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At least 1,261 records · Page 70Linked to original sources
USGS1989

Geohydrology and ground-water quality at selected sites in Meade County, Kentucky, 1987-88

Meade County in north-central Kentucky is about 305 sq mi in size, and is underlain by thick beds of limestone and dolomite which are the principal sources of drinking water for about 8 ,500 residents. About half the area contains mature, karst terrain with abundant sinkholes, springs, and caves. Because of this karst terrain, groundwater is susceptible to rapid changes in water quality and contamination from human sources. Thirty-seven wells and 12 springs were selected as sampling points to characterize groundwater quality in the area. Water was analyzed for major anions and cations, nitrates, trace elements, and organic compounds. Water from selected sites was also analyzed for fecal species of coliform streptococci bacteria and total coliform content. Except for fluoride and lead, the water quality was within the range expected for carbonate aquifers.The fluoride content was significantly higher in water from wells than in water from springs. Concentrations of detectable lead ranged from 10 to 50 micrograms/L and had a median value of 7.5 microg/L. Dissolved solids ranged from 100 to 2,200 mg/L and the median value was 512 mg/L. Hardness ranged from 20 to 1,100 mg/L and the median value was 290 mg/L. Organic compounds detected by the gas chromatographic/flame ionization detection scans, did not indicate evidence of concentrations in excess of the current Federal drinking water standards. Analysis for specific organic compounds indicated that the presence of these compounds was associated with agricultural chemicals, usually pesticides. Total coliform content exceeded drinking water standards in water from all 12 springs and in 18 wells. Statistical analysis of the groundwater quality data indicates that the variance of the concentrations of fluoride and chloride may be attributed to the site type. There was strong correlation between hardness and dissolved solids, hardness and sulfate, and sulfate and dissolved solids. No apparent relations were detected between water quality and the geographic location of sampling sites. However, seasonal variations were detected in the concentrations of dissolved solids, hardness, and iron. (Lantz-PTT)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS2002

Possible sources of nitrate in ground water at swine licensed-managed feeding operations in Oklahoma, 2001

Samples collected and analyzed by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry from 1999 to 2001 determined that nitrate exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maximum contaminant level for public drinking-water supplies of 10 milligrams per liter as nitrogen in 79 monitoring wells at 35 swine licensed-managed feeding operations (LMFO) in Oklahoma. The LMFOs are located in rural agricultural settings where long-term agriculture has potentially affected the ground-water quality in some areas. Land use prior to the construction of the LMFOs was assessed to evaluate the types of agricultural land use within a 500-meter radius of the sampled wells. Chemical and microbiological techniques were used to determine the possible sources of nitrate in water sampled from 10 wastewater lagoons and 79 wells. Samples were analyzed for dissolved major ions, dissolved trace elements, dissolved nutrients, nitrogen isotope ratios of nitrate and ammonia, wastewater organic compounds, and fecal coliform bacteria. Bacteria ribotyping analysis was done on selected samples to identify possible specific animal sources. A decision process was developed to identify the possible sources of nitrate. First, nitrogen isotope ratios were used to define sources as animal, mixed animal and fertilizer, or fertilizer. Second, wastewater organic compound detections, nitrogen-isotope ratios, fecal coliform bacteria detections, and ribotyping were used to refine the identification of possible sources as LFMO waste, fertilizer, or unidentified animal or mixtures of these sources. Additional evidence provided by ribotyping and wastewater organic compound data can, in some cases, specifically indicate the animal source. Detections of three or more wastewater organic compounds that are indicators of animal sources and detections of fecal coliform bacteria provided additional evidence of an animal source. LMFO waste was designated as a possible source of nitrate in water from 10 wells. The source of waste in water from five of those wells was determined through ribotyping, and the source of waste in water from the remaining five wells was determined by detections of three or more animal-waste compounds in the well samples. LMFO waste in the water from wells with unidentified animal source of nitrate does not indicate that LMFO waste was not the source, but indicated that multiple animal sources, including LMFO waste, may be the source of the nitrate.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS2007

Summary of selected U.S. Geological survey data on domestic well water quality for the Centers for Disease Control's National Environmental Public Health Tracking Program

About 10 to 30 percent of the population in most States uses domestic (private) water supply. In many States, the total number of people served by domestic supplies can be in the millions. The water quality of domestic supplies is inconsistently regulated and generally not well characterized. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has two water-quality data sets in the National Water Information System (NWIS) database that can be used to help define the water quality of domestic-water supplies: (1) data from the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program, and (2) USGS State data. Data from domestic wells from the NAWQA Program were collected to meet one of the Program's objectives, which was to define the water quality of major aquifers in the United States. These domestic wells were located primarily in rural areas. Water-quality conditions in these major aquifers as defined by the NAWQA data can be compared because of the consistency of the NAWQA sampling design, sampling protocols, and water-quality analyses. The NWIS database is a repository of USGS water data collected for a variety of projects; consequently, project objectives and analytical methods vary. This variability can bias statistical summaries of contaminant occurrence and concentrations; nevertheless, these data can be used to define the geographic distribution of contaminants. Maps created using NAWQA and USGS State data in NWIS can show geographic areas where contaminant concentrations may be of potential human-health concern by showing concentrations relative to human-health water-quality benchmarks. On the basis of national summaries of detection frequencies and concentrations relative to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) human-health benchmarks for trace elements, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds, 28 water-quality constituents were identified as contaminants of potential human-health concern. From this list, 11 contaminants were selected for summarization of water-quality data in 16 States (grantee States) that were funded by the Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) Program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Only data from domestic-water supplies were used in this summary because samples from these wells are most relevant to human exposure for the targeted population. Using NAWQA data, the concentrations of the 11 contaminants were compared to USEPA human-health benchmarks. Using NAWQA and USGS State data in NWIS, the geographic distribution of the contaminants were mapped for the 16 grantee States. Radon, arsenic, manganese, nitrate, strontium, and uranium had the largest percentages of samples with concentrations greater than their human-health benchmarks. In contrast, organic compounds (pesticides and volatile organic compounds) had the lowest percentages of samples with concentrations greater than human-health benchmarks. Results of data retrievals and spatial analysis were compiled for each of the 16 States and are presented in State summaries for each State. Example summary tables, graphs, and maps based on USGS data for New Jersey are presented to illustrate how USGS water-quality and associated ancillary geospatial data can be used by the CDC to address goals and objectives of the EPHT Program.

Scientific Investigations Report↗
USGS1959

Geological investigations in the U12b.03 and U12b.04 tunnels, Nevada Test Site

The papers comprising the various parts of this report contain preliminary results of the U. S. Geological Survey investigations in the U12b.03 and U12b.04 tunnels at the Nevada Test Site, Nye County, Nevada (fig. 1). The geologic studies were undertaken to define the structural, chemical, mineralogic, and some of the physical properties of the tuffaceous rocks that enclose the explosion chambers at the end of each tunnel. The U12b.03 and .04 tunnels are part of the U12b (Rainier) tunnel complex that was driven northwestward from the steep east slope of Rainier Mesa (a prominent topographic feature in the northwest part of the Test Site (fig . 2)). The U12b.03 tunnel trends north from a point about 980 feet from the portal of the U12b tunnel (fig. 3). The U12b.03 tunnel consists of 620 feet of tunnel, two alcoves, and a shot chamber. The tunnel is irregular, ranging from 6 to 10 feet in width, and 6 to 9 feet in height. The shot chamber at the north end of the tunnel is 22 feet on each sidee The vertical and minimum cover over the shot chamber are 610 and 510 feet, respectively.

Nevada↗
USGS2010

Fluorine, fluorite, and fluorspar in central Colorado

Fluorine (F) is a widespread element that was deposited in a variety of rocks, minerals, and geologic environments in central Colorado. It occurs as a trace element, as a major component of the mineral fluorite (CaFs), and as a major economic source of fluorine in fluorspar deposits, which are massive concentrations of fluorite. This study has compiled available geochemical analyses of rocks, both unmineralized and mineralized, to determine the distribution of fluorine in specific age-lithologic categories, ranging from 1.8-giga-annum (Ga) metamorphic rocks to modern soils, throughout central Colorado. It also draws upon field studies of fluorine-rich mineral deposits, including fluorspar deposits, to decipher the nearly two-billion-year-long geologic history of fluorine in the study area, with implications for mineral-resource evaluations and exploration. The resulting compilation provides an important inventory of the naturally occurring levels and sources of fluorine that ultimately weather, erode, and become part of surface waters that are used for domestic water supplies in densely populated areas along the Colorado Front Range. Most commonly, fluorine is a trace element in virtually all rocks in the region. In the 3,798 unmineralized rocks that were analyzed for fluorine in the study area, the average fluorine content was 1,550 parts per million (ppm). The median was 640 ppm, nearly identical to the average crustal abundance of 650 ppm, and some high-fluorine rocks in the Pikes Peak area skewed the average to a value much greater than the median. Most unmineralized age-lithologic rock suites, including Proterozoic metamorphic rocks, 1.7- and 1.4-Ga granitic batholiths, Cambrian igneous rocks, Phanerozoic sedimentary rocks, and Laramide and Tertiary igneous rocks, had median fluorine values of 400 to 740 ppm fluorine. In all suites, however, a small number of analyzed samples contained more than 1 percent (10,000 ppm) fluorine. The 1.1-Ga plutonic rocks related to the Pikes Peak batholith had a mean fluorine content of 1,700 ppm, and primary magmatic fluorite and fluorite-bearing pegmatites are common throughout that igneous mass. Fluorine was deposited in many types of economic mineral deposits in central Colorado, and it currently is a significant trace element in some thermal springs. In the fluorspar deposits, fluorine contents were as high as 37 percent. Some fluorine-rich porphyry systems, such as Jamestown, had fluorine values that ranged from 200 ppm to nearly 37 percent fluorine, and veins in other deposits contained hydrothermal fluorite, although it was not ubiquitous. For the 495 samples from non-fluorspar mining districts (and excluding Jamestown), however, the median fluorine content was 990 ppm. This is above the crustal average but still relatively modest compared to the fluorspar deposits, and it indicates that the majority of the mineralizing systems in central Colorado did not deposit large amounts of fluorine. Nevertheless, the fluorine- and fluorite-rich mineral deposits could be used as guides for the evaluation and discovery of related but concealed porphyry and epithermal base- and precious-metal deposits. The Cenozoic geologic history of central Colorado included multiple periods during which fluorine-bearing rocks and mineral deposits were exposed, weathered, and eroded. This protracted history has released fluorine into soils and regoliths, and modern rainfall and snowmelt interact with these substrates to add fluorine to the hydrosphere. This study did not evaluate the fluorine contents of water or make any predictions about what areas might be major sources for dissolved fluorine. However, the abundant data that are available on fluorine in surface water and ground water can be coupled with the results of this study to provide additional insight into natural sources of fluorine in domestic drinking water.

Scientific Investigations Report↗
USGS2015

Chemical constituents in groundwater from multiple zones in the eastern Snake River Plain aquifer, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, 2009-13

From 2009 to 2013, the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Project office, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy, collected water-quality samples from multiple water-bearing zones in the eastern Snake River Plain aquifer. Water samples were collected from 11 monitoring wells completed in about 250–750 feet of the upper part of the aquifer, and samples were analyzed for selected major ions, trace elements, nutrients, radiochemical constituents, and stable isotopes. Each well was equipped with a multilevel monitoring system containing four to seven sampling ports that were each isolated by permanent packer systems. The sampling ports were installed in aquifer zones that were highly transmissive and that represented the water chemistry of the top three to five model layers of a steady-state and transient groundwater‑flow model. The groundwater-flow model and water chemistry are being used to better define movement of wastewater constituents in the aquifer. The water-chemistry composition of all sampled zones for the five new multilevel wells is calcium plus magnesium bicarbonate. One of the zones in well USGS 131A has a slightly different chemistry from the rest of the zones and wells and the difference is attributed to more wastewater influence from the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center. One well, USGS 135, was not influenced by wastewater disposal and consisted of mostly older water in all of its zones. Tritium concentrations in relation to basaltic flow units indicate the presence of wastewater influence in multiple basalt flow groups; however, tritium is most abundant in the South Late Matuyama flow group in the southern boundary wells. The concentrations of wastewater constituents in deep zones in wells Middle 2051, USGS 132, USGS 105, and USGS 103 support the concept of groundwater flow deepening in the southwestern corner of the INL, as indicated by the INL groundwater-flow model.

Idaho↗
USGS2003

Quality of water in domestic wells in the Chicot and Chicot equivalent aquifer systems, southern Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi, 2000-2001

In 2000-2001, water-quality data were collected from 60 randomly selected domestic wells in the Acadian-Pontchartrain Study Unit, as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program. The data were collected from wells screened in shallow sands (less than 350 feet below land surface) in two major aquifer systems--the Chicot aquifer system in southwestern Louisiana and the Chicot equivalent aquifer system in southeastern Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi. The Chicot equivalent aquifer system is part of the Southern Hills regional aquifer system, and both the Chicot aquifer system and the Southern Hills regional aquifer systems are designated as sole-source aquifers by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The well depths ranged from 40 to 340 feet below land surface with a median depth of 120 feet. The ground-water-quality data included 5 physiochemical properties, dissolved solids, 9 major inorganic ions, 24 trace elements, 6 nutrients, dissolved organic carbon, 109 pesticides and degradation products, and 85 volatile organic compounds (VOC's); and a subset of the wells were sampled for radon, chlorofluorocarbons, and stable isotopes. Water from 35 of the 60 domestic wells sampled had pH values less than the USEPA Seconday Maximum Contaminant Level (SMCL) range of 6.5 to 8.5 standard units. Specific conductance ranged from 17 to 1,420 microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius. Dissolved-solids concentrations in water from two wells exceeded the SMCL of 500 mg/L (milligrams per liter); the maximum concentration was 858 mg/L. Sodium and calcium were the dominant cations, and bicarbonate and chloride were the dominant anions. One chloride concentration (264 mg/L) exceeded the SMCL of 250 mg/L. One arsenic concentration (55.3 micrograms per liter) exceeded the USEPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 10 micrograms per liter. Iron concentrations in water from 22 wells exceeded the SMCL of 300 micrograms per liter; the maximum concentration was 8,670 micrograms per liter. Manganese concentrations in water from 26 wells exceeded the SMCL of 50 micrograms per liter; the maximum concentration was 481 micrograms per liter. Health Advisories have been established for six of the trace elements analyzed; no concentrations were greater than these nonenforceable standards. Radon concentrations in water from 9 of 50 wells sampled were greater thanthe proposed USEPA MCL of 300 picocuries per liter. Concentrations of ammonia, ammonia plus organic nitrogen, and nitrite plus nitrate in water from four wells were greater than 2 mg/L, a level that might indicate anthropogenic influences. The median dissolved organic carbon concentration was an estimated 0.30 mg/L, which indicated naturally occurring dissolved organic carbon conditions in the study area. Eight pesticides and two degradation products were detected in water from five wells. Twenty-four VOC's were detected in water from 44 wells. All concentrations of pesticides and VOC's were less than USEPA drinking-water standards. Quality-control samples, which included field-blank samples, replicates, and field and laboratory spikes, indicated no bias in ground-water data from collection procedures or analyses. VAriance between the environmental sampls and he corresponding replicate samples was typically less than 5 percent, indicating and acceptable degree of laboratory precision and data collection reproducibility. The Mann-Whitney rank-sum test was used to compare depth to top of screen and selected physicochemical properties and chemical constituents between six groups of wells. Values for selected physicochemical and chemical constituents were typically greater in wells located in the Chicot aquifer system than in the Chicot equivalent aquifer system. Values for specific conductance, pH, calcium, sodium, bicarbonate, chloride, dis

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS2004

Assessment of Fish Habitat, Water Quality, and Selected Contaminants in Streambed Sediments in Noyes Slough, Fairbanks, Alaska, 2001-2002

During 2001-2002, the U.S. Geological Survey sampled streambed sediment at 23 sites, measured water quality at 26 sites, and assessed fish habitat for the entire length of Noyes Slough, a 5.5-mile slough of the Chena River in Fairbanks, Alaska. These studies were undertaken to document the environmental condition of the slough and to provide information to the public for consideration in plans to improve environmental conditions of the waterway. The availability of physical habitat for fish in the slough does not appear to be limited, although some beaver dams and shallow water may restrict movement, particularly during low flow. Elevated water temperatures in summer and low dissolved-oxygen concentrations are the principle factors adversely affecting water quality in Noyes Slough. Increased flow mitigated poor water-quality conditions and reduced the number of possible fish barriers. Flow appears to be the most prominent mechanism shaping water quality and fish habitat in Noyes Slough. Streambed sediment samples collected at 23 sites in 2001 were analyzed for 24 trace elements. Arsenic, lead, and zinc were the only trace elements detected in concentrations that exceed probable effect levels for the protection of aquatic life. The background concentration for arsenic in Noyes Slough is naturally elevated because of significant concentrations of arsenic in local bedrock and ground water. Sources of the zinc and lead contamination are uncertain, however both lead and zinc are common urban contaminants. Streambed-sediment samples from 12 sites in 2002 were analyzed for organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs). The concentration of bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate of 2,600 micrograms per kilogram (?g/kg) for one sample from the site above Aurora Drive approached the aquatic-life criterion of 2,650 ?g/kg. Low concentrations of p-cresol, chrysene, and fluoranthene were detected in most of the sediment samples. The presence of these compounds in Noyes Slough sediment was expected because cresols are emitted to the atmosphere in the exhaust from motor vehicles and chrysene and fluoranthene are formed during the incomplete burning of coal, oil, gas, wood, garbage, or other organic substances. Low-level concentrations of DDT or its degradation products DDD and DDE were detected in all samples collected during 2002. However, total DDT (DDT+DDD+DDE) concentrations are less than the effects range median aquatic-life criterion of 46.1 ?g/kg. In general, total DDT concentrations were less than 10 ?g/kg, except for samples from two sites that have estimated concentrations of about 14 and 20 ?g/kg.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS2013

Groundwater-quality data in the Cascade Range and Modoc Plateau study unit, 2010-Results from the California GAMA Program

Groundwater quality in the 39,000-square-kilometer Cascade Range and Modoc Plateau (CAMP) study unit was investigated by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) from July through October 2010, as part of the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment (GAMA) Program’s Priority Basin Project (PBP). The GAMA PBP was developed in response to the California Groundwater Quality Monitoring Act of 2001 and is being conducted in collaboration with the SWRCB and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). The CAMP study unit is the thirty-second study unit to be sampled as part of the GAMA PBP. The GAMA CAMP study was designed to provide a spatially unbiased assessment of untreated-groundwater quality in the primary aquifer system and to facilitate statistically consistent comparisons of untreated-groundwater quality throughout California. The primary aquifer system is defined as that part of the aquifer corresponding to the open or screened intervals of wells listed in the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) database for the CAMP study unit. The quality of groundwater in shallow or deep water-bearing zones may differ from the quality of groundwater in the primary aquifer system; shallow groundwater may be more vulnerable to surficial contamination. In the CAMP study unit, groundwater samples were collected from 90 wells and springs in 6 study areas (Sacramento Valley Eastside, Honey Lake Valley, Cascade Range and Modoc Plateau Low Use Basins, Shasta Valley and Mount Shasta Volcanic Area, Quaternary Volcanic Areas, and Tertiary Volcanic Areas) in Butte, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, and Tehama Counties. Wells and springs were selected by using a spatially distributed, randomized grid-based method to provide statistical representation of the study unit (grid wells). Groundwater samples were analyzed for field water-quality indicators, organic constituents, perchlorate, inorganic constituents, radioactive constituents, and microbial indicators. Naturally occurring isotopes and dissolved noble gases also were measured to provide a dataset that will be used to help interpret the sources and ages of the sampled groundwater in subsequent reports. In total, 221 constituents were investigated for this study. Three types of quality-control samples (blanks, replicates, and matrix spikes) were collected at approximately 10 percent of the wells in the CAMP study unit, and the results for these samples were used to evaluate the quality of the data for the groundwater samples. Blanks rarely contained detectable concentrations of any constituent, suggesting that contamination from sample collection procedures was not a significant source of bias in the data for the groundwater samples. Replicate samples generally were within the limits of acceptable analytical reproducibility. Matrix-spike recoveries were within the acceptable range (70 to 130 percent) for approximately 90 percent of the compounds. This study did not attempt to evaluate the quality of water delivered to consumers; after withdrawal from the ground, untreated groundwater typically is treated, disinfected, and (or) blended with other waters to maintain water quality. Regulatory benchmarks apply to water that is served to the consumer, not to untreated groundwater. However, to provide some context for the results, concentrations of constituents measured in the untreated groundwater were compared with regulatory and non-regulatory health-based benchmarks established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and CDPH, and to non-regulatory benchmarks established for aesthetic concerns by CDPH. Comparisons between data collected for this study and benchmarks for drinking water are for illustrative purposes only and are not indicative of compliance or non-compliance with those benchmarks. All organic constituents and most inorganic constituents that were detected in groundwater samples from the 90 grid wells in the CAMP study unit were detected at concentrations less than drinking-water benchmarks. Of the 148 organic constituents analyzed, 27 were detected in groundwater samples; concentrations of all detected constituents were less than regulatory and nonregulatory health-based benchmarks, and all were less than 1/10 of benchmark levels. One or more organic constituents were detected in 52 percent of the grid wells in the CAMP study unit: VOCs were detected in 30 percent, and pesticides and pesticide degradates were detected in 31 percent. Trace elements, major ions, nutrients, and radioactive constituents were sampled for at 90 grid wells in the CAMP study unit, and most detected concentrations were less than health-based benchmarks. Exceptions include three detections of arsenic greater than the USEPA maximum contaminant level (MCL-US) of 10 micrograms per liter (µg/L), two detections of boron greater than the CDPH notification level (NL-CA) of 1,000 µg/L, two detections of molybdenum greater than the USEPA lifetime health advisory level (HAL-US) of 40 µg/L, two detections of vanadium greater than the CDPH notification level (NL-CA) of 50 µg/L, one detection of nitrate, as nitrogen, greater than the MCL-US of 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L), two detections of uranium greater than the MCL-US of 30 µg/L and the MCL-CA of 20 picocuries per liter (pCi/L), one detection of radon-222 greater than the proposed MCL-US of 4,000 pCi/L, and two detections of gross alpha particle activity greater than the MCL-US of 15 pCi/L. Results for inorganic constituents with non-regulatory benchmarks set for aesthetic concerns showed that iron concentrations greater than the CDPH secondary maximum contaminant level (SMCL-CA) of 300 µg/L were detected in four grid wells. Manganese concentrations greater than the SMCL-CA of 50 µg/L were detected in nine grid wells. Chloride and TDS were detected at concentrations greater than the upper SMCL-CA benchmarks of 500 mg/L and 1,000 mg/L, respectively, in one grid well. Microbial indicators (total coliform and Escherichia coli [E. coli]) were detected in 11 percent of the 83 grid wells sampled for these analyses in the CAMP study unit. The presence of total coliform was detected in nine grid wells, and the presence of E. coli was detected in one of these same grid wells.

California↗
USGS2001

Ground-water quality in Geauga County, Ohio — Review of previous studies, status in 1999, and comparison of 1986 and 1999 data

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.

Ohio↗
USGS2002

Selected elements and organic chemicals in streambed sediment in the Salem area, Oregon, 1999

Analysis of streambed sediments in the Salem, Oregon, area showed anomalously large concentrations of some elements and organic chemicals, indicating contamination from anthropogenic and/or geologic sources. The streambed sediment sample from Clark Creek, an urban basin, had large concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hyrdocarbons (PAHs), organochlorines, cadmium, lead, and zinc. The sample from the East Fork of Pringle Creek, which is a mostly urban basin, had the highest concentrations of DDD, DDE, and DDT compounds. Aldrin was detected in streambed sediment at only one site, the East Fork of Pringle Creek. Ten of the 14 sites sampled had exceedances of the sediment quality guidelines of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME), and 8 sites had exceedances of guidelines from the Puget Sound Dredged Disposal Analysis (PSDDA) Program. Trace element concentrations in the Salem area generally were similar to those found previously in the Willamette Basin and nationally. However, cadmium, lead, and zinc concentrations were larger in the sample from Clark Creek than for largest value for Willamette Basin data from earlier studies. Zinc concentrations in the sample from Clark Creek exceeded sediment quality guidelines from the CCME and PSDDA. p,p'-DDE, which is a persistent breakdown product of the banned organochlorine-insecticide, DDT, was detected at all sites. Total DDT (the sum of p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDE, and p,p'-DDT) concentrations exceeded the PSDDA screening level at eight sites and exceeded twice the PSDDA maximum level at the East Fork of Pringle Creek. Cis- and trans- chlordanes were detected at about 80% of the sites. The concentration of total chlordane for the sample at Clark Creek was larger than for any sample from previous Willamette Basin studies. The largest concentration of dieldrin also was from the sample at Clark Creek, which was the only site that exceeded the CCME guideline for dieldrin. The high levels of contaminants in some Salem area streams indicates the need for further study to assess the biological effects of these contaminants. Future monitoring in the Salem area could include bioassays using benthic invertebrates and the measurement of organochlorine compounds, including DDT, DDE, DDD, and dieldrin in fish tissue. Because resident fish may be consumed by humans and wildlife, fish tissue analyses would be helpful to determine the health risk associated with fish consumption.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS2008

Physicochemical properties and chemical characteristics of water, bed sediment, and mussel tissue from selected streams near the Redleg and Peason Ridge impact areas, Fort Polk Military Reservation, Louisiana, June 2001 - November 2003

At the request of the U.S. Army Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk, the U.S. Geological Survey collected and analyzed water, bed-sediment, and mussel-tissue samples from selected streams near the Redleg impact area (RIA) and Peason Ridge impact areas (PRIA) at the Fort Polk Military Reservation (Reservation), Louisiana. from June 2001 through November 2003. Samples were collected from 13 sites, including 2 reference sites. Water was analyzed for physicochemical properties; water and bed sediment were analyzed for major inorganic ions, cyanide, perchlorate, trace elements, total organic carbon, nutrients, and explosive compounds; and mussel tissue from three sites was analyzed for explosive compounds only. The two reference sites, one near the RIA and one near the PRIA, were selected to provide baseline data for these areas. Streams near the RIA were acidic and low in buffering capacity. with pH measurements ranging from 5.0 to 6.6. Cation concentrations were less than or equal to E3.3J mg/L (E, estimated; J, method blank contamination; milligrams per liter), and anion concentrations were less than or equal to E7.3 mg/L. Field measurements and major inorganic ions concentrations were similar to the RIA reference site and to previously sampled nearby streams, indicating streams near the RIA were typical of streams near the eastern part of the Main Post. Streams near the PRIA were slightly acidic to neutral and low in buffering capacity, with pH measurements ranging from 5.7 to 6.9. Cation concentrations were less than or equal to 6.2 mg/L, and anion concentrations were less than or equal to 16 mg/L. Streams near the PRIA were higher than the RIA for most physicochemical properties and constituents, hut typical of streams near the headwaters of the Calcasieu River. All concentrations of sulfate, chloride, and fluoride were less than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Secondary Drinking-Water Regulations (SDWR) of 250, 250, and 2.0 mg/L, respectively. Concentrations of cations calcium, magnesium. and potassium for sites near both the RIA and PRIA were higher in depositional bed-sediment samples than in bulk samples. Higher cation concentrations were likely due to higher clay and organic content in the depositional samples. The trace elements detected in the highest concentrations in water and bed sediment were aluminum, iron, and manganese. All aluminum concentrations in water were within the range or greater than the USEPA SDWR range from 50 to 200 ug/L (micrograms per liter). All but four iron concentrations in water exceeded the SDWR. Manganese concentrations in seven water samples at the RIA sites and four samples at the PRIA sites were greater than the SDWR. These concentrations of cations were consistent with soil characteristics and low pH measurements of stream water and rainfall in the area. All other trace-element concentrations in water were less than regulatory guidelines and regulations except the USEPA Maximum Contaminant Level Goal of 0 ug/L for arsenic and lead and 0.5 u/L for thallium. Arsenic, lead, and thallium concentrations were similar to those detected in blank samples or those reported for the reference sites. The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) has established bed-sediment guidelines for seven trace elements: arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, and zinc. No concentrations exceeded the CCME Probable Effect Level, and only one arsenic concentration of 8.87 mg/kg (milligrams per kilogram), in a depositional sample from one of the RIA sites, exceeded the CCME Interim Sediment Quality Guideline of 5.9 mg/kg. The median concentrations of total organic carbon in water were 5.3 mg/L at the RIA and 4.0 mg/L at the PRIA, and both concentrations were less than the average dissolved organic carbon concentration of 5.75 mg/L for all world rivers. All detected nutrient concentrations in water were less than USEPA guidelines and regulations. The largest nutrient concentrations in water and bed-sediment samples were total organic nitrogen, measured as total Kjeldahl nitrogen; they included a maximum concentration of 0.53 mg/L in water at the RIA sites, E0.38 mg/L in water at the PRIA sites, 294 mg/kg in hulk bed sediment. and 1,740 mg/kg in depositional bed sediment. Four explosive compounds, 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, RDX (hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5- triazine), and tetryl, were detected in water near the RIA; one compound, HMX (octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7- tetrazocine), was detected in bed sediment near the PRIA; and one compound, nitroglycerin, was detected in mussel tissue near the RIA. The most frequently detected explosive compound, RDX, was detected in 10 water samples from 5 sites near the RIA. Concentrations of explosive compounds in water were less than USEPA Health Advisories available for reference.

Louisiana↗
USGS2010

Investigation of submarine groundwater discharge along the tidal reach of the Caloosahatchee River, southwest Florida

The tidal reach of the Caloosahatchee River is an estuarine habitat that supports a diverse assemblage of biota including aquatic vegetation, shellfish, and finfish. The system has been highly modified by anthropogenic activity over the last 150 years (South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), 2009). For example, the river was channelized and connected to Lake Okeechobee in 1881 (via canal C-43). Subsequently, three control structures (spillway and locks) were installed for flood protection (S-77 and S-78 in the 1930s) and for saltwater-intrusion prevention (S-79, W.P. Franklin Lock and Dam in 1966). The emplacement of these structures and their impact to natural water flow have been blamed for water-quality problems downstream within the estuary (Flaig and Capece, 1998; SFWMD, 2009). Doering and Chamberlain (1999) found that the operation of these control structures caused large and often rapid variations in salinity during various times of the year. Variable salinities could have deleterious impacts on the health of organisms in the Caloosahatchee River estuary. Flow restriction along the Caloosahatchee has also been linked to surface-water eutrophication problems (Doering and Chamberlain, 1999; SFWMD, 2009) and bottom-sediment contamination (Fernandez and others, 1999). Sources of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous) that cause eutrophication are primarily from residential sources and agriculture, though wastewater-treatment-plant discharges can also play a major role (SFWMD, 2009). The pathway for many of these nutrients is by land runoff and direct discharge from stormwater drains. An often overlooked source of nutrients and other chemical constituents is from submarine groundwater discharge (SGD). SGD can be either a diffuse or point source (for example, submarine springs) of nutrients and other chemical constituents to coastal waters (Valiela and others, 1990; Swarzenski and others, 2001; 2006; 2007; 2008). SGD can be composed of either fresh or marine water or various mixed ratios of fresh and marine water (Martin and others, 2007). In coastal areas where water-table elevations (hydraulic gradients) are steep, such as in Hood Canal, Washington (Swarzenski and others, 2007; Simonds and others, 2008), groundwater entering the coastal marine waters can be fresh (~1-4 parts per thousand, ppt). SGD in coastal locations that have low relief (low hydraulic gradients) such as the study area or other locations in Florida are typically driven by tidal pumping (Reich and others, 2002; 2008; Swarzenski and others, 2008), and water advecting into surface water is composed of recirculated marine water mixed with either fresh or brackish groundwaters. The importance of SGD in the delivery of nutrients and trace elements to coastal environments has been shown to be both beneficial and deleterious to ecosystem health (Valiela and others, 1990). The logical step in studying SGD is to map areas where SGD occurs. Methods such as continuous surface-water radon-222 ( 222 Rn) mapping and electrical resistivity (continuous resistivity profiles, CRP) have been developed and used to identify potential SGD sites (Dulaiova and others, 2005; Swarzenski and others 2004; 2006; 2007; 2008; Reich and others, 2008). CRP data record subsurface, bulk-resistivity measurements to depths up to 25 meters (m). The bulk resistivity can be representative of changes in porewater salinity or in lithology (Reich and others, 2008; Swarzenski and others, 2008). Radon-222 (half-life = 3.28 days) is a natural tracer of groundwater, because sediments and rocks, containing uranium-bearing materials such as limestone and phosphatic material, continually produce 222 Rn. Rn-222 (also referred to simply as radon) is an ideal tracer, because there is a constant source. Since radon is a gas, 222 Rn does not build up in the surface water but rather evades directly to the atmosphere (Burnett and Dulaiova, 2003; Burnett and others, 2003; Dulaiova and Burnett, 2006).

Florida↗
USGS1996

Surface-water-quality assessment of the lower Kansas River basin, Kansas and Nebraska: Selected metals, arsenic, and phosphorus in streambed sediments of first- and second-order streams, 1987

The occurrence and geographic distribution of major metals and trace elements was assessed in the lower Kansas River Basin of Kansas and Nebraska by studying the concentrations of metals and nonmetallic elements in the less-than 63-micrometer-sized fraction of streambedsediment samples from 422 sites on first- and second-order streams. Median concentrations were the same order of magnitude as the geometric mean concentrations in soils of the western United States. Either threshold concentrations or upper percentile classes (greater than 50 percent of concentrations) were determined for 14 metals, arsenic, and phosphorus. Threshold concentrations were determined as the point that the slope of a normal-probability plot increases, indicating data from two different populations. Samples with a concentration greater than the threshold concentration indicated possible enrichment with respect to that particular element. Concentrations of the transition metals, which included chromium, cobalt, copper, manganese, nickel, and vanadium, generally were larger in the southeastern part of the study unit where Permian and Pennsylvanian shale and limestone predominate. The largest concentrations of the alkali metals, potassium and sodium, mainly were in the northwestern part of the study unit, which is an area of Quaternary loess deposits irrigated with ground water. Large concentrations of the alkaline-earth metal, barium, also were in the northwestern part of the study unit. Concentrations of the other alkaline-earth metals, calcium, magnesium, and strontium, were larger in the southern part of the basin, which is underlain by Permian and Pennsylvanian shale and limestone. The largest concentrations of arsenic and lead were mainly in the southeastern part of the study unit, an area of Permian and Pennsylvanian shale. Large concentrations of phosphorus in the northwestern part of the study unit probably were due to runoff from irrigated agricultural lands.

Kansas, Nebraska↗
USGS2000

Design of a shallow ground-water network to monitor agricultural chemicals, Lake Wales Ridge, central Florida

Extensive agricultural land use and dynamic hydraulic connections between the land surface and ground-water resources render many of Florida's aquifers vulnerable to chemical contamination. In these areas, there is a need to monitor shallow ground water for agricultural chemicals to evaluate potential migration of the chemicals to the subsurface and to deeper aquifers, and to assess the effects of agricultural practices on ground-water quality. Historically, efforts to monitor water-table aquifers have been minimal compared with monitoring deeper aquifers used for municipal drinking-water supply. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has proposed the establishment of long-term, water-quality networks to monitor shallow ground water in agricultural areas of Florida. These networks will bridge the current information gap between local-scale short-duration field studies, which are required for pesticide licensing, and statewide monitoring of deeper ground-water resources. Laboratory (experimental) and short-term field evaluations of the transport of agricultural chemicals to the subsurface contain some degree of uncertainty due to widespread variations in environmental conditions. The proposed regional-scale shallow ground-water networks will serve as "early warning" networks to avoid contamination of ground-water resources. The objectives of these shallow ground-water networks are to provide information for early detection of pesticides and nitrate in the subsurface, and for evaluating temporal trends in concentrations in relation to changes in land use and agricultural practices. Information on trends is important to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, State agencies, and agricultural managers, and is an integral part of Florida's Pesticide Management Plan, which evaluates the effectiveness of implementing "best management practices" to minimize environmental impacts. Lake Wales Ridge in Polk and Highlands Counties has been identified by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as a pilot study area for implementing a regional shallow ground-water network. Information gained from designing the Lake Wales Ridge Network will be used to develop plans as similar networks are considered for other areas of Florida. Lake Wales Ridge is heavily utilized for citrus production, but the well-drained, clean sands underlying the region, coupled with a hydraulic connection with deeper karst formations, render the area extremely vulnerable to the transport and migration of agricultural chemicals within the subsurface. The network design for Lake Wales Ridge was developed on the basis of the objectives of monitoring, factors affecting aquifer vulnerability, probability (statistical) sampling theory, and specifications regarding well construction, sampling, and laboratory analysis. The network will provide estimates of regional pesticide and nitrate concentrations in targeted ground water, monitor for trends over time, and will provide baseline, regional-scale information. The areas targeted for sampling were citrus groves located on soils classified as vulnerable to leaching of agricultural chemicals, and ground water in close proximity to the water table. The duration of monitoring is planned to be long term. Chemicals targeted for monitoring include selected nutrients, trace elements, and pesticides used for citrus management. Standardization of field sampling and laboratory methods, and construction of a computerized data-base repository will be important for long-term utility of the data. The proposed network design consists of existing and newly drilled wells. Existing wells were evaluated as candidates for the network based on location and well-construction specifications for water-quality monitoring. Using probability selection techniques, new well locations were selected in areas that lacked adequate existing wells. Implementation of the network will occur in phases. Quarterly sampling of 13 Phase I wells commenced in April 1999. An additional 11 Phase II wells were added to the network in April 2000. Proposed locations have been identified for 8 Phase III wells. Future topics for study include a regional water-quality analysis, a network design evaluation, and consideration of local-scale studies needed to support regional monitoring efforts. An analysis of historical water-quality data for Lake Wales Ridge, including Phase I wells, is needed for the purpose of examining trends, providing a preliminary description of spatial and short-term variability in water quality, and evaluating the proposed network design for cost effectively meeting program objectives. Local-scale, process-oriented studies are needed to provide important information for evaluating regional water-quality data. Coordination between individuals conducting such local-scale studies and those interpreting regional sampling results will be considered as a component of the network design, and will require coordination between multiple agencies.

Florida↗
USGS2026

Understanding the occurrence and distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in surface waters of the nontidal Passaic River Basin

This study, completed by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission (NJDWSC), was designed to characterize the occurrence and distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in surface waters of the nontidal Passaic River Basin in New Jersey that have the potential to affect public-drinking-water quality. In 2025, 37 sites in the Wanaque, Ramapo, Pompton, and Passaic River watersheds were sampled in January, March, July, and September under base-flow conditions and a subset of sites was sampled during two rain events. Samples were analyzed for 40 individual PFAS and total organic carbon and a subset of samples was analyzed for 1,4-dioxane and trace elements. Fifteen PFAS were detected at least once, with individual concentrations ranging from 0.42 to 28 nanograms per liter (ng/L; median, 2.8 ng/L). Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were widespread and detected in 100 and 97 percent of the samples, respectively. Concentrations of PFOA and PFOS ranged from 1.2 to 28 ng/L (median, 7.7 ng/L) and from 0.52 to 12 ng/L (median, 3.8 ng/L), respectively. Generally, concentrations were lower in the Wanaque and Ramapo River watersheds compared to the Pompton and Passaic River watersheds. Concentrations of PFOA and PFOS were highest in July and September when flows were low. During rain events, median concentrations of PFOS were elevated compared to those observed under base-flow conditions, indicating potential inputs from non-point sources. To understand potential drivers of PFAS concentrations, land cover and potential PFAS sources were summarized for each sampling site, and an accumulated wastewater model was used to estimate the percentage of wastewater from upstream municipal and industrial sources in all flowlines of the Passaic River Basin. Developed land, the number of potential sources, and the mean-annual accumulated wastewater percentage were highly correlated with PFAS concentrations and Deciduous Forests were negatively related to concentrations. Data provided by this study can be used by water purveyors and resource managers to make treatment and mitigation decisions to minimize PFAS in local surface waters used as drinking-water resources.

New Jersey, New York↗
USGS2009

Occurrence of Selected Nutrients, Trace Elements, and Organic Compounds in Streambed Sediment in the Lower Chena River Watershed near Fairbanks, Alaska, 2002-03

In 2002-03, the U.S. Geological Survey collected samples of streambed sediment at 18 sites in the lower Chena River watershed for analysis of selected nutrients, traces elements, and organic compounds. The purpose of the project was to provide Federal, State, and local agencies as well as neighborhood committees, with information for consideration in plans to improve environmental conditions in the watershed. The exploratory sampling program included analysis of streambed sediment from the Chena River and Chena Slough, a tributary to the Chena River. Results were compared to streambed-sediment guidelines for the protection of aquatic life and to 2001-02 sediment data from Noyes Slough, a side channel of the lower Chena River. The median total phosphorus concentration in Chena Slough sediment samples, 680 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), was two orders of magnitude greater than median total phosphorus concentration in Chena River sediment samples of 5.2 mg/kg. Median concentrations of chloride and sulfate also were greater in Chena Slough samples. Low concentrations of nitrate were detected in most of the Chena Slough samples; nitrate concentrations were below method reporting limits or not detected in Chena River sediment samples. Streambed-sediment samples were analyzed for 24 trace elements. Arsenic, nickel, and zinc were the only trace elements detected in concentrations that exceeded probable-effect levels for the protection of aquatic life. Concentrations of arsenic in Chena Slough samples ranged from 11 to 70 mg/kg and concentrations in most of the samples exceeded the probable-effect guideline for arsenic of 17 mg/kg. Arsenic concentrations in samples from the Chena River ranged from 9 to 12 mg/kg. The background level for arsenic in the lower Chena River watershed is naturally elevated because of significant concentrations of arsenic in local bedrock and ground water. Sources of elevated concentrations of zinc in one sample, and of nickel in two samples, are unknown. With the exception of elevated arsenic levels in samples from Chena Slough, the occurrence and concentration of trace elements in the streambed sediments of Chena Slough and Chena River were similar to those in Noyes Slough sediment. Sediment samples were analyzed for 78 semivolatile organic compounds and 32 organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Low concentrations of dimethylnaphthalene and p-Cresol were detected in most Chena Slough and Chena River sediment samples. The number of semivolatile organic compounds detected ranged from 5 to 21 in most Chena Slough sediment samples. In contrast, three or fewer semivolatile organic compounds were detected in Chena River sediment samples, most likely because chemical-matrix interference resulted in elevated reporting limits for organochlorine compounds in the Chena River samples. Low concentrations of fluoranthene, pyrene, and phenanthrene were detected in Chena Slough sediment. Relatively low concentrations of DDT or its degradation products, DDD and DDE, were detected in all Chena Slough samples. Concentrations of total DDT (DDT+DDD+DDE) in two Chena Slough sediment samples exceeded the effectsrange median aquatic-life criteria of 46.1 micrograms per kilogram (ug/kg). DDT concentrations in Chena River streambed-sediment samples were less than 20 ug/kg. Low concentrations of PCB were detected in two Chena Slough streambed-sediment samples. None of the concentrations of the polychlorinated biphenyls or semivolatile organic compounds for which the samples were analyzed exceeded available guidelines for the protection of aquatic life. With the exception of elevated total DDT in two Chena Slough samples, the occurrence and concentration of organochlorine compounds in Chena Slough and Chena River sediment were similar to those in samples collected from Noyes Slough in 2001-02.

Scientific Investigations Report↗
USGS2022

Occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and inorganic analytes in groundwater and surface water used as sources for public water supply in West Virginia

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely observed anthropogenic compounds found in water supplies worldwide and increasingly linked with adverse health effects in humans. In 2019, the West Virginia Legislature recognized the contamination risk to public source-water supplies posed by PFAS and passed a resolution that required a statewide PFAS study. The purpose of the resolution was to understand the occurrence and distribution of PFAS contamination throughout the State’s rivers, lakes, and groundwater aquifers. The U.S. Geological Survey has worked in cooperation with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources to collect raw-water samples at 279 public-water systems across West Virginia. Public-water systems sampled for this study were identified by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources and included all community water systems in the State and all daycares and schools that operate their own water systems. Raw source water was sampled for both groundwater and surface-water sites at the first available tap in the public-water system, prior to any treatment. One hundred and seventy-three samples were collected from groundwater sources and 106 samples were collected from surface-water sources. Parameters collected at the time of sampling included pH, specific conductance, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and alkalinity. PFAS was analyzed at all 279 sites, major ions and trace elements were analyzed at 272 sites, and nutrients were analyzed at 270 sites. The type of source water used for public supply in West Virginia is generally dependent on geology with more groundwater sites sampled in high-yield aquifers such as karst and alluvium. Surface-water sites were more evenly distributed throughout the State and are often the only source used in areas underlain by lower-yielding fractured-rock aquifers. Twenty-four percent of the sites sampled for this study had at least 1 PFAS detected, 47 of which were in groundwater sources and 20 in surface-water sources. Five sites exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s health advisory for combined perfluorooctanoate and perfluorooctanesulfonate concentrations of 70 nanograms per liter. These sites were located in highly susceptible karst and alluvial groundwater aquifers on the east and west sides of the State. Higher PFAS concentrations were more commonly found in groundwater than surface-water sources, and high concentrations and PFAS detections were generally concentrated in the Ohio River Valley and West Virginia’s eastern panhandle. PFAS was rarely detected in groundwater sites in fractured-rock aquifers and abandoned underground coal-mine aquifers in the Appalachian Plateaus Physiographic Province had very little PFAS detected. These data represent a baseline summary of source water in West Virginia. Additional studies may be needed to understand exposure to private homeowners with domestic-water sources, variability of PFAS concentrations over time, and PFAS in finished drinking water as evaluated by current and future drinking-water regulations.

West Virginia↗