Ground-water pollution by nitrogen compounds at Olean, New York; progress report, June 1977

Ground water in an area in Olean, New York contains high concentrations of nitrogen compounds, which are being slowly flushed from the aquifer as the ground water flows toward a nearby well field where it is pumped out. Construction and regular use of a new production well in the area of nitrogen-rich water would temporarily increase the rate of nitrogen removal by causing more rapid flow of water from the silty upper part of the aquifer downward to the more permeable lower part, and by reducing the distance the water must flow through the lower part to the nearest point of withdrawal. After such a well had been in use for several months and the system had adjusted to the new conditions, the rate of further nitrogen removal would depend on the rate at which nitrogen compounds are leached from the soil by infiltrating precipitation. Alternative techniques for speeding the flushing of the aquifer include artificially increasing the amount of infiltration, changing the rates of withdrawal from existing production wells, and pumping shallow low-yield wells in the area of nitrogen-rich water. (Woodard-USGS)