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Alluvial water quality monitoring in the Little Grassy Creek alluvium indicates that there <br />have been slight increases in TDS, Ca, Na, and 504 at Wells Ch'-56-A and 32. At these <br />points, the mean TDS levels are approximately 2,400 to 2,700 mg/7. Salt concentration as <br />a result of evapotranspiration probably accounts for a large percentage of this. However, <br />alluvial aquifer monitoring further downstream at the confluence with Grassy Creek (Well <br />Gh'-533) suggests that the higher mean surface and around water flows have considerably <br />diluted the system and a mean TD$ level of 1,030 mg/i was recorded in 1966. <br />In the Wadge and Wolf Creek overburden wells, there have been no increases in TDS outside <br />the ranges defined at these wells between 1980 and 1985, excepting We 11 GW-S36-0. This <br />well is completed in the Wolf Creek overburden and was mined through in 1986. Prior to <br />being mined through, there was a 10-fold increase in TD$ to approximately 3,750 mg/l. <br />This increase, which occurred in a fairly short time period, was probably a direct <br />response of the proximity of the active pit to the well. Blasting in such close proximity <br />would open fractures (secondary permeability) in the adjacent, consolidated overburden <br />which would provide avenues for the hieher TDS pit and spoils water to enter along. This <br />TDS level is well within the ranges of TDS measured in spoils wells at Seneca II. <br /> Onl <br />t <br />o of th <br />Wolf C <br />k <br />d h' <br />o <br />l <br />d <br />i <br />i <br />ll i <br />h <br />h <br />i TDS <br /> y <br />w <br />ree <br />an <br />e a <br />ge c <br />a <br />mon <br />ng we <br />tor <br />s ave s <br />ncreases <br />own n <br /> during 1986 and these increase s have been very minimal. The Wolf Creek coat hell <br /> GW-536-WC is located immediately adjacent to Well GW-536-0 ref erenced above. The increase <br /> in TDS is also probably attributable to the proximate effects of mining prior to it being <br /> mined through. Wadge coal Well GW-S17 increased slightly in TD$ during 1966. It is <br />located downdip from the Wadge impoundment and appears to be lareety controlled by the <br />Wadge impoundment water chemistry. Well GW-S17 showed an average TDS level of 2,E93 mg/1 <br />between November, 1985 and May, 1966. The Wadge impoundment ranged from 2,200 to 2,930 <br />m9/1 during this same time period. Some higher TDS spoil ground water is also <br />contributing recharge to the W'a dge coal aquifer. <br /> Of the three spoils wells monitoretl during 1986, only GW-526 showed a slieht increase ir. <br /> TDS. Chemical parameters contributin g to this in and Ca. Well GW-526 <br />crease were 50 is <br /> 4 <br /> located upgra dient from GW-S 25 and downgra dient from GW-527. Its TCS levels are al so <br /> intermediate between those of the two other wells. Yell GW-525 r:i th the lowest TDS levels <br /> appears to be largely controlled by Wadge impoundment water chemistry. Well GW'-526 is <br /> located along the transition zone between 2-4 15-16 feet <br />feet of saturation and of <br />• <br />~ . <br />h <br />l f <br /> saturation in the spoils. Its water chemistry is er leve <br />s <br />largely influenced by hig o <br />30 <br />