The Wonewoc and Tunnel City: A Potential Natural Source of Groundwater Contamination in Western & Central Wisconsin

Home / Research / The Wonewoc and Tunnel City: A Potential Natural Source of Groundwater Contamination in Western & Central Wisconsin
Project Number:

WR15R004

Funding Year:

2015

Contract Period:

7/1/2015 - 6/30/2016

Funding Source:

UWS

Investigator(s):
PIs:
  • James Zambito, Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey
  • Lisa Haas , Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, UW-Madison, Dept. of Geosciences
  • Michael Parsen, Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey
  • Patrick McLaughlin, Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey
Abstract:

Background/Need:
Preliminary data suggests that the rocks of the Wonewoc Formation and the overlying Tunnel City Group are a potential natural source for groundwater contamination across west and central Wisconsin, contributing high levels of aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, manganese, nickel, vanadium, and zinc that are above the advised levels for consumption, and additionally, lowering groundwater pH.
Objectives:
This research compiled geochemical and mineralogical data for the Wonewoc-Tunnel City contact interval that will provides a baseline for future research and regulations focused on mitigating this potential regional health hazard. More specifically, we characterized the elemental composition and mineralogy of rocks comprising the Wonewoc-Tunnel City contact interval from throughout Wisconsin using samples from drill core, outcrops, and well cuttings.

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