Post on 27-Dec-2015
Overview of USGS Groundwater Quality Assessment Activities and Related Data in
Alabama2011 Alabama Water Resources Conference
September 9, 2011, Perdido Beach Resort, Orange Beach, AlabamaRichard Moreland, USGS, Montgomery, Alabama
Groundwater Projects
National Studies National Water Quality Assessment Program
(NAWQA)
Cooperative Programs Occurrence of Pesticides in Groundwater in Areas
of Intense Row Crop Production in Alabama, 2009• Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries
Capitol City Plume EPA
USGS Alabama WSC
Groundwater Projects
Cooperative Programs – cont. Groundwater networks
Active ground-water levels Real-time data Climate Response Network
National Water Quality Assessment Program
Montgomery Urban Land Use Study• 30 wells sampled in 1999
• Tape downs annually on all wells
• Subset of five wells plus one reference well sampled biannually for trend analysis
Mobile Urban Land Use Study 31 wells drilled in 2010 Sampled in 2011 – full suite of QW constituents
(Nutrients, trace metals, pesticides, VOCs, bacteria)
Lower Tennessee River Basin Agricultural groundwater study 30 wells originally sampled in 1999 Subset of 5 wells sampled biannually for
trend analysis
National Water Quality Assessment Program
First round of sampling ongoing
VOC’s, pesticides, nutrients, major ions, trace elements, DOC, age dating.
Occurrence of Pesticides in GW in Areas of Intense Row Crop Production
Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries – Pesticide Management Branch
Occurrence of Pesticides in GW in Areas of Intense Row Crop Production
Purpose and Scope Multi-year study – initial sampling in FY09 Evaluate trends in detection frequencies and
concentrations of pesticides in GW near areas of high-intensity row crop production.
Sample 15 wells in three areas of state.• Northern Alabama
• Southeast Alabama
• Baldwin County
Samples analyzed for temperature, specific conductance, DO, pH, and pesticides.
Occurrence of Pesticides in GW in Areas of Intense Row Crop Production
Results Samples analyzed for 87 filtered pesticides and
pesticide degradates using GC/MS Three most frequently detected cpds
• Atrazine -- in 9 wells
• CIAT 2-Chloro-4-isopropylamino-6-amino-s-triazine - 9 wells
• Metolachor – in 8 wells
Highest number of pesticides detected Well 1 and 4 (13 cpd), Well 5 (10 cpd), Well 3 (9 cpd), & Well 2
and Well 6 (8cpd)
Occurrence of Pesticides in GW in Areas of Intense Row Crop Production
Results – continued
Highest concentration for any analyte – 4.30 ug/L for metolachlor in well 15 in Baldwin Co. (4.08 ug/L 2009)
Capitol City Plume Monitoring
• Capitol City Plume is an area of groundwater contamination identified in downtown Montgomery, Alabama.
• The main contaminant of concern in the plume is tetrachloroethylene (PCE). PCE is an organic compound commonly used in dry-cleaning and degreasing.
• The site is listed on the National Priorities List and is currently being evaluated for potential remediation strategies by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
• USGS has provided Capitol City Plume monitoring data to the USEPA in support of the remediation investigation, led by Dr. James Landmeyer South Carolina WSC.
Capitol City Plume Monitoring• USGS collected samples for analysis of
dissolved gases for assessment of groundwater age.
• Samples were collected from the same 13 wells sampled in 2009.
• In 2011 numerous GORE passive vapor sampling modules were installed.
• Five nested soil vapor monitor wells installed near one of suspected sources.
Capitol City Plume Monitoring
• 13 existing monitoring wells were sampled in spring 2010
• Samples collected for age dating
Atmospheric mixing ratios of CFC-11, CFC-12, CFC-113, and SF6 in North American air.
SF6 and CFC data show groundwater ages range from 1952 to 2009.
Active Ground-Water Level Network
Active Well Count
Real-Time: 1,222 Daily: 1,185 Periodic: 16,833
Active Ground-Water Level Network
Real-Time Ground-Water Level Network
Real-Time Ground-Water Level Network
Real-Time Ground-Water Level Network Well Count: 1,222
Montgomery 3 Well
Well Depth: 270 feet
Local Aquifer: Eutaw Formation
Current water level: 30.12 ft. below land surface (9-5-2011)
Record low: 30.77 ft. below land surface
Period of Record :
August, 1952 to Present