Physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of water were measured at 26 surface-water sites, 17 ground-water sites, and in effluent from two sanitary landfills as part of planning for area-wide waste management in four watersheds within the Southern Rockingham Regional Planning District in Southern New Hampshire. Dissolved minerals concentration in water at all but one of 26 surface-water-sampling sites is low and within recommended limits of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Water at the 26 surface-water-sampling sites generally was enriched with nitrogen and phosphorus and contained at least some coliform bacteria, indicating contamination, probably from waste disposal systems. PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and pesticides were not present in the water, but small amounts of DDE, DDD, dieldrin, chlordane, and heptachlor were present in stream-bottom materials at 11 of the 26 sites, and PCBs were present at 7. Iron and manganese were present in concentrations that in some cases exceeded recommended limits. Coliform bacteria were present at 5 of the 17 ground-water-sampling sites; concentrations of iron exceeded recommended limits at 8 sites, and manganese exceeded recommended limits at 9 sites. PCBs and pesticides were not present in any samples collected at the ground-water-sampling sites. (Woodard-USGS)
