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Comparison of Water Quality in Shallow Groundwater Near Agricultural Areas in the Delaware Coastal Plain, 2014 and 2019

Scientific Investigations Report 2024-5076
Prepared in cooperation with Delaware Department of Agriculture and the Delaware Geological Survey
By: , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20245076

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Abstract

The State of Delaware has encouraged agricultural conservation practices to improve nutrient uptake by crops and mitigate nutrient transport to groundwater in the surficial aquifer. To study recent changes in groundwater quality, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) developed a network of shallow wells near agricultural areas throughout the Delaware Coastal Plain. This network was designed to characterize water quality related to agricultural practices and to detect any recent changes in shallow groundwater quality, in particular groundwater nitrate concentrations. The shallow well network was first sampled in 2014 and resampled in 2019. In 2019, field parameters (including dissolved oxygen, pH, specific conductance, and temperature), major ions, nutrients, stable isotopes of water, and isotopes of nitrate were measured in groundwater samples collected between October and December. Wells were organized into three groups based on their geochemical characteristics measured in 2014: the Agricultural, Urban, and Mixed Groups. Results from the 2019 sampling showed little change in water quality from the 2014 sampling. Land-use factors continued to be the driving influence between groups. Groundwater moves slowly and changes in groundwater quality are likely to respond slowly to changes in conservation practices. Continued sampling of both groundwater quality in this network and monitoring land management practices can help detect groundwater quality trends in the future.

Suggested Citation

Soroka, A.M., Reyes, B., Fleming, B., and Brownley, M., 2024, Comparison of water quality in shallow groundwater near agricultural areas in the Delaware Coastal Plain, 2014 and 2019: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2024–5076, 23 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20245076.

ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgements
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Purpose and Scope
  • Description of Study Area
  • Method of Study
  • Comparison of Water Quality in Shallow Groundwater, 2015 and 2019
  • Summary and Conclusions
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Comparison of water quality in shallow groundwater near agricultural areas in the Delaware Coastal Plain, 2014 and 2019
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2024-5076
DOI 10.3133/sir20245076
Year Published 2024
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia Water Science Center
Description viii, 23 p.
Country United States
State Delaware
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details