Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID NE_2023_Westrop

Metal Oxide precipitates on irrigation center pivots as a non-invasive screening tool for redox sensitive trace metals in groundwater

Institute: Nebraska
Year Established: 2023 Start Date: 2023-09-01 End Date: 2024-08-31
Total Federal Funds: $11,299 Total Non-Federal Funds: $11,331

Principal Investigators: Jeffrey Westrop

Project Summary: The presence or absence of rust on irrigation center pivots has previously been used to qualitatively assess groundwater nitrate concentrations in central Nebraska. The possibility exists for this tool to be used to screen for other groundwater contaminants. This project will evaluate whether pivot rust can be used to determine if high or low concentrations of certain toxic metals are likely in groundwater. If successful, the results could be used to develop a rapid screening tool for groundwater chemistry.