MPCA GroundwaterMonitoring and Assessment

Glenn Skuta Water Monitoring Manager

MPCA Groundwater Roles• Monitor groundwater quality in non-

agricultural parts of the state• Determine groundwater-surface water

interactions• Evaluate groundwater protection BMPs• Groundwater contamination remediation

programs

MPCA Groundwater Monitoring

• Developing a robust groundwater quality monitoring network• Report on contaminants of emerging

concern (CEC) in groundwater unparalleled nationally

• Participant in national groundwater monitoring network pilot

MPCA’S Ambient GW Network

• 205 wells• 80 wells left to install

CEC Study Report Available

http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/view-document.html?gid=17244

Contaminants of Emerging Concern

Chemicals not commonly monitored in the environmentor regulated

About 100 Emerging Contaminants• Antibiotics• Pharmaceuticals• Fire Retardants• Insect Repellent (DEET)• Detergent Metabolites• Personal Care Products• Hormones

40 Wells Sampled for CECs

CEC Report Summary• Low frequency and low levels of detection, even though

wells more likely to be contaminated were targeted for this study.

• Emerging contaminants were present in 13 of the 40 wells monitored.

• Endocrine Active Compounds were detected in 3 of the 40 wells.

• GW affected by landfill leachate had the largest number of detections and highest total concentrations, but still well below risk levels.

• Further monitoring will refine this assessment.

Additional Reports Coming Soon

• Update to CEC report coming this summer using triple the amount of wells

• Overall ambient groundwater network report coming this spring • Significant finding on chloride

Chloride-- Sand and Gravel Aquifers

Chloride Trends

Groundwater-Surface water Interaction Studies• Investigations have linked increases in ground

water extraction (municipal uses and irrigation) to stream flow reductions and lowered lake levels

• MPCA was the primary cooperative funder of the USGS study of altered groundwater flow affecting the level of White Bear Lake

• Identified reduced contribution of groundwater to surface water as a stressor in the Little Rock Creek TMDL study

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 20100

300

600

900

1200

Pumping for Wells <1 km from Little Rock Creek

Milli

on g

allo

ns

9/1/2002 5/28/2005 2/22/2008

0

2

4

6

8

10

Obwell 5004 – groundwater level

Fee

t bel

ow g

roun

d le

vel

1940 1960 1980 2000 202010

20

30

40 Pierz_precipLinear (Pierz_precip)Five_yr moving avg

Inch

es

Source: http://climate.umn.edu/doc/histori-cal.htm

Precipitation

Little Rock Creek – Benton Cty.

Additional Groundwater-Surface Water Hydrology Research • Refining groundwater recharge estimates with

USGS –project will be complete in 2014• Synthetic hydrograph (streamflow estimation)

project with USGS• Enhancing precipitation network - automated

rain gages to be installed at stream gaging stations – cooperative effort with National Weather Service and DNR