Premium
Contamination of Farmstead Wells by Pesticides, Volatile Organics, and Inorganic Chemicals in Kansas
Author(s) -
Steichen James,
Koelliker James,
Grosh Doris,
Heiman Alan,
Yearout Robert,
Robbins Victor
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
groundwater monitoring and remediation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1745-6592
pISSN - 1069-3629
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-6592.1988.tb01092.x
Subject(s) - contamination , pesticide , environmental chemistry , nitrate , environmental science , water well , pollution , environmental engineering , chemistry , groundwater , geology , agronomy , ecology , biology , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry
Abstract Concern about the public health consequences of possible contamination of farmstead wells led to a random statewide survey in Kansas. Results of the analyses showed that 8 percent of tested wells had detectable amounts of pesticides, 2 percent had detectable amounts of volatile organic chemicals, and 37 percent had some inorganic contaminant exceeding the maximum contaminant level (MCL). Nitrate was the most common source of inorganic contamination, exceeding the MCL in 28 percent of the wells. Selenium levels exceeded the MCL in 9 percent of the wells. A multiple regression model for nitrate‐N was developed. The factors included the age of the well, land use around the well, and the distance to the closest possible source of organic contamination.