This study is an evaluation of the potential environmental impacts of contaminated groundwater from the ASARCO metals refining facility adjacent to the Missouri River in Omaha, Nebraska. Surface waters, sediments, and sediment pore waters were collected from the Burt-Izard drain, which transects the facility, and from the Missouri River adjacent to the facility. Groundwater was also collected from the facility. Waters and sediments were analyzed for inorganic contaminants, and the toxicity of the waters was evaluated with the Ceriodaphnia dubia 7-day test. Concentrations of several elemental contaminants were highly elevated in the groundwater, but not in river sediment pore waters. Lead concentrations were moderately elevated in whole sediment at one site, but lead concentrations in pore waters were low due to apparent sequestration by acid-volatile sulfides. The groundwater sample was highly toxic to C. dubia, causing 100% mortality. Even at the lowest groundwater concentration tested (6.25%) C. dubia survival was reduced; however, at that concentration, reproduction was not significantly different from upstream porewater reference samples. Sediment pore waters were not toxic, except reproduction in pore water collected from one downstream site was somewhat reduced. The decrease in reproduction could not be attributed to measured elemental contaminants.
","language":"English","publisher":"U.S. Geological Survey","publisherLocation":"Reston, VA","usgsCitation":"Chapman, D., Allert, A., Fairchild, J.F., May, T.W., Schmitt, C.J., and Callahan, E.V., 2001, Toxicity and bioavailability of metals in the Missouri River adjacent to a lead refinery: Biological Science Report 2001-0004, iii, 27 p.","productDescription":"iii, 27 p.","numberOfPages":"27","onlineOnly":"N","additionalOnlineFiles":"N","costCenters":[{"id":192,"text":"Columbia Environmental Research Center","active":true,"usgs":true}],"links":[{"id":177474,"rank":0,"type":{"id":24,"text":"Thumbnail"},"url":"https://pubs.usgs.gov/bsr/2001/0004/coverthb.jpg"},{"id":4721,"rank":300,"type":{"id":11,"text":"Document"},"url":"https://pubs.usgs.gov/bsr/2001/0004/bsr20010004.pdf","text":"Report","size":"646 KB","linkFileType":{"id":1,"text":"pdf"},"description":"BSR 2001-0004"}],"country":"United States","state":"Nebraska","city":"Omaha","otherGeospatial":"Missouri River","geographicExtents":"{\n \"type\": \"FeatureCollection\",\n \"features\": [\n {\n \"type\": \"Feature\",\n \"properties\": {},\n \"geometry\": {\n \"type\": \"Polygon\",\n \"coordinates\": [\n [\n [\n -95.93381881713866,\n 41.24167453726628\n ],\n [\n -95.90686798095702,\n 41.24167453726628\n ],\n [\n -95.90686798095702,\n 41.277483949306315\n ],\n [\n -95.93381881713866,\n 41.277483949306315\n ],\n [\n -95.93381881713866,\n 41.24167453726628\n ]\n ]\n ]\n }\n }\n ]\n}","contact":"Columbia Environmental Research Center
U.S. Geological Survey
4200 New Haven Road
Columbia, MO 65201
Most residents in Geauga County, Ohio, rely on ground water as their primary source of drinking water. With population growing at a steady rate, the possibility that human activity will affect ground-water quality becomes considerable. This report presents the results of a study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Geauga County Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners, to provide a brief synopsis of work previously done within the county, to assess the present (1999) ground-water quality, and to determine any changes in groundwater quality between 1986 and 1999.
Previous studies of ground-water quality in the county have consistently reported that manganese and iron concentrations in ground water in Geauga County often exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level (SMCL). Road salt and, less commonly, oil-field brines and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been found in ground water at isolated locations. Nitrate has not been detected above the USEPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 10 milligrams per liter as N; however, nitrate has been found in some locations at levels that may indicate the effects of fertilizer application or effluent from septic systems.
Between June 7 and July 1, 1999, USGS personnel collected a total of 31 water-quality samples from wells completed in glacial deposits, the Pottsville Formation, the Cuyahoga Group, and the Berea Sandstone. All samples were analyzed for VOCs, sulfide, dissolved organic carbon, major ions, trace elements, alkalinity, total coliforms, and Escherichia coli bacteria. Fourteen of the samples also were analyzed for tritium.
Water-quality data were used to determine (1) suitability of water for drinking, (2) age of ground water, (3) stratigraphic variation in water quality, (4) controls on water quality, and (5) temporal variation in water quality.
Water from 16 of the 31 samples exceeded the Geauga County General Health District’s standard of 0 colonies of total coliform bacteria per 100 milliliters of water. Esthetically based SMCLs were exceeded in the indicated number of wells for pH (8), sulfate (1), dissolved solids (3), iron (19), and manganese (18). Hydrogen sulfide was detected at or above the detection limit of 0.01 milligram per liter in 17 of the 31 water samples.
A range of water types was found among and within the four principal stratigraphic units. The waters can be categorized in three groups based on predominant anion type: bicarbonatetype waters, chloride-type waters, and sulfatetype waters.
Chloride-to-bromide ratio analyses indicate that water from 8 of the 31 wells is in some way affected by human activity. Five other samples were in a chloride-to-bromide ratio range that could indicate possible effects of human activity.
Ground-water-quality data from the current study were compared to data collected in 1986. Statistical analyses of data from the 16 wells that were sampled in both years did not indicate any significant changes that could be attributed to human activity.
","language":"English","publisher":"U.S. Geological Survey","publisherLocation":"Reston, VA","doi":"10.3133/wri014160","collaboration":"Prepared in cooperation with the Geauga County Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners","usgsCitation":"Jagucki, M.L., and Darner, R.A., 2001, Ground-water quality in Geauga County, Ohio — Review of previous studies, status in 1999, and comparison of 1986 and 1999 data: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 2001–4160, vi, 61 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/wri014160.","productDescription":"vi, 61 p.","numberOfPages":"66","onlineOnly":"Y","additionalOnlineFiles":"N","costCenters":[{"id":513,"text":"Ohio Water Science Center","active":true,"usgs":true}],"links":[{"id":3928,"rank":100,"type":{"id":11,"text":"Document"},"url":"https://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/2001/4160/wri20014160.pdf","text":"Report","size":"3.42 MB","linkFileType":{"id":1,"text":"pdf"},"description":"WRI 2001-4160"},{"id":394541,"rank":3,"type":{"id":36,"text":"NGMDB Index Page"},"url":"https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Prodesc/proddesc_44936.htm"},{"id":168977,"rank":0,"type":{"id":24,"text":"Thumbnail"},"url":"https://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/2001/4160/coverthb2.jpg"}],"country":"United States","state":"Ohio","county":"Geauga County","geographicExtents":"{\n \"type\": \"FeatureCollection\",\n \"features\": [\n {\n \"type\": \"Feature\",\n \"properties\": {},\n \"geometry\": {\n \"type\": \"Polygon\",\n \"coordinates\": [\n [\n [\n -81.393,\n 41.348\n ],\n [\n -81.002,\n 41.348\n ],\n [\n -81.002,\n 41.715\n ],\n [\n -81.393,\n 41.715\n ],\n [\n -81.393,\n 41.348\n ]\n ]\n ]\n }\n }\n ]\n}","contact":"Director, Ohio Water Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
6460 Busch Blvd.
Columbus, OH 43229-1737
Data on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in drinking water supplied by community water systems (CWSs) are available for 12 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States from 1993-98. The data are from 2,110 CWSs representing a 20 percent random selection of the total 10,749 active CWSs in the region. The data were collected for compliance monitoring under the Safe Drinking Water Act from both surface-and ground-water sources and largely represent samples of finished drinking water collected prior to distribution. Overall, 39 percent of the 2,110 randomly selected CWSs reported a detection of one or more VOCs at or above 1.0 μg/L (micrograms per liter).
Although differences in analytical coverage complicate comparisons, in the 1,543 CWSs with THM data at or above 1.0 μg/L, 42 percent reported an occurrence of one or more THMs. The common detection of THMs in finished drinking water probably is related to their formation through the chlorination of drinking-water supplies. Comparatively, solvents, the next most frequently detected VOC group, were reported in 9.8 percent of 2,097 CWSs with solvent data at or above 1.0 μg/L, and gasoline components were detected in 9.0 percent of 2,098 CWSs with data at or above 1.0 μg/L.
Individually, the THMs—chloroform, bromodichloromethane, chlorodibromomethane, and bromoform—were the most frequently detected VOCs ranging from 33 to 8 percent. The most frequently detected non-THM compound was methyl tert-butyl ether, which was identified in 8 percent of CWSs. Of the 2,110 randomly selected CWSs, 6 percent had at least one sample with one or more VOCs with a concentration above a Maximum Contaminant Level, Health Advisory, or Drinking-Water Advisory.
VOCs were more frequently detected in drinking water from systems that are supplied by surface-water sources, or both surface-and ground-water sources, than in systems that are supplied exclusively by ground water, and from systems serving very large and large populations (serving <3,300 people) compared to systems serving medium and small populations (serving <3,300 people).
","language":"English","publisher":"U.S. Geological Survey","publisherLocation":"Reston, VA","doi":"10.3133/fs08901","collaboration":"National Water Quality Assessment Program, National Synthesis on Volatile Organic Compounds in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water","usgsCitation":"Moran, M.J., Grady, S.J., and Zogorski, J.S., 2001, Occurrence and distribution of volatile organic compounds in drinking water supplied by community water systems in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, 1993-98 (Online Version 1.0): U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 089-01, 4 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/fs08901.","productDescription":"4 p.","onlineOnly":"Y","costCenters":[{"id":34685,"text":"Dakota Water Science Center","active":true,"usgs":true}],"links":[{"id":354172,"rank":4,"type":{"id":11,"text":"Document"},"url":"https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2001/0089/fs20010089.pdf","text":"Report","size":"1.19 MB","linkFileType":{"id":1,"text":"pdf"},"description":"FS 089–01"},{"id":354171,"rank":3,"type":{"id":24,"text":"Thumbnail"},"url":"https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2001/0089/coverthb.jpg"}],"edition":"Online Version 1.0","contact":"Director, Dakota Water Science Center, South Dakota Office
U.S. Geological Survey
1608 Mountain View Road
Rapid City, SD 57702
Industrial activities beginning in the early 1940s resulted in extensive contamination of ground water near the Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, including an area around Air Force Plant 44, an industrial facility located on land owned by the U.S. Air Force and operated by a defense contractor. Principal ground-water contaminants are volatile organic compounds, primarily trichloroethylene (also called trichloroethene) and 1,1-dichloroethylene (also called 1,1-dichloroethene). A ground- water reclamation system was put into operation in 1987 to extract and treat contaminated ground water at Air Force Plant 44 and the downgradient area that is south of Los Reales Road. The ground- water reclamation system consists of 25 extraction wells, 22 recharge wells, and a water-treatment facility. Soil-vapor extraction techniques are being used to remove volatile organic compounds from the unsaturated zone. More than 120,000 pounds of volatile organic compounds have been removed from the regional aquifer and overlying unsaturated zone at Air Force Plant 44 and adjacent downgradient areas south of Los Reales Road. Air Force Plant 44 and adjacent areas being remediated by the ground-water reclamation system are about 7 square miles.
\nTo assess ground-water cleanup progress at Air Force Plant 44 and surrounding areas south of Los Reales Road, and possibly to identify areas that are resistant to cleanup attempts, ground-water samples were collected and analyzed after water levels had returned to near-equilibrium conditions following a 3-week shutdown of extraction and recharge wells. Modifications of the standard ground-water sampling procedures used at the site also were tested. The modifications included tests of a reduced-flow purging and sampling method in six monitoring wells and vertical- profile sampling in five extraction wells at the reclamation well field.
\nThe water treatment facility and all extraction and recharge wells at the reclamation well field were shut down on April 15, 1999, and water levels were allowed to recover for about 3 weeks before samples of ground water were obtained from 102 wells at Air Force Plant 44 and surrounding areas. Concentrations of trichloroethylene and 1,1-dichloroethylene were determined for samples obtained during the sitewide sampling effort. Data for 101 wells sampled in February 1999 before shutdown were compared with data obtained for wells sampled in May 1999 after shutdown. Concentrations of trichloroethylene increased in 36 wells, remained the same in 32 wells, and decreased in 33 wells. Increases in concentrations of trichloroethylene of as much as 1,476 micrograms per liter and decreases of as much as 2,292 micrograms per liter were reported after shutdown. Concentrations of trichloroethylene remained the same for the two sampling periods in wells that had concentrations that were at, or close to, the lower reporting limit (0.5 micrograms per liter) before shutdown. Net change in concentrations of trichloroethylene after shutdown on a percentage basis ranged from an increase of 1,300 percent to a decrease of 100 percent. Increases in concentrations of 1,1-dichloroethylene after shutdown of the reclamation well field of as much as 66 micrograms per liter and decreases of as much as 411.6 micro- grams per liter were reported. Concentrations of 1,1-dichloroethylene remained the same for the two sampling periods in wells that had concentrations that were at, or close to, the lower reporting limit (0.5 micrograms per liter) before shutdown. Net change in concentrations of 1,1-dichloroethylene after shutdown on a percentage basis ranged from an increase of 660 percent to a decrease of 100 percent.
\nData obtained from the water samples indicate\nthat the largest changes in concentrations of\ntrichloroethylene and 1,1-dichloroethylene\noccurred in samples collected from wells\ncompleted in the upper zone of the regional\naquifer, along the axis of the contaminant plume,\nin close proximity to previously identified\nhistorical disposal areas. Changes in contaminant\nconcentrations observed after shutdown of the well\nfield probably were the result of changes in\nground-water flow directions under nonpumping\nconditions compared with those present when the\nextraction and recharge wells were operating.\nMinimal changes occurred at the perimeter of the\nplume, which suggests that operation of the\nreclamation well field has been successful at containing the spread of the plume. New\ncontaminant-source areas were not identified\nwithin the perimeter of the plume.
\nA modification of the standard sampling\ntechnique used at Air Force Plant 44 was tested in\nsix wells. In these wells, greatly reduced flow rates\nwere used for well purging and sampling. Results\nindicate no distinct pattern of change of\ncontaminant concentrations compared with\nconcentrations in samples subsequently obtained\nusing the standard technique, and no advantage\nwas evident for using this method in routine\nsampling of the monitoring wells at Air Force\nPlant 44.
\nTemperature profiles obtained before vertical-profile\nsampling of selected wells indicate little\ntemperature variation with depth. The\ntemperature-profile information suggests that\nunder nonpumping conditions, most of the water\nenters these wells near the top of the screened\ninterval and moves downward in response to a\nhydraulic gradient in the regional aquifer. Samples\nat depths below the top of the screened interval\nprobably do not accurately represent water from\nthe adjacent sediments.
\nVertical-profile samples were obtained in five\nwells and analyzed for concentrations of\ntrichloroethylene. None of the wells showed large\nenough variation of contaminant concentrations\nwith depth to indicate that a major improvement in\nextraction efficiency could be obtained by\npumping selectively from a restricted interval.\nThe largest variation in concentrations of\ntrichloroethylene with depth that was observed\nranged from 62 micrograms per liter near the top\nof the screened interval to 42 micrograms per liter\nnear the bottom of the screened interval of one of\nthe wells. The lack of large variation is probably\nthe result of downward water flow in the casing of\nthese wells.
","language":"English","publisher":"U.S. Geological Survey","publisherLocation":"Tucson, AZ","doi":"10.3133/wri014177","collaboration":"Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Air Force","usgsCitation":"Graham, D., Allen, T., Barackman, M., DiGuiseppi, W., and Wallace, M., 2001, Trichloroethylene and 1,1-dichloroethylene concentrations in ground water after temporary shutdown of the reclamation well field at Air Force Plant 44, Tucson, Arizona, 1999: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 2001-4177, vi, 40 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/wri014177.","productDescription":"vi, 40 p.","numberOfPages":"48","costCenters":[],"links":[{"id":288417,"type":{"id":24,"text":"Thumbnail"},"url":"https://pubs.usgs.gov/thumbnails/usgs_thumb.jpg"},{"id":288416,"type":{"id":11,"text":"Document"},"url":"https://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/2001/4177/report.pdf"}],"scale":"100000","projection":"Albers Equal-Area Conic projection","country":"United States","state":"Arizona","city":"Tucson","geographicExtents":"{ \"type\": \"FeatureCollection\", \"features\": [ { \"type\": \"Feature\", \"properties\": {}, \"geometry\": { \"type\": \"Polygon\", \"coordinates\": [ [ [ -111.25,31.75 ], [ -111.25,32.5 ], [ -110.5,32.5 ], [ -110.5,31.75 ], [ -111.25,31.75 ] ] ] } } ] }","noUsgsAuthors":false,"publicationStatus":"PW","scienceBaseUri":"4f4e4affe4b07f02db697a46","contributors":{"authors":[{"text":"Graham, D. D.","contributorId":68314,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Graham","given":"D. D.","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":209728,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":1},{"text":"Allen, T.J.","contributorId":35650,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Allen","given":"T.J.","email":"","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":209726,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":2},{"text":"Barackman, M.L.","contributorId":94590,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Barackman","given":"M.L.","email":"","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":209730,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":3},{"text":"DiGuiseppi, W.H.","contributorId":42136,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"DiGuiseppi","given":"W.H.","email":"","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":209727,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":4},{"text":"Wallace, M.F.","contributorId":85883,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Wallace","given":"M.F.","email":"","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":209729,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":5}]}} ,{"id":32346,"text":"ofr01307 - 2001 - Geology, hydrology, and water quality in the vicinity of a brownfield redevelopment site in Canton, Illinois","interactions":[],"lastModifiedDate":"2012-02-02T00:09:10","indexId":"ofr01307","displayToPublicDate":"2002-05-01T00:00:00","publicationYear":"2001","noYear":false,"publicationType":{"id":18,"text":"Report"},"publicationSubtype":{"id":5,"text":"USGS Numbered Series"},"seriesTitle":{"id":330,"text":"Open-File Report","code":"OFR","onlineIssn":"2331-1258","printIssn":"0196-1497","active":true,"publicationSubtype":{"id":5}},"seriesNumber":"2001-307","title":"Geology, hydrology, and water quality in the vicinity of a brownfield redevelopment site in Canton, Illinois","docAbstract":"The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Environmental Operations, Inc., assisted in the characterization of the geology, hydrology, and water quality at a Brownfield redevelopment site in Canton, Illinois. The investigation was designed to determine if metals and organic compounds historically used in industrial operations at the site resulted in a threat to the water resources in the area. The hydraulic units of concern in the study area are the upper semiconfining unit, the sand aquifer, and the lower semiconfining unit. The upper semiconfining unit ranges from about 1 to 19 feet in thickness and is composed of silt-and clay deposits with a geometric mean vertical hydraulic conductivity of 7.1 ? 10-3 feet per day. The sand aquifer is composed of a 1 to 5.5 foot thick sand deposit and is considered the primary pathway for ground-water flow and contaminant migration from beneath the study area. The geometric mean of the horizontal hydraulic conductivity of the sand aquifer was calculated to be 1.8 feet per day. The direction of flow in the sand aquifer is to the east, south, and west, away from a ground-water ridge that underlies the center of the site. Ground-water velocity through the sand aquifer ranges from 7.3 ? 10-2 to 2.7 ? 10-1 feet per day. The lower semiconfining unit is composed of sandy silt-and-clay deposits with a geometric mean vertical hydraulic conductivity of 1.1 ? 10-3 feet per day.\r\nVolatile organic compounds were detected in ground water beneath the study area. Pesticide compounds were detected in ground water in the western part of the study area. Partial or complete degradation of some of the volatile organic and pesticide compounds is occurring in the soils and ground water beneath the study area. Concentrations of most of the metals and major cations in the ground water show some variation within the study area and may be affected by the presence of a source area, pH, oxidation-reduction potential, precipitation-dissolution reactions, and ion exchange reactions. Antimony, thallium, and 1,1-dichloroethane were detected in water samples from one well each at concentrations above their respective U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maximum contaminant levels.","language":"ENGLISH","doi":"10.3133/ofr01307","usgsCitation":"Kay, R.T., Cornue, D.B., and Ursic, J.R., 2001, Geology, hydrology, and water quality in the vicinity of a brownfield redevelopment site in Canton, Illinois: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2001-307, 32 p. , https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr01307.","productDescription":"32 p. ","costCenters":[],"links":[{"id":3327,"rank":100,"type":{"id":15,"text":"Index Page"},"url":"https://il.water.usgs.gov/pubsearch/reports.cgi/view?series=OFR&number=01-307","linkFileType":{"id":5,"text":"html"}},{"id":161191,"rank":0,"type":{"id":24,"text":"Thumbnail"},"url":"https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2001/0307/report-thumb.jpg"},{"id":60355,"rank":300,"type":{"id":11,"text":"Document"},"url":"https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2001/0307/report.pdf","linkFileType":{"id":1,"text":"pdf"}}],"noUsgsAuthors":false,"publicationStatus":"PW","scienceBaseUri":"4f4e4ac9e4b07f02db67c6a1","contributors":{"authors":[{"text":"Kay, Robert T. 0000-0002-6281-8997 rtkay@usgs.gov","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6281-8997","contributorId":1122,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Kay","given":"Robert","email":"rtkay@usgs.gov","middleInitial":"T.","affiliations":[{"id":344,"text":"Illinois Water Science Center","active":true,"usgs":true}],"preferred":true,"id":208328,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":1},{"text":"Cornue, David B.","contributorId":107751,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Cornue","given":"David","email":"","middleInitial":"B.","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":208330,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":2},{"text":"Ursic, James R.","contributorId":14863,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Ursic","given":"James","email":"","middleInitial":"R.","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":208329,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":3}]}} ,{"id":31556,"text":"ofr01327 - 2001 - Occurrence and distribution of selected contaminants in public drinking-water supplies in the surficial aquifer in Delaware","interactions":[],"lastModifiedDate":"2012-02-02T00:09:06","indexId":"ofr01327","displayToPublicDate":"2002-04-01T00:00:00","publicationYear":"2001","noYear":false,"publicationType":{"id":18,"text":"Report"},"publicationSubtype":{"id":5,"text":"USGS Numbered Series"},"seriesTitle":{"id":330,"text":"Open-File Report","code":"OFR","onlineIssn":"2331-1258","printIssn":"0196-1497","active":true,"publicationSubtype":{"id":5}},"seriesNumber":"2001-327","title":"Occurrence and distribution of selected contaminants in public drinking-water supplies in the surficial aquifer in Delaware","docAbstract":"Water samples were collected from August through November 2000 from 30 randomly selected public drinking-water supply wells screened in the unconfined aquifer in Delaware, and analyzed to assess the occurrence and distribution of selected pesticide compounds, volatile organic compounds, major inorganic ions, and nutrients. Water from a subset of 10 wells was sampled and analyzed for radium and radon. The average age of ground water entering the well screens in all the wells was determined to be generally less than 20 years.\r\n\r\nLow concentrations of pesticide compounds and volatile organic compounds were detected throughout the State of Delaware, with several compounds often detected in each water sample. Pesticide and metabolite (pesticide degradation products) concentrations were generally less than 1 microgram per liter, and were detected in sam-ples from 27 of 30 wells. Of the 45 pesticides and 13 metabolites analyzed, 19 compounds (13 pesticides and 6 metabolites) were detected in at least 1 of the 30 samples. Desethylatrazine, alachlor ethane sulfonic acid, metolachlor ethane sulfonic acid, metolachlor, and atrazine were the most frequently detected pesticide compounds, and were present in at least half the samples. None of the pesticide detections was above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Primary Maximum Contaminant Levels or Health Advisories. Volatile organic compounds also were present at low concentrations (generally less than 1 microgram per liter) in samples from all 30 wells. Of the 85 volatile organic com-pounds analyzed, 34 compounds were detected in at least 1 of the 30 samples. Chloroform, tetrachloroethene, and methyl tert-butyl ether were the most frequently detected volatile organic compounds, and were found in at least half the samples. None of the volatile organic compound detections was above U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Primary Maximum Contaminant Levels or Health Advisories.\r\n\r\nA few samples contained compounds with concentrations above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Primary Maximum Contaminant Levels or Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels for inorganic compounds and radionuclides. One sample out of 30 contained a concentration of nitrite plus nitrate above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Primary Maximum Contaminant Level of 10 milligrams per liter as nitrogen. Iron and manganese concentrations above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels were found in 7 of 30 ground-water samples, most of them from Sussex County. In the 10 wells sampled for radionuclides, only one sample had detectable levels of radium-224 and -226, and another sample contained detectable levels of radium-228; both of these samples also had detectable gross-alpha and gross-beta activities. None of these activities were above the U.S. Environ-mental Protection Agency's Primary Maximum Contaminant Levels or Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels. Radon was detected in all 10 samples, but was above the current U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposed Primary Maximum Contaminant Level of 300 picocuries per liter in only one sample.","language":"ENGLISH","doi":"10.3133/ofr01327","usgsCitation":"Ferrari, M., 2001, Occurrence and distribution of selected contaminants in public drinking-water supplies in the surficial aquifer in Delaware: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2001-327, viii, 62 p. : col. ill., col. maps ; 28 cm., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr01327.","productDescription":"viii, 62 p. : col. ill., col. maps ; 28 cm.","costCenters":[],"links":[{"id":160784,"rank":0,"type":{"id":24,"text":"Thumbnail"},"url":"https://pubs.usgs.gov/thumbnails/usgs_thumb.jpg"},{"id":2764,"rank":100,"type":{"id":15,"text":"Index Page"},"url":"https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2001/ofr01-327/","linkFileType":{"id":5,"text":"html"}}],"noUsgsAuthors":false,"publicationStatus":"PW","scienceBaseUri":"4f4e4a81e4b07f02db64a2f3","contributors":{"authors":[{"text":"Ferrari, Matthew J.","contributorId":67082,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Ferrari","given":"Matthew J.","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":206370,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":1}]}} ,{"id":30983,"text":"wri20004230 - 2001 - Relation of Mercury to Other Chemical Constituents in Ground Water in the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer System, New Jersey Coastal Plain, and Mechanisms for Mobilization of Mercury from Sediments to Ground Water","interactions":[],"lastModifiedDate":"2012-03-08T17:16:15","indexId":"wri20004230","displayToPublicDate":"2002-03-01T00:00:00","publicationYear":"2001","noYear":false,"publicationType":{"id":18,"text":"Report"},"publicationSubtype":{"id":5,"text":"USGS Numbered Series"},"seriesTitle":{"id":342,"text":"Water-Resources Investigations Report","code":"WRI","active":false,"publicationSubtype":{"id":5}},"seriesNumber":"2000-4230","title":"Relation of Mercury to Other Chemical Constituents in Ground Water in the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer System, New Jersey Coastal Plain, and Mechanisms for Mobilization of Mercury from Sediments to Ground Water","docAbstract":"Water from 265 domestic wells that tap the unconfined Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system in the Coastal Plain of New Jersey contained concentrations of mercury that are equal to or exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 2 ug/L (micrograms per liter). The wells range in depth from 50 to 200 feet, and are located in 32 discrete, mostly residential, areas that were developed primarily on former agricultural land during the 1950?s through the 1970?s. Concentrations in two other areas exceeded 1 ug/L. Naturally occurring mercury concentrations in ground water from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system typically are less than 0.01 ug/L, but concentrations in water from some wells were as much as 42 ug/L. No evidence currently exists that conclusively links known point sources such as landfills, industrial operations, or commercial enterprises to most of the elevated concentrations of mercury in ground water in the residential areas. Possible sources of the mercury include pesticides and atmospheric deposition. \r\n\r\nAnalysis of water from wells in 6 of the 34 areas for other constituents indicates that nitrate concentrations also commonly are elevated above background levels (which typically are undetectable at 0.01 milligrams per liter), and exceed the MCL of 10 milligrams per liter in some samples. Several volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including chloroform, also have been measured in water from wells at many of the 34 sites. Analytical results for water samples collected at several depths from boreholes at 2 of the 34 sites indicate elevated concentrations of calcium, magnesium, barium, strontium, nitrate, and chloride, which may be related to both agricultural chemical applications and septic-system effluent. Determinations of tritium and helium concentrations indicate that water containing elevated concentrations of mercury recharged the aquifer between 9.4 and 79 years ago, which includes the period during which many of the 34 sites were undergoing a change from agricultural or undeveloped to residential land use. \r\n\r\nBatch equilibrium experiments were used to measure adsorption of dissolved mercury, mercuric chloride, and phenylmercuric acetate by aquifer sediments at pH 3.5-4.0, 4.5-5.0, and 5.5-6.0. In nearly all cases, 55 to 95 percent of the mercury added to the sediments was adsorbed. Mercury mobilization from aquifer sediments inoculated with mercury was investigated by leaching the sediments with two concentrations of nitric acid (a component of acid rain), a sodium chloride solution (simulating road salt), and three fertilizer solutions. A solution of 20-20-20 (nitrogenphosphorous-potassium) fertilizer removed virtually all of the mercury with which the sediments had been inoculated. The sodium chloride solution was moderately effective in removing applied mercury from the sediments, as was a solution of nitric acid. A more dilute nitric acid solution and two sodium nitrate fertilizer solutions were less effective. \r\n\r\nResults of these experiments indicate that mercury adsorbs to aquifer sediments, but that varying amounts can be removed by infiltrating solutions, some of which can be related to specific land uses. Land-use history at the 34 sites generally indicates a change from agricultural or undeveloped settings to residential settings. Whatever the source of mercury to these sites, a change in the geochemical environment of the soil and aquifer brought about by land-use change probably provides mechanisms for mobilizing the mercury from soils and sediments to ground water.","language":"ENGLISH","publisher":"Geological Survey (U.S.)","doi":"10.3133/wri20004230","collaboration":"Prepared in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection ","usgsCitation":"Barringer, J., and MacLeod, C., 2001, Relation of Mercury to Other Chemical Constituents in Ground Water in the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer System, New Jersey Coastal Plain, and Mechanisms for Mobilization of Mercury from Sediments to Ground Water: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 2000-4230, vii, 72 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/wri20004230.","productDescription":"vii, 72 p.","costCenters":[{"id":470,"text":"New Jersey Water Science Center","active":true,"usgs":true}],"links":[{"id":159989,"rank":0,"type":{"id":24,"text":"Thumbnail"},"url":"https://pubs.usgs.gov/thumbnails/usgs_thumb.jpg"},{"id":11707,"rank":100,"type":{"id":15,"text":"Index Page"},"url":"https://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/wri00-4230/","linkFileType":{"id":5,"text":"html"}}],"geographicExtents":"{ \"type\": \"FeatureCollection\", \"features\": [ { \"type\": \"Feature\", \"properties\": {}, \"geometry\": { \"type\": \"Polygon\", \"coordinates\": [ [ [ -75.75,38.75 ], [ -75.75,40.75 ], [ -73.75,40.75 ], [ -73.75,38.75 ], [ -75.75,38.75 ] ] ] } } ] }","noUsgsAuthors":false,"publicationStatus":"PW","scienceBaseUri":"4f4e4a60e4b07f02db634cca","contributors":{"authors":[{"text":"Barringer, Julia L.","contributorId":59419,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Barringer","given":"Julia L.","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":204519,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":1},{"text":"MacLeod, Cecilia L.","contributorId":62250,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"MacLeod","given":"Cecilia L.","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":204520,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":2}]}} ,{"id":30699,"text":"fs06401 - 2001 - National survey of MTBE and other VOCs in community drinking-water sources","interactions":[],"lastModifiedDate":"2018-05-16T10:39:31","indexId":"fs06401","displayToPublicDate":"2002-02-01T00:00:00","publicationYear":"2001","noYear":false,"publicationType":{"id":18,"text":"Report"},"publicationSubtype":{"id":5,"text":"USGS Numbered Series"},"seriesTitle":{"id":313,"text":"Fact Sheet","code":"FS","onlineIssn":"2327-6932","printIssn":"2327-6916","active":true,"publicationSubtype":{"id":5}},"seriesNumber":"064-01","title":"National survey of MTBE and other VOCs in community drinking-water sources","docAbstract":"Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is a volatile organic compound (VOC) that is added to gasoline either seasonally or year round in many parts of the United States to increase the octane level and to reduce carbon monoxide and ozone levels in the air. The chemical properties and widespread use of MTBE can result in contamination of private and public drinking-water sources. MTBE contamination is a concern in drinking water because of the compound's low taste and odor threshold and potential human-health effects.
Because of this concern, a survey was initiated in collaboration with researchers and water suppliers. The purpose of this survey is to provide sound, unbiased, scientific information on the occurrence of MTBE and other VOCs in ground water, reservoirs, and rivers that are sources of drinking water used by communities of various sizes throughout the Nation. This fact sheet presents a general description of the survey.
","language":"English","publisher":"U.S. Geological Survey","publisherLocation":"Reston, VA","doi":"10.3133/fs06401","usgsCitation":"Clawges, R.M., Rowe, B.L., and Zogorski, J.S., 2001, National survey of MTBE and other VOCs in community drinking-water sources (Online Version 1.0): U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 064-01, 4 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/fs06401.","productDescription":"4 p.","numberOfPages":"4","onlineOnly":"Y","costCenters":[{"id":344,"text":"Illinois Water Science Center","active":true,"usgs":true},{"id":34685,"text":"Dakota Water Science Center","active":true,"usgs":true}],"links":[{"id":122620,"rank":0,"type":{"id":24,"text":"Thumbnail"},"url":"https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2001/0064/report-thumb.jpg"},{"id":59456,"rank":3,"type":{"id":11,"text":"Document"},"url":"https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2001/0064/fs20010064.pdf","text":"Report","size":"3.14 MB","linkFileType":{"id":1,"text":"pdf"},"description":"FS 064–01"}],"edition":"Online Version 1.0","contact":"Director, Dakota Water Science Center, South Dakota Office
U.S. Geological Survey
1608 Mountain View Road
Rapid City, SD 57702
Since 1934, the Delaware and Raritan Canal has been used to transfer water from the Delaware River Basin to the Raritan River Basin. The water transported by the Delaware and Raritan Canal in New Jersey is used primarily for public supply after it has been treated at drinking-water treatment plants located in the Raritan River Basin. Recently (1999), the raw water taken from the canal during storms has required increased amounts of chemical treatments for removal of suspended solids, and the costs of removing the additional sludge or residuals generated during water treatment have increased. At present, action to control algae is unnecessary.
\nThe water quality of the Delaware and Raritan Canal was studied for approximately 16.5 months from mid-January 1998 through May 1999 to determine whether changes in water quality along the length of the canal are associated with storms. Nine water-quality constituents, and field measured specific conductance and turbidity were statistically tested.
\nInstantaneous or grab samples of water were collected from the Delaware and Raritan Canal after five storms and during four nonstorm events. Median values of water-quality constituents in samples collected immediately after storms and during nonstorm conditions when statistically compared by sampling location were not significantly different. Therefore, the data were combined or aggregated to eliminate one of the two explanatory variables, either individual sampling sites or the two types of sampling events, in order to generate a sample population large enough to show statistically significant differences. After combining sampling events, only the median concentration of suspended organic carbon, and field measured specific conductance and turbidity, were significantly different among sampling sites. Median concentrations of total and filtered ammonia plus organic nitrogen, total phosphorous, turbidity, ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nanometers, and dissolved organic carbon in samples collected after storms were significantly greater than in samples collected during nonstorm conditions, when the sampling locations were aggregated in the statistical analysis. Methyl tert-butyl ether, the most frequently detected volatile organic compound (VOC), was detected in 55 of 80 samples. The highest concentration of methyl tert-butyl ether, 3.2 micrograms per liter, was measured in a sample collected during nonstorm conditions.
\nThe median of the continuously monitored specific conductance during nonstorm conditions at Port Mercer, N.J., increased by approximately 3 to 4 ?S/cm (microsiemens per centimeter) (1.5 to 2 percent of the median specific conductance) relative to that at the nearest upstream site, at Lower Ferry Road. The land use in the influent basins for this reach of the Delaware and Raritan Canal is primarily urban. One possible source of water with high specific conductance is either domestic or industrial wastewater that continuously discharges into pipes, then empties into the canal. Another possible source is ground water from an area within this reach where the elevation of the water table is higher than that of the water surface of the Delaware and Raritan Canal. The median continuously monitored specific conductance measured during nonstorm conditions at the Route 18 Spillway site increased relative to that of the nearest upstream site, Ten Mile Lock, by approximately 3 to 4 ?S/cm. The mean net change in continuously monitored specific conductance for this reach during storms also increased. Land use in the two largest influent basins within this reach, the Borough of South Bound Brook and Als Brook, is predominantly urban.
\nThe mean and median of continuously monitored turbidity varied along the length of the canal. In the reach between Raven Rock and Lower Ferry Road, the mean and median for continuously monitored turbidity during the study period increased by 7.2 and 6.2 NTU (nephelometric turbidity units), respectively. The mean of continuously monitored turbidity decreased downstream from Lower Ferry Road to Ten Mile Lock. Turbidity could increase locally downstream from influent streams or outfalls, but because the average velocity of water in the canal is low, particles that cause turbidity are not transported appreciable distances. In the reach between Ten Mile Lock and the Route 18 Spillway, the mean and median of the continuously monitored turbidity changed less than 0.5 NTU during the period of record. The small change in turbidity in this reach is not consistent with an average velocity for the reach; the average velocity in this reach was the lowest in all of the reaches studied. The expected decrease in turbidity due to settling of suspended solids is likely offset by turbid water entering the canal from influent streams or discharges from storm drains. Field observation of a sand bar immediately downstream from the confluence of Als Brook and the canal confirmed that the Als Brook drainage basin has contributed stormwatergenerated sediment to the canal that could reach the monitor located at the Route 18 Spillway and the raw water intakes for two drinking-water treatment plants.
","language":"English","publisher":"U.S. Geological Survey","doi":"10.3133/wri014072","collaboration":"Prepared in cooperation with the New Jersey Water Supply Authority","usgsCitation":"Gibs, J., Gray, B., Rice, D.E., Tessler, S., and Barringer, T.H., 2001, Water quality of the Delaware and Raritan Canal, New Jersey, 1998-99: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 2001-4072, viii, 60 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/wri014072.","productDescription":"viii, 60 p.","onlineOnly":"N","additionalOnlineFiles":"N","temporalStart":"1998-01-01","costCenters":[],"links":[{"id":160321,"rank":0,"type":{"id":24,"text":"Thumbnail"},"url":"https://pubs.usgs.gov/thumbnails/wri014072.PNG"},{"id":2880,"rank":100,"type":{"id":11,"text":"Document"},"url":"https://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/2001/4072/report.pdf","linkFileType":{"id":1,"text":"pdf"}}],"country":"United States","state":"New Jersey","otherGeospatial":"Delaware and Raritan Canal","geographicExtents":"{\n \"type\": \"FeatureCollection\",\n \"features\": [\n {\n \"type\": \"Feature\",\n \"properties\": {},\n \"geometry\": {\n \"type\": \"Polygon\",\n \"coordinates\": [\n [\n [\n -75.12039184570312,\n 40.575369444618396\n ],\n [\n -75.05996704101562,\n 40.40722213305287\n ],\n [\n -74.76333618164062,\n 40.19670806662855\n ],\n [\n -74.60678100585936,\n 40.345497469392406\n ],\n [\n -74.36782836914062,\n 40.48978184687258\n ],\n [\n -74.53125,\n 40.58371360068533\n ],\n [\n -75.12039184570312,\n 40.575369444618396\n ]\n ]\n ]\n }\n }\n ]\n}","noUsgsAuthors":false,"publicationStatus":"PW","scienceBaseUri":"4f4e49f5e4b07f02db5f0f43","contributors":{"authors":[{"text":"Gibs, Jacob jgibs@usgs.gov","contributorId":1729,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Gibs","given":"Jacob","email":"jgibs@usgs.gov","affiliations":[],"preferred":true,"id":204348,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":1},{"text":"Gray, Bonnie bgray@usgs.gov","contributorId":3152,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Gray","given":"Bonnie","email":"bgray@usgs.gov","affiliations":[],"preferred":true,"id":204349,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":2},{"text":"Rice, Donald E.","contributorId":70440,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Rice","given":"Donald","email":"","middleInitial":"E.","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":204352,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":3},{"text":"Tessler, Steven stessler@usgs.gov","contributorId":3772,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Tessler","given":"Steven","email":"stessler@usgs.gov","affiliations":[],"preferred":true,"id":204350,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":4},{"text":"Barringer, Thomas H.","contributorId":42252,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Barringer","given":"Thomas","email":"","middleInitial":"H.","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":204351,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":5}]}} ,{"id":70214409,"text":"70214409 - 2001 - Frequently co‐occurring pesticides and volatile organic compounds in public supply and monitoring wells, southern New Jersey, USA","interactions":[],"lastModifiedDate":"2020-09-25T18:57:39.20074","indexId":"70214409","displayToPublicDate":"2001-09-25T13:46:10","publicationYear":"2001","noYear":false,"publicationType":{"id":2,"text":"Article"},"publicationSubtype":{"id":10,"text":"Journal Article"},"seriesTitle":{"id":1571,"text":"Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry","active":true,"publicationSubtype":{"id":10}},"title":"Frequently co‐occurring pesticides and volatile organic compounds in public supply and monitoring wells, southern New Jersey, USA","docAbstract":"One or more pesticides were detected with one or more volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in more than 95% of samples collected from 30 public supply and 95 monitoring wells screened in the unconsolidated surficial aquifer system of southern New Jersey, USA. Overall, more than 140,000 and more than 3,000 unique combinations of pesticides with VOCs were detected in two or more samples from the supply and monitoring wells, respectively. More than 400 of these combinations were detected in 20% or more of the samples from the supply wells, whereas only 17 were detected in 20% or more of the samples from the monitoring wells. Although many constituent combinations detected in water from the supply and monitoring wells are similar, differences in constituent combinations also were found and can be attributed, in part, to differences in the characteristics of these two well types. The monitoring wells sampled during this study yield water that typically was recharged beneath a single land‐use setting during a recent, discrete time interval and that flowed along relatively short paths to the wells. Public supply wells, in contrast, yield large volumes of water and typically have contributing areas that are orders of magnitude larger than those of the monitoring wells. These large contributing areas generally encompass multiple land uses; moreover, because flow paths that originate in these areas vary in length, these wells typically yield water that was recharged over a large temporal interval. Water withdrawn from public supply wells, therefore, contains a mixture of waters of different ages that were recharged beneath various land‐use settings. Because public supply wells intercept water flowing along longer paths with longer residence times and integrate waters from a larger source area than those associated with monitoring wells, they are more likely to yield water that contains constituents that were used in greater quantities in the past, that were introduced from point sources, and/or that are derived from the degradation of parent compounds along extended flow paths.