Dissolved Pb in 32 wells associated with corroding submersible pumps is examined within a rural water district after almost
20 years (1984–2002). Groundwater Pb ranged from 0.4–24.9 μg L
−1 after 24 h pump flushing. Preliminary geochemistry and representative borehole lithology examinations were extrapolated by
Markov chain modeling. The first-order geostatistical realizations of glacial sediments coupled with the Monte Carlo Metropolis-Hasting
method suggest that elevated trace Pb persists in sand and gravel units, and continues at least to 40 m depth in the catchment.
The
207Pb/
206Pb and
208Pb/
206Pb isotope compositions of groundwater Pb were decisive in discriminating the importance of leached Pb from submersible pump
materials among geogenic sources.
Keywords Lead isotope - Drinking water - Groundwater wells - Geostatistics - Catchment - Maine