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Central Columbia Plateau - Yakima River Basin NAWQA Study - Publications


Pesticides and Volatile Organic Compounds in Ground and Surface Water of the Palouse Subunit, Washington and Idaho

USGS Fact Sheet 204-96

Significant findings
Commonly used pesticides in the Palouse subunit (table)
Concentrations of pesticides and VOCs detected in ground and surface water in relation to human health and aquatic-life criteria (graph)
References

One goal of the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) program of the U.S. Geological Survey is to determine the occurrence and distribution of pesticides in ground and surface water and of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)* in ground water. The Palouse area, a subunit of NAWQA's Central Columbia Plateau (see map), was chosen to investigate the potential effects of dryland farming of wheat and small grains on water quality.

Samples from 53 wells (15 shallow monitoring wells and 38 deeper public supply or domestic wells) and 11 surface-water sites were collected between 1993 and 1995 and analyzed for 84 pesticides. Ground water (but not surface water) was also analyzed for 60 VOCs. All of the wells were sampled one time; Palouse River at Hooper was sampled one to three times a month from March 1993 to May 1994 and up to six times a month during storms between November 1994 and February 1995, and the other 10 surface-water sites were sampled during storms and periods of low flow.

*VOCs are generally associated with industrial activities but are also used as inert ingredients in pesticides and as fumigants.


surface- and ground-water sampling results: 10 of 38 Public supply or domestic wells and 3 of 15 monitoring wells had a pesticide or VOC detection; 10 of 11 surface-water sites had a pesticide detection.227K


Significant findings


Commonly used pesticides in the Palouse subunit (table)

[Y, yes; N, no; --, not analyzed]

Detected in Active ingredient surface ground Pesticide applied (lbs/year)1 water? water? --------- ------------------ ------ ------ Triallate 236,800 Y N 2,4-D 102,400 Y N Diuron 80,200 Y N Imazethapyr 36,700 -- -- Bromoxynil 36,000 Y N MCPA 33,000 Y N Glyphosate 26,700 -- -- Thiabendazole 23,400 -- -- Benomyl 21,300 -- -- Diclofop 19,600 -- -- Paraquat 14,900 -- -- Disulfoton 14,200 N N Metribuzin 11,400 Y N Dicamba 11,300 Y N Dimethoate 8,600 -- -- Trifluralin 7,400 Y N DCPA 5,700 Y N Thiophanate methyl 5,700 -- -- Phosmet 5,700 -- -- Ethalfluralin 5,100 Y N 1 From Anderson and Gianessi (1995)


Concentrations of pesticides and VOCs detected in ground and surface water in relation to human health and aquatic-life criteria (graph)

Nineteen herbicides, 9 insecticides, and 2 metabolites (out of 84 pesticides) were detected. Of these Triallate, Carbaryl, Diazinon, and gamma-HCH were found in surface water at concentrations that exceeded the freshwater-chronic criteria for protection of aquatic life. Five (out of 60) VOCs were detected in ground waters.248K GIF

USGS Fact Sheet 204-96
by Lonna M. Roberts and Richard J. Wagner
October 1996


References

Anderson, J.E., and Gianessi, L.P., 1995, Pesticide use in the Central Columbia Plateau: National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy, [100] p.

Nowell, L.H., and Resek, E.A., 1994, Summary of national standards and guidelines for pesticides in water, bed sediment, and aquatic organisms and their application to water-quality assessments: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 94-44, 115 p.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1992, Definition and procedure for the determination of the method detection limit - revision 1.11, Code of Federal Regulations, 40. Protection of Environment, CFR Part 136, Appendix B, p. 565-567.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, February 1996, Drinking water regulations and health advisories: Washington D.C., Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA 822-R-96-001, 14 p.



The National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program of the U.S. Geological Survey is designed to describe current water-quality conditions for a large part of the Nation's ground and surface water, to describe how water quality is changing over time, and to improve our understanding of the natural and human factors that affect water quality.

For further information contact:
Project Chief
CCYK NAWQA
U. S. Geological Survey
1201 Pacific Ave., Suite 600
Tacoma, WA 98402
Phone:(253) 593-6530 ext 2687; -6514 fax
E-mail: rwblack@usgs.gov

Suggested citation:
Roberts, L.M. and Wagner, R.J., 1996, Pesticides and Volatile Organic Compounds in Ground and Surface Water of the Palouse Subunit, Washington and Idaho: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 204-96, on-line at <URL: https://wa.water.usgs.gov/ccyk/fs-204-96.html>, accessed October 17, 1997 .

For a paper copy of this report, send Email to: rwblack@usgs.gov


Central Columbia Plateau - Yakima River Basin NAWQA Study
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