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Groundwater Contamination from Ammonia, Nitrate, & Nitrite: In Search of a Regional ApproachKorey BrunkenConestoga-Rovers & Associates
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EPA Region 7
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Common Industries
Agriculture 37.8% of Corn
Cash Receipts (2004)
Iowa (1) Nebraska (3) Kansas (8) Missouri (9)
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Common Industries
Livestock 18.6% of Cash
Receipts (2004)
Nebraska (3)Iowa (4)Kansas (5)Missouri (15)
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Common ChallengesAmmonia, nitrate, and nitrite enter our groundwater (and surface water) through a number of pathways:
• Feedlot infiltration
• Legal application of fertilizer
• Accidental point releases
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Common Challenges
Ammonia/Nitrate/Nitrite in drinking water is not a new problem…
A 1996 survey of 21 states found nitrates in excess of the maximum contaminant limit in:
• Nebraska – 118 systems; >107,000 affected
• Iowa – 56 systems; >90,000 affected
• Kansas – 67 systems; >93,000 affected
(Missouri not included in survey)
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Progress
Minimizing ammonia/nitrate/nitrite impact in a number of ways:
EducationFacility ManagementMonitoringEducation, education,
education…
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We Can Do More
Pockets of knowledge◦University extension offices◦Regulatory agencies◦Technology working groups◦Consultants
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Investigation & RemediationField Methods
0 10 20 30 40 50 600
10
20
30
40
50
60
Nitrate Test Strip Correlation
EM Quant Field Test Strip Result (ppm)
Nit
rate
Concentr
ati
on f
rom
Labora
tory
(p
pm
)
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Case StudiesMore is betterLess refinedAddress specific
technology/methods
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Background DataPervasive nature of
ammonia/nitrate/nitrite one of the biggest challenges
Overwhelming amount of data is out there
State regulators are necessarily burdened with assessing
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What Does the Answer Look Like?
• Open source
• Raw/unrefined
• Messy
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Referenceshttp://kansasagnetwork.com/2013/new-usgs-report-updates-decline-of-high-plains-aquifer-groundwater-levels
/
http://www.cruiseinturkey.net/about/maps-2/map-of-missouri-river
http://stuffaboutstates.com/agriculture/crops/grain_corn.htm
http://stuffaboutstates.com/agriculture/agricultural_rank_table_livestock.htm
http://www.ewg.org/research/nitrogen-contamination-drinking-water/table-16-over-1000-water-systems-serving-124-million