Author(s): Misganaw Demissie; M. Asce; Laura Keefer; Susan Shaw; Ken Nichols
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Abstract: High nitrate concentrations in drinking waters that depend on surface water sources have become a chronic problem in the agricultural region of the Midwest. Water supply utilities in central Illinois have been exceeding the federal regulation for nitrate in drinking water for many years. Federal and state regulatory agencies are forcing these utilities to develop plans to reduce nitrate concentrations below the maximum contaminant level of 10 mg/l within a short period of time. The Illinois State Water Survey conducted studies for two water supply utilities to identify the sources of nitrate in the watersheds and to evaluate the feasibility of watershed-based solutions to the nitrate problem. Data collected over two-and three-year periods indicate that although there are some differences in nitrate yields from different sub-watersheds, these differences are not very significant.
Year: 1997