 27 ft below land surface a
in May 2005, and depth to water increased
with well depth. The site is located in
what would have been a ground -water
discharge area under predevelopment con- soo
ditions, and the increase in depth to water
with well depth is probably the result of
regional ground -water pumping. In May
2005, chloride concentrations at this site 1,000
ranged from 550 to 1 800 milligrams per
Number is chloride corrceni
in milligrams per liter
Caliper: Gamma, in counts Resistivity,
in inches persecond in ohm -metes
12 20 a ioo Zoo n 10 20
liter (mg/L). At that time, the shallowest Figure 5. Selected geophysical logs and well -construction data for multiple -well
and deepest wells had chloride concentra- site, 2N/5E-1 A1-5, Eastern San Joaquin Ground-WaterSubbasin near Stockton,
tions of 1,800 and 1,700mg/L, Califomia.May 2005.
US. Department of the Interior 3 November 2006
U S Geological Surrey
at this site and from monitoring wells at
sectioon lines—
other multiple -well sites will be used to
—C
evaluate the chemical and isotopic compo-
sition of potential sources of high -chloride
Multiple VA
sites
water to these wells.
The two other multiple -well sites
o USGS
• Depariniert
IN/6E-4J3-5 and 2N/6E-11H4-8 (fig. 4)
of Water
were drilled to depths of 600 and 643 ft
Resources
below land surface, respectively. In Janu-
® City of
Stockton
ary 2006, chloride concentrations in water
from sites -4J3-5 near the San Joaquin
• Well with
velocity
Delta ranged from 120 to 510 mg/L., with
log data
the highest concentration in well -4J4 that
was completed between 360 and 340 ft
4 Otherr1ed
sarnp
below land surface. In May 2005, chlo-
wells
ride concentrations in water from sites
-11 H4-8, near ground -water recharge
ponds east of the delta, were between 9.9
and 3.4 mg/L.
wieu r v �— UaNuiKN uiSraucu UL uuicicur Well cumber
depths, were completed. Data from these 2 :2 X Q
sites were supplemented with data from U
multiple -well sites installed previously at
two locations by the California Depart-
ment of Water Resources (2003), and at an
additional location by the City of Stockton
(rig 4) zoo
Geophysical logs and well-comtruc-
tion data for multiple -well site 2N/5E-
1 A 1-5, installed near the eastern edge of
the San Joaquin Delta, are shown in fig- a Aa0
ure 5. This site was selected because two A
wells less than one-half mile east of this o
site were removed from service as a result a
of high -chloride concentrations. Water
levels at this multiple -well site ranged 2 600
from about 13 to 27 ft below land surface a
in May 2005, and depth to water increased
with well depth. The site is located in
what would have been a ground -water
discharge area under predevelopment con- soo
ditions, and the increase in depth to water
with well depth is probably the result of
regional ground -water pumping. In May
2005, chloride concentrations at this site 1,000
ranged from 550 to 1 800 milligrams per
Number is chloride corrceni
in milligrams per liter
Caliper: Gamma, in counts Resistivity,
in inches persecond in ohm -metes
12 20 a ioo Zoo n 10 20
liter (mg/L). At that time, the shallowest Figure 5. Selected geophysical logs and well -construction data for multiple -well
and deepest wells had chloride concentra- site, 2N/5E-1 A1-5, Eastern San Joaquin Ground-WaterSubbasin near Stockton,
tions of 1,800 and 1,700mg/L, Califomia.May 2005.
US. Department of the Interior 3 November 2006
U S Geological Surrey
Borehole Geophysical
Data
In addition to geophysical logs
collected during test drilling, two types of
borehole geophysical data were collected
as part of this study. Electromagnetic
(EM) logs were collected from selected
multiple -well sites to evaluate changing
water quality at depth. Fluid -velocity logs
were collected under pumping condi-
tions from selected public supply wells to
determine the depth at which water enters
those wells. Velocity logs were coupled
with depth -dependent water -quality data,
also collected under pumping conditions,
to determine the quality of water entering
the well at different depths.
Electromagnetic logs
Only a limited number of wells
screened over selected intervals can
be installed at multiple -well monitor-
ing sites. As a consequence, changes in
water quality are not measured directly
through much of the aquifer thick-
ness. To address this issue, the deepest
well at multiple -well sites was used as
access tubes for repeated measurement
of electromagnetic resistivity through
the entire aquifer thickness penetrated
by the well. EM logs collected through
the PVC casings of monitoring wells are
sensitive to the lithology of the deposits
and to the resistivity of the pore fluids
within the deposits (McNeill and others.
1990). Because the lithology remains
c.anst.ant with nine, repeated EM logs
differ only if the fluid resistivity changes
as a result of the movement of water of
differing quality at depth (Williams and
others. 1993). The radius of the material
measured by the logging tool is between
10 and 50 inches, and as a result the tool
is relatively insensitive to borehole fill
material adjacent to the well (McNeill
and others, 1990). These properties make
EM resistivity a suitable tool for identify-
ing changes in water quality, particular-
ily changes in salinity. at locations from
which ground -water samples cannot be
collected directly.
EM resistivity values at correspond-
ing depths from logs collected within well
2N/6E-20E 1 in June 2004 and
•
•
•
€il€6ANATI N
• 400-402feet
•
All atherdata
-- Additional EM
logging at these sites
1 '
to would be required
to to determine if EM
• resistivity values
will continue to
t t to too decrease through
/ time. Additional data
i
collection, possibly
l
/ including the instal-
lation of new wells,
/ may be required to
I to
Beetrmnalnedc nrinkrltr, in olnn-w&Hm, Jon 2001 determine if changes
Figure 6, Comparison of electromagnetic
resistivity values collected in well 2N/6E-2OE1,
Eastern San Joaquin Ground Water Subbasirt
near Stockton, California.
January 2006 are shown in figure 6. In the
time between collection of the two logs,
EM resistivity values decreased in a narrow
interval between 400 and 402 ft below land
surface (rt,,,. 6). The January 2006 values,
between 400 and 402 ft, were among the
lowest collected from the well. Because the
lithology has not changed, decreased EM
resistivity at this depth may be the result of
decreased fluid resistivity (increased fluid
conductivity) resulting from increased salin-
ity between the two logging dates. Horizon-
tal movement of poor -quality water through
thin, permeable zones that are either areally
extensive, or well-connected hydraulically,
commonly occurs in coastal California
aquifers (Nishikawa, 1997), Given this sce-
nario, the three monitoring wells at this site
(screened from 412 to 507,289 to 319, and
189 to 209 ft below land surface, respec-
tively) would not have detected changes in
water quality that caused changes in EM
resistivity observed near 400 frt.
Decreases in EM resistivity consistent
with increasing chloride concentrations also
were observed between 40 and 45 ft below
land surface in EM logs collected from well
1N/6E-36C3 between June 2004 and January
2006. Previous work (CalifomiaDepart-
ment of Water Resources, 1967) indicated
the presence of poor -quality water near the
water -table in this part of the study area and
suggested that this shallow ground water
may have been the source of high -chloride
water in some production wells.
in EM resistivity are
the result of changes
in water quality or the result of some
other cause.
Fluid -velocity logs and depth -
dependent water -quality
sample collection
Fluid -velocity logs from
unpumped and pumped wells were
collected using an EM flowmeter.
The EM flowmeter measures uphole
or downhole velocities according
to Faraday's Law, where the volt-
age generated by the movement of
charged ions in water flowing through
an induced magnetic field is propor-
tional to the velocity of water flowing
through the field. The tool has a range
from 0.3 to 260 feet per minute, and is
suitable for both the low velocities in
unpumped wells and the high veloci-
ties in pumped wells (Newhouse and
others, 2005). Fluid resistivity and
fluid temperature data collected during
logging were used to constrain inter-
pretations of fluid -velocity logs.
Fluid -velocity logs from pumped
wells were coupled with water -qual-
ity samples collected under pumping
conditions from selected depths within
the well. Sample depths were selected
on the basis of measured velocity logs,
lithologic logs, geophysical logs, and
well -construction data. The samples
were collected using a commercially
available, small-diametergas-displace-
ment pump (Izbicki, 2004). Water
samples collected using this method
are mixtures of water that entered the
well from different depths. However,
when coupled with velocity log data,
U S Department of the Interior 4 November 2006
U S Geningical Survey
100
a
400 _ ' L
0 100 D
Resistivil
in ohm -mel
100
ROW. Well
inopiea aent construction
tion
W
instandard inmilligi
units per liter
0 10 0 20
Nitrate, in
t milligram micrograms
per liter per liter
EXPLANATION as Nihogen
■ Measuredvalues o Surface 0 Pumping water level Screened interval
Calculated values discharge 0 Pump intake Direction of flow
Figure]. Fluid velocity and depth -dependant water -quality data from well 1N/7E
20N1, Eastern San Joaquin Ground-WaterSubbasin. California, August 2004.
depth -dependent water -quality data can
be used to estimate the quality of water
entering a well from selected depths in an
aquifer (Izbicki, 2004).
Fluid -velocity logs from well
1 N17E-20N1 show that slightly more than
one-half of the water entered well -20N 1
through the two upper screens located 158
to 204 ft below land surface (fig. 7). Most
of the remaining water entered the well
through screens at 282 to 298 and 312 to
326 ft below land surface. Only a small
amount of water entered the well through
the deepest screen 360 to 390 ft below
land surface (fig. 7). In well -20N1, the
higher yielding upper zones correspond to
electrically resistive sand and gravel units
indicated on the electric log (fig.7). Where
present in other wells, this high -resistiv-
ity zone also contributes large amounts of
water to wells. The small amount of yield
from the deepest screen was unexpected
on the basis of lithologic and geophysical
logs, and may reflect increased consolida-
U S Department of the Interior
U S Geological Survey
tion and decreased hydraulic conduc-
tivity of alluvial deposits with depth.
Depth -dependent water -quality
samples collected within well -20NI
under pumping conditions reflect the
vertical distribution of water -quality
within the aquifer (fig. 7). Chloride
and nitrate concentrations are higher
in water entering from the upper well
screens than the deeper well screens. In
contrast, pH and arsenic concentrations
were higher in water entering from
the deeper parts of the well. Arsenic
concentrations in the deeper parts of
well -2 ON I were as high as 15 micro-
grams per liter @&). Mixing of water
having lower arsenic concentrations
from shallower depths within the well
caused water discharge at the surface
to approach the Maximum Contami-
nant Level (MCL) for arsenic of 10
µg/l_ (U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, 2006). Changes in well
drilling and construction practices
could exclude zones having high
concentrations of constituents such as
chloride, nitrate, or arsenic from newly
installed wells, and modifications in well
design could exclude zones contributing
poor -quality water to existing wells—
thereby improving the quality of water
from those wells.
By January 2006, fluid velocity logs
coupled with depth -dependent water -qual-
ity data had been collected from eight
wells that are distributed along the sec-
tions shown in figure 4. Data from these
wells will he used with geochemical data
collected from the surface discharge of
wells throughout the study area to deter-
mine the sources of high -chloride water to
wells.
Sources of High -Chloride
Water to Wells
Prior to the construction of reservoirs
on rivers tributary to the San Joaquin
Delta, water having chloride concentra-
tions as high as 1,000mg/L intruded the
delta during low -flow periods (Piper and
others, 1939) (fig. 1), Under present-day
(2006) conditions, surface flows are man-
aged to protect freshwater resources in the
delta and to prevent the inland move-
ment of seawater. However, high -chloride
water may originate from water trapped
in delta sediments during their deposi-
tion—constituents dissolved within this
water may retain a chemical composition
consistent with a seawater origin. High -
chloride water also may originate from
soluble salts emplaced in sediments from
ground -water discharge along the delta
margin ---constituents dissolved within this
water would have a chemical composition
different from seawater. It is likely that
water from deeper aquifers that underlie
freshwater aquifers pumped for supply
also has markedly different chemical
composition and may contribute high -
chloride water to wells in different parts of
the subbasin, In addition, irrigation return
may increase chloride concentrations near
the water table. To further complicate the
issue, multiple sources of high -chloride
water may occur at different depths within
the same well. Water from wells was sam-
pled and analyzed for major -ions, selected
minor ions, and its isotopic (oxygen -18
November2006
N
60
a�� 5 w
�oJ Group 1
g 20
1H4
to C.
to
,oF�cF
Yyj 80 �'pm
•".U3. 40��"cF�r
3 0,
20
Group 3 ,FPG
+yf
c0�m sAF�
• «
S �b ip d3
r—calcium RPLANATION Chloride
California Department or Water U S Geological Suveydate (2001-05)
Resources data {1969-20031 Multiplewell site
Public -supply, irrigation, or domestic • Depth-depandent sample
well surface discharge sample a Surface discharge sample from depth -dependent sampled well
A seawater • Othersampled wells
Figure 8. Major -ion chemistry cf water from selected wells in the Eastern San
Joaquin Ground-WaterSubbasin. California. 2004-2005.
and deuterium) composition, to determine
the composition of fresh and high -chloride
waters in the study area and the sources of
high -chloride water to wells.
Major -Ion Composition of Water
from Wells
The major -ion composition of 100
water samples from 76 public -supply,
irrigation, domestic. and observation wells
collected as part of this study between
May 2004 and January 2006, and 245
historical samples from 42 wells were
evaluated using a trilinear diagram (fig.H)•
A trilinear diagram shows the proportions
of the major cations (calcium, magnesium,
and sodium plus potassium) and the major
anions (carbonate plus bicarbonate, sul-
fate, and chloride) on a charge -equivalent
basis (Hem, 1985). Cations are plotted on
the lower left triangle, anions on the lower
right triangle, and the central diamond
integrates the data.
On the basis of their distribution
within the trilinear diagram, data were
separated into three groups having
different chemical compositions. Group
1 represents the majority of sampled
wells. Group 2 consists of depth -
dependent samples from deeper depths
within sampled public -supply wells,
and samples from deeper observa-
tion wells at multiple -well sites. The
composition of water from deeper
aquifers represented by these samples
is not apparent in historical data col-
lected from the surface discharge of
wells; because ground water from
deeper depths mixes within the wells
with ground water from shallow depths
during pumping, thereby masking
the composition of the deeper ground
water. As a result of mixing within the
well during pumping, samples from the
surface discharge public -supply wells
plot within Group 1 even though deeper
samples from the same well plot within
Group 2. All samples within Groups
1 and 2 had chloride concentrations
of less than 100 mg/L. In contrast, all
but two samples within Group 3 were
from wells that had chloride concentra-
tions greater than 100 mg/L. This group
included several public -supply wells
that are no longer in use due to chloride
concentrations that were greater than the
Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level
(SMCL) of 250 mg/L (U.S. Environmen-
tal Protection Agency, 2006). The major -
ion composition of water from wells did
not trend consistently toward the composi-
tion of seawater as chloride concentrations
increased.
Minor -Ion Composition of Water
from Wells
Certain minor ions in water, such as
bromide, iodide, barium, and boron are
present naturally in high -chloride water
from different sources, and have been
used to determine the origin of high -chlo-
ride water to wells (Piper and Garrett,
1953: Izbicki and others, 2005). Analy-
sis of this combination of minor ions is
especially effective because their differ-
ing abundances, chemical properties, and
biological reactivity can produce a wide
range of compositions, relative to chlo-
ride concentrations; these compositions
reflect different geology, source -water
composition, and aquifer chemistry. Of
the four minor ions analyzed in this study.
iodide commonly has the largest range in
environmental compositions, relative to
chloride and is commonly very useful in
determining the source of high -chloride
water to wells.
Iodide is depleted in seawater
through uptake by marine organisms
(Izbicki and others, 2005). As these
organisms die, are buried, and decay,
water within marine deposits may become
enriched in iodide, In the plot of chloride -
to -iodide ratio as a function of chloride
(fig. Y), data are bimodally distributed
and reflect contributions of high -chloride
water from at least two sources. The chlo-
nde-to-iodide ratio from some wells fol-
lows a seawater mixing line with increas-
ing chloride concentrations, and reflects
high -chloride seawater minimally altered
by contact with aquifer material.
Water from most observation wells and
from depth -dependent samples collected
within the deeper parts ofpublic-supply
wells plotted to the right of the seawater
mixing line. The iodide -enriched compo-
sition of water from these wells is similar
to that of water from marine rocks and
oil -field brine sampled elsewhere in
l; S Department of the Interior 6 November 2006
U S Geological Survey
Chloride. in milligrams per liter
10,000,000 F 10 100 1,x00 10,0011
0
ii l,000,000
q Seawater
m0,000 •
10.000 } *_1A5
L.' ice• •�'�.�
1,000 1 '� • ,i
f
Reattons wilt) marine rack
1011
0.01 0.1 I 10 100 1,000
Chloride, in millimales per liter
EXPLANATION
,.o- Mixing line • Multiple well sites Other sampled
■ Depth -dependent samples wells
Figure9. Chloride-to-bromidean d c h 1 o r i d e -
to -iodide ratios as a function of chloride
concentration in water from selected wells
in the Eastern San Joaquin Ground -Water
Subbasin. Califomia,2004-2005.
California (Piper and Garrett, 1953; Izhicki
and others, 2005). Several wells having
high -chloride water, including the shallow
observation well -1 A5 at the Oak Grove
Park multiple -well site, have chloride -to -
iodide ratios intermediate between compo-
sitions expected from seawater mixing and
from deep brines. Water from these wells
may he complex mixtures of high -chloride
water from multiple sources, or the water
may have reacted with aquifer materials to
remove iodide from the solution.
Oxygen -18 and Deuterium
Composition of Water from Wells
Oxygen -1g and deuterium are natu-
rally occurring stable isotopes of oxygen
and hydrogen, respectively. Oxygen -18
(8 `0) and deuterium (6D) abundances are
expressed as ratios, in delta notation as
per mil (parts per thousand) differences,
relative to the standard known as Vienna
Standard Mean Ocean Water (VSMOW).
By convention, the value of VSMOW is 0
per mil. Negative per mil values have more
of the lighter isotope than VSMOW (Craig,
1961), and highly negative per mil values
have more of the lighter isotope than less
negative values.
Most of the world's precipitation orig-
inates from the evaporation of seawater. As
a result, the 8180 and 6D composition of
precipitation throughout the world is
US Uepartment of the Interior
US Geological Survey
correlated linearly and distributed along
a line known as the global meteoric
waterline (Craig, 1961). In many areas,
water samples plot along a line slightly
below the global meteoric water line
that is known as the local meteoric
water line. The 81B0 and SD composi-
tion of water sample, relative to the
global meteoric water line and relative
to the composition of water from other
areas, provides a record of the source
and evaporative history of the water, and
can he used as a tracer of the movement
of the water. Differences in the 8110
and 6D composition of water from the
global meteoric water line may result
from differences in the temperature
of condensation of precipitation that
recharged the ground water. These dif-
ferences may result from condensation
at different altitudes, from seasonal or
short-term climatic changes, or from
long-term climatic changes such as
those that occurred at the end of the
Pleistocene Epoch. Partial evaporation
of a water sample shifts the 8160 and 6D
composition to the right of the global
meteoric water line along an evaporative
trend line (International Atomic Energy
Agency, 1981).
The 8`0 and 8D composition
of water from wells in the study area
ranged from -6,3 to -1 1.2per mil
and —48 to —81 per mil with a median
composition of —8.4 and —60 per mil,
respectively (fig. 10). Most samples plot
parallel to, but below, the global mete-
oric water line.
The more negative values are from
shallow wells, typically about 100 ft
deep, along the Mokelumne and Stan-
islaus Rivers (fig. 10). These rivers drain
the higher altitudes of the Sierra Nevada
to the east of the study area, and water
from these wells probably originated
as precipitation at cooler temperatures
associated with higher altitudes instead
of precipitation at warmer temperatures
associated with lower altitudes. There
was no consistent trend toward increas-
ingly negative values from deeper wells
at multiple -well sites installed as part of
this study. However, 6D values between
—70 and 4 8 per mil were obtained
from shallower wells at a multiple -well
site 2N/6E- H4-8 near ground -water
-40
—Shallow wells lless than 160ft deepl near
-12 -11 -1a -4 -a -7 _s
dalla oxygen -18, in per mil
EXPLANATION
Chloride concentration. in milligrams per liter
0Less than 100 0100 to 250 • Greater than 250
Figure 10. Oxygen -18 and delta deuterium
composition of water from selected wells
in the Eastern San Joaquin Ground -Water
Subbasin, California,2004-2005,
recharge ponds. These data are consistent
with movement of recharge water from
the ponds (that originated from reservoirs
in the Sierra Nevada) to depths as great
as 300 ft.
The less negative samples plot to
the right of the local meteoric water line
along an evaporative trend line (fig. 10).
Although most high -chloride water plots
to the right of the meteoric water line,
chloride concentrations do not consis-
tently increase with the evaporative shift
in 8180 and 5D isotopic composition.
These data suggest that the high -chloride
concentrations are the result of processes
other than evaporative concentration of
ground water, and are consistent with
high -chloride water mobilized from delta
sediments or deeper deposits,
Summary
Water levels are declining and
chloride concentrations are increas-
ing in water from wells in the Eastern
San Joaquin Ground -Water Suhbasin
near Stockton, California, as a result of
pumping in excess of recharge. A study
approach that utilizes a combination of
data collection activities including (1)
drilling and monitoring well installation,
(2) borehole geophysical data collection
frommonitoring wells and large -capac-
ity pumping wells, and (3) geochemical
data collection was developed to evaluate
the areal and vertical distribution of
chloride within freshwater aquifers and
November 2006
2N/OE-1744-5 ICreig,1961►
1 -so
IGreate
a'
ii
300ftdespIl•epl
�
e-00
Shallowwells
Evaporative
E
2NIBE-11H6-B
trend line
ILess then
9
300 ft deep) o
—Shallow wells lless than 160ft deepl near
-12 -11 -1a -4 -a -7 _s
dalla oxygen -18, in per mil
EXPLANATION
Chloride concentration. in milligrams per liter
0Less than 100 0100 to 250 • Greater than 250
Figure 10. Oxygen -18 and delta deuterium
composition of water from selected wells
in the Eastern San Joaquin Ground -Water
Subbasin, California,2004-2005,
recharge ponds. These data are consistent
with movement of recharge water from
the ponds (that originated from reservoirs
in the Sierra Nevada) to depths as great
as 300 ft.
The less negative samples plot to
the right of the local meteoric water line
along an evaporative trend line (fig. 10).
Although most high -chloride water plots
to the right of the meteoric water line,
chloride concentrations do not consis-
tently increase with the evaporative shift
in 8180 and 5D isotopic composition.
These data suggest that the high -chloride
concentrations are the result of processes
other than evaporative concentration of
ground water, and are consistent with
high -chloride water mobilized from delta
sediments or deeper deposits,
Summary
Water levels are declining and
chloride concentrations are increas-
ing in water from wells in the Eastern
San Joaquin Ground -Water Suhbasin
near Stockton, California, as a result of
pumping in excess of recharge. A study
approach that utilizes a combination of
data collection activities including (1)
drilling and monitoring well installation,
(2) borehole geophysical data collection
frommonitoring wells and large -capac-
ity pumping wells, and (3) geochemical
data collection was developed to evaluate
the areal and vertical distribution of
chloride within freshwater aquifers and
November 2006
to determine the sources of high -chloride
water to wells. The study couples a basin -
wide areal assessment of water quality
with detailed geologic, geophysical, and
geochemical data collected along geologic
sections in the area affected by declin-
ing water levels and increasing chloride
concentrations.
Preliminary results show that water
from multiple -well site 2N/5E-1A1-5 near
the San Joaquin River Delta had chloride
concentrations as high as 1,800mg/L..
High chloride concentrations were present
at this site to almost 1,000 ft below land
surface. EM logs collected from well
2N/6E-20E1 north of Stockton showed
decreased EM resistivity. EM logs col-
lected in well 1N/6E-36C3 south of Stock-
ton, showed decreases in EM resistivity
at shallower depths between 40 and 45 ft
below land surface. High -chloride water
from shallow depths has been observed in
production wells in this part of the study
area. Additional EM logging at these sites
would he required to determine if EM
resistivity values continue to decrease
through time and if decreasing resistivity
is the result if increasing salinity.
Water -quality in the study area
changes with depth, and the major -ion
composition of water from deeper aquifers
is obscured by mixing within wells during
pumping. As a consequence, the com-
position of water from deeper deposits
penetrated by wells is not apparent in
historical data collected primarily from
the surface discharge of wells. Changes
in the iodide composition of water from
wells with elevated chloride concentra-
tions are consistent with a marine origin
of the chloride dissolved in water from
wells. Entrainment of seawater in delta
deposits may have occurred during
deposition of delta sediments. Subsequent
mobilization of this entrained water may
have occurred as a result of ground -water
pumping. High -chloride water in deeper
parts of the aquifer is enriched in iodide,
relative to seawater compositions and also
contributes to increasing chloride concen-
trations in water from some wells. Such
enrichment is common in deeper ground
water from oil- and gas -producing regions
in California (Piper and Garrett, 1953;
lzbicki and others, 2005). Shifts in the
5`0 and bD composition of water from
J S Department of the interior
J S Geological Survey
some shallower wells are consistent
with partial evaporation of water and
irrigation return water. However, increases
in chloride concentrations from evapora-
tion of irrigation water are small com-
pared to chloride inputs from the delta and
underlying deposits.
Acknowledgements
This study was fundedby the North-
eastern San Joaquin Groundwater Banking
Authority and the California Department
of Water Resources in cooperation with the
U. S, Geological Survey. The authors thank
the County of San Joaquin, the California
Department of Water Resources, and the
California State Water Resources Control
Board Ground-WaterAmbient Monitor-
ing and Assessment (GAMA) Study for
their assistance with sample collection and
analyses. The authors also thank the local
water agencies for the support, and access to
wells during this study--epecially Brandon
Nakagawa of the San Joaquin County Public
Works Department, Anthony Tovar of the
City of Stockton Municipal Utilities Depart-
ment, and Eric Mar of the CaliforniaWater
Service Company.
References Cited
California Department of Water Resources, 1967,
San Joaquin County Investigation: Bulletin
No. 146. California Department of Water
Resources, Sacramento. Calif., variously
paged.
California Department of Water Resources,
2003, Hydrologic investigation in Stockton,
California, May 2002, Memorandum Report,
January 2003. California Department of Water
Resources. Division of Planning and Local
Assistance, Central District, Sacramento.
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