The use of strontium and lead isotopes to identify sources of water beneath the Fresh Kills landfill, Staten Island, New York, USA

A study was undertaken to explore whether the isotopic compositions of Pb and Sr are useful to distinguish mixtures of uncontaminated groundwater, seawater, and landfill leachate at the Fresh Kills landfill, Staten Island, New York. Ratios of 87Sr/86Sr ranged from 0.7088 to 0.7137 and could be used to distinguish Sr that was derived from seawater from that in uncontaminated groundwater. Lead isotopic abundances did not vary systematically among the different water sources. Plots of 87Sr/86Sr versus dissolved organic C, B, and NH4+ defined perpendicular trends, documenting where leachate or sea water mixed with uncontaminated groundwater, and demonstrating that leachate has not contaminated groundwater in aquifers beneath the landfill.