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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />6.0 WATER QUALITY INFORMATION <br /> <br />6.1 1997/1998 STUDY <br />Water quality data from forty seven domestic and stock wells located in the Basin were <br />obtained from the Colorado Department of Health and the District in 1997 and 1998. <br />These are summarized in Table 6-1. Water sampling sites in each year are shown in <br />Map 7. Nine of the well sites are within the Town of Springfield, thirty-two well sites are <br />within Baca County and four well sites are in Prowers County. The water-quality data <br />indicate the water within the District is generally of good quality for domestic, stock <br />watering, industrial and irrigation use. However, there are specific locations for which <br />the data show elevated levels of contaminants, specifically nitrate and atrazine. <br />Elevated nitrate and atrazine levels in rural areas which have irrigated agricultural <br />practices usually indicate that fertilizer and chemicals spills have occurred, and the <br />fertilizer or herbicide has entered the aquifer. One possible source could be an <br />abandoned well that has not been properly plugged. If the spill is in an area where water <br />is used primarily for irrigation purposes, pumping the water from the aquifer for irrigation <br />purposes will tend to remove the fertilizer or herbicide. However, if the spill has occurred <br />in an area where water is used for domestic purposes, the contaminant concentration <br />may reach a level that could effect human health. Elevated nitrate levels may also <br />indicate that leaching from septic systems is contaminating the aquifer. The National <br />Primary Drinking Water Regulations contain legally enforceable standards that apply to <br />public water systems. In the case of nitrate, the maximum contaminant level (M.C.L.) is <br />10 mg/L as nitrogen, and for Atrazine, the M.C.L. is 3 micrograms/L. <br /> <br />Six of the forty seven wells sampled in 1997 and 1998 have elevated nitrate levels. One <br />of these wells is located within the Town of Springfield, which is a public water supplier <br />to its residents. The remaining five wells are located in rural areas. The owners and/or <br />residents' may want to exercise caution in using the water for potable use, particularly if <br />the water would be used to supply drinking water for new born children and livestock. <br /> <br />There are five wells with measurable levels of atrazine ranging from 0.12 micrograms/L <br />to 3.9 micrograms/L. The only well which exceeds the M.C.L. level for atrazine is <br />located in the Town of Springfield and is the same well with the elevated nitrate level. <br /> <br />VI-1 <br />