The quality of our nation's waters: water quality in the Principal Aquifers of the Piedmont, Blue Ridge, and Valley and Ridge regions, eastern United States, 1993-2009
Links
- More information: USGS Index Page
- Documents:
- Appendix: Appendix 3 (1.3 MB pdf) Table A3–1. Physical properties and constituents analyzed Table A3–2. Pesticides analyzed Table A3–3. Volatile organic compounds analyzed
- Companion File: Data archive (65 kB)
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
The aquifers of the Piedmont, Blue Ridge, and Valley and Ridge regions underlie an area with a population of more than 40 million people in 10 states. The suburban and rural population is large, growing rapidly, and increasingly dependent on groundwater as a source of supply, with more than 550 million gallons per day withdrawn from domestic wells for household use. Water from some of these aquifers does not meet human-health benchmarks for drinking water for contaminants with geologic or human sources. Water from samples in crystalline- and siliciclastic-rock aquifers frequently exceeded standards for contaminants with geologic sources, and samples in carbonate-rock aquifers frequently exceeded standards for contaminants with human sources, most often nitrate and bacteria.
Major Findings
- Many contaminants in groundwater have geologic sources, but geochemical conditions control whether or not those contaminants dissolve and move through groundwater
- Concentrations of nitrate and bacteria—the main drinking-water contaminants with human sources—were high in carbonate-rock aquifers and frequently exceeded human-health benchmarks
- Large contributions of nitrate and phosphorus from groundwater to streams have a negative effect on ecological health of estuaries, such as the Chesapeake Bay and Albemarle-Pamlico Sound
Study Area
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | The quality of our nation's waters: water quality in the Principal Aquifers of the Piedmont, Blue Ridge, and Valley and Ridge regions, eastern United States, 1993-2009 |
| Series title | Circular |
| Series number | 1354 |
| DOI | 10.3133/cir1354 |
| Year Published | 2015 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Publisher location | Reston, VA |
| Contributing office(s) | National Water Quality Assessment Program |
| Description | Report: viii, 107 p.; Report low resolution; Appendix; Data archive |
| Public Comments | National Water-Quality Assessment Program |
| Time Range Start | 1993-01-01 |
| Time Range End | 2009-12-31 |
| Country | United States |
| Other Geospatial | Piedmont, Blue Ridge, Valley and Ridge regions |
| Online Only (Y/N) | N |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | Y |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |