Groundwater contamination in the United States / Ruth Patrick, Emily Ford, John Quarles.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Patrick, Ruth.

Contributor:

Ford, Emily.

Quarles, John.

Pye, Veronica I.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Groundwater--Pollution--United States.

Groundwater.

Groundwater--Pollution.

United States.

Physical Description:

xxv, 513 pages : illustrations, ; 24 cm

Edition:

Second edition.

Place of Publication:

Philadelphia : University of Pennsylvania Press, [1987]

Summary:

Groundwater Contamination in the United States provides a comprehensive overview of the groundwater problem, including a detailed discussion of the nature of groundwater, the aquifers that hold it, and the processes of its contamination. It also assesses the extent and nature of contamination across the United States and its effects on public health.

This newly revised edition provides information on the most recent research and technology, and reviews federal and state laws, regulations, and strategies of management being proposed and enacted for the management of groundwater contamination.

Groundwater Contamination in the United States is essential to researchers, legislators, policy makers, lobbyists, and citizens concerned about one of this nation's most valuable resources.

Contents:

1 Groundwater Contamination in the United States: An Executive Summary of the Technical Report 1

Importance of the Groundwater Resource 2

What is Groundwater? 2

Types of Aquifers 2

Factors Affecting the Natural Quality of Water 3

Relationships Among Groundwater Quality and Quantity, Surface Water, and Land Use 4

Sources of Groundwater Contamination 4

Types of Groundwater Contamination 5

Attenuation and Movement of Contaminants in Groundwater 5

Risks Posed by Different Types of Contaminants 6

Geographical Extent of the Problem 7

Severity of the Problem 8

Monitoring for Groundwater Contamination 9

Measures for Protecting Groundwater 9

Aquifer Rehabilitation 10

EPA 1984 Ground-Water Protection Strategy 11

Classification of Aquifers 12

Federal Regulations Applicable to Groundwater 12

State and Local Groundwater Policies and Management Strategies 13

2 The Groundwater Resource 17

What is Groundwater? 17

Groundwater Movement 18

Occurrence and Natural Quality of Groundwater 21

Use of Groundwater 28

Profile of an Aquifer 32

Uses of the Ogallala Groundwater Resources in a Few Selected States 35

3 Groundwater Contamination 53

Movement of Contaminants 54

Sources of Contamination 56

Changes in the Composition of Groundwater Due to Natural Processes 58

Contamination Due to Waste Disposal Practices 59

Individual Sewage Disposal Systems 61

Land Disposal of Solid Wastes 63

Collection, Treatment, and Disposal of Municipal Wastewater 67

Industrial and Other Wastewater Impoundments 67

Land Spreading of Sludge 71

Brine Disposal Associated With the Petroleum Industry 72

Disposal of Mine Wastes 73

Deep-Well Disposal of Liquid Wastes 75

Disposal of Wastes from Animal Feedlots 77

Contamination From Radioactive Sources 78

Other Sources of Contamination 81

Accidental Leaks and Spills 81

Agricultural Activities 83

Mining 87

Highway Deicing Salts 87

Atmospheric Contaminants and Acid Rain 88

Infiltration of Surface Water 88

Development of Groundwater 88

Improper Construction and Maintenance of Wells 89

4 The Severity of Groundwater Contamination 104

Estimates of the Percentage of Groundwater That is Contaminated 109

Population Affected by Groundwater Contamination 112

5 The Effects of Groundwater Contamination on Public Health 114

Risk Assessment and Toxicological Testing 115

Incidence of Disease 118

Acute Illness Due to Contaminated Groundwater 126

Acute Illness Due to Pathogenic Contaminants 126

Bacteria 126

Viruses 132

Parasites 134

Acute Illness Due to the Chemical Content of Water 138

Chronic Effects of Contaminated Groundwater on Public Health 140

Chronic Disease Due to the Mineral Content of Groundwater 140

Chronic Disease Due to Contamination by Toxic Organic Chemicals 145

Health Effects Due to Radionuclides in Groundwater 152

6 The Geographical Extent of Groundwater Contamination 155

State Summaries Compiled From 1981-1986 For This Report 170

Arizona 178

California 179

Connecticut 187

Florida 189

Idaho 191

Illinois 193

Massachusetts 194

Montana 196

Nebraska 197

New Jersey 200

New Mexico 203

North Dakota 209

Oregon 209

Pennsylvania 212

Rhode Island 214

South Carolina 215

Texas 217

Vermont 218

Washington 220

7 Monitoring the Quality of Groundwater 229

EPA Ground-Water Monitoring Strategy 230

Federal Statutes Requiring Groundwater Monitoring 232

Federal, State, and Private Organizations That Carry Out Monitoring Activities 233

Federal 233

State 234

Basic Procedures in Setting Up a Groundwater Monitoring Program 235

Initial Site Assessment 236

Selecting Parameters 237

Types of Wells 237

Monitoring Network 249

Well Drilling Techniques 249

Casing Materials 250

Sampling Procedures 251

Evaluation of Data 251

Monitoring Costs 252

Data Management and Information Retrieval 252

Possibilities for Improving Monitoring Systems 254

Research Needs 255

8 General Practices for Preventing and Controlling Groundwater Contamination 260

Disposal of Hazardous Wastes 263

Septic Tanks 265

Agricultural Practices 266

Accidental Leaks and Spills 268

Land Spreading and Spraying of Sludges 270

Mining 270

Highway Deicing Salts 272

Infiltration of Surface Water 272

Brine Disposal Associated With the Petroleum Industry 273

Development of Groundwater 273

Contamination From Radioactive Sources 274

9 Remedial Action and the Rehabilitation of Aquifers 276

In Situ Remedial Techniques 277

In Situ Detoxification 277

Biological Degradation 278

Chemical Detoxification 278

Physical Detoxification 279

Natural Detoxification 280

In Situ Stabilization 280

In Situ Immobilization 280

Withdrawal Treatment Techniques 282

Methods of Withdrawal for Treatment 282

Treatment Methods 283

Physical Treatment 284

Chemical and Biological Treatment 284

Final Disposal 285

Determination of Suitable Remedial Management Alternatives 286

10 Proposed Strategies for the Protection of Groundwater 295

EPA 1984 Ground-Water Protection Strategy 295

Strengthen State Groundwater Programs 296

Address Groundwater Contamination Problems of National Concern 296

Create a Policy Framework for Guiding EPA Groundwater Programs 298

Strengthen Internal Groundwater Organization 300

Recommendations of the National Groundwater Policy Forum for the Control of Groundwater Contamination 301

Recommendations of the Environmental and Energy Study Institute for Groundwater Protection 303

Recommended Policies and Practices of the National Wildlife Federation for the Protection of Groundwater 304

Summary of the Chemical Manufacturers' Association Program for State Groundwater Management 305

Groundwater Management Planning Process 306

Objectives and Standards 307

Protection Measures 307

Groundwater Remediation 308

Groundwater Monitoring 308

Criteria and Recommendations for Effective Groundwater Quality Protection by the Committee on Ground Water Quality Protection 309

Criteria 309

Recommendations 311

Information Base 311

Classification 311

Groundwater Quality Standards 311

Control of Contamination Sources 312

Implementation of Groundwater Protection Programs 313

11 Aquifer Classification 316

The Process of Classification 318

Definition of Aquifer Boundaries 318

Groundwater Classification 319

EPA Aquifer Classification System 320

State Aquifer Classification Systems 321

Connecticut 322

Florida 324

Maine 327

Massachusetts 328

Montana 329

New Jersey 334

New Mexico 339

New York 341

North Carolina 352

Rhode Island 355

South Carolina 356

Vermont 357

Wyoming 359

Summary of State Aquifer Classification Systems 366

12 Federal Statutes Relevant to the Protection of Groundwater 368

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 371

Statutory Goals 371

Overview of Waste Management Programs Impacting Groundwater 372

Subtitle C

Industrial Hazardous Waste 372

RCRA Operating Standards and Groundwater Protection 374

Bans on Liquids in Landfills and Land Disposal 376

Imminent Hazard Authority 377

State Role 377

Solid Waste Disposal Program 378

Leaking Underground Storage Tanks 380

Groundwater Commission 381

Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 381

Drinking Water Standards 381

Underground Injection Wells 382

Sole Source Aquifers 383

Wellhead Protection Areas 383

State Primacy 384

Imminent Hazard Authority 385

Clean Water Act of 1977 385

Effluent Limitations and Water Quality Standards 386

Non-Point Source Pollution 386

Information and Guidelines 387

Imminent Hazard Authority 388

Studies and Grants 388

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 388

Groundwater Response Actions 389

Liability 389

National Contingency

Plan 390

Groundwater Cleanup 391

Toxic Substances Control Act 392

Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 392

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act 393

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 394

13 State and Local Groundwater Quality Protection Programs 396

Bases for State Groundwater Quality Protection Programs 397

Specific Sources of Groundwater Contamination 399

Industrial Liquid Waste Impoundments 399

Landfills 399

Septic Tanks 400

Municipal Wastewater Systems 400

Land Spreading of Pollutants 401

Mining Wastes 402

Leaks and Spills from Pipelines, Storage Tanks, and Vehicles 402

Deicing Salts 403

Saline Intrusion into Groundwater 404

Construction and Operation of Wells 404

Agricultural Activities 405

State Groundwater Protection Programs, Policies, Strategies, Laws, Regulations, and Institutional Arrangements 406

Alabama 406

Arizona 407

Arkansas 407

California 408

Colorado 409

Connecticut 410

Delaware 412

Florida 412

Georgia 414

Idaho 416

Illinois 419

Indiana 420

Iowa 420

Kansas 423

Kentucky 425

Louisiana 426

Maine 427

Maryland and the District of Columbia 430

Massachusetts 430

Michigan 432

Minnesota 433

Mississippi 434

Missouri 436

Montana 437

Nebraska 439

Nevada 442

New Hampshire 445

New Jersey 447

New Mexico 450

New York 451

Upper New York State 452

Long Island 453

North Carolina 457

North Dakota 459

Ohio 460

Oklahoma 462

Oregon 463

Pennsylvania 466

Rhode Island 467

South Carolina 469

South Dakota 470

Tennessee 471

Texas 472

Utah 472

Vermont 473

Virginia 474

Washington 476

West Virginia 476

Wisconsin 477

Wyoming 479

Table 2-1 Water Balance of the World 18

Table 2-2 Summary Appraisals of Groundwater, by Region 24

Table 2-3 Classification Based on Total Dissolved Solids 25

Table 2-4 Classification Based on Dissolved Inorganic Constituents in Groundwater 26

Table 2-5 Groundwater Withdrawals as a Percentage of Total Freshwater Withdrawals for Rural Domestic Supply 29

Table 2-6 Historical Trends in U.S. Groundwater Use 30

Table 2-7 U.S. Groundwater Use: 1975, 1980 31

Table 2-8 Water Use in U.S. Communities 31

Table 2-9 Interior Residential Water Use 32

Table 3-1 Sources of Groundwater Contamination 57

Table 3-2 Inorganic Substances Found in Groundwater 60

Table 3-3 Characteristics of Domestic Sewage 63

Table 3-4 Summary of Leachate Characteristics Based on 20 Samples from Municipal Solid Wastes 65.

Notes:

Original ed. by Veronica I. Pye, Ruth Patrick, and John Quarles.

Includes index.

Bibliography: page.

Related Work:

Pye, Veronica I. Groundwater contamination in the United States.

ISBN:

0812280792

0812212568

OCLC:

16406958