Emerging Contaminants

Although the occurrence of OWCs in streams can be related in part to discharges from WWTPs it is uncertain whether the sources of these compounds are domestic waste, or waste from manufacturing or other commercial processes. Furthermore, it is unclear if different treatment processes may be more effective at removing OWCs than others. The primary objective of the study is to perform a...

The frequent occurrence of OWCs in streams, many of which are used as sources for drinking-water supplies, gives rise to concern over the potential for these compounds to occur in drinking water and, thus, the potential for adverse human- health effects due to chronic exposure to these compounds. Limited sampling conducted by the USGS indicate that some OWCs that occur in source streams are...

Atlantic City Naval Air Station (Atlantic City NAS) located in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey covers an area of approximately 5,000 acres approximately 10 miles northwest of Atlantic City, in Atlantic County, New Jersey. The focus of this USACE investigation is the potential identification of mercury source areas and the migration of mercury within Area U (Absecon Creek Watershed), which...

The US EPA Office of Research and Development is carrying out a comprehensive evaluation of the potential impacts on water quality and water supply resulting from the increased use of biofuels. Contamination resulting from releases of biofuel from underground storage tanks may impact ground water that is available for municipal water supply. This concern is greatest for regions of the country that...

To date SPARROW models have shown that land-to-water delivery losses of nutrients are significant. What processes are responsible for these 'losses' is uncertain. Certainly some of this 'loss' is storage and transport in groundwater systems. It is expected, and recent studies have suggested, that on local and regional scales topography and soil types are important factors in transport processes...

Results of water-quality sampling in tributaries and major rivers of New Jersey have revealed that arsenic levels that exceed the human-health-based Surface Water Quality Standard (SWQS) are widespread. Exceedances of the mercury SWQS are prevalent, although less widespread than arsenic exceedances.

Data collected during Phase I of the NJ Toxics Reduction Workplan for NY-NJ Harbor (NJTRWP) at the Elizabeth River head-of-tide sampling site (and in the downstream tidal Elizabeth River) show elevated levels for contaminants compared to other locations in the harbor. An additional NJTRWP Phase II study was conducted in July/August 2003 in an effort to determine if either of the two minor...

Since 1982, mercury (Hg) concentrations that exceed the State and USEPA maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 2 g/L have been reported for water withdrawn from more than 600 domestic wells finished in the unconfined Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system in southern New Jersey. Actions have been taken to protect well owners from further exposure by providing treatment systems or hookups to public-water...

Mercury accumulates in biological tissue through complex reactions (bioaccumulation). Bacteria convert environmental inorganic mercury into methyl mercury (Me-Hg). This Me-Hg form is more toxic and more difficult to remove from bacterial systems than inorganic mercury. As humans consume fish, the Me-Hg in the fish is also consumed. Neurotoxicity is the most important health concern with mercury...

Few studies have evaluated or compared contaminant mass removal by Pump-and-Treat (P&T), Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA), or Enhanced Biodegradation (EB) in fractured-rock aquifers, partly because of the perceived hydrogeologic complexity, the lack of understanding of the processes controlling the migration and transformation of contaminants, and the lack of sufficient field data for...

Numerous organic chemicals are used every day for industrial, commercial and household purposes. Recent investigations have indicated that a number of these chemicals have found their way into many of the nation’s wastewater treatment facilities, receiving waters, aquifers and drinking water treatment facilities. This project will evaluate a variety of treatment processes (different design and...

The Federal Clean Water Act, Sections 303(d) and 305 (b) mandates that states develop a list of water bodies summarizing the state’s water quality and a sub list identifying impaired water bodies for which total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) may be necessary. The USGS will collect, analyze, and publish water quality and streamflow data during 12 events at 19 stream sites (8 in the Saddle River basin...