Prepared in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Groundwater Quality in Western New York, 2011

Open-File Report 2013–1095

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
Cover. Erie Canal, Holley, New York. Photo by Nancy Reddy, 2011.
Groundwater Quality in Western New York, 

2011

By James E. Reddy

Prepared in cooperation with the

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Open-File Report 2013–1095

U.S. Department of the Interior

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

SALLY JEWELL, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Suzette M. Kimball, Acting Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2013

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Suggested citation:

Reddy, J.E., 2013, Groundwater quality in western New York, 2011: U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 2013–1095, 28 p., at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2013/1095/.
iii

Contents

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

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

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

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

Methods...........................................................................................................................................................4

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

Physiochemical Properties .................................................................................................................5

Major Ions..............................................................................................................................................5

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

Trace Elements and Radionuclides....................................................................................................6

Pesticides...............................................................................................................................................7

Volatile Organic Compounds...............................................................................................................7

Bacteria..................................................................................................................................................7

Wells Sampled in 2006 and 2011.........................................................................................................9

Summary..........................................................................................................................................................9

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

Appendix 1. Data Tables ...............................................................................................................................1

Figure

1. Maps showing A, pertinent geographic features of study area in western New

York and locations of the 31 wells sampled in 2011 and B, general location and C,

physiographic features of the study area. Well data are listed in table 1–1 ......................3

Tables

1. Previous groundwater-quality studies and reports for New York State .............................2

2. Drinking-water standards and summary statistics for concentrations of major ions

in groundwater samples from western New York, 2011.........................................................6

3. Drinking-water standards and summary statistics for concentrations of nutrients in

groundwater samples from western New York, 2011.............................................................7

4. Drinking-water standards and summary statistics for concentrations of trace

elements and radionuclides in groundwater samples from western New York, 2011......8
iv

Conversion Factors, Datum, and Abbreviations

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) 

Volume

million gallons (Mgal) 3,785 cubic meter (m3

)

Flow rate

gallon per minute (gal/min) 0.06309 liter per second (L/s)

gallon per day (gal/d) 0.003785 cubic meter per day (m3

/d)

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

/s)

inch per year (in/yr) 25.4 millimeter per year (mm/yr)

Radioactivity

picocurie per liter (pCi/L) 0.037 becquerel per liter (Bq/L) 

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

°F=(1.8×°C)+32

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

°C=(°F-32)/1.8

Vertical coordinate information is referenced to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 

(NGVD 29).

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

Specific conductance is given in microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius (μS/cm at 

25°C).

Concentrations of chemical constituents in water are given either in milligrams per liter (mg/L) 

or micrograms per liter (μg/L).

Abbreviations

AMCL alternative maximum contaminant level

CFCL USGS Chlorofluorocarbon Laboratory

CFU/mL colony-forming units per milliliter

LRL laboratory reporting level

MCL maximum contaminant level

NWQL USGS National Water Quality Laboratory

NYSDEC New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

NYSDOH New York State Department of Health

Pt-Co units platinum-cobalt units
v

QC quality control

SDWS secondary drinking-water standard

THM trihalomethane

USEPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

USGS U.S. Geological Survey

VOC volatile organic compound
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
Groundwater Quality in Western New York, 2011

By James E. Reddy

Abstract

Water samples collected from 16 production wells and 

15 private residential wells in western New York from July 

through November 2011 were analyzed to characterize the 

groundwater quality. Fifteen of the wells were finished in sand 

and gravel aquifers, and 16 were finished in bedrock aquifers. 

Six of the 31 wells were sampled in a previous western New 

York study, which was conducted in 2006. Water samples from 

the 2011 study were analyzed for 147 physiochemical properties and constituents that included major ions, nutrients, trace 

elements, radionuclides, pesticides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and indicator bacteria. Results of the waterquality analyses are presented in tabular form for individual 

wells, 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. The results indicate that groundwater generally is 

of acceptable quality, although at 30 of the 31 wells sampled, 

at least one of the following constituents was detected at a 

concentration that exceeded current or proposed Federal or 

New York State drinking-water standards: pH (two samples), 

sodium (eight samples), sulfate (three samples), total dissolved 

solids (nine samples), aluminum (two samples), arsenic (one 

sample), iron (ten samples), manganese (twelve samples), 

radon-222 (sixteen samples), benzene (one sample), and total 

coliform bacteria (nine samples). Existing drinking-water standards for color, chloride, fluoride, nitrate, nitrite, antimony, 

barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, selenium, silver, thallium, zinc, gross alpha radioactivity, 

uranium, fecal coliform, Escherichia coli, and heterotrophic 

bacteria were not exceeded in any of the samples collected. 

None of the pesticides analyzed exceeded existing drinkingwater standards.

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 State boundaries (U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency, 1997). In 2002, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 

developed a program in cooperation with the New York State 

Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) 

to evaluate groundwater quality throughout the major river 

basins in New York on a rotating basis. The program 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 and has continued throughout upstate New York since 

then (table 1). Sampling completed in 2008 represented the 

conclusion of a first round of groundwater-quality sampling 

throughout New York State (excluding Long Island, which is 

monitored through county programs). Groundwater-quality 

sampling was conducted in 2011 in the Mohawk River Basin 

and the Western Lake Ontario, Lake Erie-Niagara River, and 

Allegheny River Basins in western New York; these basins 

also were sampled in 2006 as part of the groundwater program. This report presents the results of the 2011 groundwater 

study in western New York.

Groundwater characteristics are affected by the geology 

and the land use of the area. Shallow wells that tap sand and 

gravel aquifers are susceptible to contamination by several 

kinds of compounds, including deicing chemicals, nutrients, 

pesticides, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from 

agricultural, industrial, residential areas, and upgradient highways. The movement of these contaminants to the water table 

through the soils and surficial sand and gravel can be relatively 

rapid. Bedrock wells that tap into sandstone and shale aquifers 

in rural upland areas generally are less susceptible to contamination from industrial and urban sources, which are mainly 

in the valleys; but bedrock wells in lowland areas underlain 

by carbonate bedrock (limestone and dolostone; Eckhardt 

and others, 2008), may be more vulnerable to contamination 

from surface runoff because infiltration rates and groundwater 

flow can be relatively rapid through bedrock solution features. Agricultural land upgradient of wells may be a potential source of contamination by fecal waste from livestock, 

fertilizers, and pesticides; lawns and residential septic systems 

also are a potential source of these contaminants. In addition 

to anthropogenic contaminants, the aquifers contain naturally 

derived constituents that may diminish water quality, such as 

arsenic, chloride, hydrogen sulfide, iron, manganese, methane, 

radon gas, sodium, and sulfate.
2 Groundwater Quality in Western New York, 2011

Table 1. Previous groundwater-quality studies and reports for New York State.

Study area Year Report Reference

Mohawk River Basin 2002 Water-Data Report NY–02–1 Butch and others, 2003

Chemung River Basin 2003 Open-File Report 2004–1329 Hetcher-Aguila, 2005

Lake Champlain Basin 2004 Open-File Report 2006–1088 Nystrom, 2006

Upper Susquehanna River Basin 2004–5 Open-File Report 2006–1161 Hetcher-Aguila and Eckhardt, 2006

Delaware River Basin 2005–6 Open-File Report 2007–1098 Nystrom, 2007b

Genesee River Basin 2005–6 Open-File Report 2007–1093 Eckhardt and others, 2007

St. Lawrence River Basin 2005–6 Open-File Report 2007–1066 Nystrom, 2007a

Mohawk River Basin 2006 Open-File Report 2008–1086 Nystrom, 2008

Western New York 2006 Open-File Report 2008–1140 Eckhardt and others, 2008

Central New York 2007 Open-File Report 2009–1257 Eckhardt and others, 2009

Upper Hudson River Basin 2007 Open-File Report 2009–1240 Nystrom, 2009

Eastern Lake Ontario Basin 2008 Open-File Report 2011–1074 Risen and Reddy, 2011a

Chemung River Basin 2008 Open-File Report 2011–1112 Risen and Reddy, 2011b

Lower Hudson River Basin 2008 Open-File Report 2010–1197 Nystrom, 2010

Lake Champlain Basin 2009 Open-File Report 2011–1180 Nystrom, 2011

Upper Susquehanna River Basin 2009 Open-File Report 2012–1045 Reddy and Risen, 2012

Delaware River Basin 2010 Open-File Report 2011–1320 Nystrom, 2012

St. Lawrence River Basin 2010 Open-File Report 2011–1320 Nystrom, 2012

Genesee River Basin 2010 Open-File Report 2012–1135 Reddy, 2012

Mohawk River Basin 2011 Open-File Report 2013–1021 Nystrom and Scott, 2013

Purpose and Scope

This report supplements the water-quality study completed in 2006 for western New York (Eckhardt and others, 

2008) by resampling 6 of the production wells from that study 

(AG 265, E1903, E1904, GS 216, OL 19, and WO 351) and 

provides analytical results for 25 new wells (fig. 1). This 

report briefly describes the study area and the sampling methods and presents results of the water-quality analyses for the 

31 wells sampled in 2011. Summary statistics of the number of 

samples exceeding Federal or State drinking-water standards 

and the minimum, median, and maximum concentrations of 

selected analytes in sand and gravel and bedrock aquifers are 

provided in tables 2 through 4; information on the sampled 

wells and detailed analytical results for all analytes are provided in the appendix (tables 1–1 through 1–9).

Study Area

The 5,340-square mile (mi2) study area includes all or 

parts of the nine westernmost counties of New York (fig. 1). It 

encompasses parts of the Lake Erie and Niagara River Basin, 

the western Lake Ontario Basin (between the Niagara River 

and Genesee River Basins), and the Allegheny River Basin 

(fig. 1). The parts of these drainage basins that lie outside 

New York’s boundaries were not included in this study. A 

complete description of the study area is included in Eckhardt 

and others (2008).

The central, southern, and eastern parts of the study area 

lie within the Appalachian Plateau physiographic province 

(fig. 1), the northern part lies in the Lake Ontario Lowlands 

province, and the western part lies in the Lake Erie Lowlands 

province. Forest and pasture dominate the uplands and narrow 

valleys of the southern and eastern parts of the study area; 

cultivation of row crops, apples, and grapes is common in the 

Lake Erie and Lake Ontario lowlands; and row-crop, foragecrop, and dairy farming are concentrated in a band of fertile 

soils between Buffalo and Rochester. The Buffalo and Niagara 

Falls metropolitan area lies near the outlet of Lake Erie and 

extends northward along the Niagara River. The study area 

contains several small lakes, such as Chautauqua Lake, and 

is crossed by the New York State Barge (Erie) Canal, which 

traverses the State from Albany to Buffalo.

During deglaciation of the region, sand and gravel were 

deposited by meltwater streams, and clay, silt, and fine sand 

were deposited in proglacial lakes. The glaciofluvial and 

glaciolacustrine deposits within the study area are described 

in detail by Coates (1966) and Randall (2001). The most 

productive aquifers within the study area are the glaciofluvial 

deposits of sand and gravel in the valleys. Bedrock aquifers 
Introduction 3

Allegheny River

NYS Barge Canal

Chautauqua Lake

Niagara River Niagara River

Lake Erie

Lake Ontario

Erie

Allegany

Cattaraugus

Chautauqua

Monroe

Niagara

Wyoming Livingston

Genesee

Orleans

041201 

 Lake Erie and Niagara River Basin

050100 

Allegheny River Basin

04130001

 Western Lake Ontario Basin

NEW YORK

PENNSYLVANIA

Jamestown

Buffalo

Niagara Falls

Batavia

Fredonia

Olean

Salamanca

Rochester

!

! !

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

! (

!

!

!OL 52

OL 19

OL 40

GS 216

E1904

WO 353

E3393 E1909

WO 351 E1903

CT 673

AG 265

CU 865

CT 675

CT 674

E1312

GS 479

E1811

AG 745

CU 864

CU 863

CU2131

CT2881

NI1221 MO1452

NI1240

CT2104

CT1047

CU1023

CU1959

CU2530

79°30' 79° 78°30' 78°

43°

42°30'

42°

EXPLANATION

!AG 745

AG 265

Well finished in bedrock

Well finished in sand and gravel

Number is well number assigned by

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

City/village

Study area

County boundary

State boundary

Basin boundary

0 10 20 5

0 10 20 5 Kilometers

Miles Base from The National Map, accessed in 2012 at URL http://nationalmap.gov/ 

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 18

Hydrology from National Hydrography Dataset, 1:100,000

A

B

NY

PA

NJ

VT

NH

MA

CT

Lake Ontario

Lake

Erie

Western New York

study area

CANADA

Erie

Allegany Steuben Chautauqua Cattaraugus

Monroe

Niagara

Wyoming Livingston

Genesee

Orleans

Lake Erie Lowlands

C

Lake Ontario Lowlands

Appalachian Plateau

Lake Ontario

Lake

Erie

NEW YORK

PENNSYLVANIA

CANADA

79° 78°

43°

42°

Figure 1. A, pertinent geographic features of study area in western New York and locations of the 31 wells sampled in 2011 

and B, general location and C, physiographic features of the study area. Well data are listed in table 1–1.
4 Groundwater Quality in Western New York, 2011

typically are used for water supply in upland areas where sand 

and gravel aquifers generally are absent. The bedrock aquifers throughout most of the study area are relatively flat-lying 

interbedded sedimentary units of shale, siltstone, sandstone, 

limestone, and dolostone of Silurian and Devonian age (Fisher 

and others, 1970).

Methods

A total of 31 wells (table 1–1) were selected for sample 

collection as described by Eckhardt and others (2008)—15 

were finished in sand and gravel aquifers and 16 were finished 

in bedrock aquifers. Of the 15 wells that tap into sand and 

gravel aquifers, 13 are production wells and 2 are private residential wells. Of the 16 bedrock wells, 3 are production wells 

and 13 are private residential wells. Samples were collected 

from July through November 2011. The water samples were 

analyzed for 147 physiochemical properties and constituents 

that included major ions, nutrients, trace elements, radionuclides, pesticides, VOCs, and indicator bacteria.

Wells were selected to provide adequate spatial coverage 

of the study area. The study did not target specific municipalities, industries, or agricultural practices. The private residential wells were selected on the basis of information from the 

NYSDEC Water Well Program, which began in 2000. Production wells were selected using information from the NYSDEC 

Water Well Program and the New York State Department of 

Health (NYSDOH) Drinking Water Protection Program.

Most of the wells that are finished in sand and gravel 

were in the valleys and ranged from 36 to 177 feet (ft) deep 

(table 1–1). The wells that are finished in bedrock were generally in the uplands and ranged from 25 to 218 ft deep; all the 

bedrock wells were finished in sedimentary units of shale, 

siltstone, sandstone, limestone, dolostone, and evaporites 

(table 1–1).

In addition to the 31 groundwater samples, three quality 

control (QC) samples—two field blanks and one concurrent 

replicate sample—were collected. The QC blank samples contained no constituents in concentrations greater than the laboratory reporting levels (LRLs) except silica, boron, and iron 

(unfiltered), which were detected at trace concentrations. This 

indicates that little to no contamination occurred through the 

sampling or analytical procedures. The variability between the 

replicate sample and the corresponding environmental sample 

was greatest for unfiltered trace elements. The LRL is generally equal to twice the annual determined long-term method 

detection level (LT–MDL). The LRL controls false negative 

error. The probability of falsely reporting a nondetection result 

for a sample that contained an analyte at a concentration equal 

to or greater than the LRL is predicted to be less than or equal 

to 1 percent. The value of the LRL is indicated as less than 

(<) for samples in which the analyte was not detected. The 

USGS National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) in Denver, 

Colorado, collects quality-control data from selected analytical 

methods on a continuing basis to determine LT–MDLs and to 

establish LRLs. These values are reevaluated annually based 

on the most current quality-control data, and, therefore, may 

change (Childress and others, 1999).

Three pesticides were detected in the replicate sample; 

deethylatrazine (CIAT) and prometon at estimated concentrations of 0.001 micrograms per liter (μg/L), and atrazine at an 

estimated concentration of 0.003 μg/L. The concentrations of 

these three pesticides were identical in the corresponding environmental sample except for atrazine, which was detected at 

an estimated concentration of 0.002 μg/L in the environmental 

sample.

Groundwater-sample collection and processing followed 

standard USGS procedures as documented in the National 

Field Manual for the Collection of Water-Quality Data (U.S. 

Geological Survey, variously dated). All samples except those 

for radionuclide analyses were chilled to 4 degrees Celsius 

(°C) or less and were kept chilled until delivery to the analyzing laboratory. The samples were delivered directly or 

shipped by overnight delivery to four laboratories: (1) the 

NWQL for analysis of inorganic major ions, nutrients, total 

organic carbon, inorganic trace elements, radon-222, pesticides and pesticide degradates, and VOCs; (2) the USGS 

Chlorofluorocarbon Laboratory (CFCL) in Reston, Virginia, 

for select dissolved gases; (3) Eberline Services in Richmond, 

California, for gross-alpha and gross-beta radioactivities; and 

(4) a NYSDOH-certified laboratory in Depew, New York, for 

bacterial analysis. Physiochemical properties, such as water 

temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen concentration, and specific 

conductance, were measured at the sampling site.

Groundwater Quality

Samples from 31 wells were analyzed for 147 physiochemical properties and constituents. Many of these (65) 

were not detected above the LRLs in any sample (table 1–2). 

Results for the remaining 82 physiochemical properties and 

constituents that were detected are presented in tables 1–3 

through 1–9. The categories of physiochemical properties and 

the concentrations of constituents are presented in appendix 1 

as follows: physiochemical properties in table 1–3, major ions 

in table 1–4, nutrients and total organic carbon in table 1–5, 

trace elements and radionuclides in table 1–6, pesticides in 

table 1–7, VOCs in table 1–8, and bacterial water-quality indicators in 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 documented 

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 are typically identical. The standards include 

maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) and secondary drinking-water standards (SDWS) established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA; U.S. Environmental 
Groundwater Quality 5

Protection Agency, 1999, 2002, 2009) and the NYSDOH 

(New York State Department of Health, 2011). The MCLs 

are enforceable standards that specify the highest level of a 

contaminant that is allowed in public-water drinking supplies; 

they are not enforceable for private residential wells but are 

presented here as a guideline for evaluation of the water-quality results. The SDWS are nonenforceable guidelines and are 

based on cosmetic and aesthetic criteria, such as taste, odor, or 

staining of plumbing fixtures.

The quality of the sampled groundwater generally was 

acceptable, although in samples from 30 of the 31 wells, the 

concentration of at least one constituent exceeded recommended MCLs or SDWSs set by the USEPA or the NYSDOH. 

Exceedances generally involved minerals and chemical elements that occur from natural interactions of water and rock 

(aluminum, arsenic, iron, manganese, radon-222, sodium, and 

sulfate) but also included benzene, which is a VOC, and total 

coliform bacteria contamination.

Physiochemical Properties

The color values for all samples (table 1–3) were less 

than 1 platinum-cobalt (Pt-Co) unit (the LRL) except for one 

sample from a bedrock well with a value of 2 Pt-Co units. The 

NYSDOH MCL and USEPA SDWS of 15 Pt-Co units were 

not exceeded in any sample. The pH of the samples ranged 

from 6.0 to 8.7; the median was 7.6 for sand and gravel wells 

and 7.4 for bedrock wells. Two of the 31 wells had pH values 

outside the accepted USEPA SDWS range of 6.5 to 8.5: a 

pH of 6.0 was detected at a sand and gravel well, and a pH 

of 8.7 was detected at a bedrock well (U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, 2009). The specific conductance of the 

samples ranged from 138 to 2,450 microsiemens per centimeter (μS/cm) at 25 °C; the median was 454 μS/cm at 25 °C 

for sand and gravel wells and 592 μS/cm at 25 °C for bedrock wells. The temperature of the water ranged from 8.7 to 

19.3 °C; the median was 12.1 °C for sand and gravel wells and 

12.8 °C for bedrock wells.

Dissolved-oxygen concentrations ranged from 0.2 to 

8.1 milligrams per liter (mg/L); the median was 3.1 mg/L for 

sand and gravel wells and 0.5 mg/L for bedrock wells. Methane concentrations ranged from less than 0.0005 (the LRL) to 

29.5 mg/L; the median was 0.003 mg/L for sand and gravel 

wells and 0.024 mg/L 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 five sand and gravel 

wells and seven bedrock wells.

Major Ions

The cations that were detected in the greatest concentrations were calcium and sodium (tables 2, 1–4). Calcium 

concentrations ranged from 2.26 to 485 mg/L; the median 

was 54.2 mg/L for sand and gravel wells and 71.7 mg/L 

for bedrock wells. Magnesium concentrations ranged from 

0.51 to 65.6 mg/L; the median was 11.0 mg/L for sand and 

gravel wells and 14.6 mg/L for bedrock wells. Potassium 

concentrations ranged from 0.64 to 13.5 mg/L; the median 

was 1.58 mg/L for sand and gravel wells and 1.80 mg/L for 

bedrock wells. Sodium concentrations ranged from 2.15 to 

144 mg/L; the median was 20.3 mg/L for sand and gravel 

wells and 21.6 mg/L for bedrock wells. The USEPA nonregulatory drinking-water advisory threshold for taste recommends 

that sodium concentrations in drinking water not exceed 

the range of 30 to 60 mg/L (U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency, 2002, 2009). The concentration of sodium in samples 

from four sand and gravel wells and five bedrock wells 

exceeded the upper limit of the USEPA threshold.

The anions that were detected in the greatest concentration were bicarbonate and sulfate (tables 2, 1–4). Bicarbonate 

concentrations ranged from 45 to 388 mg/L; the median was 

207 mg/L for sand and gravel wells and 280 mg/L for bedrock 

wells. Chloride concentrations ranged from 1.64 to 180 mg/L; 

the median was 41.1 mg/L for sand and gravel wells and 

27.1 mg/L for bedrock wells. Fluoride concentrations ranged 

from less than 0.04 (the LRL) to 1.17 mg/L; the median 

was 0.07 mg/L for sand and gravel wells and 0.18 mg/L for 

bedrock wells. Silica concentrations ranged from 5.92 to 

19.4 mg/L; the median was 9.39 mg/L for sand and gravel 

wells and 12.9 mg/L for bedrock wells. Sulfate concentrations 

ranged from less than 0.09 mg/L (the LRL) to 1,240 mg/L; 

the median was 17.2 mg/L for sand and gravel wells and 

30.3 mg/L for bedrock wells. The NYSDOH MCL and USEPA 

SDWS of 250 mg/L for sulfate were exceeded in samples from 

three bedrock wells.

Calcium and magnesium contribute to water hardness. 

Water hardness in the basin (tables 2, 1–4) ranged from 

7.75 to 1,400 mg/L (as CaCO3

); the median was 171 mg/L for 

sand and gravel wells and 252 mg/L for bedrock wells. Seven 

of the samples were soft to moderately hard (equal to or less 

than 120 mg/L as CaCO3

) and 24 wells yielded water that was 

hard to very hard (greater than 120 mg/L as CaCO3

) (Hem, 

1985). Wells finished in bedrock were slightly more alkaline 

(median of 229 mg/L as CaCO3

) than those finished in sand 

and gravel (median of 170 mg/L as CaCO3

). Concentrations of 

dissolved solids ranged from 68 to 2,240 mg/L, with a median 

of 251 mg/L for sand and gravel wells and 340 mg/L for 

bedrock wells. The USEPA SDWS of 500 mg/L for dissolved 

solids was exceeded in four sand and gravel wells and five 

bedrock wells.

Nutrients and Organic Carbon

Nitrate was the predominant nutrient in the groundwater 

samples (tables 3, 1–5). Concentrations of ammonia ranged 

from less than 0.010 (the LRL) to 1.01 mg/L as nitrogen (N); 

the median concentration was 0.011 mg/L as N in samples 

from sand and gravel wells and 0.078 mg/L as N in samples 

from bedrock wells. Concentrations of nitrate plus nitrite 

ranged from less than 0.02 (the LRL) to 2.74 mg/L as N; the 
6 Groundwater Quality in Western New York, 2011

Table 2. Drinking-water standards and summary statistics for concentrations of major ions in groundwater samples from 

western New York, 2011.

[All concentrations in milligrams per liter in filtered water. CaCO3, calcium carbonate; No., number; --, not applicable; <, less than; °C, degrees Celsius]

Constituent

Drinkingwater 

standard

No. of 

samples 

exceeding 

standard

Sand and gravel (15 samples) Bedrock (16 samples)

Minimum Median Maximum Minimum Median Maximum

Cations Calcium -- -- 19.1 54.2 142 2.26 71.7 485

Magnesium -- -- 4.58 11.0 30.0 .51 14.6 65.6

Potassium -- -- .64 1.58 10.2 .70 1.80 13.5

Sodium 1

60 9 2.15 20.3 95.9 3.64 21.6 144

Anions Bicarbonate -- -- 45 207 360 48 280 388

Chloride 2,3250 0 4.85 41.1 180 1.64 27.1 177

Fluoride 4

4.0

2

2.0

3

2.2

0 <.04 .07 .46 .04 .18 1.17

Silica -- -- 5.92 9.39 15.6 6.06 12.9 19.4

Sulfate 2,3250 3 7.07 17.2 127 <.09 30.3 1,240

Hardness as CaCO3

 -- -- 69 171 452 7.75 252 1,400

Alkalinity as CaCO3 -- -- 37 170 295 39 229 318

Dissolved solids, dried at 180 °C 3

500 9 141 251 714 68 340 2,240

1

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency drinking water advisory taste threshold.

2

New York State Department of Health maximum contaminant level.

3

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency secondary drinking water standard.

4

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maximum contaminant level.

median concentration was 0.62 mg/L as N in samples from 

sand and gravel wells and 0.03 mg/L as N in samples from 

bedrock wells. The concentration of nitrate plus nitrite did 

not exceed the USEPA and NYSDOH MCLs of 10 mg/L as 

N in any sample. Nitrite was detected in five samples; the 

highest concentration was 0.010 mg/L as N. The concentration of nitrite did not exceed the MCL (1 mg/L as N) in any 

sample. Orthophosphate concentrations ranged from less than 

0.004 (the LRL) to 0.035 mg/L as phosphorus (P). Organic 

carbon was detected in 14 of the 31 samples; the maximum 

concentration was 1.9 mg/L.

Trace Elements and Radionuclides

The trace elements detected in the greatest concentrations 

(more than 100 μg/L) were aluminum, barium, boron, copper, 

iron, lithium, manganese, and strontium (tables 4, 1–6). The 

largest detected concentration of a trace element, 19,900 μg/L, 

was of strontium in a sample from a bedrock well. The concentration of aluminum in one sample from a bedrock well, 

948 μg/L, exceeded the upper limit of the USEPA SDWS of 

200 μg/L. The lower limit of the USEPA SDWS for aluminum 

(50 μg/L) was exceeded in one sample from a second bedrock 

well with a concentration of 51 μg/L. The concentration of 

arsenic in one sample from a sand and gravel well, 14.1 μg/L, 

exceeded the USEPA and NYSDOH MCLs of 10 μg/L. The 

concentration of iron in 9 filtered samples and 10 unfiltered 

samples exceeded the USEPA SDWS and the NYSDOH MCL 

of 300 μg/L. The concentration of manganese in 12 filtered 

samples and 12 unfiltered samples exceeded the USEPA 

SDWS of 50 μg/L; the NYSDOH MCL of 300 μg/L was 

exceeded in one filtered sample and one unfiltered sample. 

Drinking-water standards for antimony, barium, beryllium, 

cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, selenium, silver, 

thallium, uranium, and zinc were not exceeded; additionally, 

mercury was not detected in any sample (table 1–2).

Three measures of radioactivity were employed (tables 

4, 1–6). Gross-alpha activity ranged from less than 0.5 to 

3.8 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). The median activity was less 

than 1.1 pCi/L in samples from sand and gravel wells and 

0.9 pCi/L in samples from bedrock wells. The gross-alpha 

activity did not exceed the USEPA and NYSDOH MCLs of 

15 pCi/L in any sample. Gross-beta activity ranged from less 

than 0.63 to 15.0 pCi/L. The median activity was 1.6 pCi/L in 

samples from sand and gravel wells and 2.0 pCi/L in samples 

from bedrock wells. The USEPA and NYSDOH MCLs for 

gross beta are expressed as a dose of 4 millirems per year; 

therefore, it cannot be evaluated whether any of the samples 
Groundwater Quality 7

Table 3. Drinking-water standards and summary statistics for concentrations of nutrients in groundwater samples from western 

New York, 2011.

[All concentrations in milligrams per liter in filtered water except as noted. N, nitrogen; No., number; P, phosphorus; --, not applicable; <, less than]

Constituent

Drinkingwater 

standard

No. of 

samples 

exceeding 

standard

Sand and gravel (15 samples) Bedrock (16 samples)

Minimum Median Maximum Minimum Median Maximum

Ammonia plus organic N, as N -- -- <.05 .08 .28 <.05 .16 1.2

Ammonia, as N -- -- <.010 .011 .251 <.010 .078 1.01

Nitrate plus nitrite, as N 1,210 0 <.02 .62 1.96 <.02 .03 2.74

Nitrite, as N 1,21 0 <.001 <.001 .001 <.001 <.001 .010

Orthophosphate, as P -- -- <.004 .009 .035 <.004 .006 .031

Total organic carbon, unfiltered -- -- <.3 <.5 1.6 <.3 .9 1.9

1

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maximum contaminant level.

2

New York State Department of Health maximum contaminant level.

exceeded the MCL. Radon-222 was detected in every sample, 

and activity ranged from 56 to 1,880 pCi/L. The median activity was 510 pCi/L in samples from sand and gravel wells and 

290 pCi/L in samples from bedrock wells. Radon currently is 

not regulated in drinking water; however, the USEPA proposed MCL of 300 pCi/L for radon-222 in drinking water was 

exceeded in 16 samples, but the USEPA proposed alternate 

maximum contaminant level (AMCL) 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 (Krieger and Whitaker, 

1980; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1999, 2009).

Pesticides

Nine pesticides (eight herbicides and one herbicide 

degradate) were detected in samples from 12 wells (table 

1–7). The pesticides were detected in samples from eight 

sand and gravel wells and four bedrock wells. All pesticide 

concentrations were in hundredths or thousandths of micrograms per liter. There were a total of 26 pesticide detections; 

14 of those have estimated concentrations and 3 detections 

could not be quantified. The herbicide atrazine was detected 

in five samples; one of those samples, from a bedrock well, 

had the highest concentration (0.032 μg/L) of all pesticide 

detections. The atrazine degradate CIAT is the constituent 

detected most frequently (10 samples). The sample from one 

bedrock well (a production well in an agricultural setting) had 

the most (seven) pesticide detections. None of the pesticides 

analyzed contained concentrations that exceeded established 

drinking-water standards.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Thirteen VOCs were detected in samples from four sand 

and gravel wells and seven bedrock wells (table 1–8). The 

concentration of benzene in a sample from one private residential bedrock well (56.1 μg/L) exceeded the USEPA and NYSDOH MCLs of 5 μg/L. Benzene was detected in two other 

bedrock wells at concentrations of 0.1 μg/L and 1.6 μg/L.

Bromodichloromethane, tribromomethane, trichloromethane, and dibromochloromethane were detected in samples 

from two sand and gravel wells and one bedrock well. These 

four compounds are trihalomethanes (THMs), which typically 

are formed as byproducts when chlorine or bromine is used to 

disinfect water. The maximum THM concentration detected 

was 4.2 μg/L for dibromochloromethane in a sample from a 

production sand and gravel well. The concentration of total 

THMs did not exceed the USEPA and NYSDOH MCLs of 

80 μg/L.

Of the remaining VOCs detected, which include 

1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, ethylbenzene, 

m- + p-Xylene, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), tetrachloroethene, toluene, and trichloroethene, MTBE had the highest 

concentration at 0.9 μg/L.

Bacteria

All samples were analyzed for total coliform, fecal 

coliform, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and heterotrophic bacteria. Samples collected on or before September 1, 2011, were 

analyzed using the presence or absence method; subsequent 

samples were analyzed using the membrane filtration method. 

Total coliform bacteria were detected in nine samples (table 

1–9): three from sand and gravel wells and six from bedrock wells; six of the positive results were in a presence or 

absence analysis and the remaining three were in membrane 
8 Groundwater Quality in Western New York, 2011

Table 4. Drinking-water standards and summary statistics for concentrations of trace elements and radionuclides in groundwater 

samples from western New York, 2011.

[All concentrations in micrograms per liter in unfiltered water except as noted. mrem/yr, millirem per year; No., number; pCi/L, picocuries per liter; <, less 

than; --, not applicable]

Constituent

Drinkingwater

standard

No. of 

samples 

exceeding 

standard

Sand and gravel (15 samples) Bedrock (16 samples)

Minimum Median Maximum Minimum Median Maximum

Aluminum 350–200 2 <3 <4 4 <3 4 948

Antimony 1,26 0 <.2 <.2 .3 <.2 <.2 .4

Arsenic 1,210 1 <.28 .58 14.1 <.09 .60 7.7

Barium 1,22,000 0 22.6 127 266 22.7 130 1,240

Beryllium 1,24 0 <.02 <.02 <.02 <.02 <.02 .05

Boron, filtered -- -- 6.6 31 473 6.3 78 439

Cadmium 1,25 0 <.02 <.05 .09 <.02 <.05 .10

Chromium 1,2100 0 <.21 <.30 .37 <.21 <.21 14.3

Cobalt -- -- <.02 <.02 .06 <.02 .02 1.0

Copper 31,000 0 <.70 1.7 75.4 <.70 2.8 568

Iron, filtered 2,3300 9 <3 10 4,130 <3 138 1,950

Iron 2,3300 10 <5 16 4,030 23 228 8,030

Lead 415 0 <.04 .08 1.03 .04 .26 2.25

Lithium -- -- 1.2 3.7 52.4 2.7 16.2 143

Manganese, filtered 2300

3

50

1

12

<.2 11.1 520 .2 27.7 225

Manganese 2300

3

50

1

12

<.2 10.8 531 .6 30.2 218

Molybdenum -- -- <.1 .4 18.2 <.1 .5 7.8

Nickel -- -- <.12 <.19 1.9 <.12 .25 10.1

Selenium 1,250 0 <.05 .07 .47 <.05 <.05 .88

Silver 2,3100 0 <.01 <.01 <.01 <.01 <.01 .02

Strontium -- -- 55.0 158 1,680 24.7 286 19,900

Thallium 1,22 0 <.06 <.06 <.30 <.06 <.06 .11

Zinc 2,35,000 0 <2.4 <3.0 29.2 <2.4 5.0 215

Gross alpha radioactivity, pCi/L 1,215 0 <.57 <1.1 1.9 <.5 .9 3.8

Gross beta radioactivity, pCi/L 1,24 mrem/yr -- <.63 1.6 9.8 <.65 2.0 15.0

Radon-222, pCi/L 5300 6

4,000

16

0

113 510 1,880 56 290 1,310

Uranium 1,230 0 <.014 .077 1.04 <.014 .066 3.31

1

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maximum contaminant level.

2

New York State Department of Health maximum contaminant level.

3

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency secondary drinking water standard.

4

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency treatment technique.

5

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed maximum contaminant level.

6

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed alternative maximum contaminant level.
References Cited 9

filtration analysis. The USEPA and NYSDOH MCLs for total 

coliform bacteria are exceeded when 5 percent of finished 

water samples collected in 1 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). Fecal coliform and 

E. coli were not detected in any sample. Heterotrophic plate 

counts ranged from less than 1 to 212 colony-forming units 

per milliliter (CFU/mL); the USEPA MCL (500 CFU/mL) was 

not exceeded.

Wells Sampled in 2006 and 2011

Six of the wells sampled in 2011 (AG 265, E1903, 

E1904, GS 216, OL 19, and WO 351) were sampled previously in 2006 as part of the program. Of the 147 physiochemical properties and constituents that samples were analyzed for 

in 2011, 141 had also been included in the analysis in 2006 

(tables 1–10 through 1–13). The difference between results 

from 2006 and 2011 for a single well were typically smaller 

than those between the results from different wells. In general, 

there were no detectable trends in constituent concentrations 

between 2006 and 2011.

Summary

In 2002, the U.S. Geological Survey began an assessment 

of groundwater quality in bedrock and sand and gravel aquifers throughout New York State in cooperation with the New 

York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). As a part of this assessment, portions of the Lake Erie 

and Niagara River Basin, the western Lake Ontario Basin, and 

the Allegheny River Basin in western New York were studied 

in 2006 and again in 2011. The 2011 study included analysis 

of 31 water samples collected from 16 production wells and 

15 private residential wells from July through November 

2011. Water samples were analyzed for 147 physiochemical 

properties and constituents that included major ions, nutrients, 

trace elements, radionuclides, pesticides, VOCs, and indicator 

bacteria. Six wells (AG 265, E1903, E1904, GS 216, OL 19, 

and WO 351) were tested in both studies, and a comparison 

was made of the results. The concentrations of most of the 

constituents changed little between 2006 and 2011.

The results indicate that groundwater generally is of 

acceptable quality, although at 30 of the 31 wells sampled, 

at least one of the following constituents was detected at a 

concentration that exceeded current or proposed Federal or 

New York State drinking-water standards: pH (two samples), 

sodium (eight samples), sulfate (three samples), total dissolved 

solids (nine samples), aluminum (two samples), arsenic (one 

sample), iron (ten samples), manganese (twelve samples), 

radon-222 (sixteen samples), benzene (one sample), and total 

coliform bacteria (nine samples). Existing drinking-water standards for color, chloride, fluoride, nitrate, nitrite, antimony, 

barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, selenium, silver, thallium, zinc, gross alpha radioactivity, 

uranium, fecal coliform, Escherichia coli, and heterotrophic 

bacteria were not exceeded in any of the samples collected. 

None of the pesticides analyzed exceeded existing drinkingwater standards.

References Cited

Butch, G.K., Murray, P.M., Hebert, G.J., and Weigel, J.F., 

2003, Water resources data, New York, water year 2002: 

U.S. Geological Survey Water-Data Report NY–02–1, 

p. 502–520.

Childress, C.J.O., Foreman, W.T., Connor, B.F., and Maloney, T.J., 1999, New reporting procedures based on longterm method detection levels and some considerations 

for interpretations of water-quality data provided by the 

U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory: 

U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99–193, 19 p.

Coates, D.R., 1966, Glaciated Appalachian Plateau—Till shadows on hills: Science, v. 152, p. 1617–1619.

Eckhardt, D.A., Reddy, J.E., and Shaw, S.B., 2009, Groundwater quality in central New York, 2007: U.S. Geological 

Survey Open-File Report 2009–1257, 40 p., at http://pubs.

usgs.gov/of/2009/1257/.

Eckhardt, D.A., Reddy, J.E., and Tamulonis, K.L., 2007, 

Ground-water quality in the Genesee River Basin, New 

York, 2005–06: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 

2007–1093, 26 p., at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1093/.

Eckhardt, D.A., Reddy, J.E., and Tamulonis, K.L., 2008, 

Ground-water quality in western New York, 2006: U.S. 

Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008–1140, 36 p., at 

http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2008/1140/.

Fisher, D.W., Isachsen, Y.W., and Rickard, L.V., 1970, Geologic map of New York State: New York State Museum 

Map and Chart Series no. 15, Finger Lakes and Niagara 

sheets, scale 1:250,000.

Hem, J.D., 1985, Study and interpretation of the chemical 

characteristics of natural water (3d ed.): U.S. Geological 

Survey Water-Supply Paper 2254, 264 p.

Hetcher-Aguila, K.K., 2005, Ground-water quality in the 

Chemung River Basin, New York, 2003: U.S. Geological 

Survey Open-File Report 04–1329, 19 p., at http://ny.water.

usgs.gov/pubs/of/of041329/.

Hetcher-Aguila, K.K., and Eckhardt, D.A., 2006, Groundwater quality in the upper Susquehanna River basin, New 

York, 2004–05: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 

06–1161, 20 p., at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2006/1161/. 
10 Groundwater Quality in Western New York, 2011

Krieger, H.L., and Whittaker, E.L., 1980, Prescribed procedures for measurement of radioactivity in drinking water: 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA 600/4–80–032, 

[not paged].

New York State Department of Health, 2011, New York 

State Health Department public water systems regulations: 

Albany, N.Y., New York State Department of Health, [variously paged], accessed January 2012, at http://www.health.

state.ny.us/environmental/water/drinking/part5/tables.htm.

Nystrom, E.A., 2006, Ground-water quality in the Lake 

Champlain basin, New York, 2004: U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 06–1088, 22 p., at http://pubs.usgs.gov/

of/2006/1088/.

Nystrom, E.A., 2007a, Ground-water quality in the St. Lawrence River basin, New York, 2005–2006: U.S. Geological 

Survey Open-File Report 2007–1066, 33 p., at http://pubs.

usgs.gov/of/2007/1066/.

Nystrom, E.A., 2007b, Ground-water quality in the Delaware 

River Basin, New York, 2001 and 2005–2006: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007–1098, 36 p., at http://

pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1098/.

Nystrom, E.A., 2008, Ground-water quality in the Mohawk 

River Basin, New York, 2006: U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 2008–1086, 33 p., at http://pubs.usgs.gov/

of/2008/1086/.

Nystrom, E.A., 2009, Ground-water quality in the Upper Hudson River Basin, New York, 2007: U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 2009–1240, 37 p., at http://pubs.usgs.gov/

of/2009/1240/.

Nystrom, E.A., 2010, Groundwater quality in the Lower Hudson River Basin, New York, 2008: U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 2010–1197, 39 p., at http://pubs.usgs.gov/

of/2010/1197/.

Nystrom, E.A., 2011, Groundwater quality in the Lake 

Champlain Basin, New York, 2009: U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 2011–1180, 42 p., at http://pubs.usgs.gov/

of/2011/1180/.

Nystrom, E.A., 2012, Groundwater quality in the Delaware 

and St. Lawrence River Basins, New York, 2010: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2011–1320, 58 p., at http://

pubs.usgs.gov/of/2011/1320/.

Nystrom, E.A., and Scott, T., 2013, Groundwater quality in 

the Mohawk River Basin, New York, 2011: U.S. Geological 

Survey Open-File Report 2013-1021, 43 p., at http://pubs.

usgs.gov/of/2013/1021/.

Randall, A.D., 2001, Hydrogeologic framework of stratifieddrift aquifers in the glaciated Northeastern United States: 

U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1415–B, 179 p.

Reddy, J.E., 2012, Groundwater quality in the Genesee River 

Basin, New York, 2010: U.S. Geological Survey OpenFile Report 2012–1135, 29 p., at http://pubs.usgs.gov/

of/2012/1135/.

Reddy, J.E., and Risen, A.J., 2012, Groundwater quality in 

the Upper Susquehanna River Basin, New York, 2009: U.S. 

Geological Survey Open-File Report 2012–1045, 30 p., at 

http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2012/1045/.

Risen, A.J., and Reddy, J.E., 2011a, Groundwater quality in 

the Eastern Lake Ontario Basin, New York, 2008: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2011–1074, 32 p., at http://

pubs.usgs.gov/of/2011/1074/.

Risen, A.J., and Reddy, J.E., 2011b, 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/.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1997, Guidelines for 

preparation of the comprehensive state water quality assessments 305(b) reports and electronic updates: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA 841–B–97–002A and EPA 

841–B–97–002B, PL 95–217, 271 p.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1999, Proposed radon 

in drinking water rule: U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency EPA 815–F–99–006, 6 p.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2002, Drinking-water 

advisory—Consumer acceptability advice and health effects 

analysis on sodium: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

EPA 822–R–02–032, 34 p.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2009, National 

primary drinking water standards and national secondary 

drinking water standards: U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency EPA 816–F–09–0004, 6 p.

U.S. Geological Survey, [variously dated], National field manual for the collection of water-quality data: U.S. Geological 

Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, book 

9, chaps. A1–A9, at http://pubs.water.usgs.gov/twri9A/.
Appendix 1. Data Tables 11

Appendix 1. Data Tables

1–1. Information on wells sampled in western New York, 2011 ..................................................13

1–2. Compounds for which groundwater samples from western New York were

analyzed but not detected, 2011...............................................................................................14

1–2. Compounds for which groundwater samples from western New York were

analyzed but not detected, 2011...............................................................................................15

1–3. Physiochemical properties of groundwater samples from western New York, 2011 .....16

1–4. Concentrations of major ions in groundwater samples from western New York, 2011. 17

1–5. Concentrations of nutrients and total organic carbon in groundwater samples from

western New York study, 2011..................................................................................................18

1–6. Concentrations of trace elements and radionuclides in groundwater samples from

western New York, 2011 ............................................................................................................19

1–6. Concentrations of trace elements and radionuclides in groundwater samples from

western New York, 2011. ...........................................................................................................20

1–7. Concentrations of pesticides detected in groundwater samples from western New

York study, 2011 ...........................................................................................................................21

1–8. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds in groundwater samples from

western New York study, 2011..................................................................................................22

1–9. Concentrations of bacteria in unfiltered groundwater samples from western New

York, 2011......................................................................................................................................23

1–10. Physiochemical properties of and concentrations of major ions, nutrients and total

organic carbon, and bacteria in groundwater samples collected in western New

York, 2006 and 2011.....................................................................................................................24

1–11. Concentrations of trace elements and radionuclides in groundwater samples

collected in western New York, 2006 and 2011......................................................................25

1–12. Concentrations of pesticides in groundwater samples collected in western New

York, 2006 and 2011.....................................................................................................................26

1–12. Concentrations of pesticides in groundwater samples collected in western New

York, 2006 and 2011.....................................................................................................................27

1–13. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds in groundwater samples collected in

western New York, 2006 and 2011............................................................................................28
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
Appendix 1. Data Tables 13

Table 1–1. Information on wells sampled in western New York, 2011.

[Well locations are shown in figure 1. BLS, below land surface; ft, feet; ID, U.S. Geological Survey site identification number; no., number; —, information not available]

Well no.1 ID Date sampled Well depth, 

in ft BLS

Casing depth, 

in ft BLS

Well type2 Bedrock type

Sand and gravel wells

AG 265 421300078160001 8/22/2011 70 — P —

CT 673 422128079025101 11/7/2011 39 31 P —

CT 674 420126078372001 11/29/2011 78 — P —

CT 675 420937078410001 11/29/2011 60 — P —

CU 863 422112079305501 10/19/2011 — — P —

CU 865 421512079161602 10/27/2011 60 58 P —

CU1959 421024079042801 11/28/2011 45 45 D —

CU2131 420926079355501 11/8/2011 52 32 P —

E1903 423001078400001 9/28/2011 177 141 P —

E1904 425424078294802 8/3/2011 45 — P —

E1909 423550078384201 9/29/2011 169.5 152.2 P —

GS 216 425900078120001 8/4/2011 69 56 P —

NI1221 431459078581201 7/27/2011 72 — D —

WO 351 423200078250001 9/28/2011 36 36 P —

WO 353 424550078183901 10/26/2011 132 123.5 P —

Bedrock wells

AG 745 420547078055001 8/22/2011 218 46 D Shale, siltstone, and sandstone.

CT1047 422453078441001 8/31/2011 120 54 D Shale, siltstone, and sandstone.

CT2104 422252078324901 8/31/2011 90 20 D Shale, siltstone, and sandstone.

CT2881 420328078265001 9/27/2011 120 82 D Shale, siltstone, and sandstone.

CU 864 422712079182301 10/19/2011 85 — P Shale, siltstone, and sandstone.

CU1023 422501079200401 11/30/2011 50 8.5 D Shale, siltstone, and sandstone.

CU2530 422923079115701 10/18/2011 85 50 D Shale, siltstone, and sandstone.

E1312 430248078335601 8/30/2011 26 — D Shale, dolostone, and evaporites.

E1811 424842078294401 8/3/2011 60 20.5 D Shale, siltstone, and sandstone.

E3393 423459078502801 7/26/2011 100 65 D Shale, siltstone, and sandstone.

GS 479 425339078112301 9/1/2011 45 18.5 D Shale, siltstone, and sandstone.

MO1452 431701077540801 10/25/2011 48 26 D Shale, siltstone, and sandstone.

NI1240 430926078412801 8/23/2011 83 13 D Limestone and dolostone.

OL 19 431230078023001 8/17/2011 32 — P Shale, siltstone, and sandstone.

OL 40 430828078214101 8/17/2011 75 55 P Shale, dolostone, and evaporites.

OL 52 432022078005501 8/16/2011 25 25 D Shale, siltstone, and sandstone.

1

Prefix denotes county: AG, Allegany; CT, Cattaraugus; CU, Chautauqua; E, Erie; GS, Genesee; MO, Monroe; NI, Niagara; OL, Orleans; WO, 

Wyoming; number is local well-identification number assigned by U.S. Geological Survey.

2

Well types: D, domestic; P, production.
14 Groundwater Quality in Western New York, 2011

Table 1–2. Compounds for which groundwater samples from western New York were analyzed but not detected, 2011.

[A water year (WY) is the 12-month period from October 1 through September 30 of the following year; the WY is designated by the calendar year in which it 

ends. NWIS, U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System]

NWIS Laboratory reporting level Constituent parameter code WY11 WY12

Trace elements in unfiltered water, in micrograms per liter

71900 Mercury .005 .005

Pesticides in filtered water, in micrograms per liter

82660 2,6-Diethylaniline .006 .006

49260 Acetochlor .010 .010

46342 Alachlor .008 .008

34253 alpha-HCH .004 .0040

82686 Azinphos-methyl .120 .12

82673 Benfluralin .014 .014

82680 Carbaryl .060 .06

82674 Carbofuran .060 .060

38933 Chlorpyrifos .004 .0036

82687 cis-Permethrin .010 .010

82682 DCPA .008 .0076

62170 Desulfinyl fipronil .012 .012

62169 Desulfinylfipronil amide .029 .029

39572 Diazinon .006 .0060

39381 Dieldrin .008 .008

82677 Disulfoton .04 .040

82668 EPTC .006 .0056

82663 Ethalfluralin .006 .006

82672 Ethoprop .016 .016

62166 Fipronil .018 .018

62167 Fipronil sulfide .012 .012

62168 Fipronil sulfone .024 .024

04095 Fonofos .005 .0048

39341 Lindane .004 .0040

82666 Linuron .060 .06

39532 Malathion .016 .016

82630 Metribuzin .012 .012

82671 Molinate .004 .0040

82684 Napropamide .008 .008

34653 p,p’-DDE .002 .002

39542 Parathion .020 .020

82667 Methyl parathion .008 .008

82669 Pebulate .016 .016

82683 Pendimethalin .012 .012

82664 Phorate .020 .020

04024 Propachlor .006 .006

82679 Propanil .010 .010

82685 Propargite .02 .020
Appendix 1. Data Tables 15

Table 1–2. Compounds for which groundwater samples from western New York were analyzed but not detected, 2011.—Continued

[A water year (WY) is the 12-month period from October 1 through September 30 of the following year; the WY is designated by the calendar year in which it 

ends. NWIS, U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System]

NWIS Laboratory reporting level Constituent parameter code WY11 WY12

82676 Propyzamide .004 .0036

82675 Terbufos .02 .018

82681 Thiobencarb .016 .016

82678 Triallate .005 .0046

82661 Trifluralin .018 .018

Volatile organic compounds in unfiltered water, in micrograms per liter

77652 1,1,1-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane .1 .1

34496 1,1-Dichloroethane .1 .1

34501 1,1-Dichloroethene .1 .1

34536 1,2-Dichlorobenzene .1 .1

34541 1,2-Dichloropropane .1 .1

34566 1,3-Dichlorobenzene .1 .1

34571 1,4-Dichlorobenzene .1 .1

34301 Chlorobenzene .1 .1

77093 cis-1,2-Dichloroethene .1 .1

34668 Dichlorodifluoromethane .2 .2

34423 Dichloromethane .2 .2

81576 Diethyl ether .2 .2

81577 Diisopropyl ether .2 .2

50004 tert-Butyl ethyl ether .1 .1

77135 o-Xylene .1 .1

77128 Styrene .1 .1

50005 Methyl tert-pentyl ether .2 .2

32102 Tetrachloromethane .2 .2

34546 trans-1,2-Dichloroethene .1 .1

34488 Trichlorofluoromethane .2 .2

39175 Vinyl chloride .2 .2
16 Groundwater Quality in Western New York, 2011

Table 1–3. Physiochemical properties of groundwater samples from western New York, 2011.

[Well locations are shown in figure 1. Bold values exceed one or more drinking-water standard. (00080), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water 

Information System (NWIS) parameter code; no., number; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μS/cm @ 25 °C, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 °C; <, less than; °C, 

degrees Celsius]

Well no.1

Water 

color, 

filtered, in 

platinumcobalt 

units 

(00080)

pH, field, 

in standard units 

(00400)

Specific 

conductance, 

field, in 

μS/cm 

@ 25°C 

(00095)

Water 

temperature, in °C 

(00010)

Dissolved 

oxygen 

unfiltered, 

field, 

in mg/L 

(00300)

Dissolved 

nitrogen gas 

unfiltered, 

in mg/L 

(00597)

Carbon 

dioxide 

unfiltered, 

in mg/L 

(00405)

Methane 

unfiltered, 

in mg/L 

(85574)

Argon 

unfiltered, 

in mg/L 

(82043)

Hydrogen 

sulfide 

odor field 

(71875)

Sand and gravel wells

AG 265 <1 6.7 454 10.3 3.2 22.17 45.8 <.0005 .751 Absent

CT 673 <1 7.5 1,200 10.7 .3 26.34 33.1 .020 .7530 Absent

CT 674 <1 6.8 316 10.6 3.5 22.27 30.1 <.0005 .7780 Absent

CT 675 <1 7.7 288 12.7 3.1 18.29 8.2 <.0005 .6650 Absent

CU 863 <1 6.0 226 16.3 8.1 19.56 60.4 .010 .8490 Present

CU 865 <1 7.6 423 8.7 4.3 19.67 5.8 <.0005 .7150 Absent

CU1959 <1 8.2 260 12.8 7.9 20.73 1.9 <.0005 .7610 Absent

CU2131 <1 7.7 783 12.1 3.0 20.94 21.5 .002 .7290 Absent

E1903 <1 7.4 841 11.3 .4 23.39 20.9 .003 .8220 Absent

E1904 <1 7.2 1,190 12.3 .6 23.96 45.6 .056 .7780 Present

E1909 <1 8.0 276 10.3 .4 21.80 2.2 .944 .7750 Present

GS 216 <1 7.3 974 12.3 3.5 22.35 30.9 .035 .7600 Present

NI1221 <1 8.0 693 13.4 .5 25.42 3.7 .004 .8700 Absent

WO 351 <1 7.8 486 12.1 3.4 18.64 9.4 <.0005 .6830 Absent

WO 353 <1 7.9 419 10.9 .3 20.82 5.2 1.99 .7320 Present

Bedrock wells

AG 745 <1 6.8 138 12.0 8.1 17.71 12.0 <.0005 .6750 Absent

CT1047 <1 8.7 341 12.6 .8 21.41 .5 2.42 .7580 Present

CT2104 <1 7.6 421 12.1 .2 15.97 10.0 26.6 .6820 Absent

CT2881 2 7.7 365 16.4 .5 20.54 7.3 .115 .7530 Present

CU 864 <1 7.6 957 12.4 .4 6.94 6.8 29.5 .3950 Absent

CU1023 <1 7.4 625 13.1 .5 22.60 28.9 <.0005 .7530 Absent

CU2530 <1 7.7 440 13.7 .4 26.52 8.2 .069 .8130 Present

E1312 <1 7.1 1,210 17.1 .4 25.06 48.7 .008 .8060 Present

E1811 <1 7.4 543 12.0 .8 24.17 25.2 .014 .8450 Absent

E3393 <1 7.9 560 19.3 .2 12.33 4.3 24.8 .5600 Present

GS 479 <1 6.9 381 18.0 .5 22.77 34.1 <.0005 .7490 Absent

MO1452 <1 7.5 663 13.9 2.8 24.50 30.6 <.0005 .7790 Absent

NI1240 <1 7.1 2,450 12.0 .5 25.09 38.5 .058 .7570 Present

OL 19 <1 7.2 725 11.0 3.2 22.60 27.0 <.0005 .7480 Absent

OL 40 <1 7.3 1,670 11.6 .2 25.79 34.1 .033 .7760 Present

OL 52 <1 7.4 1,060 13.0 .3 28.13 27.0 .005 .7950 Absent

1

Prefix denotes county: AG, Allegany; CT, Cattaraugus; CU, Chautauqua; E, Erie; GS, Genesee; MO, Monroe; NI, Niagara; OL, Orleans; WO, Wyoming; 

number is local well-identification number assigned by the USGS.
Appendix 1. Data Tables 17

Table 1–4. Concentrations of major ions in groundwater samples from western New York, 2011. [Well locations are shown in figure 1. Bold values exceed one or more drinking-water standard. CaCO3, calcium carbonate; mg/L, milligrams per liter; no., number; (00900), U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System (NWIS) parameter code; <, less than]

Well no.1

Hardness, 

filtered, 

in mg/L 

as CaCO3

(00900)

Calcium, 

filtered, 

in mg/L 

(00915)

Magnesium, 

filtered,

in mg/L

(00925)

Potassium, 

filtered, 

in mg/L 

(00935)

Sodium, 

filtered, 

in mg/L 

(00930)

Acid-neutralizing 

capacity, unfiltered, 

in mg/L as CaCO3

(90410)

Alkalinity, filtered,

fixed endpoint,

laboratory, in mg/L as 

CaCO3

(29801)

Bicarbonate,2

filtered, in 

mg/L

(29805)

Chloride, 

filtered, 

in mg/L 

(00940)

Fluoride, 

filtered, 

in mg/L 

(00950)

Silica, 

filtered, in 

mg/L 

(00955)

Sulfate, 

filtered, in 

mg/L

(00945)

Dissolved 

solids, dried at 

180° Celsius, 

filtered, in mg/L 

(70300)

Sand and gravel wells

AG 265 117 34.0 7.75 1.84 37.3 90 84 102 72.0 .07 6.56 11.9 242CT 673 358 113 18.5 10.2 95.9 291 295 360 180 <.04 12.7 56.6 671CT 674 108 28.8 8.83 1.02 15.3 55 55 67 55.4 .09 13.2 7.07 163CT 675 131 44.1 4.98 1.08 9.04 116 114 139 14.9 .06 6.80 9.58 149CU 863 68.9 20.0 4.58 1.58 14.0 37 37 45 27.0 .04 10.3 20.7 157CU 865 162 54.2 6.40 1.68 23.3 133 139 170 41.1 .05 5.92 10.6 230CU1959 131 40.5 7.16 .69 2.15 102 102 124 7.80 <.04 8.29 15.4 141CU2131 281 89.5 14.0 2.41 48.5 253 245 299 93.2 .06 8.08 12.8 434E1903 408 116 29.0 1.43 18.3 242 238 290 46.9 <.04 12.8 127 520E1904 452 142 24.0 3.60 63.0 292 265 323 169 .07 9.39 79.0 714E1909 125 35.4 8.90 .64 6.72 118 123 150 4.85 .08 14.1 17.2 170GS 216 346 93.5 27.2 3.11 60.5 298 270 329 128 .10 8.88 24.1 536NI1221 171 19.1 30.0 3.98 84.5 209 210 256 26.9 .46 12.4 114 421WO 351 199 61.5 11.0 1.47 20.3 170 170 207 34.5 .08 7.59 16.5 267WO 353 209 55.6 17.0 .77 9.79 176 184 224 16.0 .10 15.6 23.4 251

Bedrock wells

AG 745 53.9 13.6 4.86 .93 3.64 42 39 48 9.58 .04 6.06 10.7 68CT1047 7.75 2.26 .51 .77 71.8 121 123 150 24.0 .36 7.79 11.1 206CT2104 132 38.9 8.54 1.78 36.8 194 194 237 16.6 .19 13.2 <.09 239CT2881 145 39.7 11.2 1.86 18.9 168 172 210 6.40 .16 13.9 11.7 203CU 864 112 32.6 7.39 3.69 144 208 209 255 177 .38 10.4 <.09 502CU1023 288 85.3 18.1 1.81 24.2 262 262 320 30.2 .21 19.4 30.0 369CU2530 215 68.4 10.8 .70 5.95 164 163 199 9.98 .10 13.5 53.2 251E1312 622 189 36.7 1.43 16.7 323 318 388 32.3 .21 12.6 307 874E1811 290 78.4 22.9 1.21 6.11 271 250 305 1.64 .10 13.4 30.6 308E3393 64.6 17.3 5.20 2.24 99.2 229 230 281 42.6 .43 9.88 1.77 312GS 479 173 55.6 8.40 .91 7.89 156 156 190 14.8 .12 7.58 12.9 213MO1452 371 98.1 30.6 1.80 9.29 300 316 386 5.21 .14 17.7 52.7 392NI1240 1,400 485 44.5 5.66 34.4 245 228 278 60.4 1.17 11.6 1,240 2,240OL 19 333 92.8 24.5 2.04 17.7 247 248 303 37.2 .12 12.1 60.1 434OL 40 717 179 65.6 2.02 71.8 234 235 287 173 1.16 16.9 416 1,120OL 52 404 75.0 52.6 13.5 61.5 297 296 361 80.3 .18 15.6 140 636

1Prefix denotes county: AG, Allegany; CT, Cattaraugus; CU, Chautauqua; E, Erie; GS, Genesee; MO, Monroe; NI, Niagara; OL, Orleans; WO, Wyoming; number is local well-identification number 

assigned by the USGS.

2Calculated from alkalinity.
18 Groundwater Quality in Western New York, 2011

Table 1–5. Concentrations of nutrients and total organic carbon in groundwater samples from western New York study, 2011.

[Well locations are shown in figure 1. mg/L, milligrams per liter; N, nitrogen; no., number; (00623), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Information System (NWIS) parameter code; P, phosphorus; <, less than]

Well no.1

Ammonia plus 

organic nitrogen, 

filtered, in mg/L 

as N

(00623)

Ammonia, 

filtered, in mg/L 

as N

(00608)

Nitrate plus 

nitrite, filtered, in 

mg/L as N

(00631)

Nitrite, filtered, in 

mg/L as N

(00613)

Orthophosphate, 

filtered, in mg/L 

as P

(00671)

Total organic 

carbon, unfiltered, in mg/L

(00680)

Sand and gravel wells

AG 265 <.05 <.010 1.96 <.001 .025 <.3

CT 673 .28 .158 <.04 .001 <.004 1.6

CT 674 .10 <.010 .23 <.001 .035 <.5

CT 675 <.07 <.010 .71 <.001 .009 <.5

CU 863 <.07 <.010 1.32 <.001 .007 <.5

CU 865 .07 <.010 1.57 <.001 <.004 <.5

CU1959 <.07 <.010 1.44 <.001 .014 <.5

CU2131 <.07 .011 1.30 <.001 <.004 <.5

E1903 .11 .050 <.02 <.001 .010 <.3

E1904 .23 .164 .03 <.001 <.004 1.3

E1909 .12 .085 <.02 <.001 .029 <.3

GS 216 .07 .011 .62 <.001 <.004 <.3

NI1221 .26 .251 <.02 <.001 .011 .7

WO 351 .08 <.010 1.3 <.001 .009 <.3

WO 353 .22 .148 <.04 <.001 .018 <.5

Bedrock wells

AG 745 <.05 <.010 .24 <.001 .014 <.3

CT1047 .25 .167 <.02 <.001 .031 .3

CT2104 .17 .154 <.02 <.001 .014 <.3

CT2881 .16 .103 <.02 <.001 .008 <.3

CU 864 1.2 1.01 <.04 <.001 .005 <.5

CU1023 .10 .049 .04 .005 .005 1.0

CU2530 .09 .039 <.04 <.001 <.004 <.5

E1312 .08 .017 <.02 <.001 .005 1.5

E1811 .17 .109 <.02 <.001 .004 1.1

E3393 .65 .658 <.02 <.001 .012 .3

GS 479 .15 .020 .67 .010 .004 1.9

MO1452 .12 <.010 2.74 <.001 .005 1.1

NI1240 .31 .272 .06 <.001 .006 1.0

OL 19 .07 <.010 1.76 <.001 .005 1.1

OL 40 .07 .052 .03 .001 .007 .8

OL 52 .25 .162 .09 .001 .013 1.5

1

Prefix denotes county: AG, Allegany; CT, Cattaraugus; CU, Chautauqua; E, Erie; GS, Genesee; MO, Monroe; NI, Niagara; OL, Orleans; WO, Wyoming; number is local well-identification number assigned by the USGS.
Appendix 1. Data Tables 19

Table 1–6. Concentrations of trace elements and radionuclides in groundwater samples from western New York, 2011.[Well locations are shown in figure 1. Bold values exceed one or more drinking-water standard. μg/L, micrograms per liter; no., number; pCi/L, picocuries per liter; (01105), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Information System (NWIS) parameter code; <, less than]

Well no.1

Aluminum, 

unfiltered, 

in μg/L 

(01105)

Antimony, 

unfiltered, 

in μg/L 

(01097)

Arsenic, 

unfiltered, 

in μg/L 

(01002)

Barium, 

unfiltered, 

in μg/L 

(01007)

 Beryllium 

unfiltered, 

in μg/L 

(01012)

Boron, 

filtered, 

in μg/L 

(01020)

Cadmium, 

unfiltered, 

in μg/L 

(01027)

Chromium, 

unfiltered, 

in μg/L 

(01034)

Cobalt, 

unfiltered, 

in μg/L 

(01037)

Copper, 

unfiltered, 

in μg/L 

(01042)

Iron, 

filtered, 

in μg/L 

(01046)

Iron, 

unfiltered, 

in μg/L 

(01045)

Lead, 

unfiltered, 

in μg/L 

(01051)

Lithium, 

unfiltered, 

in μg/L 

(01132)

Manganese, 

filtered, in 

μg/L (01056)

Sand and gravel wells

AG 265 <3 .2 2.2 127 <.02 29 <.05 <.21 <.02 2.1 87 94 .20 1.4 51.3CT 673 <4 <.2 1.4 158 <.02 87 <.02 <.30 .02 <.70 4,130 4,030 <.04 6.7 520CT 674 <4 <.2 .58 22.6 <.02 31 <.02 <.30 <.02 2.7 5 16 .08 3.2 .5CT 675 <4 <.2 .64 92.1 <.02 15 <.02 <.30 <.02 1.9 <3 11 .15 1.2 <.2CU 863 4 <.2 <.28 244 <.02 26 .06 <.30 <.02 75.4 7 43 1.03 2.5 5.2CU 865 <4 <.2 .30 175 <.02 19 <.02 <.30 <.02 <.70 8 11 .22 1.8 <.2CU1959 <4 <.2 .89 47.3 <.02 6.6 <.02 .33 <.02 1.8 <3 6 .22 2.5 <.2CU2131 <4 <.2 .48 108 <.02 31 .09 <.30 .04 <.70 11 7 .18 2.9 103E1903 4 .3 .65 43.0 <.02 50 <.05 .29 <.02 <.70 1,700 1,680 <.18 9.0 132E1904 <3 <.2 .43 211 <.02 69 <.05 <.21 .06 <.70 640 652 <.04 34.1 84.5E1909 <3 <.2 .24 225 <.02 33 <.05 <.21 <.02 <.70 10 16 .05 6.1 11.1GS 216 <3 <.2 .26 170 <.02 41 <.05 <.21 .02 1.7 6 <5 .06 8.2 .6NI1221 <3 <.2 14.1 23.7 <.02 473 <.05 <.21 <.02 3.0 27 32 <.04 52.4 25.9WO 351 <3 .2 2.9 99.1 <.02 28 <.05 .37 <.02 1.8 <3 7 .28 3.7 <.2WO 353 <4 <.2 <.28 266 <.02 63 <.02 <.30 <.02 <.70 433 427 <.04 7.2 14.7

Bedrock wells

AG 745 20 <.2 .26 40.1 <.02 6.3 <.05 <.21 .02 568 3 24 .48 2.7 .2CT1047 43 <.2 <.09 31.4 <.02 166 <.05 <.21 <.02 <.70 13 30 .04 24.5 4.8CT2104 4 .3 1.0 1,170 <.02 114 <.05 <.21 <.02 10.2 130 144 .20 22.6 124CT2881 3 <.2 .48 141 <.02 106 <.05 .23 <.02 <.70 381 597 .25 17.0 93.9CU 864 51 .4 <.28 1,240 <.02 348 <.02 <.30 .06 .85 825 3,870 2.25 143 54.3CU1023 <4 <.2 .79 237 <.02 79 <.02 <.30 <.02 2.4 4 231 .16 26.7 62.6CU2530 9 <.2 .36 343 <.02 9.8 <.02 <.30 <.02 5 507 576 .14 6.5 225E1312 4 <.2 1.6 22.9 <.02 78 <.05 <.21 .05 <.70 1,950 1,670 .08 11.0 26.4E1811 948 <.2 .55 414 .05 29 <.05 14.3 .97 38.9 484 8,030 2.1 21.8 104E3393 39 <.2 <.09 667 <.02 439 <.05 <.21 <.02 1.6 220 568 .13 71.7 15GS 479 5 <.2 .24 157 <.02 78 <.05 <.21 .04 3.8 <3 30 .27 10.0 2.6MO1452 <4 <.2 .84 66.5 <.02 42 <.02 <.30 .03 3.2 14 29 .75 15.5 1.2NI1240 <3 <.2 .80 22.7 <.02 209 <.05 <.21 .02 <.70 25 23 .04 10.8 17.4OL 19 3 <.2 .69 118 <.02 29 <.05 <.21 .03 3.7 71 288 .96 9.40 10.1OL 40 <3 <.2 .65 36.4 <.02 34 .10 <.21 1.0 2.2 194 224 1.22 10.4 29.0OL 52 9 <.2 7.7 41 <.02 257 <.05 <.21 .06 3.7 146 173 .45 56.7 76.7
20 Groundwater Quality in Western New York, 2011 Table 1–6. Concentrations of trace elements and radionuclides in groundwater samples from western New York, 2011. [Well locations are shown in figure 1. Bold values exceed one or more drinking-water standard. μg/L, micrograms per liter; no., number; pCi/L, picocuries per liter; (01105), U.S. Geological Sur- vey (USGS) National Water Information System (NWIS) parameter code; <, less than] Well no.1 Manganese, unfiltered, in μg/L (01055) Molybdenum, unfiltered, in μg/L (01062) Nickel, unfiltered, in μg/L (01067) Selenium, unfiltered, in μg/L (01147) Silver, unfiltered, in μg/L (01077) Strontium, unfiltered, in μg/L (01082) Thallium, unfiltered, in μg/L (01059) Zinc, un- filtered, in μg/L (01092) Gross alpha radioactivity, in pCi/L (01519) Gross beta radioactivity, in pCi/L (85817) Radon-222, unfiltered, in pCi/L (82303) Uranium, unfiltered, in μg/L (28011) Sand and gravel wells AG 265 55.3 .1 .12 .07 <.01 85.6 <.06 <2.4 <1.0 .9 1,100 <.014 CT 673 531 1.0 1.9 <.05 <.01 254 <.06 9.0 1.9 9.8 139 .892 CT 674 .5 <.1 <.19 .09 <.01 178 <.06 <3.0 <.64 1.7 1,880 <.014 CT 675 <.2 <.1 <.19 .06 <.01 67.9 <.06 <3.0 <.71 <.63 650 .056 CU 863 8.4 .1 1.1 .25 <.01 72.9 <.06 29.2 .6 1.4 470 <.014 CU 865 .6 <.1 <.19 .10 <.01 87.7 <.06 <3.0 <.98 1.2 670 .031 CU1959 .3 .1 <.19 .07 <.01 55.0 <.06 <3.0 1.0 .6 690 .222 CU2131 103 .1 <.19 .17 <.01 157 <.06 28.6 <.9 1.9 730 .262 E1903 129 1.8 .19 <.05 <.01 245 <.30 19.3 1.4 2.0 168 .077 E1904 98.2 2.9 1.1 .23 <.01 718 <.06 11.8 <1.4 2.7 133 .456

E1909 10.8 .5 <.12 <.05 <.01 158 <.06 16.4 <.57 1.4 198 <.014GS 216 .8 1.7 .32 .47 <.01 358 <.06 4.6 <1.1 3.1 510 .700NI1221 29.6 18.2 <.12 .06 <.01 1,680 <.06 <2.4 1.5 2.6 245 1.04WO 351 .3 .4 <.12 .09 <.01 119 <.06 <2.4 <1.2 1.6 710 .177WO 353 14.9 .5 <.19 <.05 <.01 540 <.06 <3.0 <.8 .7 113 <.014

Bedrock wells

AG 745 .6 <.1 .23 <.05 <.01 50.3 <.06 7.3 <.5 <.65 440 .089CT1047 5.2 <.1 .23 .56 <.01 24.7 <.06 <2.4 <.8 1.0 213 <.014CT2104 135 .1 <.12 <.05 <.01 246 <.06 <2.4 2.7 2.4 1,070 <.014CT2881 92.8 .4 <.12 <.05 <.01 318 <.06 <2.4 1.1 2.1 111 <.014CU 864 66.4 2.1 .28 <.05 <.01 705 <.06 21.8 2.4 4.3 205 <.014CU1023 75.9 .2 .27 <.05 <.01 227 <.06 <3.0 <1.1 1.8 300 <.014CU2530 218 .7 <.19 <.05 <.01 103 <.06 10.3 .9 1.2 129 .033E1312 26 .5 .29 <.05 .02 19,900 <.06 28.2 <1.3 1.7 320 .084E1811 154 2.5 10.1 .17 <.01 315 <.06 7.9 3.8 3.5 132 .048E3393 16.1 .8 <.12 <.05 <.01 281 <.06 <2.4 1.5 2.3 280 <.014GS 479 10.7 .1 .33 .05 <.01 232 <.06 <2.4 1.3 <1.4 780 .172MO1452 1.5 1.3 .22 .13 <.01 291 <.06 5.2 <.86 1.6 1,000 1.58NI1240 20.4 .1 .46 .88 <.01 3,650 <.06 4.7 <4.3 4.8 56 .189OL 19 12.2 .5 .56 .11 <.01 189 <.06 6.9 <1.1 1.8 600 1.29OL 40 34.5 1.3 2.2 <.05 .02 1,650 .11 215 1.8 2.2 270 .655OL 52 84.5 7.8 .16 <.05 <.01 2,420 <.06 3.3 <1.5 15.0 1,310 3.31

1Prefix denotes county: AG, Allegany; CT, Cattaraugus; CU, Chautauqua; E, Erie; GS, Genesee; MO, Monroe; NI, Niagara; OL, Orleans; WO, Wyoming; number is local well-identification 

number assigned by the USGS.
Appendix 1. Data Tables 21

Table 1–7. Concentrations of pesticides detected in groundwater samples from western New York study, 2011.

[Well locations are shown in figure 1. Bold values indicate detected concentration. CIAT, deethylatrazine; e, estimated value (constituent was detected in the 

sample but with low or inconsistent recovery); M, presence verified but not quantified; μg/L, micrograms per liter; (04040), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 

National Water Information System (NWIS) parameter code; <, less than]

Well no.1

CIAT, 

filtered, in 

μg/L (04040)

Atrazine, 

filtered, in 

μg/L (39632)

Butylate, 

filtered, in 

μg/L (04028)

Cyanazine, 

filtered, in 

μg/L (04041)

Metolachlor, 

filtered, in 

μg/L (39415)

Prometon, 

filtered, in 

μg/L (04037)

Simazine, 

filtered, in 

μg/L (04035)

Tebuthiuron 

filtered, in 

μg/L (82670)

Terbacil 

filtered, in 

μg/L (82665)

Sand and gravel wells

AG 265 M <.008 <.004 <.022 <.020 <.012 <.006 <.03 <.024

CT 673 <.006 <.008 <.004 <.022 <.020 <.012 <.006 <.03 <.024

CT 674 <.006 <.008 <.004 <.022 <.020 <.012 <.006 <.03 <.024

CT 675 e.007 e.003 <.004 <.022 <.020 e.001 <.006 <.03 <.024

CU 863 <.006 <.008 <.004 <.022 <.020 <.012 M <.03 <.024

CU 865 e.003 .007 <.004 <.022 <.020 <.012 .001 <.03 <.024

CU1959 e.015 e.004 <.004 <.022 <.020 <.012 <.006 <.03 <.024

CU2131 e.001 e.002 <.004 <.022 <.020 e.001 <.006 <.03 <.024

E1903 <.006 <.008 <.004 <.022 <.020 <.012 <.006 <.03 <.024

E1904 <.006 <.008 <.004 <.022 <.020 <.012 <.006 <.03 <.024

E1909 <.006 <.008 <.004 <.022 <.020 <.012 <.006 <.03 <.024

GS 216 e.005 <.008 <.004 <.022 <.020 <.012 <.006 .01 <.024

NI1221 <.006 <.008 <.004 <.022 <.020 <.012 <.006 <.03 <.024

WO 351 e.004 <.008 <.004 <.022 <.020 <.012 <.006 <.03 <.024

WO 353 <.006 <.008 <.004 <.022 <.020 <.012 <.006 <.03 <.024

Bedrock wells

AG 745 M <.008 <.004 <.022 <.020 <.012 <.006 <.03 <.024

CT1047 <.006 <.008 <.004 <.022 <.020 <.012 <.006 <.03 <.024

CT2104 <.006 <.008 <.004 <.022 <.020 <.012 <.006 <.03 <.024

CT2881 <.006 <.008 <.004 <.022 <.020 <.012 <.006 <.03 <.024

CU 864 <.006 <.008 <.004 <.022 <.020 <.012 <.006 <.03 <.024

CU1023 <.006 <.008 <.004 <.022 <.020 <.012 <.006 <.03 <.024

CU2530 <.006 <.008 <.004 <.022 <.020 <.012 <.006 <.03 <.024

E1312 <.006 <.008 <.004 <.022 <.020 <.012 <.006 <.03 <.024

E1811 <.006 <.008 <.004 <.022 <.020 <.012 <.006 <.03 <.024

E3393 <.006 <.008 <.004 <.022 <.020 <.012 <.006 <.03 <.024

GS 479 <.006 <.008 <.004 <.022 <.020 <.012 <.006 <.03 <.024

MO1452 e.003 <.008 <.004 <.022 <.020 <.012 <.006 <.03 <.024

NI1240 <.006 <.008 <.004 <.022 <.020 <.012 <.006 <.03 <.024

OL 19 e.015 .032 .003 .012 .004 .004 <.006 <.03 e.006

OL 40 <.006 <.008 <.004 <.022 <.020 <.012 <.006 <.03 <.024

OL 52 <.006 <.008 <.004 <.022 <.020 .001 <.006 <.03 <.024

1

Prefix denotes county: AG, Allegany; CT, Cattaraugus; CU, Chautauqua; E, Erie; GS, Genesee; MO, Monroe; NI, Niagara; OL, Orleans; WO, Wyoming; 

number is local well-identification number assigned by the USGS.
22 Groundwater Quality in Western New York, 2011 Table 1–8. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds in groundwater samples from western New York study, 2011. [Well locations are shown in figure 1. Bold values exceed one or more drinking-water standard. μg/L, micrograms per liter; no., number; (34506), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Information System parameter code; <, less than] Well no.1 1,1,1- Trichlo- roethane, unfiltered, in μg/L (34506) 1,2- Dichlo- roethane, unfiltered, in μg/L (32103) Benzene unfiltered, in μg/L (34030) Bromodichlo- romethane, unfiltered, in μg/L (32101) Tribromo- methane, unfiltered, in μg/L (32104) Trichloro- methane, unfiltered, in μg/L (32106) Dibro- mochloro- methane, unfiltered, in μg/L (32105) Ethyl- benzene unfiltered, in μg/L (34371) m- + p-Xylene, unfiltered, in μg/L (85795) Methyl tert- butyl ether, unfiltered, in μg/L (78032) Tetrachlo- roethene, unfiltered, in μg/L (34475) Toluene, unfiltered, in μg/L (34010) Trichlo- roethene, unfiltered, in μg/L (39180) Sand and gravel wells AG 265 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.1 CT 673 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.1 CT 674 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.1 CT 675 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.1 CU 863 <.1 <.2 <.1 2.7 2.0 1.7 4.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.1 CU 865 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.1 CU1959 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.1 CU2131 .1 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.1 E1903 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.1

E1904 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 .9 <.1 <.1 <.1E1909 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.1GS 216 .4 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.2 .1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 .5 <.1 .2NI1221 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.1WO 351 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.1WO 353 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.1

Bedrock wells

AG 745 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.1CT1047 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.2 .9 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.1CT2104 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.1CT2881 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 <.1 .3 <.1CU 864 <.1 <.2 1.6 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 <.1 .1 <.1CU1023 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.1CU2530 <.1 <.2 .1 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.1E1312 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.1E1811 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.1E3393 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 <.1 .2 <.1GS 479 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.1MO1452 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.1NI1240 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.1OL 19 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 <.1 .1 <.1OL 40 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.2 <.1 <.1 <.1OL 52 <.1 .5 56.1 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 .4 .5 .2 <.1 <.1 <.1

1Prefix denotes county: AG, Allegany; CT, Cattaraugus; CU, Chautauqua; E, Erie; GS, Genesee; MO, Monroe; NI, Niagara; OL, Orleans; WO, Wyoming; number is local well-identification number 

assigned by the USGS.
Appendix 1. Data Tables 23

Table 1–9. Concentrations of bacteria in unfiltered groundwater samples from western New York, 2011.

[Well locations are shown in figure 1. Bold values indicate detections of coliform bacteria. CFU/mL, colony-forming unit per milliliter; mL, milliliter; 

M, present; no., number; U, absent; (99595), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Information System (NWIS) parameter code; —, not 

applicable; <, less than]

Well no.1

Total coliform, 

Colilert, presence/absence 

(99595)

Total coliform, 

membrane filtration, in colonies 

per 100 mL (61213)

Fecal coliform, in 

colonies per 100 

mL (61215)

Escherichia coli, 

Colilert, presence/absence 

(99596)

Escherichia coli, 

in colonies per 

100 mL (31691)

Heterotrophic 

plate count, in 

CFU/mL (31692)

Sand and gravel wells

AG 265 M — <1 U — 13

CT 673 — <1 <1 — <1 4

CT 674 — <1 <1 — <1 4

CT 675 — <1 <1 — <1 2

CU 863 — <1 <1 — <1 2

CU 865 — <1 <1 — <1 3

CU1959 — 21 <1 — <1 39

CU2131 — <1 <1 — <1 <1

E1903 — <1 <1 — <1 2

E1904 U — <1 U — 2

E1909 — <1 <1 — <1 8

GS 216 U — <1 U — 2

NI1221 U — <1 U — 56

WO 351 — 21 <1 — <1 31

WO 353 — <1 <1 — <1 2

Bedrock wells

AG 745 U — <1 U — 1

CT1047 M — <1 U — 9

CT2104 M — <1 U — 6

CT2881 — <1 <1 — <1 40

CU 864 — <1 <1 — <1 2

CU1023 — <1 <1 — <1 1

CU2530 — <1 <1 — <1 24

E1312 M — <1 U — 12

E1811 M — <1 U — 212

E3393 U — <1 U — 2

GS 479 U — <1 U — 3

MO1452 — 25 <1 — <1 41

NI1240 U — <1 U — <1

OL 19 U — <1 U — 5

OL 40 U — <1 U — 4

OL 52 M — <1 U — 28

1

Prefix denotes county: AG, Allegany; CT, Cattaraugus; CU, Chautauqua; E, Erie; GS, Genesee; MO, Monroe; NI, Niagara; OL, Orleans; WO, Wyoming; number is local well-identification number assigned by the USGS.
24 Groundwater Quality in Western New York, 2011 Table 1–10. Physiochemical properties of and concentrations of major ions, nutrients and total organic carbon, and bacteria in groundwater samples collected in western New York, 2006 and 2011. [Well locations are shown in figure 1. Bold values exceed one or more drinking-water standard. CaCO3, calcium carbonate; CFU, colony forming unit; e, estimated value—constituent was detected in the sample but with low or inconsistent recovery; M, present; mg/L, milligrams per liter; mL, milliliter; μS/cm @ 25 °C, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius; N, nitrogen; NWIS, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Information System; P, phosphorus; U, absent; °C, degrees Celsius; --, not applicable; <, less than] NWIS parameter code Constituent AG 2651 E19031 E19041 GS 2161 OL 191 WO 3511 2006 2011 2006 2011 2006 2011 2006 2011 2006 2011 2006 2011 00080 Color, filtered, platinum-cobalt units 5 <1 5 <1 2 <1 2 <1 2 <1 2 <1 00300 Dissolved oxygen, unfiltered, mg/L 3.0 3.2 .4 .4 .5 .6 2.1 3.5 1.0 3.2 2.6 3.4 00400 pH, unfiltered 6.4 6.7 7.3 7.4 7.0 7.2 7.2 7.3 7.1 7.2 7.5 7.8 00095 Specific conductance, unfiltered, μS/cm @ 25 °C 495 454 830 841 1,040 1,190 1,100 974 765 725 465 486 00010 Temperature, unfiltered, degrees Celsius 12.7 10.3 11.3 11.3 13.6 12.3 12.6 12.3 12.3 11.0 12.1 12.1 00900 Hardness, filtered, mg/L as CaCO3 140 117 420 408 480 452 400 346 380 333 200 199 00915 Calcium, filtered, mg/L 41.8 34.0 122 116 150 142 110 93.5 108 92.8 63.1 61.5 00925 Magnesium, filtered, mg/L 8.21 7.75 28.7 29.0 25.4 24.0 29.6 27.2 25.6 24.5 10.9 11.0 00935 Potassium, filtered, mg/L 1.91 1.84 1.30 1.43 3.28 3.60 3.99 3.11 2.34 2.04 1.55 1.47 00930 Sodium, filtered, mg/L 38.6 37.3 16.0 18.3 33.6 63.0 74.4 60.5 17.7 17.7 18.2 20.3 90410 Acid neutralizing capacity, unfiltered, fixed end 

point, lab, mg/L as CaCO3

89 90 259 242 299 292 319 298 285 247 176 170

29801 Alkalinity, filtered, fixed end point,

laboratory, mg/L as CaCO3

89 84 259 238 299 265 318 270 284 248 176 170

29805 Bicarbonate, filtered, fixed endpoint,

laboratory, mg/L

109 102 316 290 365 323 388 329 346 303 215 207

00940 Chloride, filtered, mg/L 88.0 72.0 37.9 46.9 79.9 169 140 128 41.5 37.2 29.9 34.500950 Fluoride, filtered, mg/L e.08 .07 <.10 <.04 .10 .07 .14 .10 .11 .12 e.09 .0800955 Silica, filtered, mg/L 6.31 6.56 11.8 12.8 9.67 9.39 8.96 8.88 11.8 12.1 6.75 7.5900945 Sulfate, filtered, mg/L 12.9 11.9 136 127 135 79.0 43.6 24.1 63.3 60.1 17.7 16.570300 Dissolved solids, dried at 180 °C,

filtered, mg/L

272 242 534 520 629 714 612 536 462 434 258 267

00623 Ammonia plus organic-N, filtered,

mg/L as N

e.06 <.05 e.10 .11 .23 .23 e.06 .07 e.09 .07 <.10 .08

00608 Ammonia, filtered, mg/L as N <.020 <.010 .055 .050 .154 .164 e.013 .011 e.016 <.010 <.020 <.01000631 Nitrate plus nitrite, filtered, mg/L as N 2.40 1.96 <.06 <.02 <.06 .03 .72 .62 2.33 1.76 1.38 1.300613 Nitrite, filtered, mg/L as N <.002 <.001 <.002 <.001 <.002 <.001 <.002 <.001 <.002 <.001 <.002 <.00100671 Orthophosphate, filtered, mg/L as P .012 .025 .006 .010 e.005 <.004 e.003 <.004 .006 .005 .006 .00900680 Total organic carbon, unfiltered, mg/L <1.0 <.3 <1.0 <.3 1.0 1.3 <1.0 <.3 1.2 1.1 <1.0 <.331691 Escherichia coli, unfiltered, CFU per 100 mL <1 -- <1 <1 <1 -- <1 -- <1 -- <1 <199596 Escherichia coli, Colilert, unfiltered,

presence/absence

--

U -- -- --

U --

U --

U -- --

61215 Fecal coliform, unfiltered, CFU per 100 mL <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <131692 Heterotrophic plate count, unfiltered, CFU per 

mL

<2 13 17 2 19 2 2 2 3 5 10 31

61213 Total coliform, unfiltered, CFU per 100 mL <1 -- <1 <1 <1 -- <1 -- <1 -- <1 2199595 Total coliform, Colilert, unfiltered, presence/

absence

--

M -- -- --

U --

U --

U -- --

1Prefix denotes county: AG, Allegany; E, Erie; GS, Genesee; OL, Orleans; WO, Wyoming; number is local well-identification number assigned by the USGS.
Appendix 1. Data Tables 25

Table 1–11. Concentrations of trace elements and radionuclides in groundwater samples collected in western New York, 2006 and 2011.[Well locations are shown in figure 1. All concentrations in micrograms per liter except as noted. Bold values exceed one or more drinking-water standard. NWIS, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Information System; e, estimated value—constituent was detected in the sample but with low or inconsistent recovery; pCi/L, picocuries per liter; <, less than]

NWIS 

parameter 

code

Constituent

AG 2651 E19031 E19041 GS 2161 OL 191 WO 3511

2006 2011 2006 2011 2006 2011 2006 2011 2006 2011 2006 2011

01105 Aluminum, unfiltered <2 <3 e2 4 <2 <3 <2 <3 <2 3 e1 <3

01097 Antimony, unfiltered e.1 .2 <0.2 .3 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 .201002 Arsenic, unfiltered 2.2 2.2 .24 .65 .41 .43 1.3 .26 2.2 .69 3.2 2.901007 Barium, unfiltered 124 127 48.1 43.0 153 211 178 170 119 118 93.2 99.101012 Beryllium, unfiltered <.06 <.02 <.06 <.02 <.06 <.02 <.06 <.02 <.06 <.02 <.06 <.0201020 Boron, filtered 32 29 52 50 71 69 55 41 35 29 26 2801027 Cadmium, unfiltered .02 <.05 <.02 <.05 e.01 <.05 e.01 <.05 <.02 <.05 <.02 <.0501034 Chromium, unfiltered <.60 <.21 <.60 .29 <.60 <.21 e.40 <.21 e.38 <.21 <.60 .3701037 Cobalt, unfiltered .121 <.02 .245 <.02 .369 .06 .226 .02 .227 .03 .118 <.0201042 Copper, unfiltered 31.4 2.1 1.5 <.70 e1.0 <.70 1.9 1.7 6.6 3.7 2.2 1.801046 Iron, filtered 28 87 1,630 1,700 888 640 <6 6 304 71 e3 <301045 Iron, unfiltered 187 94 1,540 1,680 806 652 e4 <5 316 288 27 701051 Lead, unfiltered 1.64 .20 e.04 <.18 <.06 <.04 .07 .06 .12 .96 .33 .28

01132 Lithium, unfiltered 1.2 1.4 8.5 9.0 28.5 34.1 10.2 8.2 7.4 9.40 2.9 3.7

01056 Manganese, filtered 57.5 51.3 136 132 107 84.5 e.5 .6 28.0 10.1 <.6 <.201055 Manganese, unfiltered 67.1 55.3 133 129 107 98.2 e.4 .8 27.7 12.2 <.6 .301062 Molybdenum, unfiltered .1 .1 1.9 1.8 2.6 2.9 1.6 1.7 .4 .5 .4 .401067 Nickel, unfiltered 1.16 .12 .86 .19 2.52 1.1 .87 .32 .66 .56 .31 <.12

01147 Selenium, unfiltered e.07 .07 <.08 <.05 .54 .23 .8 .47 .27 .11 .23 .09

01077 Silver, unfiltered .06 <.01 <.02 <.01 <.02 <.01 <.02 <.01 <.02 <.01 <.02 <.0101082 Strontium, unfiltered 94.1 85.6 237 245 631 718 364 358 189 189 111 11901059 Thallium, unfiltered <.18 <.06 <.18 <.30 <.18 <.06 <.18 <.06 <.18 <.06 <.18 <.0601092 Zinc, unfiltered 196 <2.4 39 19.3 16 11.8 7 4.6 6 6.9 3 <2.482303 Radon-222, unfiltered, 

pCi/L

1,200 1,100 190 168 170 133 470 510 540 600 680 710

28011 Uranium, unfiltered .017 <.014 .074 .077 .473 .456 .837 .700 .72 1.29 .17 .177

1Prefix denotes county: AG, Allegany; E, Erie; GS, Genesee; OL, Orleans; WO, Wyoming; number is local well-identification number assigned by the USGS.
26 Groundwater Quality in Western New York, 2011 Table 1–12. Concentrations of pesticides in groundwater samples collected in western New York, 2006 and 2011. [Well locations are shown in figure 1. All concentrations in micrograms per liter in filtered water. Bold values indicate detected concentration. e, estimated value—constituent was detected in the sample but with low or inconsistent recovery; M, presence verified but not quantified; NWIS, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Information System; <, less than] NWIS AG 2651 E19031 E19041 GS 2161 OL 191 WO 3511 parameter Constituent 2006 2011 2006 2011 2006 2011 2006 2011 2006 2011 2006 2011 code 82660 2,6-Diethylaniline <.006 <.006 <.006 <.006 <.006 <.006 <.006 <.006 <.006 <.006 <.006 <.006 04040 2-Chloro-4-isopropylamino- <.014 M <.014 <.006 <.014 <.006 e.005 e.005 e.019 e.015 e.005 e.004 6-amino-s-triazine (CIAT) 49260 Acetochlor <.006 <.010 <.006 <.010 <.006 <.010 <.006 <.010 <.006 <.010 <.006 <.010 46342 Alachlor <.005 <.008 <.005 <.008 <.005 <.008 <.005 <.008 <.005 <.008 <.005 <.008 34253 alpha-HCH <.005 <.004 <.005 <.004 <.005 <.004 <.005 <.004 <.005 <.004 <.005 <.004 39632 Atrazine <.007 <.008 <.007 <.008 <.007 <.008 <.007 <.008 .026 .032 <.007 <.008 82686 Azinphos-methyl <.050 <.120 <.050 <.120 <.050 <.120 <.050 <.120 <.050 <.120 <.050 <.120 82673 Benfluralin <.006 <.014 <.006 <.014 <.006 <.014 <.006 <.014 <.006 <.014 <.006 <.014 04028 Butylate <.004 <.004 <.004 <.004 <.004 <.004 <.004 <.004 <.004 .003 <.004 <.004 82680 Carbaryl <.041 <.060 <.041 <.060 <.041 <.060 <.041 <.060 <.041 <.060 <.041 <.060

82674 Carbofuran <.020 <.060 <.020 <.060 <.020 <.060 <.020 <.060 <.020 <.060 <.020 <.060

38933 Chlorpyrifos <.005 <.004 <.005 <.004 <.005 <.004 <.005 <.004 <.005 <.004 <.005 <.004

82687 cis-Permethrin <.006 <.010 <.006 <.010 <.006 <.010 <.006 <.010 <.006 <.010 <.006 <.010

04041 Cyanazine <.018 <.022 <.018 <.022 <.018 <.022 <.018 <.022 <.018 .012 <.018 <.022

82682 DCPA <.003 <.008 <.003 <.008 <.003 <.008 <.003 <.008 <.003 <.008 <.003 <.008

62170 Desulfinylfipronil <.012 <.012 <.012 <.012 <.012 <.012 <.012 <.012 <.012 <.012 <.012 <.012

39572 Diazinon <.005 <.006 <.005 <.006 <.005 <.006 <.005 <.006 <.005 <.006 <.005 <.006

39381 Dieldrin <.009 <.008 <.009 <.008 <.009 <.008 <.009 <.008 <.009 <.008 <.009 <.008

82677 Disulfoton <.02 <.04 <.02 <.04 <.02 <.04 <.02 <.04 <.02 <.04 <.02 <.04

82668 EPTC <.004 <.006 <.004 <.006 <.004 <.006 <.004 <.006 <.004 <.006 <.004 <.006

82663 Ethalfluralin <.009 <.006 <.009 <.006 <.009 <.006 <.009 <.006 <.009 <.006 <.009 <.006

82672 Ethoprop <.005 <.016 <.005 <.016 <.005 <.016 <.005 <.016 <.005 <.016 <.005 <.016

62169 Desulfinylfipronil amide <.029 <.029 <.029 <.029 <.029 <.029 <.029 <.029 <.029 <.029 <.029 <.029

62167 Fipronil sulfide <.013 <.012 <.013 <.012 <.013 <.012 <.013 <.012 <.013 <.012 <.013 <.012

62168 Fipronil sulfone <.024 <.024 <.024 <.024 <.024 <.024 <.024 <.024 <.024 <.024 <.024 <.024

62166 Fipronil <.016 <.018 <.016 <.018 <.016 <.018 <.016 <.018 <.016 <.018 <.016 <.018

04095 Fonofos <.003 <.005 <.003 <.005 <.003 <.005 <.003 <.005 <.003 <.005 <.003 <.005

39341 Lindane <.004 <.004 <.004 <.004 <.004 <.004 <.004 <.004 <.004 <.004 <.004 <.004

82666 Linuron <.060 <.060 <.060 <.060 <.060 <.060 <.060 <.060 <.060 <.060 <.060 <.060

39532 Malathion <.016 <.016 <.016 <.016 <.016 <.016 <.016 <.016 <.016 <.016 <.016 <.016

82667 Methyl parathion <.015 <.008 <.015 <.008 <.015 <.008 <.015 <.008 <.015 <.008 <.015 <.008

39415 Metolachlor <.010 <.020 <.010 <.020 <.010 <.020 <.010 <.020 e.002 .004 <.010 <.020

82630 Metribuzin <.006 <.012 <.006 <.012 <.006 <.012 <.006 <.012 <.006 <.012 <.006 <.012

82671 Molinate <.003 <.004 <.003 <.004 <.003 <.004 <.003 <.004 <.003 <.004 <.003 <.004
Appendix 1. Data Tables 27

Table 1–12. Concentrations of pesticides in groundwater samples collected in western New York, 2006 and 2011.—Continued[Well locations are shown in figure 1. All concentrations in micrograms per liter in filtered water. Bold values indicate detected concentration. e, estimated value—constituent was detected in the sample but with low or inconsistent recovery; M, presence verified but not quantified; NWIS, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Information System; <, less than]

NWIS AG 2651 E19031 E19041 GS 2161 OL 191 WO 3511

parameter Constituent 2006 2011 2006 2011 2006 2011 2006 2011 2006 2011 2006 2011 code

82684 Napropamide <.007 <.008 <.007 <.008 <.007 <.008 <.007 <.008 <.007 <.008 <.007 <.008

34653 p,p’-DDE <.003 <.002 <.003 <.002 <.003 <.002 <.003 <.002 <.003 <.002 <.003 <.00239542 Parathion <.010 <.020 <.010 <.020 <.010 <.020 <.010 <.020 <.010 <.020 <.010 <.02082669 Pebulate <.004 <.016 <.004 <.016 <.004 <.016 <.004 <.016 <.004 <.016 <.004 <.01682683 Pendimethalin <.022 <.012 <.022 <.012 <.022 <.012 <.022 <.012 <.022 <.012 <.022 <.01282664 Phorate <.011 <.020 <.011 <.020 <.011 <.020 <.011 <.020 <.011 <.020 <.011 <.02004037 Prometon <.01 <.012 <.01 <.012 <.01 <.012 <.01 <.012 <.01 .004 <.01 <.01282676 Propyzamide <.004 <.004 <.004 <.004 <.004 <.004 <.004 <.004 <.004 <.004 <.004 <.00404024 Propachlor <.010 <.006 <.010 <.006 <.010 <.006 <.010 <.006 <.010 <.006 <.010 <.00682679 Propanil <.011 <.010 <.011 <.010 <.011 <.010 <.011 <.010 <.011 <.010 <.011 <.01082685 Propargite <.02 <.02 <.02 <.02 <.02 <.02 <.02 <.02 <.02 <.02 <.02 <.0204035 Simazine <.006 <.006 <.006 <.006 <.006 <.006 <.006 <.006 <.006 <.006 <.006 <.00682670 Tebuthiuron <.02 <.03 <.02 <.03 <.02 <.03 <.02 .01 <.02 <.03 <.02 <.0382665 Terbacil <.034 <.024 <.034 <.024 <.034 <.024 <.034 <.024 <.034 e.006 <.034 <.02482675 Terbufos <.02 <.02 <.02 <.02 <.02 <.02 <.02 <.02 <.02 <.02 <.02 <.0282681 Thiobencarb <.010 <.016 <.010 <.016 <.010 <.016 <.010 <.016 <.010 <.016 <.010 <.01682678 Triallate <.006 <.005 <.006 <.005 <.006 <.005 <.006 <.005 <.006 <.005 <.006 <.00582661 Trifluralin <.009 <.018 <.009 <.018 <.009 <.018 <.009 <.018 <.009 <.018 <.009 <.018

1Prefix denotes county: AG, Allegany; E, Erie; GS, Genesee; OL, Orleans; WO, Wyoming; number is local well-identification number assigned by the USGS.
28 Groundwater Quality in Western New York, 2011

Table 1–13. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds in groundwater samples collected in western New York, 2006 and 2011.

[Well locations are shown in figure 1. All concentrations in micrograms per liter in unfiltered water. Bold values indicate detected concentration. e, estimated 

value—constituent was detected in the sample but with low or inconsistent recovery; NWIS, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Information 

System; <, less than]

NWIS 

parameter 

code

Constituent

AG 2651 E19031 E19041 GS 2161 OL 191 WO 3511

2006 2011 2006 2011 2006 2011 2006 2011 2006 2011 2006 2011

34506 1,1,1-Trichloroethane <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 .6 .4 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

77652 1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC–113)<.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

34496 1,1-Dichloroethane <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 .1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

34501 1,1-Dichloroethene <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

34536 1,2-Dichlorobenzene <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

32103 1,2-Dichloroethane <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2

34541 1,2-Dichloropropane <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

34566 1,3-Dichlorobenzene <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

34571 1,4-Dichlorobenzene <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

34030 Benzene <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

32101 Bromodichloromethane <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

32104 Tribromomethane <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2

34301 Chlorobenzene <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

77093 cis-1,2-Dichloroethene <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1

32105 Dibromochloromethane e.1 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2

34668 Dichlorodifluoromethane <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2

34423 Dichloromethane <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2

81576 Diethyl ether <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2

81577 Diisopropyl ether <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2

34371 Ethylbenzene <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

50005 Methyl tert-pentyl ether <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2

85795 m- + p-Xylene <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2

77135 o-Xylene <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

77128 Styrene <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

50004 tert-Butyl ethyl ether <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1

78032 Methyl tert-butyl ether 

(MTBE)

<.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 1.3 .9 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2

34475 Tetrachloroethene .2 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 .4 .5 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

32102 Tetrachloromethane <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2

34010 Toluene <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 .1 <.1 <.1

34546 trans-1,2-Dichloroethene <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

39180 Trichloroethene <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 .3 .2 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

34488 Trichlorofluoromethane 

(CFC–11)

<.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2 <.1 <.2

32106 Trichloromethane <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 .3 .1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

39175 Vinyl chloride <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2

1

Prefix denotes county: AG, Allegany; E, Erie; GS, Genesee; OL, Orleans; WO, Wyoming; number is local well-identification number assigned bythe 

USGS.
Prepared by the Pembroke Publishing Service Center

For additional information write to:

New York Water Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey

30 Brown Rd.

Ithaca, NY 14850

Information requests:

(518) 285-5602

or visit our Web site at:

http://ny.water.usgs.gov
Reddy—Groundwater Quality in Western New York, 2011—Open-File Report 2013–1095