Source Water Protection - GWPC · Nutrient contamination and public water supply 3. Nutrients and groundwater in the United States 4. Successes and efforts to remediate nutrient contamination

Nutrients in Groundwater, and

Public Water Supply

Protection

GWPC Annual Forum

September 28, 2015

Lee Geologic

[email protected]

717.991.5620

Joseph J. Lee, Jr., P.G

1. Nutrients characteristics

2. Nutrient contamination and public water supply

3. Nutrients and groundwater in the United States

4. Successes and efforts to remediate nutrient

contamination of groundwater

5. Importance of understanding groundwater movement

in developing remediation and protection strategies

6. Future challenges to groundwater and implications for

water supply protection

KEY MESSAGES

Nutrient Pollution in the United States

• 20% of the nations lakes have high levels of N & P

• 30% of streams have high levels of N %P

• 15,000 water bodies have 1 or more nutrient-related

impairments

• Drinking water violations for nitrates have doubled in

the last decade (MCL - 10 mg/l)

• Nutrient pollution has been increasin

Nutrient Pollution Sources

• Atmospheric deposition – car & power plant emissions

• Fertilizer runoff

• Wastewater discharge

• Storm water runoff

• Failing Septic systems and

• land application

Impacts of Nutrient Pollution

•Disinfection by-product & methemoglobinemia (blue baby

syndrome)

•Co-occuring contaminants (pathogens, pesticides,

industrial chemicals)

•Toxic algal blooms (neuro-toxins, paralytic, & diarrehtic

effects)

• Increased treatment costs

•Recreation and tourism economic impacts

•Widespread water quality impairments

•Low dissolved oxygen levels (hypoxia/anoxia)

•Decreased species diversity and increased species

vulnerability

• Significant habitat loss (seagrasses & submerged aquatic

vegetation)

US EPA, The State-EPA Nutrient Innovations Task Group Report August 2009

Tools to Address Nutrient Pollution

• Point source control

• Non-point source controls

• Stream assessments

• Total Maximum Daily Load development

• Nutrient management plans

• Bank & Trade programs

Other Tools & Strategies

• USDA Nutrient Management Guidance recognizes

critical groundwater and water uses, namely wellhead

protection areas

• NRCS Funding for conservation measures in wellhead

protection areas

• USDA funding focusing on targeted watershed

improvements

• US EPA identification of complementary authorities

and tools in the CWA & SDWA

Map of EPA Nutrient Pollution Reduction Efforts

http://www2.epa.gov/nutrientpollution

Octoraro

Creek

Watershed

Chesapeake

Bay

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78 79 8 0 8 1 8 2 8 3 8 4 8 5 8 6 8 7 8 8 8 9 9 0 9 1 9 2 9 3 9 4 9 5 9 6 9 7 9 8 9 9 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 3 0 4

NIT

RA

TE

(a

s N

) m

g/L

MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM

OCTORARO RESERVOIR INTAKE 1978-2004OCTORARO RESERVOIR INTAKE

1978-2004

Conceptual Model Groundwater Movement

Watershed Divided into Sections for Model

World Population Increase = Demand for Increased

Agricultural production

Time of Travel Allows Development of Effective

Mitigation for Best Water Quality

Climate Change Implications for

Groundwater

• rising sea levels = salt water intrusion

• decreasing water quality

• increased demand for groundwater

• changes in recharge rates

Implications of Temperature & precipitation changes

World Population Increase = Demand for Increased

Agricultural production

United Nations:

7 Billion 2012

9.4 Billion 2050

Lee Geologic

[email protected]

717.991.5620

Joseph J. Lee, Jr., P.G