Open AccessScientific data cut risks of public decision‐making
Author(s) -
Friebele Elaine
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/97eo00208
Subject(s) - groundwater , environmental planning , geological survey , environmental science , public health , business , water resource management , geology , medicine , paleontology , geotechnical engineering , nursing
When groundwater contamination was detected at landfill monitoring wells in Loudoun County, Va., in 1993, residents nearby became concerned about the safety of their well water. To avoid health risks, the county provided public water service to homes surrounding the landfill, at a cost of $5.4 million. Had high‐resolution geologic maps been available, public coffers would have stayed secure. Considering the $1.2 million cost of producing such a map, the county would have still saved millions of dollars if it had bypassed highly conductive limestone formations when siting the landfill and a later extension.