NAWQA, National Water-Quality Assessment Program; Allegheny-Monongahela River Basin

Surface-water and ground-water quality and aquatic life can be significantly affected by the following principal issues identified in the Allegheny-Monongahela River Basin:

• Contaminants common to surface and under-ground coal mine discharge such as acidity, iron, aluminum, manganese, and sulfate.
• Volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), pesti-cides, and nutrients from increased urbanization.
• Runoff and loading of nutrients and pesticides to streams from nonpoint and point sources such as agricultural land uses.
• Radon in ground water.