Tracer testing systems and methods

Abstract

Systems and methods may initiate the testing process to measure contaminants in the water, for example, by adding the tracer solution (e.g., as a gas) to a water system absent releasing the tracer solution into the surrounding environment during the testing process, then removing the tracer solution to a container after the testing process is complete. The amount of tracer solution that remains in the water system can be compared with a predicted concentration value determined by a model. In some examples, an action may be initiated based on the difference between the measured value and the predicted value.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for testing a tracer solution in a water supply using wellfield sites comprising:
 initiating a testing process that adds the tracer solution at a first well coupled to a membrane, wherein the first well corresponds with an injection well and the membrane injects the tracer solution absent bubbling the tracer solution to an environment;   determining an actual value of the tracer solution collected at a second well, wherein the second well is a monitoring well; and   comparing a difference between the tracer solution added at the first well and the actual value of the tracer solution collected at the second well, wherein the difference is compared to a predicted concentration value determined by a model.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is implemented by a wellfield management system, and the wellfield management system comprises:
 a plurality of groundwater wells;   a plurality of field instruments, each associated with one or more of the plurality of groundwater wells;   a plurality of remote terminal units, each in communication with one or more of the plurality of field instruments;   a plurality of remote terminal unit communications systems, each in communication with one or more of the remote terminal units; and   a SCADA communications system in communication with the plurality of remote terminal unit communications systems.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 when the difference exceeds a threshold value, initiating an action associated with the testing process.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tracer solution is injected into a first well associated with a water basin, and the tracer solution is collected at a second well after it passes the water basin. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tracer solution is injected into a first well associated with an infiltration gallery. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predicted concentration value determined by the model that predicts the tracer solution that remains in a water system after a time or distance from the injection well. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tracer solution is a sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6 ) gas. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tracer solution absent bubbling the tracer solution to the environment is performed by adding the tracer solution to a slug of water that is injected and pressurized to maintain the tracer solution in the first well. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane is used to dissolve the tracer solution and send the tracer solution back into a pipe that accesses the water supply. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane maintains the tracer solution under pressure to prevent the tracer solution from being released as a gas into the environment. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane adds the tracer solution to the water supply at a first wellfield site and removes and measures the tracer solution at a second wellfield site. 
     
     
         12 . A system for testing a tracer solution in a water supply using wellfield sites comprising a device to:
 initiate a testing process that adds the tracer solution at a first well coupled to a membrane, wherein the first well corresponds with an injection well and the membrane injects the tracer solution absent bubbling the tracer solution to an environment;   determine an actual value of the tracer solution collected at a second well, wherein the second well is a monitoring well; and   compare a difference between the tracer solution added at the first well and the actual value of the tracer solution collected at the second well, wherein the difference is compared to a predicted concentration value determined by a model.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the system is a wellfield management system, and the wellfield management system comprises:
 a plurality of groundwater wells;   a plurality of field instruments, each associated with one or more of the plurality of groundwater wells;   a plurality of remote terminal units, each in communication with one or more of the plurality of field instruments;   a plurality of remote terminal unit communications systems, each in communication with one or more of the remote terminal units; and   a SCADA communications system in communication with the plurality of remote terminal unit communications systems.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the device is further to:
 when the difference exceeds a threshold value, initiate an action associated with the testing process.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the tracer solution is injected into a first well associated with a water basin, and the tracer solution is collected at a second well after it passes the water basin. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the tracer solution is injected into a first well associated with an infiltration gallery. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the predicted concentration value determined by the model that predicts the tracer solution that remains in a water system after a time or distance from the injection well. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the tracer solution is a sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6 ) gas. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the tracer solution absent bubbling the tracer solution to the environment is performed by adding the tracer solution to a slug of water that is injected and pressurized to maintain the tracer solution in the first well. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the membrane is used to dissolve the tracer solution and send the tracer solution back into a pipe that accesses the water supply.