kiwibird
Editor, Senior Moderator
In 1997, eight karst springs and five
private wells were monitored, generating 48 samples. In
1998, nine karst springs and five private wells were tested
generating 49 samples. The results of the two-year sur-
vey indicate that both wells and springs showed detec-
tions of pesticide contamination; however, karst springs
yielded the highest levels of pesticide contamination. The
survey found that karst springs are particularly vulner-
able to contamination from agricultural pesticides (atra-
zine, simazine, metolachlor, and acetochlor). Two karst
spring samples taken from Logan County's Mud Spring
in 1998 found levels more than twice the drinking water
standard for atrazine.
A recently published study of nitrate/nitrogen contami-
nation by the Kentucky Interagency Ground-Water Moni-
toring Network found 9.7% of the 391 hand-dug wells
tested had nitrate levels above Maximum Contaminant
Levels (MCL) while 3.7% of the 2,903 constructed wells
(depth 51 ft. to 500 ft.) sampled had unsafe levels of ni-
trate/nitrogen contamination. The study also sampled
1,108 springs in Kentucky and found 3% had nitrate/ni-
trogen levels above the MCL.
http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cach...+"northern+kentucky"&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=nz
Three of the stations had a pH value less than 6 or greater than 9. The average pH value of all samples, 6.5, falls within the neutral range of between 6 and 9. A pH value less than 6 signifies acidic conditions in which toxic heavy metals are more soluble, and therefore more available for uptake by aquatic life. At pH values greater than 9, toxic ammonia concentrations increase. The three KRWW sites with 2004 readings less than 6 or greater than nine were:
K224 (pH = 9.5) ? Unnamed spring, Woodford County
K251 (pH = 5.8) ? Muddy Creek, Madison County
K282 (pH = 4.5) ? Cane Run, Mercer County
......
many with elevated coliform counts mainly in the middle of the state of Kentucky....
Nutrient Sampling
In addition to general chemical data, general nutrient data (nitrate-nitrogen, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and sulfate) were also collected at each sample site during the month of September. A summary of the nutrient data collected during this period is provided in Table 2.8. Two stations had nitrate-nitrogen readings greater than 10 mg/L. As illustrated in Figure 2.5, the highest nitrate-nitrogen readings were recorded at stations K075 (Town Branch in Fayette County) and K260 (Dreaming Creek in Madison County).
As shown in Figure 2.6, eight stations had phosphorus readings in excess of 1.0 mg/l. The highest recorded phosphorus reading was 7.32 mg/l which occurred at station K283 (West Hickman in Jessamine County). These readings are similar to readings from previous sampling efforts and represent a continuing nutrient problem in the central Bluegrass Region.
private wells were monitored, generating 48 samples. In
1998, nine karst springs and five private wells were tested
generating 49 samples. The results of the two-year sur-
vey indicate that both wells and springs showed detec-
tions of pesticide contamination; however, karst springs
yielded the highest levels of pesticide contamination. The
survey found that karst springs are particularly vulner-
able to contamination from agricultural pesticides (atra-
zine, simazine, metolachlor, and acetochlor). Two karst
spring samples taken from Logan County's Mud Spring
in 1998 found levels more than twice the drinking water
standard for atrazine.
A recently published study of nitrate/nitrogen contami-
nation by the Kentucky Interagency Ground-Water Moni-
toring Network found 9.7% of the 391 hand-dug wells
tested had nitrate levels above Maximum Contaminant
Levels (MCL) while 3.7% of the 2,903 constructed wells
(depth 51 ft. to 500 ft.) sampled had unsafe levels of ni-
trate/nitrogen contamination. The study also sampled
1,108 springs in Kentucky and found 3% had nitrate/ni-
trogen levels above the MCL.
http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cach...+"northern+kentucky"&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=nz
Three of the stations had a pH value less than 6 or greater than 9. The average pH value of all samples, 6.5, falls within the neutral range of between 6 and 9. A pH value less than 6 signifies acidic conditions in which toxic heavy metals are more soluble, and therefore more available for uptake by aquatic life. At pH values greater than 9, toxic ammonia concentrations increase. The three KRWW sites with 2004 readings less than 6 or greater than nine were:
K224 (pH = 9.5) ? Unnamed spring, Woodford County
K251 (pH = 5.8) ? Muddy Creek, Madison County
K282 (pH = 4.5) ? Cane Run, Mercer County
......
many with elevated coliform counts mainly in the middle of the state of Kentucky....
Nutrient Sampling
In addition to general chemical data, general nutrient data (nitrate-nitrogen, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and sulfate) were also collected at each sample site during the month of September. A summary of the nutrient data collected during this period is provided in Table 2.8. Two stations had nitrate-nitrogen readings greater than 10 mg/L. As illustrated in Figure 2.5, the highest nitrate-nitrogen readings were recorded at stations K075 (Town Branch in Fayette County) and K260 (Dreaming Creek in Madison County).
As shown in Figure 2.6, eight stations had phosphorus readings in excess of 1.0 mg/l. The highest recorded phosphorus reading was 7.32 mg/l which occurred at station K283 (West Hickman in Jessamine County). These readings are similar to readings from previous sampling efforts and represent a continuing nutrient problem in the central Bluegrass Region.