Quality of ground water in shallow wells in agricultural areas of Haywood, Shelby, Lake, and Obion counties, Tennessee, January and February 1988

Three areas with sparse data on the impact of agricultural chemicals on groundwater quality in the state of Tennessee were chosen for sampling groundwater for nitrogen species and pesticides. These sites, located in Haywood, Shelby, and Lake Counties, are all areas of high intensity agriculture. Because of the importance of the surficial alluvial aquifer to the domestic supply in West Tennessee, shallow wells at each site were sampled. Two sampling events were scheduled, in the winter and in the spring, to establish the difference between background and effected contaminant levels. Preliminary results from the first sampling event indicate a range of nitrite plus nitrate as nitrogen concentrations from less than 0.1 to 7.8 milligrams per liter. The results from triazine analyses show concentrations below the detection limit. (USGS)