Evaluation and Assessment of Agrichemical Contaminants in the Creighton, NE Area

Authors

Mark E. Burbach, University of Nebraska at LincolnFollow
Roy F. Spalding

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

7-20-2000

Citation

Burbach, Mark E., Spalding, Roy F., 2000. Evaluation and Assessment of Agrichemical Contaminants in the Creighton, NE Area

Comments

OFR-117

Abstract

The Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) has reported elevated nitrate- nitrogen (NO3-N) concentrations in ground water near Creighton, NE. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has set a maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 mg/L for NO3-N in public water supplies. NO3-N in the city of Creighton municipal drinking water wells and several rural domestic and irrigation wells have exceeded the MCL. The city of Creighton has constructed a reverse-osmosis water treatment system at a cost of $1.1 million to reduce the NO3-N concentration below the MCL in its water supply. In response to this NO3-N contamination problem the LCNRD has begun to focus attention on the impacted area.

This Final Report represents the culmination of a two-year investigation by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Water Sciences Laboratory (UNL WSL) to assess the persistence, source, scope and range of agrichemical contaminants in the Creighton, NE area. The results and recommendations of this report may assist the LCNRD in ground water management in the area.