This study aimed to develop and improve upon analytical methods and sampling techniques for detecting oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) seepage from mining containments and discriminating any seepage from the natural bitumen background in groundwaters influenced by the Alberta McMurray formation. Two groups of monoaromatic acids were analyzed that showed significant enrichment in OSPW, while O2/O4 ratios and acid extractable organics (AEOs) did not. A secondary objective was to assess anthropogenically derived artificial sweeteners and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as potential tracers for OSPW.
All data are a part subject of a publication containing method details, full QA/QC, interpretations and conclusions: Hewitt, L. M., Roy, J. W., Rowland, S. J., Bickerton, G., DeSilva, A., Headley, J. V., Milestone, C. B., Scarlett, A. G., Brown, S., Spencer, C., West, C. E., Peru, K. M., Grapentine, L., Ahad, J. M. E., Pakdel, H., & Frank, R. A. (2020). Advances in Distinguishing Groundwater Influenced by Oil Sands Process-Affected Water (OSPW) from Natural Bitumen-Influenced Groundwaters. Environmental science & technology, 54(3), 1522–1532. doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b05040