Preliminary assessment of water quality and its relation to hydro-geology and land use: Potomac-Raritan-Magothy aquifer system, New Jersey
The relation of water quality to hydrogeology and land use was evaluated using analysis of water samples from 71 wells in the northern part of the Potomac-Raritan-Magothy aquifer system in New Jersey. The sampling network was evaluated for variations in hydrogeology. Well depths, pumping rates, and the number of wells in the confined and unconfined parts of the aquifer system did not differ among land-use groups. The influences of hydrogeologic factors on water quality were evaluated without considering land use. Shallow wells had the highest specific conductance and major ion concentrations. Water from wells in the unconfined part of the aquifer system had the highest dissolved organic carbon concentration. Dissolved oxygen and nitrate concentrations were lowest, trace metals concentrations were highest, and phenols were detected most frequently in groundwater from undeveloped land. Major ions and trace metals concentrations were lowest, dissolved oxygen and copper concentrations were highest, and pesticides were most frequently detected in groundwater from agricultural land. Nitrate concentrations were highest and orthophosphate, nitrite, and purgeable organics were detected most frequently in groundwater from urban land. These water quality data were compared to data from the same aquifer system in southern New Jersey. Frequencies of detection of purgeable organics among land-use groups were similar in the northern and southern areas. 69 refs., 23 figs., 16 tab.
- OSTI ID:
- 6651642
- Resource Relation:
- Related Information: USGS Water Resources Investigation Report 87-4023
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GROUND WATER
CONTAMINATION
NEW JERSEY
WATER QUALITY
AQUIFERS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
HYDROLOGY
LAND USE
METALS
MONITORING
NITRATES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PESTICIDES
TRACE AMOUNTS
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FEDERAL REGION II
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
USA
WATER
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540350 - Environment
Aquatic- Site Resource & Use Studies- (1990-)