Metallic isotope-ratios are an indicator of water quality and can be used to distinguish bodies of water. The isotopic ratios in surface water can change due to effects from industries such as coal mining or hydraulic fracturing, and the metallic isotope-ratios are so different for each industry (0.7101-0.7121 for areas affected by fracking and 0.7199-0.7209 for areas affected by coal mining) that they can easily be differentiated from one another. This project describes an analysis of surface and well water samples from NW and NE Ohio for Sr-87 and Sr-86 isotopes where the NE geographical locations represent samples from where hydraulic fracturing occurs. Metals, like Sr, can be found free in water but can also be found in complexes or bound to particulates which must be digested in order to be detected. Samples will be analyzed following metal and particulate digestion techniques utilizing ICP-MS. Interpretation of isotopic ratios to distinguish relative water quality will be presented for the geographical areas of NW Ohio (Seneca County) and NE Ohio (Trumbull County) which should have a Sr-87/Sr-86 ratio between 0.7080-0.7150 according to Ohio’s bedrock geology if not affected by industry. Ratios between 0.7150-0.7121 will suggest effects from the fracking industry. Values smaller than 0.7080 would suggest unaffected water and values above 0.7121 would suggest potential coal mining influence.

Analyzing Sr isotopic ratios in surface and well water sources in northern Ohio

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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