USGS

Contaminants and Drinking-Water
Sources in 2001: Recent Findings of the U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 00-510

By Glenn G. Patterson and Michael J. Focazio

The full report is available in pdf.  Links to the pdf.

CONTENTS

Abstract

Introduction

Contaminant Occurrence and Distribution Data

Pesticides

Volatile organic compounds

Arsenic

Microbes

Radionuclides

Research related to contaminant occurrence and distribution

 

Source-Water Assessments

Source-area characteristics of large public surface-water supplies

California—Disinfection by-product precursors

New Jersey—Vulnerability of public-supply wells to contamination

Michigan—Arsenic in ground water, and statewide source-water assessment

Texas—Statewide source-water assessment

New Hampshire—Arsenic in relation to rock type

Research related to source-water assessments

References

ABSTRACT

As the Nation's principal earth-science agency, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) studies numerous issues related to contamination of drinking-water sources. The work includes monitoring to determine the spatial and temporal distribution of contaminants; research to determine sources, transport, transformations, and fate of contaminants, and assessments of vulnerability. Much of the work is conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments, to help provide a scientific basis for resource management and regulation. Examples of recent results are presented for two broad categories of drinking-water projects: occurrence studies, and source-water assessments.


PDF version of Open File Report 00-510:


Version 2 (1.3MB)

Errata Sheet for version 1 (8KB)

Version 1 (1.3MB)


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For additional information write to:

Chief, Office of Water Quality
U.S. Geological Survey
412 National Center
Reston, VA 20192

Copies of this report may be purchased from:

U.S. Geological Survey
Branch of Information Services
Box 25286
Federal Center
Denver, CO 80225




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