USGS - science for a changing world

South Atlantic Water Science Center - North Carolina Office

South Atlantic WSC Home Data Projects Publications Drought Floods Media About Us Contact [an error occurred while processing this directive]   Internal

Picture of the main North Carolina Water Science Center office.

PUBLICATIONS

Annual Water Data Report

USGS Publications Warehouse

USGS IN YOUR STATE

USGS Water Science Centers are located in each state.

There is a USGS Water Science Center office in each State. Washington Oregon California Idaho Nevada Montana Wyoming Utah Colorado Arizona New Mexico North Dakota South Dakota Nebraska Kansas Oklahoma Texas Minnesota Iowa Missouri Arkansas Louisiana Wisconsin Illinois Mississippi Michigan Indiana Ohio Kentucky Tennessee Alabama Pennsylvania West Virginia Georgia Florida Caribbean Alaska Hawaii New York Vermont New Hampshire Maine Massachusetts South Carolina North Carolina Rhode Island Virginia Connecticut New Jersey Maryland-Delaware-D.C.

Statistical characterization of ground-water quality in the Piedmont of North Carolina, and some ground-water quality differences related to land use

Geological Society of America 1992 Abstracts with Programs
By Douglas A. Harned


Abstract

Analyses of published and unpublished water-quality data collected during the period 1938 to 1986 by the U.S. Geological Survey and the North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources were used to characterize ground-water quality in the Piedmont of North Carolina. Chemical analyses of 2,477 ground-water samples from 1,238 sites were evaluated. The median depth of sampled wells was 75 feet (N=1,668), and the median water level was 18 feet below land surface (N=983).

Water-quality analyses for major constituents, nutrients, and some metals were included in the data set. The median for pH was 6.6; for specific conductance, 120 microsiemens per centimeter (uS/cm); for total hardness, 40 milligrams per liter (mg/L) as calcium carbonate; for total alkalinity, 43 mg/L; and for bicarbonate, 51 mg/L. The median concentration for calcium was 13 mg/L; for magnesium, 3.2 mg/L; for sodium, 8.4 mg/L; for sulfate, 5.0 mg/L; and for chloride, 3.5 mg/L. The median concentration for nitrite plus nitrate was 0.37 mg/L; for total ammonia, 0.05 mg/L; for total phosphorus, 0.05 mg/L; and for total potassium, 1.6 mg/L. The median concentration for aluminum was 100 micrograms per liter (ug/L); for iron, 100 ug/L; and for manganese, 50 ug/L. The number of samples for this data set ranged from 527 (calcium) to 2,189 (iron).

In general, ground-water beneath the landfills had the highest median specific conductance (263 uS/cm) but relatively low nutrient concentrations (nitrite plus nitrate, 0.08 mg/L , and total phosphorus, 0.08 mg/L) compared to other land uses. Ground water associated with agricultural land uses had the highest median concentrations of nitrite plus nitrate (1.5 mg/L), followed by commercial (0.92 mg/L), and residential land uses (0.90 mg/L), all of which were considerably higher than ambient levels (0.16 mg/L).


Citation:

Harned, D.A., 1992, Statistical characterization of ground-water quality in the Piedmont of North Carolina, and some ground-water quality differences related to land use [abs.]: Geological Society of America 1992 Abstracts with Programs, v. 24, no. 2, p. 20.


For more information, contact To order printed copies, contact
North Carolina Water Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
3916 Sunset Ridge Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27607
(919) 571-4000
E-mail
North Carolina Water Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
3916 Sunset Ridge Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27607
(919) 571-4037
E-mail
U.S. Geological Survey
Information Services
Box 25286, Federal Center
Denver, CO 80225
 
1-888-ASK USGS

USGS Home Water Climate Change Core Science Ecosystems Energy and Minerals Env. Health Hazards

Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

Take Pride in America logo USA.gov logo U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: https://nc.water.usgs.gov/reports/abstracts/GWpied.html
Page Contact Information: North Carolina Web Development Team
Page Last Modified: Tuesday, 06-Dec-2016 10:49:37 EST