Kansas Geological Survey, Public Information Circular (PIC) 14
Prev. Page--Protecting Ground Water
Kansas Geological Survey, Public Information Circular (PIC) 14
Prev. Page--Protecting Ground Water
Nitrate contamination of ground water is occurring in Kansas, and nitrate concentrations are increasing in many areas of the state. Nitrate contamination may occur in both rural and urban settings but is often related to agricultural practices. Certain management practices can reduce the risk of nitrate entering ground water.
By the time contamination is detected, the overlying unsaturated zone may be enriched with the contaminant. Remedial action may take decades to improve water quality, and expensive treatment or alternative sources may be required to provide high-quality water. It is important to prevent nitrate contamination of ground water, rather than to wait for contamination to occur and attempt to rectify it. Prevention measures focus on avoiding direct contamination of ground water from the surface through wells and boreholes, and controlling the sources of nitrate contamination.
Environmental Working Group, 1998, Population, Employment & Income; in, Where You Live--Kansas--Economy: Environmental Working Group (http://www.ewg.org/). (Aug. 2008)
Kansas Department of Agriculture, 1998, Agricultural Statistics Division, Fertilizer Tonnage Sold Reports, 1997: Kansas Department of Agriculture.
Kansas Department of Agriculture, 1997, Kansas Agricultural Statistics, 1997: Kansas Department of Agriculture (http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Kansas/index.asp). (Aug. 2008)
Madison, R. J., and Brunett, J. O., 1984, Hydrologic events, selected water-quality trends, and ground-water resources; in, National Water Summary 1984: U.S. Geological Survey, Water-supply Paper 2275, p. 93-105. [available online]
Spalding, R. R., and Exner, M. E., 1993, Occurrence of nitrate in ground water--A review: Journal of Environmental Quality, v. 22, p. 392-402.
Steichen , J., Koelliker, J., Grosh, D., Heiman, A., Yearout, R., and Robbins, V., 1988, Contamination of farmstead wells by pesticides, volatile organics, and inorganic chemicals in Kansas: Ground Water Monitoring Review, v. 8, no. 3, p. 153-160.
Townsend, M. A., 1996, Summary report of work on sources of nitrate-N in ground water, north and south forks of Solomon River basin: Kansas Geological Survey, Open-file Report 96-28, 42 p. [available online]
Townsend, M. A., and Young, D. P., 1995, Factors affecting nitrate concentration in ground water in Stafford County, Kansas; in, Current Research on Kansas Geology: Kansas Geological Survey, Bulletin 238, p. 1-9. [available online]
Townsend, M. A., Sleezer, R. O., and Macko, S. A., 1996, Effects of agricultural practices and vadose zone stratigraphy on nitrate concentration in ground water in Kansas, USA: Water Science and Technology, v. 33, no. 4-5, p. 219-226.
Townsend, M. A., Young, D. P., and Healey, J., 1997, Results of agrichemical survey of ground water in Kansas, 1993-1994: Kansas Geological Survey, Open-file Report 97-80, 44 p.
More information about nitrate contamination in Kansas ground water can be obtained by contacting the Cooperative Extension Service at Kansas State University (Extension Agronomy, 2014 Throckmorton Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506-5501, 785-532-5776) and the U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division (4821 Quail Crest Place, Lawrence, KS 66049, 785-842-9909). Other sources of information include county health departments, local Farm Bureau offices, and local Natural Resource Conservation Service District Offices.
Prev. Page--Protecting Ground Water
Kansas Geological Survey, Public Outreach
Web version July 1999
http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Publications/pic14/pic14_5.html