Control of naturally occurring brine springs and seeps in an evaporite karst setting

Naturally occurring brine springs and seeps contribute a daily average of 3300 metric tons of chloride to the Red River through its tributaries. A study to control brine discharges, thereby improving the water quality of the Red River, has been performed. udy area is located just east of the high plains in the Rolling Plains subdivision of the central lowlands physiographic province of Texas. Dolomite units throughout the area are fractured along bedding planes, vuggy in places and weathered. Gypsum units are massively bedded to interbedded with thin layers of dolomite. Cavities occur in either dolomite and/or gypsum. Dissolution of these units has formed sinkholes and depressions. jor source of brine discharge in the study area is through springs and seeps. Springs and seeps occur because the potentiometric head of the brine is higher than the creek bed elevation, and permeability of materials in the discharge area is low compared to the surrounding area. ling program and pumping test was performed to determine the number and location of wells, and pumping rates to control the brine discharge from the area. issivity of the bedrock aquifer system ranges from 149 m2 day−1 (12 000 gpd ft−1), with an average of 2108 m−2 d−1 (170 000 gpd ft−1). The high value of transmissivity is indicative of the karst nature of the bedrock aquifer system. the study, the chloride load in the creek was controlled as a result of elimination of brine spring discharge. Naturally occurring brine springs and seeps in the study area, an evaporite karst setting, can be controlled by installation and operation of four shallow collection wells at a combined pumping rate of 5.68 m3 m (1500 gpm).