Spatial Variations in Tap Water Isotopes Across Canada: Tracing Water
from Precipitation to Distribution and Assess Regional Water Resources
Abstract
With global warming and increasing water use, tap water resources need
sustainable management. We used hydrogen and oxygen isotope measurements
(𝛿2H and 𝛿18O) to identify issues associated with tap water resources in
Canada. We analyzed 576 summer tap samples collected from across Canada
and 76 tap samples from three cities during different seasons and years.
We classified the samples based on their sources: groundwater
(TapGroundwater), river (TapRiver) and lake (TapLake). 𝛿2H in tap water
correlates strongly with values predicted for local precipitation across
Canada with a stronger correlation for TapGroundwater and TapRiver than
for TapLake. We then constructed water balance models to predict the 𝛿2H
of surface water across Canada, and validated it against Canadian river
water 𝛿2H data. 𝛿2H in tap water correlates strongly with values
predicted for surface water across Canada with a stronger correlation
for TapRiver and TapLake than for TapGroundwater. TapGroundwater 𝛿2H
values reflect the 𝛿2H of annually averaged precipitation, whereas
TapRiver and TapLake 𝛿2H values reflect post-precipitation processes. We
used the 𝛿2H residuals between the observed and predicted 𝛿2H values to
assess regional processes influencing tap water 𝛿2H values across
Canada. Regionally, snow/glacier melt contributes to all tap sources
around the Rockies. Tap waters are highly evaporated across Western
Canada, irrespective of their sources. In the Great Lakes and East Coast
regions, tap waters are evaporated in many localities, particularly
those using surface reservoirs and lakes. This study provides baselines
for isotopic monitoring of tap water resources and forensic studies in
Canada.