Central Columbia Plateau - Yakima River Basin NAWQA Study - Publications
Percentage of Maximum wells with concentra- Compound detections tion(ug/L)2 -------- ------------ ----------- Atrazine 45 0.97 Desethylatrazine 37 0.12 Simazine 12 0.011 1,2-dichloropropane 12 0.5 Metribuzin 10 0.028 Metolachlor 10 0.009 1,2,2-trichloropropane 8 0.55 EDB(1,2-dibromoethane) 7 1.1 1,2,3-trichloropropane 6 1.0 EPTC 6 0.012 Alachlor 6 0.008 1 Detected in more than 5 percent of samples 2 Micrograms per liter, or parts per billion (ppb)
Estimated 1994 total State Estimated pesticides cash acres applied value Most heavily Crop cultivated (tons/yr) rank1 applied pesticide2 ---- ---------- ---------- ----- ----------------- Wheat 94,500 40 4 2,4-D Potatoes 59,800 4,693 5 1,3-dichloropropene4 Hay3 149,100 50 7 EPTC Onions 3,900 12 14 DCPA Asparagus 12,900 39 16 Chlorpyrifos Sweet Corn 17,600 25 17 Alachlor Feed Corn 56,100 34 18 EPTC Mint 10,600 54 19 Sulfur5 Barley 6,400 2 25 Triallate Carrots 2,800 161 26 1,3-dichloropropene4 1Washington Agricultural Statistics Service [1995], Washington Agricultural Statistics 1994-1995, p.6 2Compounds in bold were detected in ground water 3Sum of alfalfa hay and other hay 4Volatile compounds present in early formulations of this nematocide were detected; see below 5Not targeted for analysis
[I, insecticide; H, herbicide; F, fungicide; O, other; Ah, alfalfa hay; A, asparagus; C, carrots; Cs, carrot seed; Co, feed corn; B, dry beans; G, grapes; M, mint; On, onions; Po, potatoes; R, radish seed; Sc, sweet corn; W, wheat; N, not detected; D, detected; --, not analyzed for]Estimated amount Major applied1 target Sample Pesticide Type (tons/yr) crops result --------- ---- --------- ----- ------ 1,3-dichloropropene O 2,247 Po,C N Metam Sodium O 1,758 Po -- Sulfuric Acid O 525 Po -- Chloropicrin O 169 Po -- Maleic Hydrazide O 17 Po,On -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Methamidophos I 37 Po -- Propargite I 36 Po,M,B N Disulfoton I 36 Po,A,R N Phorate I 33 Po N Ethoprop I 22 Po,Sc N Chlorpyrifos I 17 A,Sc,Ah N --------------------------------------------------------------------- EPTC H 78 Ah,Po,B D Metribuzin H 21 Po,Ah,A D 2,4-D H 17 W,Co,A D Alachlor H 16 Sc,B,Co D Diuron H 12 W,A,G D DCPA H 12 On,R,Cs N --------------------------------------------------------------------- Sulfur F 35 Po,M,G -- Mancozeb F 31 Po,A,On -- Chlorothalonil F 21 Po,C,On N --------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Amount of active ingredient (based on information from Anderson, J.E. and Gianessi, L.,1995, Pesticide use in the Central Columbia Plateau; National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy).
In June 1996 the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory completed adjustments to the pesticide data base from schedules 2001/2010 and 2050/2051 covering sample dates from 1992 through February 29, 1996. Corrected method detection limits (MDLs) were assigned to nondetect values and E (estimate) codes were assigned more consistently. Also, all dimethoate values were deleted from the data base due to this compound's poor performance in analytical tests. While making these adjustments to the data base, it was discovered that some compounds detected at very low concentrations had been inadvertently reported as nondetections. These are now reported as detections. This most frequently occurred for desethylatrazine, simazine, and dieldrin.
Fact Sheet 240-95, Revised
Prepared by Lonna M. Roberts and Joseph L. Jones
July 1996
For further information contact:
Project Chief
CCYK NAWQA
1201 Pacific Ave., Suite 600
Tacoma, WA 98402
Phone:(253) 593-6510 ext2687; -6514 fax
Email: rwblack@usgs.gov
Suggested citation:
Roberts, L.M. and Jones, J.L., 1996, Agricultural Pesticides Found in
Ground Water of the Quincy and Pasco Basins: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet
240-95, on-line at <URL: http://wa.water.usgs.gov/ccyk/fs-240-95.html>,
accessed October 17, 1997
.
For a paper copy of this report, send Email to: rwblack@usgs.gov