EXPLORING GEO-SPECIFIC TRENDS OF COMMON HEALTH RELATED GROUNDWATER CONTAMINANTS

Many residents of Connecticut rely on groundwater extracted from crystalline and sedimentary bedrock. Typical water quality issues may be natural or anthropogenic but they may also affect human health. For example, prolonged exposure to high levels of manganese can lead to health complications or a Parkinson-like condition. Uranium, when absorbed into the bloodstream over time, may affect ones’ kidneys. Additionally, elements common in road salts interfere with taste, household plumbing, or may become a health risk. Given the lithology of Connecticut, these parameters are common; however, the variability in the concentrations is unclear. Thus, this research examined the distributions of several water quality parameters known to effect human health and justified these occurrences with respect to land use, lithology, and groundwater flow conditions. In cooperation with Local and State agencies, a random distribution of domestic wells were tested in 2014 to determine current groundwater conditions and historical water quality reports were obtained to analyze temporal trends for Lebanon, Connecticut. Results of this study confirm that groundwater quality has been altered by human activities over time. Wells exceeding the EPA drinking water standard for manganese were typically found in felsic-igneous and plutonic rocks and the temporal variability of manganese distributions suggests anthropogenic sources have altered the groundwater quality conditions. Wells tested positive for uranium across the study area and in all rock types; thirty percent of the wells tested contained uranium but less than two percent exceeded the drinking water standard. Manganese, iron, and land use patterns suggest an oxic environment has caused uranium to leach from the rock. Average chloride concentrations of 2014 exceeded historical concentrations and average sodium concentrations appeared relatively consistent to concentrations observed over the last two decades. Higher concentrations of both sodium and chloride dominantly occur on the central to eastern side of town which coincides with two state highways. In conclusion, these results reinforce the general guidance of the Connecticut Department of Public Health on water quality testing for private domestic wells.