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| Title | Nitrate Trends in the Central Sumas-Blaine Surficial Aquifer | |||
| Month-Year Published | July 2008 | |||
| Online Availability |
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| Short Description |
This groundwater quality monitoring study was designed to determine nitrate trends and to establish the framework for a long-term groundwater monitoring network in the central Sumas-Blaine surficial aquifer in Whatcom County. During 2003-05, groundwater was sampled for nitrate-nitrogen every other month for two years from 35 wells. The results of this study reinforce findings from previous studies: groundwater contains elevated nitrate concentrations, with concentrations as high as 43 mg/l. Additionally, it was determined that there is an increasing nitrate trend at a rate of 0.46 mg/l per year. (Also see abstract below) | |||
| Publication Number | 08-03-018 | |||
| Author(s) | Redding, M. | |||
| Print Availability | ||||
| Number of pages | 62 + app (117 total) | |||
| Keywords | aquifer, dairy, groundwater, nitrate, wells, Whatcom | |||
| Subject Waterbodies |
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| Related Publications | Title | Relationship | ||
| Quality Assurance Project Plan: Monitoring for Nitrate Trends in the Central Sumas-Blaine Surficial Aquifer | similar topic | |||
| Abstract | Long Description |
The Sumas-Blaine aquifer has been identified as one of the most severely contaminated aquifers in Washington State (Erickson, 2000). The groundwater is contaminated with elevated concentrations of nitrate. Numerous studies have been conducted in this area to determine the extent of nitrate contamination and possible sources. Whatcom County has many sources of nitrogen. These include (1) widespread agricultural activity such as dairy operations, raspberry and blueberry farms, poultry farms, and irrigation, (2) on-site sewage systems, and (3) residential fertilizer use. This report characterizes groundwater quality in the Sumas-Blaine surficial aquifer. The study results will be used to: The Washington State Department of Ecology conducted this study from March 2003 to March 2005. Thirty-five wells were sampled every other month for nitrate-nitrogen. Groundwater nitrate concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 43.1 mg/l with a mean of 11.43 mg/l. The overall trend for the study area indicates an increasing nitrate concentration at the rate of 0.46 mg/l per year. Seventy-one percent of all the wells sampled had at least one concentration higher than the groundwater quality nitrate standard of 10 mg/l. Twenty-six percent of the wells had nitrate concentrations consistently above the 10 mg/l standard. Thirty-one percent of the wells sampled displayed an increasing nitrate trend over the two-year sampling period. The study also determined that seasonal fluctuations in nitrate influence 34% of the wells. This study establishes a baseline for continued monitoring in the area to determine long-term nitrate trends in the Sumas-Blaine aquifer. |
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Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
