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For the full report .pdf document click
here.
Results of water-quality tests of monitoring wells in newly
developed lands of the Greater Boston Metropolitan area, by
the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), show that small amounts
of nutrients (such as phosphorus), pesticides, fuel, and other
volatile organic compounds are present in the ground water.
Twenty-nine randomly selected areas had shallow monitoring
wells drilled to test the quality of sand and gravel aquifers
in an area that stretches from southern New Hampshire to southern
Massachusetts. The summary results are available in a recently
published report by the USGS National Water-quality Assessment
Program.
The USGS found that nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus,
were present in more than 62 percent of the wells samples
but at concentrations below the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency or State drinking water standards," said Sarah Flanagan,
USGS Hydrologist and author of the report. "Pesticides were
also detected but only in a few water samples and at concentrations
below the USEPA standards," said Flanagan.
The most frequently detected volatile organic compound--chloroform--was
present in 69 percent of the water samples. Potential sources
of chloroform include domestic use of solvents and cleaning
agents, leakage from water mains, or lawn irrigation with
chlorinated municipal drinking water.
The second most frequently detected volatile organic compound
was Methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE), a compound added to gasoline
to increase the combustibility of gasoline and reduce carbon
monoxide emissions. MTBE was present in 52 percent of the
samples but at concentrations below the Massachusetts drinking-water
guideline in all but one of the 29 wells.
"The wells tested were NOT used for drinking purposes," said
Flanagan, "the wells were drilled to test the quality of the
area's ground water in areas away from long-time urbanization."
The 29 wells are located in a variety of suburban areas, such
as home lawns, shopping centers, and next to commercial buildings.
The results of this study are available in Water-Resources
Investigations Report 01-4042 titled "Shallow ground-water
quality in the Boston, Massachusetts Metropolitan area." Copies
of the report are available by contacting the USGS, Branch
of Information Services, Box 25286, Federal Center, Denver,
CO 80225 or at 1-888-ASK-USGS (275-8747).
This report will be available on the World Wide Web at http://nh.water.usgs.gov/Publications/online_publications.htm
or http://ma.water.usgs.gov
As the nation's largest water, earth and biological science
and civilian mapping agency, the USGS works in cooperation
with more than 2,000 organizations across the country to provide
reliable, impartial, scientific information to resource managers,
planners, and other customers. This information is gathered
in every state by USGS scientists to minimize the loss of
life and property from natural disasters, contribute to the
sound conservation, economic and physical development of the
nation's natural resources, and enhance the quality of life
by monitoring water, biological, energy, and mineral resources.
* * * USGS * * *
Editors: Information on the National Water Quality
Assessment Program for the New England Coastal Basins study
may be found at http://nh.water.usgs.gov/CurrentProjects/nawqa/nawqaweb.htm
In-depth information about USGS programs may be found on
the USGS home page: http://www.usgs.gov
or http://water.usgs.gov.
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