Rivera-De Hoyos, Vilda L.

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Relationship assessment between contamination of groundwater ant tap water in Karst systems
(2018) Rivera-De Hoyos, Vilda L.; Padilla-Cestero, Ingrid Y.; College of Engineering; Macchiavelli, Raúl E.; Tarafa Vélez, Pedro J.; Department of Civil Engineering; Huérfano Moreno, Víctor A.
Karst groundwater systems are a significant source of drinking water, but also are highly vulnerable to contamination.Contamination may reach tap water and pose potential threat to public health. This study aims at determining the link between groundwater and tap water contamination in the northern karst region of Puerto Rico. The study focuses on Chlorinated Volatile Organic Compounds (CVOCs) and phthalates due to their ubiquitous presence in the environment and potential for health impacts. Water quality data in groundwater and tap water is collected from historical records and field measurements, and analyzed statistically and spatially. Results show that contamination in groundwater with CVOCs is more extensive than with phthalates. Except for trichloromethane (TCM), CVOCs are more frequently detected in groundwater, whereas phthalates and TCM show higher detection in tap water. Results show that groundwater contamination is reaching tap water sources, but the amount reaching these sources is contaminant-dependent.