Groundwater Contamination from Ammonia, Nitrate, & Nitrite: In Search of a Regional ApproachKorey BrunkenConestoga-Rovers & Associates

EPA Region 7

Common Industries

Agriculture 37.8% of Corn

Cash Receipts (2004)

Iowa (1) Nebraska (3) Kansas (8) Missouri (9)

Common Industries

Livestock 18.6% of Cash

Receipts (2004)

Nebraska (3)Iowa (4)Kansas (5)Missouri (15)

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

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)

Progress

Minimizing ammonia/nitrate/nitrite impact in a number of ways:

EducationFacility ManagementMonitoringEducation, education,

education…

We Can Do More

Pockets of knowledge◦University extension offices◦Regulatory agencies◦Technology working groups◦Consultants

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

)

Case StudiesMore is betterLess refinedAddress specific

technology/methods

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

What Does the Answer Look Like?

• Open source

• Raw/unrefined

• Messy

Contact

kbrunken@craworld.com

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