Mapping Seawater Intrusion using Time Domain Electromagnetic Induction

Mapping Seawater Intrusion using Time Domain Electromagnetic Induction and High Resolution Electrical Resistivity, Los Angeles County, California Ted Johnson and Nancy Matsumoto: Water Replenishment District of Southern California and John Jansen: Aquifer Science and Technology

Setting Approx. Area = 420 mi(3. 1 eaquifers Gabriel Mtns 250, 000 af/y 2 People km 2) Multi-layered sandy 8 m 3/y) San 4 Million (1100 Groundwaterdeep (> 250 m) over 800 ft Pumping Merced Hills Puente Hills San Gabriel Valley Santa Monica Mtns Los Angeles Coyote Hills New p Upli ort-Ingl ft ew ood San Gabriel River Los Angeles River Newp ort-In Long Beach glewo od Uplift Palos Verdes Hills Pacific Ocean

1900 – 1950: Extractions Double Safe Yield Overdraft: Groundwater levels dropping 10 ft (3 m) per year and well below sea level. By 1950 s, groundwater was below sea level in half of the basins Seawater Intrusion 2 miles (3. 2 km) inland. v ~ 250 ft/y (75 m/y)

Seawater Intrusion Barrier Wells West Coast Basin Barrier Project Residual “Saline Plume” Dominguez Gap Barrier Project Alamitos Gap Barrier Project

Barrier Wells & Saline Plumes Saline Plume in multiple aquifers to different extents up to 800 feet deep (250 m). Pacific Ocean West East Injection Wells Residual saline plumes continue to move inland 800 ft Silverado Aquifer Lower San Pedro Aquifer Pico Formation (“bedrock”) Modified from DWR 1961, Cross Section E-E’ (250 m) 200 ft. Sand Aquifer

El Segundo Blvd Injection Wells Manhattan Beach Blvd ch B ea do B on Red Crenshaw 190 th Hawthorne Sepulveda Blvd Groundwater Flow Direction 2006 Saline Plume Map* Silverado (middle) Aquifer Torrance Sepul PC H veda * - based on existing well data

Pacific Ocean Saline Plume Definition Cl = 600 ppm Not so bad? Cl = 19, 800 Cl = 100 ppm Big Problem? No Plume Here? Seawater Intrusion Fresh Water • Intrusion Maps biased based on well locations and screen intervals • Shallow wells may miss salt • Production wells with long screens and high Q may average/dilute salt • Short screen wells identify salt at that discrete depth • Many wells needed to identify 3 D nature of intrusion $$$$, or…

Electrical Resistivity (ER) n n n Electrical Current is induced into the ground through two current electrodes. Voltage drop is measured across potential electrodes. Electrode array is expanded to increase depth of penetration. Resistivity of formation/fluids measured in ohm-meters (Ω-m). Modern systems use 42 to 56 (or more) electrodes with automated switching.

Time Domain Electromagnetic Induction (TEM) n n n n Square transmitter loop laid out on surface 20 m to 100 m per side. Current of several amps cut off nearly instantaneously. Creates broad frequency EM pulse. Nearly vertical propagation of pulse induces eddy currents in conductive units (such as saline water). Receiver measures magnetic field from eddy currents over time. Data is modeled into layered system. To reduce background noise and increase depth, multiple wire turns can be used.

Electrical Methods Work Well in “Noise Free” Areas

But what about Electrical Noisy Areas, such as Los Angeles?

2 Sites for Pilot Test

Electrical Resistivity (ER)

Time Domain Electromagnetic Induction (TEM)

Site A Layout • TEM: o 40 m x 40 m single turn loop (500 ft, 150 m depth, noisy data). o 20 m x 20 m 4 -turn loop (600 ft, 180 m depth, much less noise). • ER: o 42 electrodes over 1, 345 linear feet. o 350 ft (106 m) depth of penetration (not deep enough to reach saline plume).

Site A Results Electrical Resistivity Line 2 Depth (feet) TEM 2 TEM 1

Pilot Test Showed: • ER and TEM can work in urbanized environment with care. • Mapped bulk resistivity (formation + fluids). Interpreted freshwater (> 20 Ω-m), brackish water (3 – 20 Ω-m), and saline water (<3 Ω-m). • ER higher resolution but could not reach deep enough (L = d * 3. 5 or 2, 800 ft line length (850 m) to reach 800 feet deep (250 m). Not possible in study area for this much open space. • Multi-turn TEM proved best for this study. Therefore, fullscale TEM survey in February 2008 in open spaces (parks, school yards, ball fields, etc).

H’ North D’ 35 TEM Locations Cross Section Line D ific Pac an Oce H

Results: • Multi-turn TEM coils successfully mapped resistivity in an urban environment to 800 feet deep (250 meters). • 3 D subsurface resistivity identified at 35 sites in 2 weeks for $50, 000 (U. S. ) • Saline plume found mostly to be discontinuous and varying shape/size across basin likely due to heterogeneity. • Drilling 2 deep multi-level monitoring wells in summer to confirm/refine results. Maps will be redrawn after completion. Ultimately leading to RO plants for treatment.

Thank You! tjohnson@wrd. org