Emerging Contaminants
Emerging Contaminants
Harmful Algal Blooms Investigations
at the Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center
at the Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center
Emerging contaminants, or contaminants of emerging concern, can refer to many different kinds of chemicals or organisms that can be harmful to humans or the environment. Many of these contaminants have been recently identified, while others are only now being studied in-depth. From biological contaminants like toxic algae species to man-made chemicals like PFAS, browse our studies below.
Filter Total Items: 11
Wastewater reuse may be detrimental to smallmouth bass abundance in the Shenandoah River Watershed
Issue: Municipal and industrial wastewater effluent is an important source of water for streams and rivers, especially during periods of low flow. The reuse of wastewater effluent may become even more important if climate change exacerbates low streamflow and drought conditions. However, wastewater effluent often contains chemicals that, when chronically present, can affect the health of aquatic...
Investigation of Drivers of Harmful Algal Blooms on Lake Anna, Virginia
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Viriginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is monitoring harmful algal blooms (HABs) on Lake Anna in Virginia. The hydrology, water-quality, and weather conditions are evaluated both continuously and discretely to analyze the causes, persistence, and decline of HABs in two tributaries and along Lake Anna. Synoptic monitoring of...
Investigation of Drivers of Harmful Algal Blooms on the Shenandoah River, Virginia
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Viriginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and collaboration with the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) is monitoring harmful algal blooms (HABs) on the two forks of the Shenandoah River in Virginia. Continuous and discrete water-quality and hydrology data is conducted to understand the drivers, persistence...
Harmful Algal Blooms Investigations at the Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center
Excessive accumulations of algae that impair waterbodies, called harmful algal blooms (HABs), can have detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems, reduce the quality of water resources, and can pose significant risks to human and animal health. The Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center works with state, regional, and local partners to evaluate the drivers and distribution of harmful algal...
Integrated Assessments of Potential Risks to Aquatic Organisms and Public Water Supply from Wastewater-Derived Chemical Mixtures in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Proper management of contaminants of emerging concern in the Chesapeake Bay region requires scientific efforts to understand the risk posed to aquatic resources from the “cocktail” of multiple contaminants that is often present. This research aims to assess the occurrence, sources, environmental impacts, biological effects, and the human health impacts of toxic contaminants in rivers.
PFAS Investigations at the Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center
Exposure to some per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals. The Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center works with local and regional partners to determine the drivers and distribution of PFAS contamination in groundwater, surface water, and drinking water supplies across Virginia and West Virginia.
PFAS in West Virginia's Groundwater and Surface Water
In 2019, the West Virginia legislature recognized the contamination risk to public source-water supplies posed by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and passed a resolution that required a statewide PFAS study. The purpose of this resulting study was to understand the occurrence and distribution of PFAS contamination throughout the state’s rivers, lakes, and groundwater aquifers. This...
Monitoring High-Priority Stream Crossings Along Proposed Natural Gas Pipeline Routes
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), is monitoring the water quality of multiple high-priority streams where natural gas pipeline crossings have been proposed. The purpose of the monitoring effort is to collect baseline water-quality data and, if the pipeline construction is approved, to monitor water quality in these...
GIS-based landscape analysis to identify sources of endocrine disrupting chemicals
A key component to assessing the contaminant exposure pathways in streams and rivers of the Chesapeake Bay is using GIS-based landscape analysis to identify sources of endocrine disrupting chemicals. Municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) discharges are potentially major sources of EDCs to streams, and therefore understanding the de facto wastewater reuse (represented as...
South River Mercury Total Maximum Daily Load
The objective of the South River Mercury Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study is to develop a better understanding of methyl mercury cycling in the South River and calculate mercury loading reductions that would protect fish from high mercury concentrations.
Continuous Water-Quality Monitoring in Indian Creek
The primary objective of this USGS monitoring effort was to identify whether the construction of the Indian Creek pipeline crossings adversely impacted the sediment water quality in Indian Creek. To accomplish this goal, continuous real-time water-quality monitoring was installed. Results of this monitoring effort indicate that values of turbidity in Indian Creek increased a small but significant...