Abstract
A regional-scale groundwater study was conducted over a 2-year period to assess the extent of nitrate contamination and source identification for southern Baldwin County, AL. Groundwater wells were sampled and analyzed for nitrate and a host of other geochemical parameters which revealed that extensive areas within aquifer zone A2 exhibited nitrate concentrations exceeding regulatory limits. Spatial iso-concentration maps of nitrate were constructed using ArcGIS software to determine the extent and severity of contamination for the aquifers underlying southern Baldwin County with the primary interest focused on the heavily utilized aquifer zone A2. Nitrate levels in the central and northeastern portion of the study area were most extensive with maximum concentrations of 63 mg/L likely resulting from agricultural inputs. Several other small regions throughout the study area exhibited elevated levels of nitrate and chloride as high as 112 and 51.1 mg/L, respectively, and sources likely vary (i.e., residential septic systems, animal waste to agriculture). With the exception of a few groundwater samples, there was no obvious correlative relationship between chloride and nitrate concentration for data collected during the 2-year period. Collectively, a general inverse relationship between nitrate concentrations and well depth was observed for the aquifer system under investigation. The study provides an initial current data set of areas impacted or most vulnerable to nitrate contamination and initial assessment of likely sources of nitrate in the region.
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Acknowledgements
Funding for this project was provided in part by Award Number NA#04NOS4190029 through the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (as amended), administered by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and in conjunction with the Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (ADCNR), State Lands Division. Mr. Carl Ferraro from ADCNR played a primary role in initiating the funds for this project and providing invaluable assistance along the way. Dr. Enid Probst from ADEM, the Geological Survey of Alabama, and the Weeks Bay Reserve provided assistance and guidance during the data collection process. Special thanks are extended to the people of Baldwin County who generously provided access to their wells.
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Murgulet, D., Tick, G.R. Assessing the extent and sources of nitrate contamination in the aquifer system of southern Baldwin County, Alabama. Environ Geol 58, 1051–1065 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1585-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1585-5