Hydrologic and geochemical drivers of aluminum, barium, and copper in two drinking water reservoirs in Southwestern Virginia, USA

Abstract

The water quality of drinking water reservoirs is critical for human and ecosystem health. In this study, we examined the drivers of three metals, aluminum (Al), barium (Ba), and copper (Cu), across two drinking water reservoirs in southwestern Virginia, USA, over 4 years. One reservoir has a hypolimnetic oxygenation system; the other does not. We used time series modeling and multivariate analysis of water column chemistry, suspended sediment, inflow, and precipitation data to assess the relative roles of hydrologic and geochemical drivers of metal behaviors in the two reservoirs. Results suggest that Al concentrations were primarily influenced by high-flow events, consistent with the mobilization of clays from physical weathering. In contrast, Ba showed stronger sensitivity to geochemical drivers, specifically redox conditions. Drivers of Cu behavior were obscured by low Cu concentrations. For all metals, patterns varied among years. Our findings highlight the importance of long-term monitoring and integrated approaches to evaluate the drivers of metal dynamics in reservoir ecosystems and inform strategies for maintaining safe drinking water supplies.