QA issues for site hydrochemical data used for groundwater evolution models

Sasamoto, Hiroshi   ; Yui, Mikazu; Savage, D.*; Bille, B.*

Groundwater data used for modelling site or repository evolution need to be assessed for their quality and whether they are "fit for purpose", prior to utilization. This report discuss factors and issues which impinge upon the quality of such data. It is recommended that geochemical modelleres : (1)are aware of how groundwater samples were collected, whether during drilling, during hydraulic testing, or thereafter, by in-situ measurement, pumped from boreholes, or by pressurised sampler ; (2)are aware of what procedures (if any) were used to "correct" samples for drill fluid contamination and what errors were associated with those methods ; (3)are aware of whether samples were subject to de-pressurisation during sampling, and whether geochemical modelling techniques were applied to correct the compositions of samples for that process ; (4)request different measures of redox activity (e.g., electrode measurements of Eh, concentrations of different redox-sensitive aqueous species) to be applied to key groundwater samples to investigate the extent of redox equilibrium ; (5)are aware of how groundwater samples were filtered and preserved for off-site analysis ; (6)ensure that adequate methods of groundwater filtration ( 0.1m) and chemical analysis are applied to ensure accurate and reproducible analyses for dissolved aluminum at low levels of concentration (generally less than 0.2 mg/L) ; (7)are aware of elemental errors and detection limits in chemical analysis of groundwater samples and assess the quality of groundwater analyses via ion exchange balances and via a comparison of measured and calculated values for total dissolved solids contents. (8)ensure that detailed mineralogical analysis is carried out on rock samples from locations where key groundwater samples have been extracted.