[en] The municipal and industrial use of groundwater at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and Los Alamos County was about 1.5 billion gallons during 1986. From a total of 19 wells that range in age from 5 to 41 years, the water was pumped from 3 well fields. The life expectancy of a well in the area ranges from 30 to 50 years, dependent on the well construction and rate of corrosion of the casing and screen. Twelve of the wells are more than 30-years old and, of these, four cannot be used for production, three because of well damage and one because the quality of water is not suitable for use. Eight of the twelve oldest wells are likely to be unsuitable for use in the next 10 years because of well deterioration and failure. The remaining 7 wells include 2 that are likely to fail in the next 20 years. Five of the younger wells in the Pajarito well field are in good condition and should serve for another two or three decades. The program of maintenance and rehabilitation of pumps and wells has extended production capabilities for short periods of time. Pumps may be effectively repaired or replaced; however, rehabilitation of the well is only a short-term correction to increase the yield before it starts to decline again. The two main factors that prevent successful well rehabilitation are: (1) chemicals precipitated in the gravel pack and screen restrict or reduce the entrance of water to the well, which reduces the yield of the well, and (2) the screen and casing become corroded to a point of losing structural strength and subsequent failure allows the gravel pack and formation sand to enter the well. Both factors are due to long-term use and result in extensive damage to the pump and reduce the depth of the well, which in turn causes the yield to decline. Once such well damage occurs, rehabilitation is unlikely to be successful and the ultimate result is loss of the well. Two wells were lost in 1987 because of such damage. 29 refs., 15 figs., 15 tabs

[en] Monitoring of the discharge water from the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility lagoons continued during June and December of 1983. The list of radionuclides being monitoring includes ⁷Be, ⁵⁷Co, ¹³⁴Cs, ³H, ⁵⁴Mn, ²²Na, and ⁸³Rb. The sampling locations and the data obtained to date are presented. Movement of radionuclides around the lagoons has been described in a previous report. 1 reference, 1 table

No abstract available

No abstract available

[en] Hundreds of holes have been drilled into the Pajarito Plateau and surrounding test areas of the Los Alamos National Laboratory since the end of World War II. They range in depth from a few feet to more than 14,000 ft. The holes were drilled to provide geologic, hydrologic, and engineering information related to development of a water supply, to provide data on the likelihood or presence of subsurface contamination from hazardous and nuclear materials, and for engineering design for construction. The data contained in this report provide a basis for further investigations into the consequences of our past, present, and future interactions with the environment

[en] The Los Alamos water supply for 1977 consisted of 1474 x 10⁶ gal from wells in three fields and 57 x 10⁶ gal from the gallery in Water Canyon. The production from the well fields was at its lowest volume since 1970. Water-level trends were as anticipated under current production practices. Well rehabilitation should be continued to ensure an adequate and reliable supply from wells that are 10 to over 25 yr old

No abstract available

[en] A series of experiments involving high explosives and radioactive materials were conducted at Los Alamos, New Mexico, primarily to understand certain safety aspects of operational nuclear weapons. The experiments were conducted underground in large diameter holes as deep as 120 ft. The location was selected because it had geologic and hydrologic characteristics that assured complete containment of the experiments and precluded any possible contamination of groundwater. Important features verified by the USGS included the absence of any recharge and about 1200 feet of dry rock above the groundwater aquifer. Residual materials dispersed by detonation of the high explosives remain at the bottom of the experimental holes. The materials of significance from an environmental standpoint include about 40 kg of plutonium, 93 kg of enriched uranium, at least 82 kg of depleted uranium, 13 kg of beryllium, and an undetermined amount of lead. Environmental monitoring has been carried out regularly since the time of the experiments. Results of measurements confirm that there has been no contamination of groundwater. Minor surface soil contamination dating from the time of the experimental operations has been detected in small surface drainages near the experimental area. None of the surface contamination has been measurable at Laboratory boundaries or points of public access on a state highway. 14 refs., 8 figs

No abstract available

[en] In 1956, Area G was designated for the disposal of solid radioactive waste ranging from potentially contaminated rubber gloves and glassware to parts of obsolete buildings and equipment that cannot be decontaminated. Pit 26 was constructed in Area G during 1983. Data indicate that the pit is in compliance with the guidelines issued by the US Geological Survey in 1965 and the revised guidelines reissued in 1980 by the Waste Management Group and Environmental Surveillance Group of the Los Alamos National Laboratory. 4 references, 1 figure