Moving targets, long-lived infrastructure, and increasing needs for integration and adaptation in water management: an illustration from Switzerland.

Switzerland provides an example of successful management of water infrastructure and water resources that was accomplished largely without integration across sectors. Limitations in this approach have become apparent; decisions that were formerly based only on technical and economic feasibility must now incorporate broader objectives such as ecological impact. In addition, current and emerging challenges relate to increasingly complex problems that are likely to demand more integrated approaches. If such integration is to be of benefit, it must be possible to redirect resources across sectors, and the synergies derived from integration must outweigh the additional cost of increased complexity.

arrA is a reliable marker for As(V) respiration.

Arsenate [As(V)]-respiring bacteria affect the speciation and mobilization of arsenic in the environment. This can lead to arsenic contamination of drinking water supplies and deleterious consequences for human health. Using molecular genetics, we show that the functional gene for As(V) respiration, arrA, is highly conserved; that it is required for As(V) reduction to arsenite when arsenic is sorbed onto iron minerals; and that it can be used to identify the presence and activity of As(V)-respiring bacteria in arsenic-contaminated iron-rich sediments. The expression of arrA thus can be used to monitor sites in which As(V)-respiring bacteria may be controlling arsenic geochemistry.

Deposition and fate of arsenic in iron- and arsenic-enriched reservoir sediments.

Deposition of arsenic to the sediments of Haiwee Reservoir (Olancha, CA) has dramatically increased since March 1996 as a result of an interim strategy for arsenic management in the Los Angeles Aqueduct (LAA) water supply. Ferric chloride and cationic polymer are introduced into the Aqueduct at the Cottonwood treatment plant, 27 km north of the Haiwee Reservoir. This treatment decreases the average arsenic concentration from 25 microg/L above Cottonwood to 8.3 microg/L below Haiwee. Iron- and arsenic-rich flocculated solids are removed by deposition to the reservoir sediments. Analysis of sediments shows a pronounced signature of this deposition with elevated sediment concentrations of iron, arsenic, and manganese relative to a control site. Sediment concentrations of these elements remain elevated throughout the core length sampled (ca. 4% iron and 600 and 200 microg/g of manganese and arsenic, respectively, on a dry weight basis). A pore water profile revealed a strong redox gradient in the sediment. Manganese in the pore waters increased below 5 cm; iron and arsenic increased below 10 cm and were strongly correlated, consistent with reductive dissolution of iron oxyhydroxides and concurrent release of associated arsenic to solution. X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy revealed inorganic As(V) present only in the uppermost sediment (0-2.5 cm) in addition to inorganic As(III). In the deeper sediments (to 44 cm), only oxygen-coordinated As(III) was detected. Analysis of the extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectrum indicates that the As(III) at depth remains associated with iron oxyhydroxide. We hypothesize that this phase persists in the recently deposited sediment despite reducing conditions due to slow dissolution kinetics.

Time scales for sorption-desorption and surface precipitation of uranyl on goethite.

The sorption of uranium on mineral surfaces can significantly influence the fate and transport of uranium contamination in soils and groundwater. The rates of uranium adsorption and desorption on a synthetic goethite have been evaluated in batch experiments conducted at constant pH of 6 and ionic strength of 0.1 M. Adsorption and desorption reactions following the perturbation of initial states were complete within minutes to hours. Surface-solution exchange rates as measured by an isotope exchange method occur on an even shorter time scale. Although the uranium desorption rate was unaffected by the aging of uranium-goethite suspensions, the aging process appears to remove a portion of adsorbed uranium from a readily exchangeable pool. The distinction between sorption control and precipitation control of the dissolved uranium concentration was also investigated. In heterogeneous nucleation experiments, the dissolved uranium concentration was ultimately controlled by the solubility of a precipitated uranyl oxide hydrate. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the precipitate is characteristic of the mineral schoepite. Precipitation is kinetically hindered at low degrees of supersaturation. In one experiment, metastable sorption controlled dissolved uranium concentrations in excess of the solubility limit for more than 30 d.