Farmstead groundwater quality monitoring in Kentucky

Groundwater samples were taken from ten farmsteads on a routine basis and analyzed for pesticide contamination. Well samples collected at each farmstead and groundwater samples were also analyzed from suction lysimeters on two of the same sites. It was observed that private wells have very low concentrations of agricultural chemicals present. However, average levels generally do not come close to the MCL standard. This indicates that contamination of water wells by triazine, alachlor, and metolachlor seems to be of minimal concern. Results also suggest that pesticide sprayers should be loaded on an impermeable surface at a safe distance from the water source or in a field which contains the target crop.