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TEXAS COOPERATIVE ATRAZINE MONITORING
of the HIGH PLAINS AQUIFER by IMMUNOASSAY
Alan Cherepon,Steve Musick, Joseph Peters
Texas Commission on Environmental QualityOffice of Permitting, Remediation and Registration
Water Supply DivisionWater Rights Permitting and Availability Section
PESTICIDE APPLICATION
Outline•Pesticide Management Plan Program & NPS•Groundwater Monitoring Data, Investigations and Immunoassay (Innovative) Technology•Cooperation•Management Impacts•Conclusions
Pesticide Management Plan Program
EPA FIFRA GrantProgram Initiated 1987Protection of Groundwater from PesticidesInitial Focus on Nonpoint Sources from Agricultural Application of PesticidesMonitoring Component for Groundwater ResourcesRequires Cooperation (through the ACS)Also includes 106 GW, SDWA, CWA, FQPARecent Focus on Urban Pesticides (screen metros)
NPS & the Pesticide Management PlanTexas NPS Mgmt. Program (SFR-068/04, 12/05) http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/assets/public/comm_exec/pubs/sfr/nonpointsource/068_04.pdf
GW protection/coordination through TGPCCh. 6, GW Plans (p.89), PMP (p.118), Aquifer Protection (p. 137)PMP – Flow Chart on how to address NPS contamination by pesticides (p. 60-63) http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/assets/public/comm_exec/pubs/sfr/070_01.pdf
Texas Groundwater Protection Committee & Agricultural Chemicals Subcommittee
TGPCInteragency GroupSubcommitteeshttp://www.tgpc.state.tx.us/
ACSInteragency GroupTask Forceshttp://www.tgpc.state.tx.us/AgChemSubcommittee.html
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Objectives, Design, Methods, & Assessment
Objectives: Protect GW from pesticidesDesign: Assess existing data (IPD), communicate/coordinate w/stakeholders, monitoring, assessment and BMP components, Investigation and Implementation of BMPsAssess results & mgmt. approach to see if objectives were attained
Design Phase
IPD or ambient monitoring verifies pesticides in groundwaterPlan developed by TCEQ, reviewed by ACS/SSTF, for coordinated investigationResults reviewed by ACS/DEITF, action planBMPs/education/ more frequent monitoring, and follow up activities planned/coordinated by ACS/BMPTFAll phases communicated and coordinated w/PWS or private well owner
Monitoring Data
IPD (Pesticide analysis data in Texas Groundwater)Public Drinking Water Monitoring (POEs)Vulnerable Areas MonitoringInvestigationsConfirmation & On-Going MonitoringCooperative Monitoring
Applications of IA in Texas
Compilation/Assessment of available Pesticide Groundwater Monitoring Data Efficient way to Screen for 2 Primary Pesticides: Atrazine & MetolachlorEnables Quick Focus of ResourcesPrevents Minor problems from Developing into Serious Ones
IPD Data
Data between 1927-20013,748 wells, >23,000 analytesHave added >1000 wells since 2002234 pesticides detected81 confirmed detections, 71 are for atrazineMostly clustered in Central Panhandle
State IPD Coverage
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IPD Well Coverage in the Panhandle Active Ambient Groundwater Monitoring Programs in Texas
TCEQ’s Public Drinking Water Section - 3-Year Cycle of Monitoring all Public Water Supply SystemsTexas Water Development Board - 4-Year Cycle of
Monitoring State Groundwater/AquifersHigh Plains Underground Water Conservation District
#1 -~3-Year Cycle for District MonitoringTCEQ’s GPAT application of Immunoassay Method in
Groundwater Monitoring for Atrazine & Metolachlor, AgChem Subcommittee -Cooperative Ambient Groundwater Monitoring for Atrazine & Metolachlor
PWS Investigations
Detects by PDWS of TCEQFriona was 1st, 1998-99, used as a test of PMP response mechanismExtent, PSOCs, PS/NPS, data, trends5 conducted in Panhandle 1998-2003
Ways in Which PWSs and GCDs Help
Provide Well AccessSample WellsShip Samples to TCEQ for ImmunoassaysLocate WellsProvide Information on Potential Sources and Wells, Including Historical Information for AreaSaves the State (the Taxpayer – You) Lots of $ and TimeSpeeds up Groundwater Assessments for Pesticides
Investigations & Management DecisionsCooperative (state, local) and coordinated
PWS provides access for monitoring, well info, input on historical perspective/PSOCs, nearby wells and owners
IA analyses used to direct GW sampling for plume delineation and reduce the # of lab analysesMonitoring results used by PWS to take wells off-lineAnnual and semi-annual monitoring results used to put wells back into serviceSource determination used to change practices near impacted wells and to abandon/plug or install wells
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Monitoring Results & ManagementIdentify impacted wells in larger systemsLong-Term On-Going monitoring used to determine if source still impacting wellIf concentration drops off significantly, can remove from scheduleIf concentration is erratic, keep monitoringMonitor effect of taking well off-line, precipitation, other nearby wells, BMPsAssessment of management decisions
Results -PWS Investigations5 PWSs in Panhandle, HP AquiferSimilarities;
Nearby SW featuresOld wells (>20 years)No historical pesticide use data
DifferencesNot all adjacent to croplandsMixed PS/NPSWell conditions vary
Presently no PWSs (GW) with atrazine >MCLPMP response mechanism works
0.490.29 0.22
0.61 0.62 0.490.77 0.84
0.080.18 0.08 0.13 0.1 0.18 0.10.13 0.09 0.14 0.08 0.110.26
0.5 0.36
3.39
1.87
0.89 0.83
1.511.89
1.54
0.17
1.43
2.15
0.52
0.080.28
1.01 1.010.79
0.48 0.42 0.420.6 0.49
0.72
0.15
0.56 0.520.31 0.37 0.47 0.44 0.44
0.8
0.32
0.69 0.81
0.450.56 0.7 0.72 0.72
‘03/23/99‘05/26/99
‘12/07/99 ‘06/06/00
‘01/16/01 ‘06/12/01
‘01/22/02‘06/04/02
‘05/15/03‘06/18/03
‘11/10/03‘07/28/04
‘07/13/05'06/07/06
'06/20/07
0
0.51
1.52
2.53
3.5
Well 4 Well 6 Well 7
Well 9 Well 10 Well 19
Friona Atrazine Concentrations
*Analysis by Immunoassay Method
Former AerialApplicator Yard
Old Wells /Well Integrity Issues
Spills from storageFacilities
Potential Sources of Contamination
Mixing/Loading/WashingAreas Near Drainage
Playas & Creeks asTailwater Ponds
Pesticide Storage inWell House
IMMUNOASSAY TESTING FOR PESTICIDES Cooperative Screening for Atrazine & Metolachlor
Who – TWDB, TCEQ, HPUWCD#1, GCUWCD, PGCD, and NPGCDWhen – 2000 – 2007 (8-Years, 2 cycles)Where – Major & Minor Aquifers of TexasHow – Others Collect Samples, TCEQ Analysis for Atrazine & Metolachlor by Immunoassay
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TCEQ Immunoassay Coop Monitoring of Groundwater for Pesticides in the Panhandle
Panhandle/High Plains Aquifer Cooperative Atrazine Ambient Screening: 2000 - 564 WellsContinuation of Atrazine & Metolachlor Ambient Screening: 2001 - 68 WellsPanhandle Screening-Round 2: 2004 - 452 WellsTotal Coop Ambient Monitoring >3000
County Well Coverage Close-upsClose-up of detect area
Close-up of Parmer Co.
Results of Cooperative Monitoring in the Panhandle
218 atrazine detects, with a high of 4.16 ppb8 samples with atrazine > 1 ppb14 metolachlor detects, all but 2 < 0.3 ppb22 wells with the highest atrazine re-sampledCoop results match PWS investigations and IPDCorrespond to high atrazine use areas
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Atrazine High Use Areas Close-up ofVulnerableAreas inPanhandleand PWS withAtrazineDetects
Amarillo
Lubbock
Plainview
Hereford
TuliaDimmitt
Friona
Kress
Close-up ofHigh-Usage Areas in the Panhandlewith PWS andAtrazine Detects byCooperativeProject
Amarillo
Lubbock
Plainview
Tulia
Dumas
Screening Detectsof Atrazine >0.3 ppb
Towns/CitiesDimmittKressFriona
Hereford
Cooperative Monitoring & Management
Detects concentrations lower than labCovers entire state quickly and less costlyIdentifies low detects and clustering in region, Sound, early management helps keep small problems from becoming more seriousEnabled Texas to move on to urban pesticide monitoring
Cooperative Monitoring & Management
The IPD & GIS enabled Texas to assess existing data, plot areas of interest for pesticidesCooperative and confirmation monitoring indicated worst impacted sites, prompting investigations in Panhandle PWSsDevelopment of regional BMPs/education and outreach, to correct improper uses and/or improve wellhead protection, abandoned well assessment and proper plugging, resulting in drop in atrazine levelsAdditional management include notifications, additional monitoring, removal or adding of well from/to service, changes to well fields/source removal, stop off-label pesticide use
BMPs & EDUCATION/AWARENESS
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ConclusionsIPD detects verify regional atrazine detects in Panhandle, no significant detects elsewhereFocus Education, investigations, BMPs in PanhandleGIS mapping – spatial analysis, ID regional clustersPooling & compilation of data combined with cooperative
monitoring and screening by immunoassay an efficient and effective approach to groundwater protection from pesticidesFulfills basic components & philosophy of PMPDrop in Atrazine concentrations, presently no PWS detects in groundwater above the MCL - GOALS MET
ConclusionsQuick detection and coordination led to educational BMPs, other management efforts, and reduction of atrazine concentrationsScreened state aquifers for atrazine and metolachlor in a 5-year periodInvestigations indicate surface water and well age a factor in pesticide impact to groundwaterLow rainfall, deep water table, formation materials limit impact of pesticides to High Plains aquifer in Texas
Acknowledgments
Texas Water Development Board -Janie HopkinsHPUWCD#1, PGCD, NPGCD, PWSsThe Texas Agricultural Chemicals SubcommitteeUSEPA FIFRA/PMP & 106GW GrantTCEQ Water Supply Division Staff
Contact Information
Alan Cherepon, P.G., C.H.Texas Commission on Environmental QualityWater Rights Permitting & Availability Section
Austin, TX(512)239-4509