THE KENTUCKY AMBIENT GROUNDWATER MONITORING NETWORK: A COLLABORATIVE CHARACTERIZATION EFFORT THAT IS USED TO INFORM PUBLIC POLICY

Kentucky’s Ambient Groundwater Monitoring Network is a multi-agency effort to characterize groundwater quality, conduct aquifer mapping, and consolidate groundwater data management. More than 120 sites are sampled per quarter; data and products are shared via the Ground Water Repository at KGS. Efforts are coordinated via the Interagency Technical Advisory Committee on Groundwater. Examples are provided as to how the network provides data to inform policy makers on groundwater issues.

In 2002, DOW reviewed the occurrence of arsenic in groundwater in regards to a proposed change in the MCL (from 0.50 to 0.01 mg/L). DOW reviewed 1249 samples from 239 sites; levels of arsenic ranged from 0.00002 mg/L to 0.156 mg/L with a median of 0.0002 mg/L. 5490 samples from 688 public water systems (PWSs), including 165 systems supplied by groundwater, were also evaluated. DOW concluded that Kentucky PWSs should not have significant compliance problems with arsenic.

In response to legislative concerns in 2001, DOW evaluated the impacts on groundwater from MTBE. DOW found that 2% of ambient groundwater samples detected MTBE, and that 4% of samples collected in response to leaking underground storage tanks detected MTBE. DOW concluded, based on the limited data available, that MTBE was probably only locally a threat to groundwater in Kentucky. Lack of a widespread occurrence of MTBE also led DOW to find re-deposition of MTBE via incomplete combustion was not a threat to groundwater.

Ongoing network research conducted by the KGS on the occurrence of bacteria and nitrate is expected to result in regulatory changes in construction standards for shallow “tile” wells.

The Ambient Groundwater Monitoring Network provides relevant information to decision makers for the development of public policy. The information obtained by the network also facilitates water supply planning, wellhead protection, and spill response. Network efforts also provide useful information to groundwater users, businesses, agriculture, and others to advise them on groundwater protection activities.

Future plans are to improve the spatial and temporal capabilities of the network and expand the list of parameters to include emerging issues, such as pharmaceutically active compounds and personal care products, and to investigate effective surrogate parameters.