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Abstract

Atalay, A., S. Pao, M. James, B. Whitehead and A. Allen. 2008. rinking water assessment at underserved farms in Virginia’s coastal plain. JEMREST 4:53-64.

DOI: 10.4029/2007jemrest4no106

Homeowners in rural communities, especially those classified as “underserved” by federal and state education and extension efforts, face a great risk of drinking water contamination from various sources. This study assessed the chemical and microbiological qualities of drinking water samples collected from 185 locations covering 22 counties along the Coastal Plain of Virginia. All samples were taken from rural wells or springs where underserved farms and families in the region obtain their drinking water. Separate samples were collected for biological and chemical analyses and screened for selected water quality indicators. Total coliform, fecal coliform, and Escherichia coli were detected in 34, 11, and 6% of the samples, respectively. The levels of microbial contamination would be high during summer months when recharge is at minimum. Chemical analysis showed that 25% of the total wells surveyed were near the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay. Among them approximately 10% had salt-water intrusion, as indicated by sodium content exceeding USEPA limits for drinking water. Shallow wells in close proximity to agricultural fields would be expected to be high in nitrate and phosphorus, but most of the values obtained in this study were not considered detrimental to human health based on USEPA’s drinking water standards. The pH of well waters ranged from 4.5 to 8.5 depending on location. Survey results indicated that color, taste, and turbidity were the most common complaints reported by homeowners.