U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Open-File Report 2011–1112

Prepared in cooperation with the 

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Groundwater Quality in the Chemung River Basin, 

New York, 2008
Cover. Coleman Avenue, near Harris Hill, Town of Big Flats, Chemung County.
Groundwater Quality in the Chemung River 

Basin, New York, 2008

By Amy J. Risen and James E. Reddy

Prepared in cooperation with the 

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Open-File Report 2011–1112

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

KEN SALAZAR, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Marcia K. McNutt, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2011

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Suggested citation:

Risen, A.J., and Reddy, J.E., 2011, Groundwater quality in the Chemung River Basin, New York, 2008: U.S. Geological 

Survey Open-File Report 2011–1112, 25 p., at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2011/1112.
iii

Contents

Abstract ..........................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1

Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................2

Study Area..............................................................................................................................................2

Methods ..........................................................................................................................................................2

Groundwater Quality ....................................................................................................................................4

Physical Properties ..............................................................................................................................4

Major Ions .............................................................................................................................................4

Nutrients and Organic Carbon ...........................................................................................................5

Trace Elements and Radon-222 .........................................................................................................5

Pesticides ..............................................................................................................................................6

Volatile Organic Compounds and Phenolic Compounds ..............................................................6

Bacteria .................................................................................................................................................8

Wells sampled in 2003 and 2008 ........................................................................................................8

Summary .........................................................................................................................................................8

References Cited ...........................................................................................................................................9

Appendix........................................................................................................................................................11

Figure

1. Map showing pertinent geographic features of study area in the Chemung River

Basin, New York, and locations of the 10 wells sampled in 2008 .........................................3

Tables

1. Summary statistics for concentrations of major ions in sand and gravel aquifers

and bedrock aquifers in the Chemung River Basin, New York, 2008 ...................................5

2. Summary statistics for concentrations of nutrients and organic carbon in 

sand and gravel aquifers and bedrock aquifers in the Chemung River Basin, 

New York, 2008 ..............................................................................................................................6

3. Summary statistics for concentrations of trace elements and radon-222 in 

sand and gravel aquifers and bedrock aquifers in the Chemung River Basin, 

New York, 2008 ..............................................................................................................................7
iv

Conversion Factors, Datum, and Acronyms

Multiply By To obtain

Length

inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm)

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

Area

square mile (mi2

) 2.590 square kilometer (km2) 

Flow rate

million gallons per day (Mgal/d) 0.04381 cubic meter per second (m3

/s)

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows:

°F= (1.8×°C) +32

Vertical coordinate information is referenced to North American Vertical Datum of 1929 

(NAVD 29).

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).

List of Acronyms

AL Action Level 

AMCL Alternative maximum contaminant level

CFU/mL Colony forming units per milliliter

CIAT 2-Chloro-4-isopropylamino-6-amino-s-triazine (also called deethylatrazine)

DWA Drinking Water Advisory 

ESA Ethanesulfonic acid

HPC Heterotrophic plate count

LRL Laboratory Reporting Level

MCL Maximum Contaminant Level

MTBE Methyl-tert-butyl ether

μg/L micrograms per liter 

μm micrometer

μS/cm microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius

mg/L milligrams per liter 

NWQL USGS National Water Quality Laboratory

NYSDEC New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

NYSDOH New York State Department of Health

OA Oxanilic acid

OGRL USGS Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory

OIET 2-Hydroxy-4-isopropylamino-6-ethylamino-s-triazine (also called hydroxyatrazine)

pCi/L picocuries per liter 

Pt-Co units Platinum-cobalt units 

SMCL Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level

USEPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

USGS U.S. Geological Survey

VOC Volatile organic compound
Groundwater Quality in the Chemung River Basin, 

New York, 2008

By Amy J. Risen and James E. Reddy

Abstract 

The second groundwater quality study of the Chemung 

River Basin in south-central New York was conducted as part 

of the U.S. Geological Survey 305(b) water-qualitymonitoring program. Water samples were collected from 

five production wells and five private residential wells from 

October through December 2008. The samples were analyzed 

to characterize the chemical quality of the groundwater. Five 

of the wells are screened in sand and gravel aquifers, and five 

are finished in bedrock aquifers. Two of these wells were 

also sampled for the first Chemung River Basin study of 

2003. Samples were analyzed for 6 physical properties and 

217 constituents, including nutrients, major inorganic ions, 

trace elements, radionuclides, pesticides, volatile organic 

compounds, phenolic compounds, organic carbon, and four 

types of bacterial analyses. Results of the water-quality 

analyses for individual wells are presented in tables, and 

summary statistics for specific constituents are presented 

by aquifer type. The results are compared with Federal and 

New York State drinking-water standards, which typically 

are identical. 

Water quality in the study area is generally good, but 

concentrations of some constituents equaled or exceeded 

current or proposed Federal or New York State drinkingwater standards; these were: sodium (one sample), total 

dissolved solids (one sample), aluminum (one sample), 

iron (one sample), manganese (four samples), radon-222 

(eight samples), trichloroethene (one sample), and bacteria 

(four samples). The pH of all samples was typically neutral or 

slightly basic (median 7.5); the median water temperature was 

11.0 degrees Celsius (°C). The ions with the highest median 

concentrations were bicarbonate (median 202 milligrams per 

liter [mg/L]) and calcium (median 59.0 mg/L). Groundwater 

in the study area is moderately hard to very hard, but more 

samples were hard or very hard (121 mg/L as calcium 

carbonate (CaCO3

) or greater) than were moderately hard 

(61-120 mg/L as CaCO3

); the median hardness was 205 mg/L 

as CaCO3

. The maximum concentration of nitrate plus nitrite 

was 3.67 mg/L as nitrogen, which did not exceed established 

drinking-water standards for nitrate plus nitrite (10 mg/L 

as nitrogen). The trace elements with the highest median 

concentrations were strontium (median 196.5 micrograms 

per liter [μg/L]), barium (median 186 μg/L), and iron 

(median 72.5 μg/L in unfiltered water). Five pesticides and 

pesticide degradates were detected among four samples at 

concentrations of 0.11 μg/L or less; they included herbicides 

and herbicide degradates. Six volatile organic compounds 

(VOCs) were detected among four samples; these included 

four solvents, methyl tert-butyl ether, and one trihalomethane. 

Trichloroethene, a solvent, was detected in one production 

well at 5.5 μg/L; the Federal and New York State Maximum 

Contaminant Level (MCL) (5 μg/L) was exceeded. The 

highest radon-222 activities were in samples from bedrock 

wells [maximum 1,740 picocuries per liter (pCi/L)]; eight of 

the wells sampled exceeded a proposed U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency (USEPA) drinking-water standard of 

300 pCi/L. Any detection of coliform bacteria indicates a 

potential violation of New York State health regulations; total 

coliform bacteria were detected in four samples, and fecal 

coliform bacteria were detected in one sample.

Introduction

Section 305(b) of the Federal Clean Water Act 

Amendments of 1977 requires that states monitor and report 

biennially on the chemical quality of surface water and 

groundwater within their boundaries (U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, 1997). In 2002, the U.S. Geological 

Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the New York State 

Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), 

developed a program to evaluate groundwater quality 

throughout the major river basins in New York on a rotating 

basis. The work parallels the NYSDEC Rotating Intensive 

Basin Study program, which evaluates surface-water quality 

in 2 or 3 of the 14 major river basins in the State each year. 

The groundwater-quality program began in 2002 with a 

pilot study in the Mohawk River Basin (Butch and others, 

2003). Groundwater-quality sampling was completed in the 

Chemung River Basin in 2003 (Hetcher-Aguila, 2004); the 

Lake Champlain (Nystrom, 2006) and Susquehanna River 

Basins in 2004 (Hetcher-Aguila and Eckhardt, 2006); the St. 

Lawrence (Nystrom, 2007b), Delaware (Nystrom, 2007a), and 
2 Groundwater Quality in the Eastern Lake Ontario Basin, New York, 2008

Genesee River Basins (Eckhardt and others, 2007) in 2005; 

the Mohawk River Basin (Nystrom, 2008) and western New 

York (Niagara and Allegheny River Basins, and tributaries to 

Lake Erie and western Lake Ontario) (Eckhardt and others, 

2008) in 2006; and the Upper Hudson River Basin (Nystrom, 

2009) and Central New York (Oswego, Seneca, and Oneida 

River Basins) (Eckhardt and others, 2009) in 2007. Sampling 

in the Eastern Lake Ontario Basin, the Chemung River Basin, 

and the Lower Hudson River Basin (Nystrom, 2010) was 

completed in 2008. 

Purpose and Scope

This report presents the results of the 2008 groundwater 

study in the Chemung River Basin in south-central New 

York. It supplements the water-quality study completed in 

2003 in the Chemung River Basin (Hetcher-Aguila, 2004) by 

re-sampling two of the wells from that study (wells SB 1470 

and SB 2326) and provides analytical results for eight new 

wells (fig. 1). This report briefly describes the study area and 

the sampling methods, and presents results of the 2008 waterquality analyses. Summary statistics (number of samples 

exceeding Federal or State drinking-water standards) and the 

minimum, median, and maximum concentrations of selected 

analytes in 10 samples from wells in surficial and bedrock 

aquifers are given in tables 1 to 3. Information on the sampled 

wells and detailed analytical results for all analytes are given 

in Appendix tables 1-1 through 1-9 at the end of the report. 

Study Area

The Chemung River Basin (1,744-square miles [mi2]) 

lies mostly in south-central New York and partly in northcentral Pennsylvania (fig. 1). A complete description of the 

study area is presented in the first Chemung River Basin 

report (Hetcher-Aguila, 2004). Briefly, the study area includes 

all or parts of seven counties in south-central New York. It 

encompasses the Cohocton River Basin and the Canisteo 

River Basin. The main valley of the Chemung River trends 

northwest-southeast, is about 1 mile wide in most places, and 

empties into the Susquehanna River, south of Waverly, New 

York, in Pennsylvania. The entire study area lies within the 

Appalachian Plateau physiographic province. The Chemung 

River valley is filled with as much as 500 feet of glaciofluvial 

sand and gravel and glaciolacustrine silt and clay (Miller, 

1982). Saturated deposits of sand and gravel form aquifers 

that supply water to the villages and cities throughout the 

basin, including the cities of Elmira, Corning, and Bath 

(fig. 1). The main valley intersects northeast-southwest 

trending glaciated tributary valleys that are also filled with 

glacial sediments. Bedrock aquifers are used for water supply 

where sand and gravel aquifers are absent, typically in upland 

areas. The bedrock uplands rise as high as 900 ft above the 

valley floor and consist of nearly flat-lying interbedded shales, 

siltstones, and fine-grained sandstones of Devonian age.

Methods 

A total of 10 wells were selected for sample collection as 

described by Hetcher-Aguila (2004). Five are finished in sand 

and gravel aquifers, and five are finished in bedrock aquifers. 

The five wells that tap sand and gravel are production wells, 

and the five bedrock wells are private residential wells. 

Sampling was done from October through December 2008. 

The water samples were analyzed for 6 physical properties and 

217 constituents, including 4 types of bacterial analyses. Three 

samples—two field blanks and one replicate sample—were 

collected for quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC), 

as required for the Federal 305(b) program.

Samples were collected from every well for these 

analyses and were processed by methods described in 

USGS manuals for the collection of water-quality data (U.S. 

Geological Survey, variously dated). A detailed description 

of the sampling and analytical methods is given by HetcherAguila (2004). Samples collected for pesticide analyses were 

processed by the methods of Shelton (1994), Sandstrom and 

others (2001), and Wilde and others (2004). These samples 

were analyzed for 132 pesticides and pesticide degradates 

through methods described by Zaugg and others (1995), 

Furlong and others (2001), Sandstrom and others (2001), 

Meyer and others (1993), and Lee and Strahan (2003). The 

analytical method devised by Zaugg and others (1995) was 

developed in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency (USEPA) and allows detection of the 

Nation’s most commonly used pesticides. Samples for 

bacterial analyses were processed in accordance with New 

York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) guidelines. 

The analyses for physical properties, most trace elements 

and metals, acid-neutralizing capacity, organic carbon, radon222, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and phenols were 

done on unfiltered water samples to obtain total whole-water 

concentrations. Dissolved concentrations of nutrients, major 

inorganic constituents, three metals, and pesticides were 

obtained from filtered samples. Concentrations of iron and 

manganese were measured in both filtered and unfiltered 

samples to provide the total and dissolved concentrations 

(table 1-6). Sulfuric acid was added to the samples collected 

for phenol analysis. Hydrochloric acid was added to samples 

collected for total organic carbon, VOC, and mercury 

analyses, and nitric acid was added to some of the samples 

collected for trace-element analyses to prevent sample 

degradation. Samples collected for dissolved inorganiccompound analyses were filtered through a 0.45-micrometer 

(μm) cellulose capsule filter that was attached to the Teflon 

discharge line inside the sample-collection chamber; samples 

for pesticide analysis were filtered through a 0.7-μm furnacebaked glass-fiber plate filter using the methods of Wilde and 

others (2004).

The samples were stored on ice in coolers and delivered 

directly or shipped by overnight delivery to four laboratories: 

(1) the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) 
Methods 3

Susquehanna River

Bennetts Creek

Canac adea Creek

Canisteo Riv er

Chemung River Coho cton River

Meads Creek

Mud Creek

Seeley Creek

Tioga River

Tuscarora Creek

02050104

Canisteo River

02050105

Cohocton River

Steuben

Ontario

Yates

Livingston

Tompkins

Senec

Chemung

Schuyler

Allegany

Tioga

AG 1047

AG 1176

SB 384

SB 1470

SB 1580

SB 1272

CM 628

SB 1103

SB 2326

!

!

!

!

!

NEW YORK

PENNSYLVANIA

Hornell

Cohocton

Bath

Corning

Elmira

Waverly

77°30' 76°30'

42°30'

42°

EXPLANATION

Number is well number assigned by

U.S. Geological Survey; one- or twoletter prefix denotes county.

SB 1470 Bedrock well

SB 1103

Sand and gravel well

Basin boundary and

hydrologic unit code

City

!

Study area

02050105

Base from U.S. Geological Survey, Seamless

Data Distribution System, accessed in 2009

at http://seamless.usgs.gov 

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 18

0 5 10 20 MILES

0 10 5 20 KILOMETERS

NY

PA

VT

NJ

CT

MA

NH

Location Map

CANADA

Lake Ontario

Buffalo Albany

Study Area Lake Erie

Appalachian

Plateau

10 wells sampled in 2008. (Well data are given in table 1–1 at end of report.)

Figure 1. Pertinent geographic features of study area in the Chemung River Basin, New York, and locations of the 
4 Groundwater Quality in the Eastern Lake Ontario Basin, New York, 2008

in Denver, Colorado, for analysis for inorganic major ions, 

nutrients, inorganic trace elements and radon-222, VOCs, 

and some pesticides; (2) the USGS Organic Geochemistry 

Research Laboratory (OGRL) in Lawrence, Kansas, for 

additional pesticides; (3) a NYSDOH-certified laboratory 

in Melville, N.Y., for total organic carbon and phenolic 

compounds; and (4) a NYSDOH-certified laboratory in Ithaca, 

N.Y., for bacterial analysis.

Groundwater Quality 

Samples from 10 wells were analyzed for 223 

constituents and physical properties. More than one-half (163) 

of these were not detected above the laboratory reporting 

levels (LRLs) in any sample (table 1-2). Results for the 

remaining 60 constituents and properties that were detected 

are presented in the appendix. The categories are as follows: 

physical properties (table 1-3), inorganic constituents (table 

1-4), nutrients and total organic carbon (table 1-5), trace 

elements and radon-222 (table 1-6), pesticides (table 1-7), 

VOCs table 1-8), and bacterial water-quality indicators (table 

1-9). Some concentrations were reported as “estimated” when 

the detected value was less than the established LRL, or when 

recovery of a compound has been shown to be highly variable 

(Childress and others, 1999). 

Analytical results for selected constituents were 

compared with Federal and New York State drinking-water 

standards, which typically are identical. The standards 

include Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs), Secondary 

Maximum Contaminant Levels (SMCLs), Drinking Water 

Advisories (DWAs), and Action Levels (ALs) established 

by the USEPA (2002, 2004, and 2009) and the New York 

State Department. of Health (2007a). MCLs are enforceable 

standards that specify the highest level of a contaminant that 

is allowed in public drinking-water supplies; they are not 

enforceable for private homeowner wells but are presented 

here as a standard for evaluation of the results. SMCLs are 

non-enforceable guidelines based on cosmetic and aesthetic 

criteria, such as taste and odor. DWAs are non-enforceable 

guidelines for concentrations of contaminants that are not 

likely to have adverse health or aesthetic effects. ALs require 

water systems to use treatment techniques for the reduction 

of contaminants; for example, concentrations of metals could 

be reduced by controlling corrosiveness. There are several 

additional compounds for which detections must be reported 

by public-water systems in their annual report (New York 

State Department of Health, 2007a;b). 

The QA/QC field blank contained no constituent in 

concentrations greater than the LRLs, except toluene, which 

was detected at a trace concentration of 0.2 μg/L, and silica, 

which was detected at 0.14 milligrams per liter (mg/L); this 

indicates that little to no contamination occurred through the 

sampling or analytical procedures. The results of analysis 

of the QA/QC replicate sample indicate that variability in 

sample results meets the precision requirements of the study. 

The analytes with the largest percent differences between 

concentrations in a groundwater sample and that in the 

replicate sample were acid-neutralizing capacity, residue 

on evaporation, and low-concentration trace elements 

(concentrations near the LRL for the trace elements).

The quality of the sampled groundwater was generally 

acceptable, although at each well the concentrations of some 

constituents exceeded Federal or New York State drinkingwater standards. Exceedances generally involved minerals 

that occur from natural interactions of water and rock 

(aluminum, iron, manganese, sodium) but also include the 

anthropogenic contaminants chloroform and trichloroethene, 

as well as bacterial contaminants. Eight of the wells tested 

exceeded the USEPA proposed MCL for radon-222, which is 

generated from the natural decay of uranium. 

Physical Properties 

The pH of the samples (table 1-3) ranged from 7.0 to 7.7; 

the median was pH 7.6 for sand and gravel wells and pH 7.5 

for bedrock wells. The temperature of the water ranged from 

8.6 to 15.1°C; the median was 11.0°C for sand and gravel 

wells and 11.6°C for bedrock wells. Specific conductance 

of the samples ranged from 277 to 1,080 μS/cm at 25°C; the 

median was 498°μS/cm at 25°C for sand and gravel wells 

and 538 μS/cm at 25°C for bedrock wells. Dissolved-oxygen 

concentrations ranged from less than 0.1 mg/L (the LRL) 

to 5.4 mg/L: the median was 0.6 mg/L for sand and gravel 

wells and 2.8 mg/L for bedrock wells. The color of the 

samples ranges from less than 1 platinum-cobalt (Pt-Co) unit 

to 8 Pt-Co units; the median was 5 Pt-Co units for sand and 

gravel wells and 5 Pt-Co units for bedrock wells. The odor 

of hydrogen sulfide gas, which may occur in the absence of 

oxygen, was noted by field personnel in water from one of the 

bedrock wells.

Major Ions 

The anions that were detected in the highest 

concentrations were bicarbonate (alkalinity), chloride, and 

sulfate (tables 1 and 1-4). Bicarbonate concentrations ranged 

from 129 to 531 mg/L as CaCO3

; the median was 187 mg/L 

for sand and gravel wells and 217 mg/L for bedrock wells. 

Chloride concentrations ranged from 0.72 to 99.1 mg/L; 

the median was 49.2 mg/L for sand and gravel wells and 

9.27 mg/L for bedrock wells. Sulfate concentrations ranged 

from 7.81 to 49.5 mg/L; the median was 23.3 mg/L for sand 

and gravel wells and 28.3 mg/L for bedrock wells.

The cations that were detected in the highest 

concentrations were calcium, magnesium, and sodium 

(tables 1 and 1-4). Calcium concentrations ranged from 

29.8 to 108 mg/L; the median was 65.3 mg/L for sand and 

gravel wells and 40.3 mg/L for bedrock wells. Magnesium 

concentrations ranged from 8.01 to 29.4 mg/L; the median 
Groundwater Quality 5

Table 1. Summary statistics for concentrations of major ions in sand and gravel aquifers and bedrock aquifers in the Chemung River 

Basin, New York, 2008.

[Concentrations are in milligrams per liter (mg/L). All samples represent filtered water; --, not applicable; E, estimated; CaCO3, calcium carbonate]

Constituent

Drinkingwater 

standard

Number of 

samples 

exceeding 

standard

Sand and gravel 

(5 samples)

Bedrock 

(5 samples)

Minimum Median Maximum Minimum Median Maximum

Cations

Calcium -- -- 49.5 65.3 99.9 29.8 40.3 108

Magnesium -- -- 8.97 16.8 18.3 8.01 10.8 29.4

Potassium -- -- .77 1.75 4.20 1.46 2.03 3.00

Sodium a

60 1 12.0 26.4 56.2 4.42 13.9 219

Anions

Bicarbonate -- -- 173 187 333 129 217 531

Chloride b

250 0 31.5 49.2 87.8 .72 9.27 99.1

Fluoride c

2.0–b 2.2 0 E .06 E .07 E .08 .12 .14 .39

Sulfate b,c250 0 10.6 23.3 49.5 7.81 28.3 49.3

Hardness, mg/L as CaCO3 -- -- 160 230 320 110 140 310

Alkalinity, mg/L as CaCO3 -- -- 142 153 273 106 178 435

Residue on evaporation, mg/L c

500 1 234 282 460 155 312 640

a

 USEPA Drinking Water Advisory Taste Threshold.

b

 NYSDOH Maximum Contaminant Level.

c

 USEPA Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level.

was 16.8 mg/L for sand and gravel wells and 10.8 mg/L for 

bedrock wells. Sodium concentrations ranged from 4.42 to 

219 mg/L; the median was 26.4 mg/L for sand and gravel 

wells and 13.9 mg/L for bedrock wells. One bedrock well 

sample exceeded the USEPA nonregulatory drinking-water 

advisory taste threshold, which recommends that sodium 

concentrations in drinking water not exceed the range of 30 to 

60 mg/L (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2002; 2009). 

Calcium and magnesium contribute to water hardness. 

Water hardness in the basin ranged from 110 to 320 mg/L as 

CaCO3

; the median was 230 mg/L for sand and gravel wells 

and 140 mg/L for bedrock wells. One well yielded water that 

was moderately hard (61-120 mg/L as CaCO3

); and five wells 

yielded water that was very hard (greater than 180 mg/L as 

CaCO3

) (Hem, 1985). Wells finished in bedrock were slightly 

more alkaline (median 178 mg/L as CaCO3

) than those 

finished in sand and gravel (median 153 mg/L as CaCO3

). 

Residue on evaporation is a measure of total dissolved solids, 

and ranged from 155 to 640 mg/L. The median residue on 

evaporation was 282 mg/L for sand and gravel wells and 

312 mg/L for bedrock wells; one bedrock sample exceeded the 

USEPA SMCL of 500 mg/L.

Nutrients and Organic Carbon 

Nitrate and ammonia were the predominant nutrients 

in the ground-water samples (tables 2 and 1-5); nitrite and 

organic nitrogen concentrations were negligible in most 

samples. Nitrate plus nitrite concentrations ranged from less 

than 0.04 (the LRL) to 3.67 mg/L as nitrogen (N); the median 

concentration was 1.21 mg/L in samples from sand and 

gravel wells and 0.05 mg/L in samples from bedrock wells. 

Ammonia concentrations ranged from less than 0.02 (the LRL) 

to 0.596 mg/L as N. Concentrations of orthophosphate were 

typically low; the maximum concentration was 0.103 mg/L (as 

phosphorus). Total organic carbon concentrations ranged from 

an estimated 0.4 mg/L to 2.2 mg/L.

Trace Elements and Radon-222 

The elements detected in the highest concentrations 

were aluminum, barium, boron, iron, lithium, manganese, 

and strontium (table 3). Aluminum, boron, lithium, and 

strontium were generally present at higher concentrations 

in bedrock wells than at concentrations in sand and gravel 

wells. Aluminum concentrations ranged from less than 6 (the 

LRL) to 69 μg/L; the SMCL (50 μg/L) was exceeded in one 

bedrock well sample. Barium concentrations ranged from 

38.8 to 937 μg/L. Boron concentrations ranged from 9.4 to 

372 μg/L; MCLs have not been established for boron. Iron 

concentrations in filtered samples ranged from less than 4 μg/L 

(the LRL) to 503 μg/L; the Federal SMCL and the New York 

State MCL for iron (300 μg/L) were exceeded in one sand 

and gravel well sample. Lithium concentrations ranged from 

1.5 to 104 μg/L; MCLs have not been established for lithium. 

Manganese concentrations in filtered samples ranged from less 
6 Groundwater Quality in the Eastern Lake Ontario Basin, New York, 2008

Table 2. Summary statistics for concentrations of nutrients and organic carbon in sand and gravel aquifers and bedrock aquifers in 

the Chemung River Basin, New York, 2008. 

[All samples represent filtered water except as noted; mg/L, milligrams per liter; --, not applicable; <, less than; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; E, estimated]

Constituent

Drinkingwater 

standard

Number of 

samples 

exceeding 

standard

Sand and gravel 

(5 samples)

Bedrock 

(5 samples)

Minimum Median Maximum Minimum Median Maximum

Ammonia plus organic N, mg/L as N -- -- E .06 < .10 .18 < .10 .13 .65

Ammonia, mg/L as N -- -- < .020 < .020 .123 < .020 < .020 .596

Nitrite plus nitrate, mg/L as N a,b10 0 < .04 1.21 2.29 < .04 .05 3.67

Nitrite, mg/L as N a,b1 0 < .002 < .002 .044 < .002 < .002 < .002

Orthophosphate, mg/L as P -- -- E .005 < .008 .103 E .005 E .006 E .007

Total organic carbon, unfiltered, mg/L -- -- E .4 1.0 1.1 E .5 1.5 2.2

a

 USEPA Maximum Contaminant Level.

b

 NYSDOH Maximum Contaminant Level.

than 0.2 μg/L (the LRL) to 198° μg/L; the Federal SMCL for 

manganese (50 μg/L) was exceeded in three sand and gravel 

well samples. Strontium concentrations ranged from 50.1 to 

638 μg/L; MCLs have not been established for strontium. 

Radon-222 was detected in every sample (table 1-6), 

and activity ranged from 153 to 1,740 pCi/L. The median 

activity was 450 pCi/L in samples from sand and gravel 

wells and 1,430 pCi/L in samples from bedrock wells. The 

proposed MCL of 300 pCi/L for radon-222 in drinking water 

was exceeded in eight samples, but the proposed Alternate 

Maximum Contaminant Level (ACML) of 4,000 pCi/L 

was not exceeded. The AMCL is the proposed allowable 

activity of radon in raw-water samples where the State has 

implemented mitigation programs to address the health risks 

of radon in indoor air. The proposed MCL and AMCL for 

radon are under review and have not been adopted (U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, 2004; 2006).

Some trace elements were detected less frequently or at 

lower concentrations (table 3) than other constituents. The 

MCLs for antimony (6 μg/L), arsenic (10μg/L), beryllium 

(4 μg/L), cadmium (5 μg/L), chromium (100 μg/L), 

selenium (50 μg/L), silver (100 μg/L), thallium (2 μg/L), 

zinc (5,000 μg/L), and uranium (30 μg/L), and the SMCL 

for copper (1,000 μg/L), were not exceeded in any sample. 

Cobalt and nickel were detected, but no MCLs have been 

established for them. Antimony, beryllium, cadmium, 

mercury, silver, and thallium were not detected in any sample 

(table 1-2).

Pesticides 

Five pesticides and related compounds (including four 

pesticide degradates) were detected in water from four wells 

(table 1-7). All of the samples containing pesticides were from 

sand and gravel aquifers. Caffeine is not a pesticide; however, 

it is measured as part of the pesticide analyses because it can 

be an indicator of human wastes. Caffeine was not detected 

in any sample (table 1-2). The herbicide atrazine and two of 

its degradates—CIAT (2-chloro-4-isopropylamino-6-aminos-triazine, also called deethylatrazine) and OIET (2-hydroxy4-isopropylamino-6-ethylamino-s-triazine, also called 

hydroxytriazine)—were detected. Atrazine was detected in a 

sample from one production well at an estimated concentration 

of 0.002 μg/L. CIAT was detected in three samples at 

estimated concentrations ranging from 0.002 to 0.009 μg/L, 

and OIET was detected in one sample at an estimated 

0.007 μg/L. Alachlor ESA, a degradate of the herbicide 

alachlor, was detected in samples from two production wells 

at 0.02 and 0.03 μg/L. Metolachlor ESA, a degradate of the 

herbicide metolachlor, was detected in three samples at a range 

of 0.06 to 0.11 μg/L, and these are the highest concentrations 

measured for any pesticide-related product in this study. No 

pesticide concentration exceeded Federal or New York State 

MCLs, and no Federal MCLs currently have been established 

for these pesticide degradation products. However, NYSDOH 

requires that any detections of alachlor ESA or atrazine in 

public water supplies be reported in their annual reports. 

These trace-level detections of pesticides are similar to those 

reported by Eckhardt and others (2001), Phillips and others 

(1999), and Eckhardt and Stackelberg (1995) from studies of 

pesticides in groundwater throughout New York State.

Volatile Organic Compounds and 

Phenolic Compounds 

Volatile Organic Compounds and Phenolic Compounds 

Six VOCs were detected in four samples; two samples 

were from sand and gravel wells, and two were from 
Groundwater Quality 7

Table 3. Summary statistics for concentrations of trace elements and radon-222 in sand and gravel aquifers and 

bedrock aquifers in the Chemung River Basin, New York, 2008. 

[All concentrations are in micrograms per liter except as noted. All samples unfiltered except as noted. pCi/L, picocuries per liter; --, not 

applicable; E, estimated; <, less than]

Constituent

Drinkingwater 

standard

Number of 

samples 

exceeding 

standard

Sand and gravel 

(5 samples)

Bedrock 

(5 samples)

Minimum Median Maximum Minimum Median Maximum

Aluminum c

50 1 < 6 < 6 < 6 < 6 25 69

Antimony a,b6 0 < .4 < .4 < .4 < .4 < .4 < .4

Arsenic a

10 0 E .18 .23 7.5 E .16 .21 .30

Barium a,b2,000 0 89.5 267 937 38.8 146 411

Beryllium a,b4 0 < .02 < .02 < .02 < .02 < .02 < .02

Boron, filtered -- -- 9.4 16 38 18 29 372

Chromium a,b100 0 < .40 < .40 < .40 E .21 < .40 < .40

Cobalt -- -- E .06 < .10 < .10 E .08 < .10 .16

Copper c

1,000 0 E 2.2 < 4.0 4.2 E 2.3 < 4.0 11.8

Iron, filtered b,c300 1 < 4 15 503 E 3 E 4 76

Iron b,c300 1 < 14 16 507 E 9 40 126

Lead d

15 0 < .10 .42 1.15 .14 .22 1.36

Lithium -- -- 1.5 6.3 15 10.4 12.3 104

Manganese, filtered c

50–b300 c3–b0 < .2 57.5 198 .3 3.2 33.5

Manganese c

50–b300 c4–b0 1.1 58.3 230 5.1 10.1 75.1

Molybdenum -- -- .1 .3 1.0 < .1 .2 .8

Nickel -- -- E .17 .29 .50 E .11 .26 .48

Selenium a,b50 0 E .07 < .12 .21 < .12 < .12 .15

Silver a,b100 0 < .06 < .06 < .06 < .06 < .06 < .06

Strontium -- -- 110 118 199 50.1 227 63

Thallium -- -- < .12 < .12 < .12 < .12 < .12 < .12

Zinc b,c5,000 0 E 1.6 2.2 12.4 2.4 5.1 24.6

Radon-222, pCi/L e

300 8 290 450 600 153 1,430 1,740

Uranium a

30 0 .025 .237 .620 < .020 .456 1.64

a

 USEPA Maximum Contaminant Level.

b

 NYSDOH Maximum Contaminant Level.

c

 USEPA Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level.

d

 USEPA Action Level.

e

 USEPA Proposed Maximum Contaminant Level.

bedrock wells (table 1-8). MTBE, tetrachloroethene, 

trichloroethene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, and trichloromethane 

(also called chloroform) were detected at concentrations 

ranging from 0.1 to 5.7 μg/L in samples from two production 

wells. MTBE is a gasoline additive that can infiltrate into 

groundwater from leaking fuel tanks. Chloroform is a 

member of a group of compounds called trihalomethanes. 

Trihalomethanes are typically formed as by-products when 

chlorine or bromine is used to disinfect water. The State and 

Federal MCL of 80 μg/L for total trihalomethanes was not 

exceeded. Trichloroethene was detected in one production 

well at 5.5 μg/L; the Federal and New York State MCL 

(5 μg/L) was exceeded. The New York State MCLs for 

1,1,1-trichloroethane, tetrachloroethene, and toluene (5 μg/L) 

were not exceeded. Chloroform and toluene were also 

detected in two residential wells, each at 0.2 μg/L. Phenolic 

compounds, which are semivolatile, were not detected in any 

sample (table 1-2). 
8 Groundwater Quality in the Eastern Lake Ontario Basin, New York, 2008

Bacteria 

All samples were analyzed for total coliform, fecal 

coliform, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and heterotrophic bacteria. 

Coliform bacteria were detected in four samples, and fecal 

coliforms were detected in one sample; E. coli were not 

detected (table 1-9). Coliform bacteria were detected in one 

sample from a sand and gravel production well and in three 

samples from private supply bedrock wells. The NYSDOH 

and USEPA MCL violation for total coliform bacteria occurs 

when 5 percent of samples of finished water collected in one 

month test positive for total coliform (if 40 or more samples 

are collected per month) or when two samples are positive 

for total coliform (if fewer than 40 samples are collected per 

month). Heterotrophic plate counts (HPCs) ranged from less 

than 1 (absent) to 403 colony-forming units per milliliter 

(CFU/mL). 

Wells sampled in 2003 and 2008 

Two of the wells sampled in the fall of 2008 were 

sampled previously in the summer of 2003 as part of this 

study; one is bedrock residential well SB 1470, and the other 

is sand and gravel production well CM 628. Of the 223 

constituents and physical properties analyzed for in 2008, 

52 were common to the 2003 and 2008 analyses (tables 1-10 

through 1-13). Most of the 2008 measurements changed less 

than 25 percent from the 2003 measurements, and those that 

changed more than 50 percent are reported below. Water 

quality was generally good, and the constituents that exceeded 

State or Federal MCLs or SMCLs at these wells were 

aluminum and bacteria.

The physical properties changed less than 11 percent, 

with exception to water color, which increased by at least 

100 percent for both wells (table 1-10). The major ions 

changed less than 20 percent (table 1-10). Concentrations of 

most major nutrients and organic carbon changed less than 

30 percent, although nitrate plus nitrite decreased 60 percent 

and total organic carbon increased 83 percent for well SB1470 

(table 1-10). No MCLs were exceeded for physical properties, 

major ions, major nutrients, or organic carbon. The trace 

element and radon-222 concentrations (table 1-11) in 2003 

and 2008 were also very similar; however, concentrations 

of several constituents changed by more than 50 percent—

aluminum, cobalt, iron, manganese, nickel, and zinc for well 

SB 1470 and manganese and nickel for well CM 628. Radon222 concentrations for both wells and both years exceeded the 

proposed Federal MCL of 300 pCi/L, but the proposed AMCL 

of 4,000 pCi/L was not exceeded. Pesticide concentrations 

(table 1-12) were similar; no pesticides were detected in 

samples for well SB 1470 in either year, but both atrazine 

and its degradate CIAT were detected at concentrations in the 

low nanograms for well CM 628 in both years (OIET was not 

measured in 2003). Atrazine concentrations were low, and 

the 2008 concentration for well CM 628 was an estimated 

0.008 μg/L, a 27 percent decrease from 2003. No VOCs or 

phenolics were detected in either well for either year (table 

1-13). Bacterial analyses (table 1-10) were positive for 

coliform for both years at both wells, and the positive results 

exceed the State MCL. Both wells tested positive for E. coli 

in 2003, exceeding the State MCL; however, no E. coli were 

detected in either well in 2008. HPCs increased 168 percent 

in the sample from well SB 1470 in 2008.

Summary 

In 2001, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation 

with the New York State Department of Environmental 

Conservation, began an assessment of groundwater quality in 

bedrock and sand and gravel aquifers throughout New York 

State. As a part of this assessment, the Chemung River Basin 

was studied in 2003 and again in 2008. The 2008 study is the 

subject of this report. For the 2008 study, 10 water samples 

were collected from five production wells and five private 

residential wells from October through December 2008. 

Water samples were analyzed for 223 physical properties and 

constituents, including inorganic major ions, nutrients, organic 

carbon, trace elements, radon-222, pesticides, volatile organic 

compounds (VOCs), phenolic compounds, and bacteria. Two 

wells, CM 628 and SB 1470, were tested in both studies and 

a comparison was made of the results. The measurements 

for most constituents changed little; measurements of only 

eight constituents changed more than 50 percent from the 

2003 value.

The quality of the sampled groundwater was generally 

acceptable in 2003 and 2008. However, each well sampled 

in 2008 had at least one constituent that exceeded a Federal 

or New York State drinking-water standard, or goal, or 

proposed standard. Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) 

or Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels set by the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and New York 

State Department of Health for trace elements (manganese, 

iron, and (or) aluminum) were exceeded in samples from 

five wells, for the bacterial analyses (total and (or) fecal 

coliform) at four wells, for the volatile organic compound 

trichloroethene at one well, and for residue on evaporation 

at one well. The USEPA drinking-water advisory taste 

threshold was exceeded for one inorganic ion (sodium) at one 

well. The USEPA proposed MCL for the radioactive isotope 

radon-222 was exceeded at eight wells. Five pesticides and 

related compounds (including four pesticide degradates) were 

detected in water from four production wells. No pesticide 

concentration exceeded Federal or New York State MCLs, and 

no Federal MCLs currently have been established for these 

pesticide degradation products. Six VOCs were detected in 

four samples; two samples were from production wells, and 

two were from private residential wells. Trichloroethene was 

detected in one production well at 5.5 μg/L; the Federal and 

New York State MCL (5 μg/L) was exceeded.
References Cited 9

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accessed October 2007, at http://www health.state ny.us/

environmental/water/drinking/part5/subpart5 htm.

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10 Groundwater Quality in the Eastern Lake Ontario Basin, New York, 2008

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Appendix 11

Appendix 

Tables 1-1 through 1-13
12 Groundwater Quality in the Eastern Lake Ontario Basin, New York, 2008

Table 1–1. Information on wells sampled in the Chemung River Basin, New York, 2008.

[Well locations are shown in figure 1. P, Production; R, Residential; --, information not available]

Well 

number1

U.S. Geological 

Survey 

site identifier

Date 

sampled

Well 

type

Well depth, 

feet below

land surface

Casing depth, 

feet below 

land surface

Sand and gravel wells

CM 628 421058076483401 11/4/2008 P 72 62

SB 383 421630077362001 11/18/2008 P 65 --

SB 384 422130077400001 11/12/2008 P 67 57

SB 1103 420630077145001 12/16/2008 P 76 41

SB 1580 423118077282001 11/12/2008 P 100 90

Bedrock wells

AG 1047 421938077495701 10/15/2008 R 105 30

AG 1176 421441077442601 11/4/2008 R 102 41

SB 1272 420634077395101 10/28/2008 R 150 55

SB 1470 421848077094701 11/18/2008 R 278 18

SB 2326 420507077242201 12/16/2008 R 190 40

1

 Prefix denotes county: SB, Steuben; CM, Chemung; AG, Allegany. Number is local well-identification 

number assigned by U.S. Geological Survey.
Table 1-2 13

Table 1–2. Compounds for which ground-water samples were analyzed but 

not detected.

USGS 

parameter 

code

Constituent

Laboratory 

reporting 

level,

micrograms 

per liter

(μg/L)

Trace elements in unfiltered water

01097 Antimony 0.4

01012 Beryllium 0.02

01027 Cadmium 0.06

71900 Mercury 0.010

01077 Silver 0.06

01059 Thallium 0.12

Pesticides in filtered water

04038 2-Chloro-6-ethylamino-4-amino-s-triazine (CEAT) 0.06

62850 2-[(2-Ethyl-6-methylphenyl)amino]-2-oxo ESA 0.02

39732 2,4-D 0.06

50470 2,4-D methyl ester 0.200

66496 2,4-D plus 2,4-D methyl ester 0.02

38746 2,4-DB 0.02

82660 2,6-Diethylaniline 0.006

49308 3-Hydroxy carbofuran 0.040

49260 Acetochlor 0.010–02

61029 Acetochlor ethanesulfonic acid 0.02

61030 Acetochlor oxanilic acid 0.02

63782 Acetochlor second amide 0.02

62847 Acetochlor sulfynilacetic acid 0.02

49315 Acifluorfen 0.040

46342 Alachlor 0.008–0.02

62849 Alachlor ESA 2nd amide 0.02

61031 Alachlor oxanilic acid 0.02

63781 Alachlor second amide 0.02

62848 Alachlor sulfynilacetic acid 0.02

49313 Aldicarb sulfone 0.08

49314 Aldicarb sulfoxide 0.060

49312 Aldicarb 0.12

34253 alpha-HCH 0.008

82686 Azinphos-methyl 0.120

50299 Bendiocarb 0.04

82673 Benfluralin 0.014

50300 Benomyl 0.060

61693 Bensulfuron methyl 0.06

38711 Bentazon 0.06

04029 Bromacil 0.06

49311 Bromoxynil 0.12
14 Groundwater Quality in the Eastern Lake Ontario Basin, New York, 2008

Table 1–2. Compounds for which ground-water samples were analyzed but 

not detected. 

USGS 

parameter 

code

Constituent

Laboratory 

reporting 

level, 

micrograms 

per liter

(μg/L)

Pesticides in filtered water—Continued

04028

50305

49310

49309

61188

50306

38933

82687

49305

04041

04031

49304

82682

63778

63777

63779

63780

62170

39572

38442

49302

39381

61951

62482

61588

49301

04033

82677

49300

82668

82663

82672

62169

49297

62167

62168

62166

61952

Butylate

Caffeine

Carbaryl

Carbofuran

Chloramben methyl ester

Chlorimuron

Chlorpyrifos

cis-Permethrin

Clopyralid

Cyanazine

Cycloate

Dacthal monoacid

DCPA

Dechloroacetochlor

Dechloroalachlor

Dechlorodimethenamid

Dechlorometolachlor

Desulfinyl fipronil

Diazinon

Dicamba

Dichlorprop

Dieldrin

Dimethenamid ethanesulfonic acid

Dimethenamid oxanilic acid

Dimethenamid

Dinoseb

Diphenamid

Disulfoton

Diuron

EPTC

Ethalfluralin

Ethoprop

Desulfinylfipronil amide

Fenuron

Fipronil sulfide

Fipronil sulfone

Fipronil

Flufenacet ethanesulfonic acid

0.002

0.080

0.04

0.040

0.10

0.080

0.010

0.014

0.06

0.040

0.04

0.04

0.006

0.02

0.02

0.02

0.02

0.012

0.005

 0.04 

0.04

0.009

0.02

0.02

0.02

0.04

0.04

0.04

0.04

0.002

0.009

0.016

0.029

0.06

0.013

0.024

0.040

0.02
Tables 1-2 15

Table 1–2. Compounds for which ground-water samples were analyzed but 

not detected. 

USGS 

parameter 

code

Constituent

Laboratory 

reporting 

level, 

micrograms 

per liter

(μg/L)

Pesticides in filtered water—Continued

62483

62481

61694

38811

04095

63784

63783

63785

64045

50356

50407

61695

39341

82666

39532

38482

38487

50359

38501

49296

82667

39415

61044

82630

61697

82671

61692

82684

49294

50364

49293

49292

38866

34653

39542

82669

82683

82664

Flufenacet oxanilic acid

Flufenacet

Flumetsulam

Fluometuron

Fonofos

Hydroxyacetochlor

Hydroxyalachlor

Hydroxymetolachlor

Hydroxydimethenamid

Imazaquin

Imazethapyr

Imidacloprid

Lindane

Linuron

Malathion

MCPA

MCPB

Metalaxyl

Methiocarb

Methomyl

Methyl parathion

Metolachlor 

Metolachlor OA

Metribuzin

Metsulfuron

Molinate

N-(4-Chlorophenyl)-N’-methylurea

Napropamide

Neburon

Nicosulfuron

Norflurazon

Oryzalin

Oxamyl

p,p’-DDE

Parathion

Pebulate

Pendimethalin

Phorate

0.02

0.02

0.06

0.04

0.010

0.02

0.02

0.02

0.02

0.06

0.06

0.060

0.014

0.060

0.020

0.04

0.20

0.04

0.040

 0.060–0.120

0.008

0.014–0.02

0.02

0.016

0.14

0.002

0.06

0.018

0.02

0.10

0.04

0.04

0.12

0.003

0.020

0.016

0.012

0.020
16 Groundwater Quality in the Eastern Lake Ontario Basin of New York, 2008

Table 1–2. Compounds for which ground-water samples were analyzed but 

not detected. 

USGS 

parameter 

code

Constituent

Laboratory 

reporting 

level, 

micrograms 

per liter

(μg/L)

Pesticides in filtered water —Continued

49291

04037

82676

04024

62766

62767

82679

82685

49236

50471

38538

38548

04035

50337

82670

82665

82675

82681

82678

49235

82661

Picloram

Prometon

Propyzamide

Propachlor

Propachlor ethanesulfonic acid

Propachlor oxanilic acid

Propanil

Propargite

Propham

Propiconazole

Propoxur

Siduron

Simazine

Sulfometuron

Tebuthiron

Terbacil

Terbufos

Thiobencarb

Triallate

Triclopyr

Trifluralin

0.12

0.1

0.004

0.012–0.02

0.05

0.02

0.014

0.02

0.040

0.04

0.060

0.04

0.010

0.060

0.02

0.040

0.02

0.016

0.006

0.08

0.012

Volatile organic compounds, in unfiltered water

77652

34496

34501

34536

32103

34541

34566

34571

34030

32101

34301

77093

32105

34668

34423

81576

1,1,1-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane

1,1-Dichloroethane

1,1-Dichloroethene

1,2-Dichlorobenzene

1,2-Dichloroethane

1,2-Dichloropropane

1,3-Dichlorobenzene

1,4-Dichlorobenzene

Benzene

Bromodichloromethane

Chlorobenzene

cis-1,2 Dichloroethene

Dibromochloromethane

Dichlorodifluoromethane

Dichloromethane

Diethyl ether

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.2

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.2
Table 1-3 17

Table 1–2. Compounds for which ground-water samples were analyzed but 

not detected.

USGS 

parameter 

code

Constituent

Laboratory 

reporting 

level,

micrograms 

per liter

(μg/L)

Volatile organic compounds, in unfiltered water—Continued

81577 Diisopropyl ether 0.2

34371 Ethylbenzene 0.1

50005 Methyl tert-pentyl ether 0.2

85795 m + p Xylene 0.2

77135 o-Xylene 0.1

77128 Styrene 0.1

50004 tert-Butyl ethyl ether 0.1

32102 Tetrachloromethane 0.2

34546 trans-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.1

32104 Tribromomethane 0.2

34488 Trichlorofluoromethane 0.2

39175 Vinyl Choride 0.2

32730 Phenolic Compounds 4

Table 1–3. Physical properties of groundwater samples from the Chemung River Basin, New York, 2008.

[Well locations are shown in figure 1. mg/L, milligrams per liter; <, less than; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius; (00080), 

U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System (NWIS) parameter code; M, detected but not quantified]

Well 

number 1

Water color

filtered,

platinum

cobalt units

(00080)

Dissolvedoxygen 

concentration,

 field, mg/L

(00300)

pH, field,

standard 

units

(00400)

Specific 

conductance, 

field, μS/cm

(00095)

Water

temperature,

degrees Celsius

(00010)

Hydrogen

sulfide

(71875)

Sand and gravel wells

CM 628 5 5.4 7.7 435 14.0 Absent

SB 383 < 1 .6 7.2 822 11.0 Absent

SB 384 5 2.4 7.4 778 11.0 Absent

SB 1103 5 < .3 7.6 461 10.3 Absent

SB 1580 8 .5 7.7 498 10.2 Absent

Bedrock wells

AG 1047 5 < .1 7.5 1,080 15.1 M

AG 1176 5 1.1 7.5 277 11.6 Absent

SB 1272 8 2.8 7.4 538 8.6 Absent

SB 1470 2 5.2 7.0 316 11.7 Absent

SB 2326 5 4.2 7.5 737 8.8 Absent

1

 Prefix denotes county: SB, Steuben; CM, Chemung; AG, Allegany. Number is local well-identification number assigned by U.S. Geological Survey.
18 Groundwater Quality in the Eastern Lake Ontario Basin of New York, 2008

Table 1–4. Concentrations of inorganic constituents in groundwater samples from the Chemung River Basin, New York, 2008.

[Well locations are shown in figure 1. mg/L, milligrams per liter; (00900), U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System (NWIS) parameter 

code; CaCO3, calcium carbonate; E, estimated value—constituent was detected inthe sample but with low or inconsistent recovery. Bold values exceed one or 

more drinking-water standards]

Well 

number1

Hardness, 

filtered, 

mg/L as CaCO3

(00900)

Calcium, 

filtered, 

mg/L 

(00915)

Magnesium, 

filtered, 

mg/L 

(00925)

Potassium, 

filtered, 

mg/L 

(00935)

Sodium, 

filtered, 

mg/L 

(00930)

Acidneutralizing 

capacity,2

unfiltered, 

mg/L as CaCO3

(90410)

Alkalinity,2

filtered, 

mg/L as CaCO3

(29801)

Sand and gravel wells

CM 628 160 49.5 10.0 1.75 22.1 142 142

SB 383 320 99.9 16.8 4.20 46.2 273 273

SB 384 270 78.2 18.3 2.09 56.2 228 228

SB 1103 180 58.1 8.97 0.77 26.4 150 149

SB 1580 230 65.3 16.9 1.31 12.0 153 153

Bedrock wells

AG 1047 110 29.8 8.01 3.00 219 436 435

AG 1176 140 36.7 11.4 1.94 4.42 142 143

SB 1272 270 60.0 29.4 2.42 13.9 251 252

SB 1470 140 40.3 9.18 1.46 6.35 106 106

SB 2326 310 108 10.8 2.03 24.6 178 178

Well 

number1

Bicarbonate,3

filtered, 

mg/L as CaCO3

(29805)

Chloride, 

filtered, 

mg/L 

(00940)

Fluoride, 

filtered, 

mg/L 

(00950)

Silica, 

filtered, 

mg/L 

(00955)

Sulfate, 

filtered, 

mg/L 

(00945)

Residue on 

evaporation, 

at 180° Celsius, 

filtered, 

mg/L 

(70300)

Sand and gravel wells

CM 628 173 40.5 E 0.07 5.34 17.8 234

SB 383 333 83.8 E .07 8.29 23.3 460

SB 384 278 87.8 E .06 8.63 33.1 440

SB 1103 182 49.2 E .08 8.91 10.6 264

SB 1580 187 31.5 E .06 8.55 49.5 282

Bedrock wells

AG 1047 531 65.5 .39 7.93 45.9 640

AG 1176 174 .72 .27 9.02 7.81 155

SB 1272 307 .87 .12 8.69 49.3 312

SB 1470 129 9.27 .14 11.6 28.3 184

SB 2326 217 99.1 .12 9.27 26.5 440

1

 Prefix denotes county: SB, Steuben; CM, Chemung; AG, Allegany. Number is local well-identification number assigned by U.S. Geological Survey.

2

 Fixed-endpoint titration at pH 4.5.

3

 Calculated from alkalinity.
Table 1-5 19

Table 1–5. Concentrations of nutrients and total organic carbon in groundwater samples from the Chemung River Basin, 

New York, 2008.

[Well locations are shown in figure 1. mg/L, milligrams per liter; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; <, less than; (00623), U.S. Geological Survey 

National Water Information System (NWIS) parameter code; E, estimated value—constituent was detected in the sample but with low or 

inconsistent recovery]

Well 

number1

Ammonia plus 

organic nitrogen, 

filtered, 

mg/L as N

(00623)

Ammonia, 

filtered, 

mg/L as N

(00608)

Nitrate plus 

nitrite, 

filtered, 

mg/L as N

(00631)

Nitrite, 

filtered, 

mg/L as N

(00613)

Orthophosphate, 

filtered, 

mg/L as P

(00671)

Total organic 

carbon, 

unfiltered, 

mg/L

(00680)

Sand and gravel wells

CM 628 E 0.06 < 0.020 0.25 < 0.002 E 0.006 1.1

SB 383 < .10 < .020 2.29 < .002 < .008 .9

SB 384 < .10 < .020 1.71 .002 E .005 E .4

SB 1103 .18 .123 < .04 < .002 .103 1.1

SB 1580 < .10 < .020 1.21 .044 .008 1.0

Bedrock wells

AG 1047 .65 .596 < .04 < .002 E .006 2.1

AG 1176 < .10 < .020 < .04 < .002 E .006 < 1.0

SB 1272 .16 < .020 .05 < .002 E .007 1.5

SB 1470 .13 < .020 3.00 < .002 E .006 2.2

SB 2326 < .10 < .020 3.67 < .002 E .005 E .5

1

Prefix denotes county: SB, Steuben; CM, Chemung; AG, Allegany. Number is local well-identification number assigned by 

U.S. Geological Survey.
20 Groundwater Quality in the Eastern Lake Ontario Basin of New York, 2008

Table 1–6. Concentrations of trace elements and radon-222 in groundwater samples from the Chemung River Basin, New York, 2008.

[Well locations are shown in figure 1. μg/L, micrograms per liter; (01105), U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System (NWIS) parameter 

code; <, less than; E, estimated value—constituent was detected in the sample but with low or inconsistent recovery; pCi/L, picocuries per liter. Bold values 

exceed one or more drinking-water standards] 

Well 

number 1

Aluminum,

unfiltered,

μg/L

(01105)

Arsenic,

unfiltered,

μg/L

(01002)

Barium,

unfiltered,

μg/L

(01007)

Boron,

filtered,

μg/L

(01020)

Chromium,

unfiltered,

μg/L

(01034)

Cobalt,

unfiltered,

μg/L

(01037)

Copper,

unfiltered,

μg/L

(01042)

Sand and gravel wells

CM 628 < 6 0.22 152 16 < 0.40 < 0.10 < 4.0

SB 383 < 6 E .18 267 38 < .40 E .07 4.2

SB 384 < 6 .23 89.5 13 < .40 E .06 E 2.2

SB 1103 < 6 7.5 937 17 < .40 < .10 < 4.0

SB 1580 < 6 .99 294 9.4 < .40 < .10 < 4.0

Bedrock wells

AG 1047 27 < .20 411 372 < .40 < .10 < 4.0

AG 1176 < 6 .27 146 18 < .40 < .10 11.8

SB 1272 < 6 E .16 38.8 60 < .40 < .10 E 2.3

SB 1470 25 .21 77.8 29 < .40 E .08 10.4

SB 2326 69 .30 220 18 E .21 .16 E 2.4

1

Prefix denotes county: SB, Steuben; CM, Chemung; AG, Allegany. Number is local well-identification number assigned by U.S. Geological Survey.

Table 1–6. Concentrations of trace elements and radon-222 in groundwater samples from the Chemung River Basin, 

New York, 2008.—Continued

[Well locations are shown in figure 1. μg/L, micrograms per liter; (01046), U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System 

(NWIS) parameter code; <, less than; E, estimated value—constituent was detected in the sample but with low or inconsistent recovery; 

M, measured but not quantified. Bold values exceed one or more drinking-water standards]

Well 

number1

Iron,

filtered,

μg/L

(01046)

Iron,

unfiltered,

μg/L

(01045)

Lead,

unfiltered,

μg/L

(01051)

Lithium,

unfiltered,

μg/L

(01132)

Manganese,

filtered,

μg/L

(01056)

Manganese,

unfiltered,

μg/L

(01055)

Sand and gravel wells

CM 628 < 4 < 14 0.13 1.5 < 0.2 1.1

SB 383 < 4 < 14 .53 3.6 198 230

SB 384 18 18 .42 7.6 18.7 21.4

SB 1103 503 507 < .10 15.0 141 143

SB 1580 15 16 1.15 6.3 57.5 58.3

Bedrock wells

AG 1047 76 126 .14 104 33.5 36.9

AG 1176 E 4 E 9 .22 12.1 29.5 75.1

SB 1272 < 4 < 14 .22 29.0 2.1 5.4

SB 1470 E 3 40 .50 10.4 .3 10.1

SB 2326 10 105 1.36 12.3 3.2 5.1
Table 1-7 21

Table 1–6. Concentrations of trace elements and radon-222 in groundwater samples from the Chemung River Basin, New York, 2008. 

—Continued

[Well locations are shown in figure 1. μg/L, micrograms per liter; (01046), U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System (NWIS) parameter 

code; <, less than; E, estimated value—constituent was detected in the sample but with low or inconsistent recovery; M, measured but not quantified. Bold

values exceed one or more drinking-water standards] 

Well 

number1

Molybdenum,

unfiltered,

μg/L

(01062)

Nickel,

unfiltered,

μg/L

(01067)

Selenium,

unfiltered,

μg/L

(01147)

Strontium,

unfiltered,

μg/L

(01082)

Radon-222,

unfiltered,

pCi/L

(82303)

Uranium,

(natural),

unfiltered,

μg/L

(28011)

Zinc,

unfiltered,

μg/L

(01092)

Sand and gravel wells

CM 628 0.1 E 0.17 < 0.12 110 450 0.177 4.6

SB 383 .2 .50 .16 194 600 .237 12.4

SB 384 .3 .25 E .07 116 420 .620 E 2.0

SB 1103 .5 .33 < .12 199 520 .025 E 1.6

SB 1580 1.0 .29 .21 118 290 .427 2.2

Bedrock wells

AG 1047 < .1 .26 .15 275 153 < .020 5.1

AG 1176 .8 .25 < .12 50.1 1,740 .456 3.7

SB 1272 .3 E .11 < .12 638 1,430 1.64 24.6

SB 1470 .1 .41 < .12 227 1,460 .104 6.9

SB 2326 .2 .48 < .12 226 1,120 .809 2.4

Table 1–7. Concentrations of pesticides detected in groundwater samples from the Chemung River Basin, 

New York, 2008.

[Well locations are shown in figure 1. μg/L, micrograms per liter; <, less than; (04040), U.S. Geological Survey National Water 

Information System (NWIS) parameter code; CIAT, 2-Chloro-4-isopropylamino-6-amino-s-triazine; OIET, 2-Hydroxy-4-

isopropylamino-6-ethylamino-s-triazine; ESA, ethanesulfonic acid; E, estimated value—constituent was detected in the sample 

but with low or inconsistent recovery] 

Well 

number1

CIAT,

filtered,

μg/L

(04040)

OIET

filtered,

μg/L

(50355)

Alachlor ESA,

filtered,

μg/L

(50009)

Atrazine,

filtered,

μg/L

(39632)

 Metolachlor 

ESA,

filtered,

μg/L

(61043)

Sand and gravel wells

CM 628 E 0.009 E 0.007 < 0.02 E 0.002 < 0.02

SB 383 E .002 < .060 .02 < .007 .09

SB 384 E .003 < .060 .03 < .007 .11

SB 1103 < .014 < .060 < .02 < .007 < .02

SB 1580 < .014 < .060 < .02 < .007 .06

Bedrock wells

AG 1047 < .014 < .060 < .02 < .007 < .02

AG 1176 < .014 < .060 < .02 < .007 < .02

SB 1272 < .014 < .060 < .02 < .007 < .02

SB 1470 < .014 < .060 < .02 < .007 < .02

SB 2326 < .014 < .060 < .02 < .007 < .02

1

 Prefix denotes county: SB, Steuben; CM, Chemung; AG, Allegany. Number is local well-identification number 

assigned by U.S. Geological Survey.
22 Groundwater Quality in the Eastern Lake Ontario Basin of New York, 2008

Table 1–8. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds in groundwater samples from the Chemung River 

Basin, New York, 2008.

[Well locations are shown in figure 1. μg/L, micrograms per liter; <, less than; (34506), U.S. Geological Survey National Water 

Information System parameter code. Bold values indicate detections] 

Well 

number1

1,1,1-

Trichloroethane,

unfiltered,

μg/L

(34506)

Trichloromethane,

unfiltered,

μg/L

(32106)

Toluene,

unfiltered,

μg/L

(34010)

Trichloroethene,

unfiltered,

μg/L

(39180)

 Tetrachloroethene,

unfiltered,

μg/L

(34475)

Methyl

tert-butyl

ether,

unfiltered,

μg/L

(78032)

Sand and gravel wells 

CM 628 <0 .1 < 0.1 < 0.1 < 0.1 < 0.1 < 0.2

SB 383 < .1 < .1 < .1 < .1 3.3 0.4

SB 384 0.1 5.7 < .1 5.5 < .1 < .2

SB 1103 < .1 < .1 < .1 < .1 < .1 < .2

SB 1580 < .1 < .1 < .1 < .1 < .1 < .2

Bedrock wells 

AG 1047 < .1 < .1 < .1 < .1 < .1 < .2

AG 1176 < .1 < .1 < .1 < .1 < .1 < .2

SB 1272 < .1 < .1 0.2 < .1 < .1 < .2

SB 1470 < .1 < .1 < .1 < .1 < .1 < .2

SB 2326 < .1 0.2 < .1 < .1 < .1 < .2

1

 Prefix denotes county: SB, Steuben; CM, Chemung; AG, Allegany. Number is local well-identification number assigned by U.S. 

Geological Survey.

Table 1–9. Concentrations of bacteria in unfiltered groundwater samples from the Chemung River Basin, New York, 2008. 

[Well locations are shown in figure 1. mL, milliliter; <, less than; > greater than; CFU, colony-forming unit; (61213), U.S. Geological Survey 

National Water Information System (NWIS) parameter code. Bold values exceed one or more drinking-water standards]

Well 

number1

Total coliform

colonies per 100 mL

(61213)

Fecal coliform

colonies per 100 mL

(61215)

Escherichia coli,

colonies per 100 mL

(31691)

Heterotrophic 

plate count,

CFUs per mL

(31692)

Sand and gravel wells

CM 628 18 < 1 < 1 6

SB 383 < 1 < 1 < 1 8

SB 384 < 1 < 1 < 1 2

SB 1103 < 1 < 1 < 1 < 1

SB 1580 < 1 < 1 < 1 5

Bedrock wells

AG 1047 < 1 < 1 < 1 3

AG 1176 1 < 1 < 1 6

SB 1272 < 1 < 1 < 1 91

SB 1470 >200 < 1 < 1 233

SB 2326 100 1 < 1 403

1

 Prefix denotes county: SB, Steuben; CM, Chemung; AG, Allegany. Number is local well-identification number assigned by U.S. 

Geological Survey.
Table 1-10 23

Table 1–10. Physical properties of, and concentrations of major ions, nutrients, total organic carbon, and bacteria in groundwater 

samples collected in the Chemung River Basin, New York, 2003 and 2008.

[Well locations are shown in figure 1. NWIS, National Water Information System; wu, unfiltered water; wf, filtered water; mg/L, milligrams per liter, 

μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; CFU, colony-forming unit; mL, milliliter; pos, positive result 

(organism detected); <, less than; >, greater than; E, estimated value—constituent was detected in the sample but with low or inconsistent recovery]

U.S. Geological Survey 

NWIS parameter code Constituent

Well SB 1470 Well CM 628

2003 2008 2003 2008

Physical properties

00080 Color, wf, platinum-cobalt units < 1 2 2 5

00300 Dissolved oxygen, wu, mg/L 5.4 5.2 6.0 5.4

00400 pH, wu 8.4 7.0 8.0 7.7

00095 Specific conductance, wu, μS/cm 374 316 393 435

00010 Temperature, wu, degrees Celsius 11.2 11.7 14.4 14.0

Inorganic constituents (major ions)

00915 Calcium, wf, mg/L 50.3 40.3 43.0 49.5

00925 Magnesium, wf, mg/L 11.4 9.18 8.41 10.0

00935 Potassium, wf, mg/L 1.48 1.46 1.64 1.75

00930 Sodium, wf, mg/L 6.98 6.35 21.2 22.1

00940 Chloride, wf, mg/L 10.1 9.27 41.7 40.5

00950 Fluoride, wf, mg/L < 0.2 0.14 < 0.2 E 0.07

00955 Silica, wf, mg/L 13.3 11.6 5.54 5.34

00945 Sulfate, wf, mg/L 24.1 28.3 15.0 17.8

Nutrients and total organic carbon

00623 Ammonia + organic-N, wf, mg/L as N .10 .13 E .07 E .06

00608 Ammonia, wf, mg/L as N < .04 < .020 < .04 < .020

00631 Nitrate plus nitrite, wf, mg/L as N 7.45 3.00 .23 .25

00613 Nitrite, wf, mg/L as N < .008 < .002 < .008 < .002

00671 Orthophosphate, wf, mg/L as P < .02 E .006 < .16 < .06

00680 Total organic carbon, wu, mg/L 1.2 2.2 1.4 1.1

Bacteria

31691 Escherichia coli, wu, CFU per 100 mL pos < 1 pos < 1

61215 Fecal coliform, wu, CFU per 100 mL 10 < 1 < 5 < 1

31692 Heterotrophic plate count, wu, CFU per mL 87 233 9 6

61213 Total coliform, wu, CFU per 100 mL pos > 200 pos 18
24 Groundwater Quality in the Eastern Lake Ontario Basin of New York, 2008

Table 1–11. Concentrations of trace elements and radon-222 in groundwater samples collected in the Chemung River Basin, New 

York, 2003 and 2008.

[Well locations are shown in figure 1. NWIS, National Water Information System; wu, unfiltered water; wf, filtered water; μg/L, micrograms per liter; pCi/L, 

picocuries per liter; <, less than; m, constituent was detected in the sample but was not quantified; E, estimated value—constituent was detected in the sample 

but with low or inconsistent recovery]

U.S. Geological 

Survey NWIS 

parameter code

Constituent

Well SB 1470 Well CM 628

2003 2008 2003 2008

Trace elements

01105 Aluminum, wu, μg/L 4 25 4 < 6

01007 Barium, wu, μg/L 77 77.8 129 152

01020 Boron, wf, μg/L 30 29 20 16

01034 Chromium, wu, μg/L < 0.8 < 0.40 < 0.8 < 0.40

01037 Cobalt, wu, μg/L m E .08 m < .10

01042 Copper, wu, μg/L 18.6 10.4 1.3 < 4.0

01046 Iron, wf, μg/L < 8 E 3 < 8 < 4

01045 Iron, wu, μg/L m 40 < 6 < 14

01051 Lead, wu, μg/L m .50 m .13

01132 Lithium, wu, μg/L 11.5 10.4 1.2 1.5

01056 Manganese, wf, μg/L 4.2 .3 < .4 < .2

01055 Manganese, wu, μg/L 5 10.1 < .22 1.1

01062 Molybdenum, wu, μg/L E .2 .1 E .1 .1

01067 Nickel, wu, μg/L 2 .41 1 E .17

01147 Selenium, wu, μg/L < .5 < .12 < .5 < .12

01082 Strontium, wu, μg/L 273 227 95 110

28011 Uranium, wu, μg/L .102 .104 .138 .177

01092 Zinc, wu, μg/L 3 6.9 6 4.6

Radon-222

82303 Radon-222, wu, pCi/L 2,580 1,460 570 450
Table 1-13 25

Table 1–12. Concentrations of pesticides in groundwater samples collected in the Chemung River Basin, New York, 2003 and 2008.

[Well locations are shown in figure 1. NWIS, National Water Information System; wf, filtered water; μg/L, micrograms per liter; <, less than; E, estimated 

value—constituent was detected in the sample but with low or inconsistent recovery]

U.S. Geological Survey 

NWIS parameter code Constituent

Well SB 1470 Well CM 628

2003 2008 2003 2008

04040 2-Chloro-4-isopropylamino-6-amino-s-triazine (CIAT), wf, μg/L < 0.006 < 0.014 E 0.007 E 0.009

50009 Alachlor ESA, wf, μg/L < .05 < .02 < .05 < .02

39632 Atrazine, wf, μg/L < .007 < .040 .011 E .008

61043 Metolachlor ESA, wf, μg/L < .05 < .02 < .05 < .02

Table 1–13. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds in groundwater samples collected in the Chemung River Basin, New York, 

2003 and 2008.

[Well locations are shown in figure 1. NWIS, National Water Information System; wu, unfiltered water; μg/L, micrograms per liter; <, less than]

U.S. Geological Survey 

NWIS parameter code Constituent

Well SB 1470 Well CM 628

2003 2008 2003 2008

34506 1,1,1-Trichloroethane, wu, μg/L < 0.1 < 0.1 < 0.1 < 0.1

32106 Trichloromethane, wu, μg/L < .1 < .1 < .1 < .1

34010 Toluene, wu, μg/L < .1 < .1 < .1 < .1

39180 Trichloroethene, wu, μg/L < .1 < .1 < .1 < .1

34475 Tetrachloroethene, wu, μg/L < .1 < .1 < .1 < .1

78032 Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), wu, μg/L < .2 < .2 < .2 < .2
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U.S. Geological Survey

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or visit our Web site at:

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Risen and Reddy—Groundwater Quality in the Chemung River Basin, New York, 2008—Open-File Report 2011–1112