Nitrate and Pesticides in Shallow Ground Water in Agricultural
Watersheds

Exhibits

Exhibit 1, Nitrate in shallow ground water in agricultural watersheds of the
contiguous U.S., 1992-2003

40

30

20

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    Exhibit 2. Pesticides in shallow ground water in agricultural watersheds of the
    contiguous U.S., 1993-2003
    
    c
    a
    
    •d
    aj
    c.
    
    1 50
    
    100
    
    50
    
    Compounds detected
    
    Exceedances of human health
    benchmarks
    
    0	compounds
    
    1	or 2 compounds
    3 or 4 compounds
    
    5 or more compounds
    
    Coverage: 1,412 shallow wells in watersheds where agriculture is the predominant land use. These
    watersheds are within 34 major river basins and aquifer regions studied by the USCS NAWQA
    program.
    
    Samples were analyzed for 75 pesticides and eight pesticide degradation products. No wells
    exceeded benchmarks for more than one compound.
    
    Trend analysis has not been conducted because these data represent one cycle of sampling. For more
    information about uncertainty, variability, and statistical analysis, view the technical documentation
    for this indicator.
    
    Data source: Gilliom et al., 2007
    
    Introduction
    
    Nitrogen is a critical plant nutrient, and most nitrogen is used and reused by plants within an ecosystem (Vitousek et al.,
    2002), so in undisturbed ecosystems minimal "leakage" occurs into ground water, and concentrations are very low. When
    nitrogen fertilizers are applied in amounts greater than can be incorporated into crops or lost to the atmosphere, however,
    nitrate concentrations in ground water can increase. Elevated nitrogen levels in ground water also might result from
    disposal of animal waste or onsite septic systems. Nitrate contamination in shallow ground water raises potential concerns
    for human health where untreated shallow ground water is used for domestic water supply. High nitrate concentrations in
    drinking water pose a risk for methemoglobinemia, a condition that interferes with oxygen transport in the blood of
    infants.
    
    More than a billion pounds of pesticides (measured as pounds of active ingredient) are used in the U.S. each year to
    control weeds, insects, and other organisms that threaten or undermine human activities. About 80 percent of this total is
    used for agricultural purposes (U.S. EPA, 2011). Although pesticide use has resulted in increased crop production and
    other benefits, pesticide contamination of ground water poses potential risks to human health if contaminated ground
    water is used as a drinking water source—especially if untreated.
    
    This indicator reports on the occurrence of nitrate and pesticides in shallow ground water in watersheds where agriculture
    is the primary land use, according to criteria outlined in Gilliom et al. (2007). Ground water samples were collected by the
    U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS's) National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) program from 1 992 to 2003 (pesticide
    sampling began in 1993). NAWQA surveyed 51 major river basins and aquifer regions across the contiguous United States
    
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    during this period; the agricultural watersheds sampled were within 34 of these study units. Although agriculture is more
    prevalent in some parts of the country than in others, the watersheds were chosen to reflect a broad range of
    hydrogeologic conditions and agricultural activities. Ground water samples were collected from existing household wells
    where possible and new observation wells otherwise, all targeted at the uppermost aquifer and avoiding locations where
    ground water condition could be biased by point sources (e.g., directly downgradient from a septic system). Most of the
    wells sampled ground water from less than 20 feet below the water table, indicating as directly as possible the influence of
    land use on shallow ground water quality. To the extent feasible, the wells were intended to sample recently recharged
    water. Data analyses were based on one sample per well. Related indicators report concentrations of nutrients and
    pesticides in streams that drain agricultural watersheds (see the N and P in Agricultural Streams indicator and the
    Pesticides in Agricultural Streams indicator).
    
    The nitrate component of this indicator represents 1,423 wells. Results are compared with the federal drinking water
    standard of 10 mg/L, which is EPA's Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) to prevent methemoglobinemia (U.S. EPA, 2006).
    MCLs are enforceable standards representing the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in finished drinking water.
    MCLs take into account cost and best available treatment technology, but are set as close as possible to the level of the
    contaminant below which there is no known or expected risk to health, allowing for a margin of safety.
    
    Data on 75 pesticides and eight pesticide degradation products were collected from 1,412 of the wells in the NAWQA
    study. These 83 chemicals account for approximately 78 percent of the total agricultural pesticide application in the United
    States by weight during the study period (Gilliom et al., 2007). Three types of U.S. EPA human health-related standards
    and guidelines were used to evaluate pesticide data: Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) (as described above), Cancer
    Risk Concentrations (CRCs), and Lifetime Health Advisories (HA-Ls). In all three cases, the standard and guideline levels are
    concentrations pertaining to lifetime exposure through drinking water. The CRC is a guideline for potential carcinogens
    associated with a specified cancer risk of 1 in 1,000,000, based on drinking water exposure over a 70-year lifetime. The
    HA-L is an advisory guideline for drinking water exposure over a 70-year lifetime, considering non-carcinogenic adverse
    health effects. Specific standards and guidelines used for this indicator are listed in Gilliom et al. (2007), and additional
    information on these types of benchmarks, their derivation, and their underlying assumptions is provided in Nowell and
    Resek(1994). For this indicator, if a chemical had multiple benchmarks, the MCL took precedence; if no MCL was available,
    the lower of the CRC (at 1 in 1,000,000 cancer risk) and HA-L values was selected. An exceedance was identified if the
    concentration of a contaminant exceeded the relevant standard or guideline (Gilliom et al., 2007).
    
    What The Data Show
    
    During the study period:
    
    •	Nitrate concentrations were 2 mg/L or above in 58 percent of wells sampled in areas where agriculture is the
    primary land use (Exhibit 1). By comparison, background nitrate levels in areas with little human influence are
    generally expected to be below 1 mg/L (Nolan and Hitt, 2002), which suggests that more than half of the ground
    water sampled has been influenced by human sources of nitrate.
    
    •	Nitrate concentrations in about 21 percent of the wells exceeded the federal drinking water standard (10 mg/L).
    
    •	About 60 percent of wells in agricultural watersheds had a least one detectable pesticide compound, and 9.5
    percent had detectable levels of five or more pesticides (Exhibit 2). Roughly 1 percent of wells had pesticides
    present at concentrations exceeding human health benchmarks.
    
    Limitations
    
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    •	These data only represent conditions in agricultural watersheds within 34 of the major river basins and aquifer
    regions sampled by the NAWQA program from 1 992 to 2003. Although sample wells were chosen randomly
    within each agricultural watershed, the watersheds and aquifers themselves were selected through a targeted
    sample design. The data also are highly aggregated and should only be interpreted as an indication of national
    patterns; thus this indicator does not attempt to portray regional differences.
    
    •	This indicator does not provide information about trends over time, as the NAWQA program has completed
    only one full sampling cycle to date. Completion of the next round of sampling will allow trend analysis, using
    the data presented here as a baseline.
    
    •	Drinking water standards or guidelines do not exist for 43 percent (36 of 83) of the pesticides and pesticide
    degradation products analyzed. Current standards and guidelines also do not account for mixtures of
    pesticide chemicals and seasonal pulses of high concentrations. Possible pesticide effects on reproductive,
    nervous, and immune systems, as well as on chemically sensitive individuals, are not yet well understood.
    
    •	This indicator does not provide information on the magnitude of pesticide concentrations, only whether they
    exceed or fall below benchmarks. It also does not describe the extent to which they exceed or fall below other
    reference points (e.g., Maximum Contaminant Level Goals [MCLGs] for drinking water).
    
    Data Sources
    
    Summary data for this indicator were provided by USGS's NAWQA program. Nitrate data have not yet been published and
    were provided directly by USGS (2007a); however, concentration data from individual sample sites are publicly available
    through NAWQA's online data warehouse (USGS, 2007b). Pesticide occurrence and exceedances were determined from
    individual site results in Appendix 6 of Gilliom et al. (2007)
    
    (http://water.usqs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/pubs/circl 291 /appendix6/).
    
    References
    
    Gilliom, R.J., J.E. Barbash, C.G. Crawford, P.A. Hamilton, J.D. Martin, N. Nakagaki, L.H. Nowell,J.C. Scott, P.E. Stackelberg,
    G.P. Thelin, and D.M. Wolock. 2007. Pesticides in the nation's streams and ground water, 1 992-2001. U.S. Geological
    Survey circular 1 291. Revised February 1 5, 2007. http://water.usqs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/pubs/circl 291 /index.html
    (document); http://water.usgs.gov/nawga/pnsp/pubs/circl 291 /supporting info.php (supporting technical information).
    
    Nolan, B.T., and K.J. Hitt. 2002. Nutrients in shallow ground waters beneath relatively undeveloped areas in the
    conterminous United States. U.S. Geological Survey water resources investigation report 02-4289.
    http://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/wri024289/pdf/wri02-4289.pdf (PDF) (21 pp, 856K).
    
    Nowell, L.H., and E.A. Resek. 1994. National standards and guidelines for pesticides in water, sediment, and aquatic
    organisms: Application to water-quality assessments. Rev. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 140:1 -1 64.
    
    U.S. EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency). 2011. Pesticides industry sales and usage: 2006 and 2007
    market estimates. February 2011.
    
    U.S. EPA. 2006. Drinking water contaminants, https://www.epa.gov/dwstandardsregulations.
    
    USGS (United States Geological Survey). 2007a. Data provided to ERG (an EPA contractor) by Nancy Baker, USGS. September
    12, 2007.
    
    USGS. 2007b. USGS National Water Quality Assessment data warehouse. Accessed 2007.
    https://www2.usgs.gov/science/cite-view.php?cite=l 1 71.
    
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    Vitousek, P., H. Mooney, L. Olander, and S. Allison. 2002. Nitrogen and nature. Ambio 31:97-101.
    
    Technical Documentation
    
    Identification
    
    1.	Indicator Title
    
    Nitrate and Pesticides in Shallow Ground Water in Agricultural Watersheds
    
    2.	ROE Question(s) This Indicator Helps to Answer
    
    What are the trends in the extent and condition of ground water and their effects on human health and the
    environment?
    
    3.	Indicator Abstract
    
    This indicator reports on the levels of nitrate and pesticides in shallow ground water in predominantly agricultural
    watersheds between 1992 and 2003. This information provides some understanding of the condition of ground
    water and how it may be affected by human activities.
    
    4.	Most Recent Update
    05/2008
    
    Data Sources
    
    5.	Data Sources
    
    This indicator is based on ground water samples collected by the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS's) National Water
    Quality Assessment (NAWQA) program.
    
    6.	Data Availability
    
    Summary data for this indicator were provided by USGS's NAWQA program. Summary nitrate data have not yet
    been published and were provided directly by USGS; however, concentration data from individual sample sites are
    publicly available through the NAWQA database (https://www2.usas.gov/science/cite-view.php?cite = l 171) or
    through USGS's general water quality database (http://waterdata.usas.gov/nwis/aw).
    
    The full pesticide data set is available at http://water.usas.gov/nawaa/pnsp/pubs/circl 291 /appendix6/
    (Appendix 6 of Gilliom et al., 2007). This indicator reports on the subset of sites with a land use classified as
    "agricultural."
    
    Methodology
    
    7.	Data Collection
    
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    This indicator is based on measurements of nitrate and pesticide concentrations in samples of shallow ground
    water.
    
    Survey Design
    
    The data for this indicator were collected between 1992 and 2003 (nitrate analysis began in 1992; pesticide
    sampling began in 1 993) as part of the NAWQA program, which set out to examine 51 study areas (i.e., major river
    basins and aquifer regions) across the contiguous 48 states. This program was specifically designed to watersheds
    and aquifers associated with a variety of land uses and hydrogeologic settings. NAWQA's overall sample design
    represents a comprehensive effort to assess the nation's water quality through study units spread across the
    contiguous 48 states, as shown in the map on NAWQA's Web site (http://water.usqs.gov/nawqa/).
    
    This indicator reports chemical concentrations in ground water in watersheds where agriculture was considered
    the primary land use, according to a standard set of criteria described in Table 3-1 of Gilliom et al. (2007)
    (http://water.usqs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/pubs/circl 291 /table_3_01 .html). "Agricultural" watersheds are those that are
    more than 50 percent cropland or pasture and no more than 5 percent urban. Classifications were based on the
    National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD). Agricultural watersheds were sampled in 34 of the 51 study units; the other
    study units did not have any ground water samples that were representative of agricultural watersheds. NAWQA
    also sampled ground water in forested and urban areas, which can provide some useful context for the agricultural
    data. A full list of pesticide sampling sites and their land use classification can be found in Appendix 5 of Gilliom
    et al. (2007); a list of wells tested for nitrate can be obtained from USGS.
    
    During the study period, ground water samples were collected from each study unit using existing household wells
    where possible (because of the expense of drilling new wells) and new observation wells otherwise. Samples for
    this indicator were deliberately collected at or near the top of the water table only (i.e., shallow wells) to ensure
    that the sample was representative of the ground water most likely to be consumed by humans who use private
    wells. This was appropriate as the purpose of this indicator is to evaluate potential risks to human health.
    
    However, sampling did not specifically target aquifers used as drinking water sources, or target sensitive
    populations such as infants (for whom high nitrate concentrations can lead to a condition called
    methemoglobinemia, or "blue baby" syndrome) or people who are particularly susceptible to pesticide
    contamination.
    
    In collecting samples, NAWQA avoided locations where ground water condition could be biased by point sources
    (e.g., directly downgradient from a septic system). NAWQA also did not consider data from springs, drains, wells
    that were too close to other wells, and other locations that might taint or bias the overall result (see explanation at
    http://water.usgs.gov/nawga/nutrients/datasets/nutconc2000/). Most of the wells sampled ground water from
    less than 20 feet below the water table, indicating as directly as possible the influence of land use on shallow
    ground water quality. To the extent feasible, the wells were intended to sample recently recharged water. Although
    sample wells were chosen randomly within each watershed, the watersheds and aquifers themselves were selected
    through a targeted sample design.
    
    This indicator is based on samples from 1,423 wells analyzed for nitrate and 1,41 2 wells for pesticides. Data
    analyses were based on one sample per well. This is considered a scientifically valid way to assess ground water
    
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    conditions because conditions in ground water are relatively stable (i.e., slow flow, slow dispersion), and changes
    in ground water chemistry occur on a relatively slow timescale. Thus, even one sample should be sufficient for
    comparison with guidelines for prolonged exposure (Gilliom et al., 2007). NAWQA is currently working on a design
    to better relate individual well water samples to regional patterns of contamination, but these data are not
    currently available.
    
    Because of NAWQA's scientific sampling design, results are considered to be fairly representative of conditions in
    agricultural watersheds nationwide. Gilliom et al. (1995) provide an official description of the sample design.
    
    Sample Collection
    
    All NAWQA ground water sampling procedures are documented in official USGS reports. Lapham et al. (1 995)
    document official procedures for establishing well sites. Koterba et al. (1995) discuss sample collection and
    preservation, while Koterba (1998) describes procedures for obtaining ancillary data at each well site, including
    information about the location of the well screen relative to the water table.
    
    Sample Analysis
    
    Samples were analyzed for nitrate, 75 pesticides, and eight pesticide degradation products using a variety of
    laboratory methods. For each chemical, NAWQA used the laboratory method that has been shown to be most
    sensitive and accurate. NAWQA measured nitrate concentrations using procedures described in Fishman (1993).
    Pesticide concentrations were measured using two primary laboratory methods: gas chromatography/mass
    spectrometry (GC/MS) (Zaugg et al., 1 995) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (Werner et al.,
    1 996). Appendix 1 of Gilliom et al. (2007) (http://water.usqs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/pubs/circl 291 /appendixl /)
    provides a list of the 75 pesticides and eight related degradation products for which NAWQA analyzed samples,
    along with compound-specific laboratory methods and detection limits.
    
    8. Indicator Derivation
    
    This indicator reports nitrate concentrations in ground water, the number of pesticides detected in ground water,
    and the percentage of cases in which observed pesticide concentrations exceeded a standard or guideline for the
    protection of human health. These standards and guidelines have all been determined scientifically by EPA.
    Standards were available for 47 of the 83 pesticide analytes.
    
    Three types of U.S. EPA human health-related standards and guidelines were used to evaluate pesticide data:
    Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs), 106 Cancer Risk Concentrations (CRCs) (1 in 1,000,000 cancer risk), and
    Lifetime Health Advisories (HA-Ls). In all three cases, the standard and guideline levels are concentrations
    pertaining to lifetime exposure through drinking water. For this indicator, if a chemical had multiple benchmarks,
    the MCL took precedence; if no MCL was available, the lower of the CRC and HA-L values was selected for
    comparison. An exceedance was identified if the observed concentration of a contaminant exceeded the relevant
    standard or guideline.
    
    For more information on how concentrations were compared against the appropriate human health standards and
    guidelines where available, see Gilliom et al. (2007).
    
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    9. Quality Assurance and Quality Control
    
    USGS has many procedures in place to ensure the quality of its data. NAWQA provides several references that
    describe quality assessment/quality control (QA/QC) procedures for the collection and analysis of ground water
    samples. Martin (1 999) discusses field and laboratory protocols such as field blanks and replicates. NAWQA also
    discusses how and why certain wells were excluded from this particular analysis (e.g.,
    http://water.usqs.qov/nawqa/nutrients/datasets/nutconc2000/).
    
    Analysis
    
    10.	Reference Points
    
    EPA has established drinking water standards or guidelines for nitrate and for 47 of the 83 pesticide analytes.
    Three types of U.S. EPA human health-related standards and guidelines were used to evaluate pesticide data:
    MCLs, CRCs, and HA-Ls.
    
    •	MCLs are enforceable standards representing the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in finished
    drinking water. MCLs take into account cost and best available treatment technology, but are set as close
    as possible to the level of the contaminant below which there is no known or expected risk to health,
    allowing for a margin of safety.
    
    •	The CRC is a guideline for potential carcinogens associated with a specified cancer risk of 1 in 1,000,000,
    based on drinking water exposure over a 70-year lifetime.
    
    •	The HA-L is an advisory guideline for drinking water exposure over a 70-year lifetime, considering non-
    carcinogenic adverse health effects.
    
    The CRC and HA-L are derived from assumptions about drinking water intake, body weight, and exposure
    frequency, along with knowledge about the cancer or non-cancer potency of a given chemical.
    
    The current drinking water standard for nitrate is 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L), which is EPA's MCL
    (https://www.epa.qov/qround-water-and-drinkinq-water/national-primarv-drinkinq-water-requlations). Specific
    pesticide standards and guidelines used for this indicator are listed in Appendix 3 of Gilliom et al. (2007), and
    additional information on these types of benchmarks, their derivation, and their underlying assumptions is
    provided in Nowell and Resek (1 994). For information on EPA's current MCLs and HA-Ls, see
    https://www.epa.gov/dwreqinfo/drinking-water-requlations#List and
    
    https://www.epa.gov/dwstandardsregulations/drinking-water-contaminant-human-health-effects-information.
    respectively.
    
    In terms of background concentrations, natural background levels of nitrate in undeveloped areas are generally
    below about 1 mg/L, according to an extensive USGS study (Nolan and Hitt, 2002). Synthetic pesticides should not
    be present in undisturbed waters.
    
    11.	Comparability Over Time and Space
    
    The same sampling methods were used at all locations during the study period (1 992-2003). No corrections have
    been made to adjust for spatial or temporal biases.
    
    1 2. Sources of Uncertainty
    
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    Uncertainty for this indicator stems from a combination of measurement error and other sources. Because
    uncertainty varies depending on the chemical and analytical method in question, it is difficult to make a single
    definitive statement about the impact of uncertainty on this indicator. However, because results from over 1,400
    wells were generalized over the entire nation, the summary figures reported by this indicator should be considered
    reasonably accurate.
    
    Uncertainty estimates are not available for the exact subset of data included in this indicator. However, NAWQA
    has published uncertainty figures for the overall data collection effort, which should be indicative of uncertainty
    for this indicator. Mueller (1 998) specifically discusses nutrient (nitrate) data, while Martin (2002) evaluates
    uncertainty for pesticide data.
    
    Additional uncertainty can be attributed to NAWQA site selection as it is the result of a targeted design as opposed
    to a statistical survey. Indications of differences between NAWQA agricultural basins and all agricultural basins in
    the country are not available.
    
    1 3. Sources of Variability
    
    Because this indicator relied on samples that were collected only once per well, it did not account for day-to-day
    or year-to-year variability in ground water concentrations of the chemicals in question. However, ground water
    conditions were assumed to be relatively constant over time; movement of water and dispersion of contaminants
    are slow processes, particularly as compared with changes in aboveground streams. Thus, ground water
    conditions do not require the same frequency of sampling as conditions in surface water (which NAWQA sampled
    10 to 49 times over the course of a given year) to be reflective of long-term trends.
    
    14. Statistical/Trend Analysis
    
    No trend analysis has been conducted on this indicator, as the NAWQA program has completed only one full
    sampling cycle to date. The data presented here may serve as a baseline for future surveys.
    
    Limitations
    
    1 5. Data Limitations
    
    Limitations to this indicator include the following:
    
    1.	These data only represent conditions in agricultural watersheds within 34 of the major river basins and aquifer
    regions sampled by the NAWQA program from 1 992 to 2003. Although sample wells were chosen randomly
    within each agricultural watershed, the watersheds and aquifers themselves were selected through a targeted
    sample design. The data also are highly aggregated and should only be interpreted as an indication of national
    patterns; thus this indicator does not attempt to portray regional differences.
    
    2.	This indicator does not provide information about trends over time, as the NAWQA program has completed
    only one full sampling cycle to date. Completion of the next round of sampling will allow trend analysis, using
    the data presented here as a baseline.
    
    3.	Drinking water standards or guidelines do not exist for 43 percent (36 of 83) of the pesticides and pesticide
    degradation products analyzed. Current standards and guidelines also do not account for mixtures of
    pesticide chemicals and seasonal pulses of high concentrations. Possible pesticide effects on reproductive,
    nervous, and immune systems, as well as on chemically sensitive individuals, are not yet well understood.
    
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    4.	This indicator does not provide information on the magnitude of pesticide concentrations, only whether they
    exceed or fall below benchmarks. It also does not describe the extent to which they exceed or fall below other
    reference points (e.g., Maximum Contaminant Level Coals [MCLGs] for drinking water).
    
    5.	Contaminant levels do not necessarily reflect the concentrations that humans will be exposed to in their
    drinking water supply, as nitrate and pesticides may be partially or completely removed through water
    treatment. This indicator also does not provide information about the condition of deeper aquifers, which are
    more likely to be used for public water supplies. Because ground water condition is vertically heterogeneous,
    results from one depth do not necessarily represent other depths.
    
    References
    
    Fishman, M.J. 1 993. Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Laboratory: Determination of
    inorganic and organic constituents in water and fluvial sediments. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-1 25.
    
    Gilliom, R.J., J.E. Barbash, C.G. Crawford, P.A. Hamilton, J.D. Martin, N. Nakagaki, L.H. Nowell,J.C. Scott, P.E. Stackelberg,
    G.P. Thelin, and D.M. Wolock. 2007. Pesticides in the nation's streams and ground water, 1 992-2001. U.S. Geological
    Survey Circular 1291. Revised February 1 5,
    
    2007. http://water.usqs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/pubs/circl 291 /index.html (document); http://water.usqs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/pub
    s/circl 291 /supportinq_info.php (supporting technical information).
    
    Gilliom, R.J., W.M. Alley, and M.E. Gurtz. 1 995. Design of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program: Occurrence and
    distribution of water-quality conditions. U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1112.
    
    Koterba, M.T. 1 998. Ground water data-collection protocols and procedures for the National Water-Quality Assessment
    Program: Collection, documentation, and compilation of required site, well, subsurface, and landscape data for wells. U.S.
    Geological Survey Water-Re sources Investigations Report 98-4107.
    
    Koterba, M.T., F.D. Wilde, and W.W. Lapham. 1 995. Ground water data-collection protocols and procedures for the
    National Water-Quality Assessment Program: Collection and documentation of water-quality samples and related data. U.S.
    Geological Survey Open-File Report 95-399.
    
    Lapham, W.W., F.D. Wilde, and M.T. Koterba. 1 995. Ground water data collection protocols and procedures for the National
    Water-Quality Assessment Program: Selection, installation, and documentation of wells and collection of related data. U.S.
    Geological Survey Open-File Report 95-398.
    
    Martin, J.D. 2002. Variability of pesticide detections and concentrations in field replicate water samples collected for the
    National Water-Quality Assessment Program 1 992-97. U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigation Report 01 -
    41 78.
    
    Martin, J.D. 1 999. Quality of pesticide data for environmental water samples collected for the National Water-Quality
    Assessment Program, 1 992-96, and examples of the use of quality-control information in water-quality assessments. U.S.
    Geological Survey. Accessed January 10, 2003. http://water.usgs.gov/nawga/pnsp/pubs/gcsummarv.html.
    
    Mueller, D.K. 1 998. Quality of nutrient data from streams and ground water sampled during 1 993-95—National Water-
    Quality Assessment Program. U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 98-276.
    
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    Nolan, B.T., and K.J. Hitt. 2002. Nutrients in shallow ground waters beneath relatively undeveloped areas in the
    conterminous United States. U.S. Geological Survey water resources investigation report 02-
    4289. http://pubs.usqs.gov/wri/wri024289/pdf/wri02-4289.pdf (PDF) (21 pp, 856K).
    
    Nowell, L.H., and E.A. Resek. 1994. National standards and guidelines for pesticides in water, sediment, and aquatic
    organisms: Application to water-quality assessments. Rev. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 140:1 -1 64.
    
    Werner, S.L., M.R. Burkhardt, and S.N. DeRusseau. 1 996. Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water
    Quality Laboratory: Determination of pesticides in water by Carbopak-B solid-phase extraction and high-performance
    liquid chromatography. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 96-216.
    
    Zaugg, S.D., M.W. Sandstrom, S.G. Smith, and K.M. Fehlberg. 1995. Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey
    National Water Quality Laboratory: Determination of pesticides in water by C-l 8 solid-phase extraction and capillary-
    column gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with selected-ion monitoring. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report
    95-181.
    
    

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