Field Study to Compare Performance of Stainless Steel Research Monitoring Wellswith Existing on-Farm Drinking Water Wells in Measuring Pesticide and Nitrate Concentrations

摘要

The well comparison study reported was conducted to compare pesticide and nitratedata from specially designed stainless-steel research monitoring wells with data from nearby existing on-farm drinking water wells. Results could help to determine whether adequate information for contamination can be obtained from routinely installed drinking water wells for use in making decisions and for development of future study designs (e.g., should wells be monitoring wells or existing wells). The study was conducted in the Little Coharie Watershed, a 158.2 square mile area located in the coastal plain region of eastern North Carolina. A total of 99 wells were used for monitoring nitrate-nitrogen and screening for 21 pesticides over 6 sampling dates (Mar 93, Jul 93, Nov 93, Mar 94, May 94, and Jun 94). Data were collected from 21 research wells and 78 existing on-farm wells located at 74 sites within the watershed.