1. DYE TRACING FUNDAMENTALS
Ralph O. Ewers, Ph.D.
Peter J. Idstein, M.S.

2. DYE TRACING FUNDAMENTALS
Questions Answered By Tracing
Where are the groundwater basin
boundaries ?
Where does the water go ?
How long does it take to
get there ?
What happens along
the way ?

3. DYE TRACING FUNDAMENTALS
Monitoring Locations
and Reconnaissance
Background Determination
Dye Injection
Dye Monitoring
Dye Analyses

4. Fluorescent Dyes

5. Dye Properties Non-Toxic Soluble in water – thus easy to introduce
Unmistakably detectable at extremely low concentrations
Durable in the aquifer environment
Easily quantified
A proven record of use in karst aquifers
Inexpensive to obtain and analyze

6. Activated Carbon Dye Receptors

7. Monitoring Locations Springs Streams Cave Streams and Karst Windows
Production/Domestic Wells
Monitoring Wells

8. A Typical Monitoring Scheme

9. Reconnaissance Essentials
Search for springs along streams surrounding the site.
Search for springs in stream valleys across the adjacent divide from the site.
Select stream monitoring sites to insure that hidden springs will be monitored.
Look for streams in caves.
Assess nearby wells of all types.
Look for dye introduction points that bracket the site.

10. A Typical Monitoring Scheme
24 Springs
19 Stream Locations
3 Domestic Wells
6 Monitoring Wells

11. Dye Background Determination
One week exposure for dye receptors (typical)

12. Dye Background Determination
One week exposure for dye receptors (typical)
Two sampling rounds (exchanges) are usual

13. Dye Background Determination
One week exposure for dye receptors (typical)
Two sampling rounds (exchanges) are usual
Analyze for all potentially useful fluorescent dyes

14. Dye Background Determination
One week exposure for dye receptors (typical)
Two sampling rounds (exchanges) are usual
Analyze for all potentially useful fluorescent dyes
Choose the dye to be used for tracing based upon dye background and dye properties

15. Dye Injection
Sinking Stream

16. Dye Injection
Backhoe Trench

17. Dye Injection
Sinkhole

18. Dye Injection
Well

19. Don’t pour it in like this
Dye Injection via Well
Don’t pour it in like this

20. Because when you add the necessary water……
Dye Injection via Well
Because when you add the necessary water……

21. Dye Injection via Well
You will get this !

22. Dye Injection via Well
Stagnant Dye Mass

23. Well Injection System

24. Dye Injection via Well
The Tremi Method
Tremi Tube

25. Dye Injection via Well
Tremi Tube
Upward Flush
With Potable Water

26. Dye Injection via Well Tremi Tube Downward Flush With Potable Water
Upward Flush
With Potable Water

27. Dye Monitoring

28. Dye Monitoring

29. Dye Monitoring
Always exchange dye receptors NEVER remove them

30. Dye Monitoring Always exchange dye receptors NEVER remove them
Typical intervals are weekly or bi-weekly

31. Dye Monitoring Always exchange dye receptors NEVER remove them
Typical intervals are weekly or bi-weekly
Disposable gloves are typically worn

32. Dye Monitoring Always exchange dye receptors NEVER remove them
Typical intervals are weekly or bi-weekly
Disposable gloves are typically worn
Transport of dye receptors is by express at ambient temperature

33. Dye Monitoring Always exchange dye receptors NEVER remove them
Typical intervals are weekly or bi-weekly
Disposable gloves are typically worn
Transport of dye receptors is by express at ambient temperature
Water samples are often used to provide additional custody assurance

34. Dye Analyses
Synchronous spectrofluorophotometry is the standard analytical technique

35. Dye Analyses
Synchronous spectrofluorophotometry is the standard analytical technique
Modern instruments provide part-per-trillion sensitivity for fluorescent dyes

36. Dye Analyses
Synchronous spectrofluorophotometry is the standard analytical technique
Modern instruments provide part-per-trillion sensitivity for fluorescent dyes
Activated carbon dye receptors provide 400 to 1000 fold increase in dye concentration relative to the concentration in the ambient water

37. Dye Analyses Laboratory Protocol

38. Washing

39. Drying

40. Weighing

41. Elution

42. Elution

43. Analysis

44. Analysis

45. Analysis

49. There’s No Truth Like TRACER Truth
Quinlan, 85

50. End
Part 3