Prepared in cooperation with the

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection 

Occurrence of Radium-224, Radium-226, 

and Radium-228 in Water of the Unconfined 

Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer System, 

Southern New Jersey

Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5224

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
Occurrence of Radium-224, Radium-226, 

and Radium-228 in Water of the Unconfined 

Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer System, 

Southern New Jersey 

By Zoltan Szabo, Vincent T. dePaul, Thomas F. Kraemer, and Bahman Parsa 

In cooperation with the 

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection 

Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5224 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

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

Gale A. Norton, Secretary 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Charles G. Groat, Director 

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2005 

For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services


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reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report.

 iii 

Contents 

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


Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2


Purpose and Scope. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5


Study Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5


Hydrogeologic Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5


Land Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7


Previous Investigations of Radionuclide Occurrence in the Aquifer System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8


Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8


Design of Sampling Network and Sampling Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8


Quality-Assurance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11


Analytical Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11


Radium-224 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12


Radium-226, Radium-228, and Ancillary Constituents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12


Reporting of Radionuclide Concentrations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13


Land-Use Classification and Statistical Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13


Occurrence of Radium-224, Other Radionuclides, and Gross Alpha-Particle Activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15


Radium-224 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16


Radium-226 and Radium-228 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16


Gross Alpha-Particle Activity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16


Quality-Assurance Results. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19


Factors Affecting Distribution of Radium-224 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20


Other Radioactive Constituents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20


pH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21


Geography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22


Nitrate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27


Land Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29


Effects of Improvements in Analytical Protocols on Measured Distributions of Radioactive Constituents . . . . 30


Contribution of Recently Detected Radium-224 to Gross Alpha-Particle Activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33


Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34


Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34


References Cited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35


Appendixes


1.	 Selected well-record information for wells used to measure radioactive constituents 


in water from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99. . . . . . . . 39


2.	 Results of analyses for radionuclides, major ions, and selected trace elements in 


quality-assurance blank samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, 1997-99. . . . . . 43 


3.	 Concentrations of radionuclides in water samples fromthe Kirkwood-Cohansey 


aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47


4.	 Concentrations of inorganic constituents in, and physical properties of, water samples 


from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69


Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

iv 

Figures 

1. Diagram showing uranium-238 and thorium-232 radioactive decay series. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 

2-3. Maps Showing the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system: 

2. Southern New Jersey, and associated geographic features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 

3a. Location of the Bridgeton Formation outcrop and radium-224 concentrations in 

southern New Jersey in (a) all sampled wells, 1997-99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .9 

3b,c.	 Location of the Bridgeton Formation outcrop and radium-224 concentrations in 

southern New Jersey in (b) sampled wells in Dover Township, New Jersey; and 

(c) sampled wells in Vineland, New Jersey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 

4-6. Graphs Showing— 

4.	 Radium-224 concentrations in water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey 

aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 

5.	 Relation of radium-224 concentrations to (a) gross alpha-particle activity, 

(b) radium-228 concentration and (c) radium-226 concentration in water from the 

Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 

6.	 Number of water samples in which (a) the concentration of radium-224 was greater 

than or equal to 3 pCi/L and (b) the concentration of combined radium was 

greater than or equal to 5 pCi/L as a function of pH, Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer 

system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 

7.	 Maps Showing distribution by municipality of water samples collected and number of samples 

in which the criterion for the constituent was exceeded, Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, 

southern New Jersey, 1997-99: 

7a. Radium-224. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 

7b. Combined radium. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 

8.	 Maps Showing distribution by hydrologic unit code of water samples and number of samples 

in which the criterion for the constituent was exceeded, Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, 

southern New Jersey, 1997-99: 

8a. Gross alpha-particle activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 

8b. Radium-224. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 

9-11.	 Graphs Showing— 

9.	 Number of water samples in which (a) the concentration of radium-224 was greater 

than or equal to 3 pCi/L,and (b) radioactivity maximum contaminant levelwas 

exceeded, by county or counties, Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern 

New Jersey, 1997-1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 

10.	 Number of water samples in which (a) the concentration of radium-224 was greater 

than or equal to 3 picocuries per liter and (b) the concentration of combined radium 

was greater than or equal to 5 picocuries per liter, as a function of selected ranges 

of pH and nitrate concentration, Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern 

New Jersey, 1997-99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 

11.	 Distribution of concentration of radium-224 in water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey 

aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99, by (a) lumped land-use category and 

(b) narrowly defined land-use category; and distribution of concentration of combined 

radium (radium-226 plus radium-228) by (c) lumped land-use category and (d) narrowly 

defined land-use category. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 
 v 

Tables 

1.	 Effect of time-dependence of alpha-particle ingrowth and decay for radium-224 and progeny 


on measured gross alpha-particle activity for selected radium-224 concentrations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4


2a. Summary of land use in the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system outcrop area, southern 


New Jersey, 1973, 1986, and 1995-97. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7


2b.	 Summary of land-use classification schemes used in this study in southern New Jersey for 


contributing areas around sampled wells. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14


3.	 Percentage of samples in which the concentration of radium radionuclides equaled or 


exceeded the specified concentration, Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern 


New Jersey, 1997-99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16


4.	 Statistical summary of radionuclide, selected major-ion and trace-element concentrations 


and pH in water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern 


New Jersey, 1997-99: (a) for the complete data set, (b) by region, and (c) by land-use 


classification (gradient method) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17


5.	 Spearmanrank correlation coefficients for relations of radium-224, radium-226,and 


radium-228 concentrations to concentrations of selected constituents in water samples 


from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19


6.	 Significance levels for Kruskal-Wallis statistical tests comparingconcentrations of 


radionuclides, concentrations of selected inorganic ions, and pH by region (northern and


southern outcrop) and land-use groups (by predominance: agricultural, residential, and 


undeveloped), Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19


7.	 Results of Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison test to determine differences in ranks of 


constituent concentrations by land-use group for water samples from the Kirkwood-


Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

vi 

Conversion Factors, Vertical Datum, and 

Abbreviated Water-Quality Units 

Multiply By 

Length 

To obtain 

inch (in.) 

inch (in.) 

foot (ft)

mile (mi)

2.54 

25.4 

 0.3048 

1.609 

centimeter (cm) 

millimeter (mm) 

meter (m) 

kilometer (km) 

Area 

acre 

square mile (mi2)

0.004047 

2.590 

square kilometer (km2) 

square kilometer (km2) 

Volume 

ounce, fluid (fl. oz) 

ounce, fluid (fl. oz)

gallon (gal)

million gallons per day (Mgal/d) 

0.02957 

 29.57 

3.785 

3,785 

liter (L) 

milliliter (mL) 

liter (L) 

million liters per day (ML/d) 

Mass 

ounce, avoirdupois (oz) 

ounce, avoirdupois (oz) 

ounce, avoirdupois (oz) 

pound, avoirdupois (lb) 

28.35 

28,349 

28,349,000 

0.4536 

gram (g) 

milligram (mg) 

microgram (μg) 

kilogram (kg) 

Radioactivity 

picocuries per liter 

becquerel per liter (Bq/L) 

picocuries per liter 

2.22 

1 

0.037 

radioactive disintegrations per minute 

radioactive disintegrations per second 

becquerels per liter 

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). 
 vii 

Water-quality abbreviations 

nm = nanometer 

μm = micrometer 

ng/L = nanograms per liter (parts per trillon) 

μg/L = micrograms per liter (parts per billion or ppb) 

mg/L = milligrams per liter (parts per million or ppm) 

μg/kg = micrograms per kilogram (parts per billion) 

mg/m3 = milligrams per cubic meter 

M = Molar, or moles 

μM = micromolar 

Ac = actinium 

Cs = cesium 

Pb = lead 

Po = polonium 

Ra = radium 

Rn = radon 

Th = thorium 

U = uranium 

KeV = kiloelectron volts 

SSMDC = sample specific minimum detectable concentration 

PE = precision estimate 

pCi = picocurie 

pCi/L = picocurie per liter 

pCi/g = picocurie per gram 

LRL = laboratory reporting limit 

< = less than 
Occurrence of Radium-224, Radium-226, and Radium-228 

in Water of the Unconfined Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer 

System, Southern New Jersey 

By Zoltan Szabo, Vincent T. dePaul, Thomas F. Kraemer, and Bahman Parsa 

Abstract 

Water in the unconfined Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer 

system in the New Jersey Coastal Plain contains elevated 

concentrations (above 3 pCi/L (picocuries per liter)) of the 

alpha-particle-emitting radionuclide radium-224. Previously, 

water from the aquifer system had been found to contain 

radium-226 and radium-228. This observation is of concern 

because the previously undetected presence of radium-224 may 

pose an additional, quantifiable health risk that currently is not 

accounted for by the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 

5 pCi/L for combined radium (the sum of radium-226 plus 

radium-228 is termed “combined radium”) in drinking water. 

Water samples were collected from a regional network of 

88 wells for determination of concentrations of radium-224, 

radium-226, and radium-228; gross alpha-particle activity; 

and concentrations of major ions and selected trace elements. 

Both gamma and alpha spectroscopic techniques were used to 

determine concentrations of radium-224, which ranged from 

<0.5 to 16.8 pCi/L (median 2.1 pCi/L, interquartile range 

1.2-3.7 pCi/L). Concentrations of radium-226 and radium-228 

in the same samples ranged from <0.5 to 17.4 pCi/L (median 

1.7 pCi/L, interquartile range 0.9-2.9 pCi/L) and <0.5 to 

12.8 pCi/L (median 1.6 pCi/L, interquartile range, 0.9­

2.6 pCi/L), respectively. Concentrations of radium-224 

typically were greater than those of the other two radium 

radionuclides, as evidenced by the highest median, third 

quartile, and maximum concentrations, as well as the highest 

concentration among the three radium radioisotopes in 52 

(59 percent) of the 88 samples. 

Concentrations of 5.0 to 5.5 pCi/L of radium-224 result in 

a gross alpha-particle activity of about 15 pCi/L (the MCL) 

36 to 48 hours, respectively, after sample collection when 

ingrowth of radium-224 progeny radionuclides is considered, 

even with the unlikely assumption that no other alpha-particleemitting radionuclide is present in the water. Concentrations of 

3.4 to 3.7 pCi/L radium-224 result in a gross alpha-particle 

activity of 10 pCi/L 36 to 48 hours, respectively, after sample 

collection when ingrowth of Ra-224 progeny radionuclides is 

considered. In this latter case, it is possible that the summed 

alpha-particle activity from radium-226 present at a concentration less than or equal to 5 pCi/L (the MCL for combined 

radium) and from radium-224 present at a concentration about 

3.4 pCi/L or greater may exceed the 15-pCi/L MCL for gross 

alpha-particle activity. In this study, gross alpha-particle activities were measured within 48 hours after sample collection and 

were found to exceed the MCL of 15 pCi/L in nearly half 

(43) of the 88 samples collected. The concentration of radium224 exceeded that of radium-226 in 55 (62.5 percent) of the 

88 samples. 

Concentrations of radium-224 correlate strongly with 

those of both radium-226 and radium-228 (Spearman correlation coefficients r=0.74 and 0.91, respectively). Concentrations of radium-224, radium-226, and radium-228 were 

greatest in the most acidic ground water. Concentrations of 

radium-224 and combined radium-226 and radium-228 in 

samples of ground water with pH less than 4.7 exceeded 

5 pCi/L in 33 and 67 percent of the samples, respectively. 

Concentrations of radium-224, radium-226, and radium-228 

(measured separately) were greatest in water from the southern 

part of the aquifer outcrop area. In water from the northern part 

of the aquifer system outcrop area, radium-224 concentrations 

were as high as 3.6 pCi/L, and concentrations of combined 

radium and gross alpha-particle activity in some samples 

exceeded their respective MCLs. 

The presence of gross alpha-particle activities greater than 

15 pCi/L and combined radium-226 and radium-228 concentrations greater than 5 pCi/L in the southwestern part of the 

aquifer system outcrop area is common and had been documented before 1997. Results of this study confirm these earlier 

findings. In northeastern and southeastern parts of the aquifer 

outcrop area, gross alpha-particle activities exceeded 15 pCi/L 

only in isolated areas (primarily central Ocean County and 

southeastern Atlantic County) but with greater frequency in this 

study (when the 48-hour holding time for gross alpha-particle 

activity analysis was used) than in previous investigations 

(before 1997), indicating that radium-224 contributes considerable gross alpha-particle activity to drinking water produced 

from the aquifer system. 
2 Occurrence of Radium-224, Radium-226, and Radium-228 in Water of the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer System, Southern N.J. 

Introduction 

Radionuclides are ubiquitous trace elements in rocks, 

soils, and waters; therefore, exposure to naturally occurring 

radioactivity in varying degrees occurs universally. Most naturally occurring radionuclides are formed through the decay of 

uranium-238 and thorium-232. Uranium-235 is a third naturally 

occurring, long-lived radionuclide, but its abundance is less 

than 1 percent that of uranium-238. Both uranium and thorium 

decay slowly and produce other, intermediate radioactive 

elements, such as radium, which in turn undergo still further 

radioactive decay. These radioactive progenies exhibit different 

chemical properties, have shorter half-lives, and emit various 

types of radiation at different rates and energies than either 

parent isotope (Durrance, 1986; Zapecza and Szabo, 1988). 

Radioactive decay is the emission of particles and energy 

from the nucleus of an atom (a radionuclide) with an unstable 

configuration within the nucleus. The emitted particles are 

classified as either alpha particles (a nucleus of a helium-4 

atom) or beta particles (an electron), each with a characteristic 

level of kinetic energy specific to the nuclide. Energy also is 

emitted in the form of gamma rays, also with intensity specific 

to the nuclide. The radiation that is emitted can strip electrons 

from atoms with which it collides, causing the atom it contacts 

to become ionized. Cellular tissue can be damaged by exposure 

to ionizing radiation. This tissue damage can increase the 

risk of incurring cancer (U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency, 1999). 

The ionizing radiation emitted by radium is alpha and beta 

radiation. Alpha particles move slowly and cannot penetrate 

skin. Beta particles can penetrate skin, but only the surficial 

layer. If radium is ingested, however, especially dissolved in 

water, then the emitted alpha- and beta-particle radiation can 

come into contact with, ionize, and damage internal cell tissue. 

The risk incurred from the alpha-particle emissions depends 

on the way the body metabolizes the ingested radionuclide 

(Durrance, 1986, p. 90). 

The various isotopes of naturally occurring radium are 

radium-223 (Ra-223), radium-224 (Ra-224), radium-226 

(Ra-226), and radium-228 (Ra-228). Ra-224, the fifth radionuclide in the thorium-232 decay series (fig. 1), is derived from 

the decay of thorium-228 (Th-228) and has the shortest half-life 

(3.64 days) of the radium isotopes (Ra-223, 11.43 days; Ra-228, 

5.75 years; Ra-226, 1,602 years). The half-life of a radionuclide 

is defined as the time required for one-half of the original 

amount of the radionuclide to decay. The half-lives may range 

from long (years) to short (seconds, hours, or a few days) intervals. Ra-223, Ra-224, and Ra-226 decay by emitting an alpha 

particle, whereas Ra-228 emits a beta particle in decay to actinium-228 (Ac-228) (fig. 1). Ra-224 decays directly to radon-220 

(Rn-220), which has a half-life of less than 1 minute, and eventually to stable lead-208 (Pb-208) through other intermediate 

products; of these products, only lead-212 (Pb-212) has a halflife that is longer than 1 hour (fig. 1). Radium-226 decays to 

radon-222 (Rn-222), which has a half-life of 3.8 days; because 

of its relatively long half-life relative to Rn-220, it is Rn-222 

that typically is naturally abundant in ground water, soil gas, 

and, in places, indoor air. Radium-223 is derived from the decay 

of uranium-235 (U-235) and, therefore, is likely to be less abundant than the other naturally occurring radium radionuclides. 

Naturally occurring Ra-224 can enter ground water from 

aquifer solids by radioactive decay of the parent isotope 

(Th-228) in the solids by alpha recoil, by chemical processes 

such as dissolution of aquifer materials or desorption from rock 

or sediment surfaces, or by radioactive decay of the parent isotope in solution (unlikely except in extremely acid or alkaline 

waters, as Th generally is insoluble). The occurrence, distribution, and concentration of the parent Th-228 radionuclide in 

the solids, therefore, are a major control on the occurrence of 

Ra-224. Alpha recoil is a process whereby kinetic energy is 

imparted to the product nuclide during alpha decay, damaging 

the crystal lattice surrounding the atom and allowing the atom 

to break free from the solid structure. Through recoil in the 

opposite direction from the emitted alpha particle, the product 

radionuclide may be directly “ejected” into pores or eventually 

may be preferentially leached (dissolved) at the locus of crystal 

lattice damage (a process termed “track etching” by Fleischer 

(1980)) depending on the proximity of the parent radionuclide 

to the mineral-grain boundary. Once Ra-224 is in the aqueous 

environment, its concentration is governed by its short half-life 

(3.64 days), the sorptive properties of the aquifer material, and 

the geochemical setting. 

Radium in drinking water is known to increase the risk of 

cancer, primarily bone and sinus cancers (Mays and others, 

1985). Human bone tissue accumulates radium much like it 

does calcium and strontium, rather than allowing it to be 

removed from the body. The bones are then exposed to tissuedamaging alpha or beta radiation. Tissue damage from continuous exposure may cause malignancies. Risk increases with 

increased exposure. Mays and others (1985) estimated the cancer risk from Ra-224 to be less than that from Ra-226 because 

the short half-life of Ra-224 limits the radiation dose to the 

bone. Because of the short half-life of Ra-224, however, much 

of the Ra-224 decays on bone surfaces, where it may have 

enhanced effectiveness (Mays and others, 1985; Schleien, 

1992). Reevaluation by the U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency (USEPA) in 1999 indicates that the lifetime cancer risk 

from the ingestion of Ra-224 is less than that from ingestion of 

an equal amount of Ra-226 or Ra-228 (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1999) but greater than that suggested in the 

aforementioned study by Mays and others (1985). 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has 

established a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for Ra in 

public drinking-water supplies because of health risks associated with its ingestion. The MCL is 5 pCi/L for combined 

radium, which is defined as the sum of Ra-226 and Ra-228. The 

MCL for gross alpha-particle activity is 15 pCi/L. These MCLs 

are set on the approximate order of magnitude of a 1 in 20,000 

risk of incurring a fatal cancer if 2 L of water per day is consumed for 70 years. The MCLs had interim status since 1976 

and were finalized in 2000 (U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency, 1976; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2000a). 
Uranium-238 Thorium-232 

Uranium 

Protactinium 

Thorium 

Radium 

Radon 

Polonium 

Bismuth 

Lead 

Thorium 

Thallium 

Radium 

Actinium 

Radon 

Polonium 

Bismuth 

Lead 

U-238 

Pa-234 

Ra-226 

Ra-228 Ra-224 

Rn-222 

Rn-220 

Po-218 

Bi-214 

Pb-214 Pb-210 

Po-214 Po-210 

Po-216 

Bi-210 

Pb-206 

Pb-212 

Th-234 Th-230 

Th-232 Th-228 

Ac-228 

U-234 

4.49x10 y 

1.18 m 

1622 y 

5.75 y 3.64 d 

3.825 d 

55 s 

3.05 m 

19.7 m 

26.8 m 22 y 

1.4x10 s 138.4 d 

0.16 s 

5.0 d 

(stable) 

10.64h 

24.1 d 8.0x10 y 

1.41x10 y 1.91 y 

6.13 h 

22.48x10 y 9 5 

4 

10 

-4 

Alpha decay Beta decay 

EXPLANATION 

Figure 1. Uranium-238 and thorium-232 radioactive decay series (Modified from Hall and others, 1985). 
4 Occurrence of Radium-224, Radium-226, and Radium-228 in Water of the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer System, Southern N.J. 

Table 1. Effect of time-dependence of alpha-particle ingrowth 

and decay for radium-224 and progeny on measured gross alphaparticle activity for selected radium-224 concentrations 

[Factors computed by Parsa, 1998; all concentrations and activities in 

picocuries per liter] 

Time 

after 

sample 

collection 

Theoretical gross 

alpha-particle activity 

from a radium-224 

concentration of: 

Theoretical radium-224 

concentration required to 

obtain a gross alphaparticle activity of: 

(hours) 

1 3 5 3 5 15 

2 2.99 8.97 14.95 1.00 1.67 5.02 

4 3.05 9.15 15.25 .98 1.64 4.92 

6 3.10 9.30 15.50 .97 1.61 4.84 

12 3.19 9.57 15.95 .94 1.57 4.70 

24 3.16 9.48 15.80 .95 1.58 4.75 

36 2.99 8.97 14.95 1.00 1.67 5.02 

48 2.77 8.31 13.85 1.08 1.81 5.42 

72 2.32 6.96 11.60 1.29 2.16 6.47 

96 1.93 5.79 9.65 1.55 2.59 7.77 

144 1.32 3.96 6.60 2.27 3.79 11.36 

192 .90 2.70 4.50 3.33 5.56 16.67 

384 .19 .57 .95 15.79 26.32 78.95 

576 .04 .12 .20 75.00 125.00 375.00 

Currently, no MCL is proposed for Ra-224. A range of concentration values from 3 to 12 pCi/L has been suggested informally 

as an MCL or action level (AL); in the absence of additional 

regional data regarding the occurrence of this radionuclide 

(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2000b), no value has 

yet reached the stage of a proposed MCL or AL. 

Until recent work by Parsa (1998) and Szabo and others 

(1998a), only long-lived Ra-226 and Ra-228 had been documented to be present in appreciable concentrations in ground 

water. The presence of elevated concentrations of Ra-226 and 

Ra-228 in water from many aquifers, including the KirkwoodCohansey aquifer system in southern New Jersey, has been 

reported previously (Kozinski and others, 1995; Szabo and 

dePaul, 1998). Results of the studies by Parsa (1998) and Szabo 

and others (1998a) indicate that Ra-224 also may be prevalent 

in the ground water. 

The composition of water in the Kirkwood-Cohansey 

aquifer system was investigated further for the presence of radionuclides other than Ra-226 and Ra-228 for several reasons. 

First, the presence of elevated gross alpha-particle radioactivity 

could not be explained by the concentrations of Ra-226 alone 

(Kozinski and others, 1995; Szabo and dePaul, 1998). Second, 

gross alpha-particle activities in water from the aquifer system 

have been shown to vary temporally (Parsa, 1998). The variation could not be explained in terms of variation in the concentration of Ra-226; repeated sampling of a set of four wells 

screened in the aquifer showed little temporal variation in the 

concentration of Ra-226 (Szabo and others, 1997). Other factors related to laboratory procedures that introduce variability 

into values of gross alpha-particle activity, such as the internal 

standard chosen (Janzer, 1980) and the dissolved-solids content 

and composition of the sample matrix (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1997; Jeter, 1998), could not account for the 

observed variability. Therefore, additional study was needed to 

determine whether the presence of a previously undetermined 

radioisotope could be causing the variability and, if so, to determine the distribution of the radioisotope(s) in the ground water. 

The concern is that the previously undetected presence of 

Ra-224 may pose an additional, quantifiable health risk that currently is not accounted for by the 5-pCi/L MCL for combined 

radium in drinking water. The concentration of Ra-224 is not 

included in the definition of combined radium as posed by 

USEPA in 1976 (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1976) 

nor by the 15-pCi/L MCL for gross alpha-particle activity 

because the current analytical technique, as proposed by 

USEPA in 1976 (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 

1976), does not include a sample-holding time; therefore, the 

alpha-particle activity because of short-lived radionuclides, 

such as Ra-224, may not be detected during analysis. 

Theoretical calculations by Parsa (1998) indicate that 

Ra-224, if present, contributes considerable gross alpha-particle 

activity to a water sample for about 7 days after sample collection. These calculations (1998) indicate that for each picocurie 

per liter of Ra-224 that is present in the sample, almost 3 pCi/L 

of gross alpha-particle activity will be present in the sample 

48 hours after collection (table 1). Forty-eight hours after 

sample-collection time, a water sample with 5.41 pCi/L Ra-224 

would emit 15 pCi/L of alpha-particle activity (because of 

short-lived progeny ingrowth) and, thus, equal the MCL for 

gross alpha-particle activity (table 1). The theoretical calculations and initial measurements made by Parsa (1998) indicate 

that gross alpha-particle activities greater than the 15-pCi/L 

MCL may occur in water from the aquifer system with greater 

frequency than was detected in previous investigations because 

alpha-particle activity from Ra-224 was not detected using the 

analytical protocol (which allowed unlimited holding time) in 

effect at the time (1997). Additional mathematical analysis indicates that a sample held for 8 days after collection before analysis must contain 16.7 pCi/L of Ra-224 to generate 15 pCi/L of 

alpha-particle radioactivity because of rapid decay of both 

Ra-224 and progeny. Samples collected before 1997 commonly 

were held as long as 16 to 24 days before analysis; these long 

holding times would require the presence of 15.8 and 75 pCi/L 

of Ra-224 in the sample, respectively, to emit even 3 pCi/L of 

alpha-particle activity. For determination of gross alpha-particle activity using standard 100-minute counting times with a 

0.3-L sample aliquot and a well-maintained low-background 

gas-proportional counter, 3 pCi/L typically is the minimum 

reliably quantified level and represents the standard laboratory 

reporting limit (LRL) for many radiation laboratories. Thus, the 
 5 

amount of Ra-224 that must be present in the water before a 

substantial effect on gross alpha-particle activity is noted 16 to 

24 days after sample-collection time is considerable. It is likely 

that a considerable amount of alpha-particle activity from 

Ra-224 was not detected by the analytical protocol used before 

1997. Determination of the concentration of Ra-224, if present, 

and measurements of gross alpha-particle activity within 

48 hours after sample collection are important to determine the 

actual amount of alpha-particle activity to which the water consumer is exposed by ingestion of drinking water, as ingestion in 

almost all cases occurs in the first three days after withdrawal of 

water from the aquifer system. 

In the response to results of the investigation by Parsa 

(1998) and Szabo and others (1998a), the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) implemented 

changes in analytical protocols to ensure that the contribution 

to alpha-particle radioactivity from the presence of Ra-224 in 

drinking water would be detected by gross alpha-particle activity analysis. A 48-hour holding time for gross alpha-particle 

activity analysis of drinking water was implemented for 

compliance purposes in the State of New Jersey in 2002 

(New Jersey Department Environmental Protection, 2002). 

The NJDEP also requires gross alpha-particle analysis within 

48 hours for water samples collected from private wells in compliance with the Private Well Testing Act (PWTA) (New Jersey 

Department Environmental Protection, 2002). Analysis within 

48 hours of sample collection ensures that most of the alphaparticle activity emitted by Ra-224 is detected (Parsa, 1998). 

The implementation of the revised protocol is being phased in 

by region; the new protocol was implemented first in the southern part of the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system on the basis 

of the many instances of high concentrations of radioactivity in 

that region reported by Szabo and dePaul (1998), Szabo and 

others (1998a), and Parsa (1998). In the Notice of Data Availability (NODA) (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 

2000b) that accompanied the Radionuclide Rule of 2000 

(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2000a), the USEPA 

recommended determination of concentrations of Ra-224 in 

aquifers and regions where Ra isotopes are present in ground 

water. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the NJDEP 

have been working cooperatively to characterize Ra-224 concentrations and radium-isotope ratios in water from major aquifers where radium is considered likely to be present, and, in 

2000, Szabo and others (2000) reported initial findings that 

Ra-224 is common in water from the Kirkwood-Cohansey 

aquifer system. 

As part of this ongoing work, the USGS, in cooperation 

with the NJDEP, investigated the presence of elevated and 

varying gross alpha-particle activities in the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system that are not explained by the concentrations 

of long-lived alpha-particle-emitting radionuclides, such as 

Ra-226 and U-238. Therefore, these alpha-particle activities 

indicate that one or more additional alpha-particle-emitting 

radionuclide(s) may be present in the water. The known presence of Ra-228 in the water from the aquifer indicates that 

Ra-224, ultimately derived from Ra-228 (fig. 1), may be 

Introduction

present. Knowledge of the distribution of Ra-224 could be 

used by NJDEP as it continues to implement its regional plan 

for the 48-hour holding time analytical protocol for gross alphaparticle activity analysis (New Jersey Department Environmental Protection, 2002). 

Purpose and Scope 

This report documents the occurrence of the short-lived 

radioisotope of radium, Ra-224, in water from the KirkwoodCohansey aquifer system underlying southern New Jersey— 

particularly in areas where the water is used for drinking-water 

supply—and compares its distribution to those of the radium 

isotopes Ra-226 and Ra-228. The concentration of Ra-224 

is compared to gross alpha-particle activity measured within 

48 hours after sample collection to determine whether the presence of previously unmeasured Ra-224 may account for some 

of the unexpected elevated gross alpha-particle activity reported 

previously (Parsa, 1998) for water from the aquifer that cannot 

be ascribed to the presence of Ra-226 alone. The distribution of 

Ra-224 in the aquifer is evaluated by aquifer region, aquifer 

chemistry, and overlying land use. 

Study Area 

The Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system is a regionally 

extensive, unconfined aquifer system that underlies more than 

8,000 km2 (square kilometers) of the southern New Jersey part 

of the Coastal Plain physiographic province. This aquifer 

system has the greatest surficial extent of any aquifer system in 

southern New Jersey (fig. 2). The study area consists of all or 

parts of seven counties in which the Cohansey Sand crops out. 

In order from north to south, these counties are Ocean, 

Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Atlantic, Salem, and 

Cumberland. The aquifer system is the predominant or sole 

source of drinking water in much of southern New Jersey. 

Most private domestic wells in the area draw water from this 

aquifer. A recent estimate (1994) indicates that approximately 

84 Mgal/d were withdrawn from the aquifer system (Nawyn, 

1997); of this amount, more than 75 percent is for potable use 

(drinking water). 

Hydrogeologic Setting 

In most parts of southern New Jersey, the KirkwoodCohansey aquifer system is composed of two hydraulically 

connected, southeastward-dipping geologic formations, the 

Cohansey Sand and the Kirkwood Formation. Aquifer thickness ranges from less than 50 ft near the outcrop of the Kirkwood Formation to approximately 500 ft near Cape May. The 

Cohansey Sand, middle Miocene in age, is a marginal marine 

deposit composed of a light-colored, medium to coarse-grained 

quartz sand with some gravel and silt (Zapecza, 1989). The 

Kirkwood Formation, early to middle Miocene in age, is 
6 Occurrence of Radium-224, Radium-226, and Radium-228 in Water of the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer System, Southern N.J. 

40 

30' 

40 

00' 

30' 

39 

00' 

75 30' 75 00' 30' 74 00' 

RARITAN BAY 

DELAWARE BAY 

A

T L A

N

T I C O C E A N 

ATLANTIC 

CAPE MAY 

MIDDLESEX 

MERCER 

MONMOUTH 

NEW CASTLE 

KENT 

PHILADELPHIA 

D ELAW AR E 

R IVE R 

DELAWARE 

PENNSYLVANIA 

0 

0 

2 

2 

4 

4 

6 

6 

8 MILES 

8 KILOMETERS 

NEW YORK 

BURLINGTON OCEAN

SALEM 

NEW JERSEY 

Fall

Line 

GLOUCESTER 

CAMDEN 

CUMBERLAND 

Areal extent of the Kirkwood-Cohansey 

aquifer system at or near land surface 

Area of agricultural land on the 

Bridgeton Formation outcrop 

EXPLANATION 

Pinelands Preserve boundary 

Boundary of Toms River, Metedeconk 

River, and Kettle Creek Basins 

Boundary of Glassboro study area 

Arbitrary boundary dividing aquifer 

system into northern and southern 

areas 

Base modified from U.S. Geological Survey digital 

data, 1:100,000, 1983, Universal Transverse 

Mercator projection, Zone 18 

Figure 2. The Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, and associated geographic features. 
Introduction 7 

composed of clays interbedded with sand and gravel in coastal 

areas grading to a fine- to medium-grained quartz sand and silty 

sand inland. A discontinuous surficial deposit of feldspathic 

gravel known as the Bridgeton Formation (Owens and Minard, 

1979; Martino, 1981) is present on topographic highs, primarily 

in southwestern New Jersey, directly overlying the Cohansey 

Sand and, in some places, the Kirkwood Formation. In this 

region, these three units are hydraulically connected to form the 

aquifer system. The Cohansey Sand has the largest surface area, 

cropping out over the extent of the aquifer (fig. 2). 

The predominant source of recharge to the KirkwoodCohansey aquifer system is precipitation that falls directly 

onto the aquifer system outcrop. Ground water flows from 

topographic highs to streams along both shallow and deep flow 

systems (Rhodehamel, 1973), with a small percentage of the 

water bypassing local streams to constitute regional flow to 

major rivers. About half the water entering the aquifer system 

as recharge in a typical first-order stream basin is discharged to 

the nearby stream within about 20 years (Rice and Szabo, 

1997). A numerical model of ground-water flow and head 

(water-level) distribution in a 400-mi2

 area of the southwestern 

part of the aquifer (Glassboro study area) indicates that lessthan 

3 percent of the water in that part of the aquifer was recharged 

more than 210 years ago (Kauffman and others, 2001). The 

aquifer system is highly conductive; regional-scale numerical 

flow models in two study areas, the Toms River- Metedeconk 

River-Kettle Creek study area in the northeastern part and the 

Glassboro study area in the southwestern part, commonly are 

calibrated using a horizontal conductivity of 80 to 100 ft/d 

(Nicholson and Watt, 1997; Kauffman and others, 2001). 

Land Use 

Land in the area underlain by the outcrop of the KirkwoodCohansey aquifer system is largely undeveloped because the 

Pinelands Preserve covers much of the southeastern part of the 

State (fig. 2). Urbanization has encroached appreciably on both 

agricultural and previously undeveloped areas since 1973 

(table 2a). This urbanization has occurred predominantly in the 

southwestern and northeastern parts of the aquifer outcrop area. 

From 1973 to 1997, the amount of agricultural and undeveloped 

land declined, and the amount of urban land increased. The net 

increase in urban land was approximately 235 km2

 (table 2a). 

Kauffman and others (2001) show that agricultural, urban, and 

undeveloped land each occupy nearly the same percentage of 

the outcrop area if the distribution of land use only in the southwestern and northeastern parts of the extent of the aquifer, 

which is where the population centers and large ground-water 

withdrawals are located, is considered. Demand for water supply in these rapidly urbanizing areas has increased greatly; in 

the southwestern part of the aquifer outcrop area (Glassboro 

study area), withdrawals for water supply nearly doubled from 

1980 to 1996 (Kauffman and others, 2001). 

Table 2a. Summary of land use in the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system outcrop area, southern New Jersey, 1973, 1986, 

and 1995-97 

[Northern area, Burlington County and north; southern area, south of Burlington County; see figure 2; GIRAS Geographic Information 

Retrieval and Analysis System of the U.S. Geological Survey; ITU, Integrated Terrain Units] 

Total area Urban Agricultural Undeveloped 

Region Square 

kilometers 

Square 

kilometers Percent Square kilometers 

Percent Square 

kilometers Percent 

GIRAS73 

Outcrop area 8,040 1,081 13.5 1,407 17.5 5,550 69.0 

Northern area 3,330 474 14.2 264 7.9 2,595 77.8 

Southern area 4,670 606 13.0 1,143 24.5 2,922 62.5 

ITU 1986 

Outcrop area 8,060 1,176 14.6 1,080 13.4 5,801 72.0 

Northern area 3,360 529 15.7 184 5.5 2,649 78.6 

Southern area 4,690 646 13.8 895 19.1 3,151 67.1 

ITU 1995-97 

Outcrop area 8,060 1,315 16.3 1,020 12.7 5,721 71.0 

Northern area 3,360 593 17.6 168 5.0 2,602 77.3 

Southern area 4,690 722 15.4 852 18.2 3,118 66.4 
8 Occurrence of Radium-224, Radium-226, and Radium-228 in Water of the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer System, Southern N.J. 

Previous Investigations of Radionuclide Occurrence in 

the Aquifer System 

The USGS, in cooperation with the NJDEP, has conducted 

a series of studies of natural radioactivity in water from the 

Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system. Zapecza and Szabo (1989) 

reported elevated combined radium concentrations (above 

5 pCi/L) in ground water and associated the highest concentrations with the outcrop of the Bridgeton Formation. Kozinski 

and others (1995) conducted a study of the effects of geology, 

ground-water chemistry, and land use on the distribution of natural radionuclides in water in the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer 

system in a five-county area of southern New Jersey. Szabo and 

others (1997), in an investigation of the effects of agricultural 

activities on Ra mobility and the distribution of Ra concentrations with depth in water in the aquifer system, found that concentrations of Ra were highest in acidic (pH less than 4.8) water 

from shallow to medium depths (20 to 65 ft below land surface) 

in which nitrate concentrations exceeded 3 to 5 mg/L. Rice and 

Szabo (1997) show results of simulations with local (smallscale) ground-water flow models that indicate that nitrate- and 

Ra-laden water can flow from agricultural areas to non-agricultural areas within the general hydrogeologic setting of the aquifer. A public-health perspective on the presence of radioactivity 

in water from the aquifersummarized in the guidance document 

is provided by N.J. Department of Environmental Protection 

(1997). Szabo and dePaul (1998) summarized the available data 

on radium in water from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system as of 1997, and reviewed relations of Ra concentrations 

with geology, water chemistry, and land use. They reported that 

concentrations of combined radium greater than or equal to 

5 pCi/L were found most frequently in the southwestern portion 

of the aquifer outcrop area (Szabo and dePaul, 1998, fig. 1). 

They also reported that gross alpha-particle activity was greater 

than or equal to 15 pCi/L in 14 percent of the 127 water samples 

collected from the aquifer system by the USGS prior to 1997 

(median activity 5.4 pCi/L); however, samples typically were 

analyzed about 20 days after collection. 

Differences in gross alpha-particle activity among water 

samples from the same wells completed in the KirkwoodCohansey aquifer system were first documented by Parsa 

(1998). The initial design of a sampling experiment to test 

various hypotheses regarding this temporal variation in gross 

alpha-particle activity, including a specific test to assess the 

effect of holding time before analysis, was described by Szabo 

and others (1998a). Gross alpha-particle activities in water from 

wells initially sampled by Szabo and dePaul (1998) and 

analyzed with no adherence to strict holding times differed from 

those determined when the wells were resampled and gross 

alpha-particle activity was measured within 72 hours (Szabo 

and others, 1998a). 

Methods 

Water samples were collected from a regional network of 

88 wells (fig. 3) to determine the distributions of Ra-224 and 

other radium isotopes, gross alpha-particle activity, and inorganic constituents in water in the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer 

system. The wells in the sampling network were classified in 

two ways: according to dominant land use and by a modified 

“land-use gradient” scheme. Concentrations of Ra-224 at each 

well were determined by one or more of various available 

research methods. The results obtained with the various methods were compared. Statistical methods were used to compare 

the distributions of Ra radionuclides to land use and to concentrations of ancillary water constituents. 

Design of Sampling Network and Sampling 

Procedures 

The regional network of wells was designed to obtain 

samples that would be generally representative of water in 

the aquifer, but with preference to areas where withdrawals for 

drinking-water supply were extensive. Regional differences 

in aquifer hydrology and chemistry were considered in the 

selection process by distributing the wells to be sampled among 

as many of the individual drainage basins within the areal extent 

of the aquifer as possible. Surface-water divides coincide with 

flow-basin boundaries and approximate the ground-water flow 

divides of the shallow flow systems within the aquifer (Modica 

and others, 1997; Rice and Szabo, 1997). The drainage basins, 

ranging in scale from regional flow systems to subwatersheds in 

size, are characterized by individual 11-digit Hydrologic Unit 

Codes (HUCs) as defined by Ellis and Price (1995) and are at 

least 8.2 km2

 in size. By associating the water-quality data for 

a well with the HUC in which the well is located, the well’s 

contributing area is at least partly approximated and constrained 

(that is, flow is not likely to be derived from outside the basin). 

The selected wells are distributed in 24 drainage basins 

(HUC11) that cover 47 percent of the surface area of the 

outcrop of the aquifer system. 

The sampling network included 47 production wells, 

10 private self-supply (domestic) wells, and 31 observation 

wells (app. 1). Observation wells and, to a lesser extent, selfsupply wells were used to supplement the network in those 

areas where no production wells were available to maximize the 

geographic distribution of water-quality data collected. Information on the construction, altitude, and location of wells 

included in this report (app. 1) are stored in the Ground-Water 

Site Inventory (GWSI) database maintained by the USGS. In 

this database, wells are assigned a 6-digit unique well number 

that consists of a 2-digit county code followed by a 4-digit 
Methods 9 

75°	 74°30' 

40° 

39° 

30' 

0 2 4 6 8 10 MILES 

0 2 4 6 8 10 KILOMETERS 

inset C 

inset B 

OCEAN 

BURLINGTON 

CAMDEN 

ATLANTIC 

GLOUCESTER 

SALEM 

CUMBERLAND 

CAPE MAY 

ATLANTIC

OCEAN 

DELAWARE 

BAY 

PENNSYLVANIA 

(a) MONMOUTH

EXPLANATION 

Bridgeton Formation outcrop	 Production well with Observation or private well with 

radium-224 concentration: radium-224 concentration: 

Updip extent of the KirkwoodCohansey aquifer system Less than 3 picocuries per liter Less than 3 picocuries per liter 

Greater than or equal to 3 picocuries 

per liter per liter 

Pinelands Preserve boundary Greater than or equal to 3 picocuries 

Figure 3a. The Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, location of the Bridgeton Formation outcrop and radium-224 concentrations in 

southern New Jersey in (a) all sampled wells, 1997-99. 
10 Occurrence of Radium-224, Radium-226, and Radium-228 in Water of the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer System, Southern N.J. 

(b) 

40 

02' 

40 

39 

58' 

(c) 39 

34' 

39 

32' 

39 

30' 

39 

28' 

39 

26' 

74 15' 74 10'

OCEAN 

Dover Township 

0 2 4 MILES 

0 2 4 KILOMETERS 

75 

GLOUCESTER 

SALEM 

CUMBERLAND 

Vineland City 

75 05' 74 55'

0 2 4 MILES 

0 2 4 6 KILOMETERS 

Figure 3b,c. The Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, location of the Bridgeton Formation outcrop and radium-224 concentrations in southern New Jersey in (b) sampled 

wells in Dover Township, New Jersey; and (c) sampled wells in Vineland, New Jersey. 
Methods 11 

sequence number. County codes used in this study are 01 

(Atlantic), 05 (Burlington), 07 (Camden), 11 (Cumberland), 

15 (Gloucester), 29 (Ocean), and 33 (Salem). For example, well 

number 290627 is the 627th well inventoried in Ocean County. 

The water-quality data reported in appendixes 2, 3, and 4 

are stored in the USGS National Water Information System 

(NWIS) database. Data in appendixes 3 and 4 are sorted by geographic location, from south to north, to facilitate geographical 

analysis; the USGS well number is reported to facilitate comparison with previously published data. 

Sampling density was not uniform over the extent of 

the aquifer despite efforts to include wells in each drainage 

basin. Sampling density was greatest in the southwestern 

and northeastern parts of the outcrop area—specifically, 

Cumberland and Gloucester Counties in the southwest and 

Ocean County in the northeast (app. 1; figs. 2 and 3). The large 

rural and suburban population in these areas depends almost 

solely on water from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system. 

Furthermore, concentrations of combined Ra-226 and Ra-228 

in these areas are known to exceed the 5-pCi/L MCL (Szabo 

and dePaul, 1998). The selection of wells in these two areas was 

generally, but not completely, random; 13 wells were selected 

on the basis of previously determined elevated concentrations 

of combined radium. 

Sampling density was lowest in the central part of the outcrop area of the Cohansey Sand—specifically, in Burlington, 

southern Ocean, and northern Atlantic Counties—because the 

presence of the Pinelands Preserve (figs. 2 and 3) precludes the 

presence of a dense population and, therefore, public-supply 

wells in the area. Because sampled wells were not distributed 

evenly throughout the study area, the dataset of Ra-224, 

Ra-226, and Ra-228 concentrations and gross alpha-particle 

activities may be biased and not completely representative of 

the distribution in the entire aquifer. The objective of the sampling, however, was to characterize the distribution of Ra-224 

in those parts of the aquifer where water is used for drinkingwater supply. 

Samples were collected using “ultra-clean” field techniques designed for low-level trace-element sampling in order 

to eliminate possible contamination from airborne particulates, 

sample handling, and manufacturing or detergent residues, as 

described by Ivahnenko and others (1996). Samples were collected only after the evacuation of three borehole volumes of 

water and upon stabilization of field parameters (pH, water temperature, dissolved-oxygen concentration, specific conductance, and turbidity). All samples to be analyzed for radionuclides, trace elements, nutrients, and major cations and anions 

were filtered using a 0.45-micron disposable polysulfone capsule filter and were collected within a portable glove chamber 

(Ivahnenko and others, 1996). Samples to be analyzed for radionuclides, trace elements, and major cations were preserved 

onsite with laboratory-grade nitric acid within a separate portable glove chamber immediately upon collection. Filters and 

sample tubing were discarded after single use. 

Quality-Assurance Program 

The quality-assurance program included analysis of fieldequipment blanks and sequential duplicate samples that were 

collected randomly throughout the sampling period. Because 

analytical methods for Ra-224 have not been standardized, 

quality-assurance samples were collected along with approximately 20 percent of the environmental samples from the 88 

sites. About 6 percent of the samples were collected with a 

sequential replicate sample that was submitted as a separate 

blind sample to one laboratory, and about 13 percent of the samples were submitted to the laboratory with the accompanying 

equipment blank. The equipment blanks, using USGS-certified 

inorganic blank water (IBW), were collected both in the field 

and in the laboratory using the same protocols as those used for 

the environmental samples. (See Ivahnenko and others (1996) 

for a detailed description of this process.) Results of analysis of 

equipment blanks (app. 2) were closely monitored to ensure that 

the samples had not been contaminated during either the sampling process in the field or handling in the laboratory. The 

equipment blanks were analyzed for a wide variety of traceelement constituents that are indicative of contamination during 

sample handling. The blank samples also were analyzed for 

radionuclides, including Ra-224, to ensure that the samplehandling and analytical techniques did not result in a high bias 

for extremely dilute samples. In addition to these standard quality-assurance samples, 25 percent of the samples analyzed for 

Ra-224 were split between two laboratories (USGS Research 

Laboratory in Reston, Va., and the State of New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Radiation Laboratory in 

Trenton, N.J.). The two laboratories used nearly identical 

approaches to gamma spectral analysis as described in the 

section on analytical methods (below). 

Analytical Methods 

Because theoretical calculations (Parsa, 1998) indicate that 

Ra-224, if present, contributes considerable gross alpha-particle 

activity to a water sample, analytical techniques needed to be 

tested to determine whether concentrations of Ra-224 could 

be quantified routinely. Moreover, integration of analysis for 

Ra-224 with analysis for Ra-226, Ra-228, and other radionuclides for which standard analytical methodology already 

present was considered to be desirable. Both Parsa (1998) 

and Szabo and others (1998a; 1998b) initially proposed determination of Ra-224 concentrations by gamma spectrometry; the 

one drawback of the technique, however, is that it is not routinely deployed for standard analysis of many other naturally 

occurring radionuclides in drinking water. Therefore, an additional technique, alpha spectrometry, also was investigated. 
12 Occurrence of Radium-224, Radium-226, and Radium-228 in Water of the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer System, Southern N.J. 

Radium-224 

Water samples were analyzed for naturally occurring 

Ra-224 by both alpha and gamma spectrometry. The gammaspectrometric techniques used in this study are described by 

Parsa (1998) and Szabo and others (1998b), and are slightly 

modified from the initial research technique of Elsinger and 

others (1982). Gamma spectrometry, the primary method used 

in this study, has been adopted as a standard analytical method 

for Ra-224 (American Association of Public Health, 2004) to 

determine the concentrations of Ra-224 as well as the concentrations of Ra-226 and Ra-228 (62 of the 88 samples). Alpha 

spectrometry was the method used to determine the concentration of alpha-particle-emitting radionuclides of radium (Ra-224 

and Ra-226) for selected samples (26 of 88). The alpha-spectrometric technique used is slightly modified from the initial 

method of Sill and others (1979). Both analytical methods for 

determination of the concentration of Ra-224 require the isolation of radium from the water sample by co-precipitation with a 

barium or lead sulfate carrier and purification of the precipitate, 

which is then collected onto filter paper. The concentration of 

Ra-224 is determined by using the various radiation-counting 

instruments to count gamma emissions or alpha particles for the 

different techniques as described below. After the counting procedure was complete, the concentration of Ra-224 and those of 

the other Ra radionuclides (in the case of gamma-spectrometric 

measurement) or that of Ra-226 (in the case of alpha-spectrometric measurement) was back-calculated to the time of sample 

collection using the known rate of radioactive decay. 

The gamma-spectrometric technique is advantageous 

because it can be used to determine the concentrations of 

Ra-224, Ra-226, and Ra-228 all in the same sample aliquot. A 

germanium-lithium or hyper-pure germanium high-efficiency 

(40 percent) well-type detector or medium-efficiency (10 percent) plate-surface detector typically is used to analyze the 

gamma-ray spectra emitted by the radium-bearing barium sulfate or lead sulfate precipitate. Gamma emissions from the 

Ra-224 (or the Pb-212 progeny) in the lead sulfate precipitate 

were counted sooner after precipitation than those in the barium 

sulfate precipitate; hence, the lead sulfate precipitate was used 

with the plate detector and the barium sulfate was used with the 

well-type detector. The detector can resolve narrow differences 

in emitted gamma energy. The analyst can determine the identity of individual isotopes on the basis of known gamma-ray 

energy emitted during radioactive decay. Quantification of concentration (including that of Ra-224) is possible by determining 

the magnitude of the detector response at known energies. Two 

to three 1,000-minute counts are required for quantification. 

Ra-224 concentration results are comparable whether using the 

barium sulfate or lead sulfate precipitate and whether using the 

high-efficiency well-type or medium-efficiency plate-surface 

detector as long as the counting time after sampling is optimized 

to be most suitable for either approach (Szabo and others, 

1998b). Therefore, both analytical approaches were used interchangeably in this study, depending on instrument availability. 

The long counting times require optimizing instrument availability for any large-volume sampling operation, such as the 

characterization of an extensive aquifer system in this study. 

The alpha-spectrometric technique has been used widely 

to measure many alpha-particle-emitting radionuclides but only 

recently has been used routinely for determination of concentrations of radionuclides of Ra. Improvements in separation, purification, and co-precipitation chemistry (Sill and Williams, 

1981) have allowed the formation of crystals of barium sulfate 

of uniform size. The radium-bearing barium sulfate precipitate 

is placed into a vacuum chamber at a standard distance (determined and fixed within each laboratory to optimize counting 

efficiency on the basis of the detector geometry) from the silicon semiconductor detector. These crystals must be of uniform 

size to ensure that the radium is a uniform distance from the 

detector across the entire precipitate-bearing planchet. The uniform sample geometry maximizes the precision and accuracy of 

the alpha-spectrometric measurement technique for Ra. The 

detector can determine the amount of alpha radiation that is 

emitted at known energies, thereby enabling quantification of 

individual radionuclide concentrations on the basis of the 

known energy of emissions for each radionuclide and the magnitude of the detector response at those energies. The alphaspectrometric determination of Ra-224 concentrations required 

a single count for 100 minutes. 

Radium-226, Radium-228, and Ancillary Constituents 

Concentrations of Ra-226, when not determined by 

gamma spectrometry (Elsinger and others, 1982) or alpha 

spectrometry (Sill and others, 1979), were determined primarily 

by the planchet counting method and in some cases by the radon 

de-emanation method (Krieger and Whittaker, 1980; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1997). Concentrations of Ra-228 

were determined by the beta counting of the ingrown Ac-228 

progeny (Parsa and Hoffman, 1992; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1997) and, in about half of the samples, by 

gamma spectrometry (Elsinger and others, 1982). 

Gross alpha-particle and beta-particle activity were measured within 48 hours of sample collection (maximum allowable, 72 hours), as recommended by USEPA and NJDEP (U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, 2000b; New Jersey Department Environmental Protection, 2002) on the basis of work by 

Parsa (1998) and Szabo and others (1998a), using planchet 

counting with Th-230 and cesium-137 (Cs-137) as the standards. Unlike in the approach used for individual radionuclide 

concentrations, neither gross alpha-particle nor gross betaparticle activity was back-calculated to the time of sample collection because these measurements represent the overall alphaparticle and beta-particle activity of the mix of all the radionuclides present in the sample at the time the measurement was 

made. Unless the concentration of all the radionuclides present 

in the sample is specifically known, time-dependent corrections 

of gross alpha-particle and beta-particle activities cannot be 

made. Concentrations of Rn-222 were also determined by liquid 

scintillation counting within 48 hours of sample collection 
(Pritchard and Gesell, 1977), and concentrations were backcalculated to the time of sample collection. 

Concentrations of non-radioactive inorganic and organic 

constituents were determined by standard methods (Fishman 

and Friedman, 1989). Trace-element concentrations in blank 

samples run through the pumping equipment were determined 

by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) 

(Faires, 1993). 

Reporting of Radionuclide Concentrations 

The raw, unrounded values for all radionuclide concentrations, in picocuries per liter (pCi/L), are reported directly. The 

laboratory also reports the precision estimate (PE), which is 

another term for measurement uncertainty or measurement 

error, computed at two standard deviations (2-Sigma) about the 

count value. 

The 2-Sigma PE is provided by the laboratory for each 

analysis because the rate of radioactive decay varies at any 

instant in time, even if the long-term decay rate as defined by 

the half-life of the radionuclide is stable. All measurements of 

radioactivity, therefore, are associated with a degree of uncertainty, which is known as the counting error. The degree of error 

of the radioactivity measurement defines the minimum confidence interval, which is commonly expressed as two standard 

deviations (two sigma) about the mean–that is, 95 of 100 measurements of radioactivity of the sample would fall within the 

range denoted by the reported radioactivity, plus or minus the 

reported degree of error (PE). 

The laboratory reporting level (LRL) is defined as the minimum quantity of a specific radionuclide that can routinely and 

reliably be quantified under typical instrument operating conditions. These conditions include typical background radioactivity counts, typical volumes of sample analyzed, typical count 

times, and typical sample matrix. The LRL was targeted in a 

range of 0.5 to 1 pCi/L for the individual radionuclides determined in this study. This criterion was met in all cases. The LRL 

for Ra-224 concentration also was in the range from 0.5 to 

1 pCi/L. Concentrations of radionuclides below the LRL in a 

given sample are indicated as less than the LRL (app. 2). The 

LRL of 1 pCi/L could not be obtained for gross alpha-particle 

and gross beta-particle activity because of the low sensitivity of 

the instruments used. The LRLs for gross alpha-particle and 

gross beta-particle activity typically are 3 and 4 pCi/L, respectively. In selected cases, the volume of standard sample aliquots 

for gross alpha-particle and beta-particle analysis was increased 

in order to quantify activity below 3 and 4 pCi/L, respectively. 

Because many of the analytical techniques used in this study are 

still considered to be in the research phase of development, in 

this report the LRL is referred to when evaluating a sample 

result unless otherwise specified. 

Instruments that count radioactivity record both the radioactivity of the water sample and the background radioactivity 

during the time of sample analysis. Quantifying small amounts 

of radiation is difficult because the analytical instruments do 

record background radiation. The radiation emitted from the 

Methods 13 

radionuclide being quantified must be clearly distinguishable 

above the background radiation. Ambient background radiation 

is of considerable concern in gamma-ray measurements (Knoll, 

1989) because gamma rays are attenuated little by travel 

through air; hence, the gamma-ray detector needs to be shielded 

in order to reduce the natural background. Alpha particles, on 

the other hand, are strongly attenuated in air; hence, background 

for the alpha-particle counting instruments typically is very low 

(0.1 pCi/L or less) unless the counting chamber or detector itself 

has been contaminated with alpha-emitting radionuclides from 

a poorly prepared, highly radioactive, or gaseous sample. The 

minimum quantity of a specific radionuclide detected above the 

background level by the counting instrument for any given analysis is defined as the minimum detectable activity; further, the 

counted radioactivity must differ from the background count by 

three times the standard deviation of the counts associated with 

blank samples (Currie, 1968) (includes background plus sample 

matrix effects). This minimum value is computed individually 

for each radionuclide analysis on the basis of the instrument 

operating conditions at the time of analysis. The sample-specific minimum detectable concentration (SSMDC) determined 

by the laboratory for each individual sample is reported (app. 3). 

The analytical and reporting terms for radionuclides are defined 

in the glossary at the back of this report. 

Land-Use Classification and Statistical Analysis 

Level 1 land-use categories of Anderson and others (1976) 

were aggregated into three general classifications: agricultural, 

residential/urban, and undeveloped land. The land use was 

defined in a circular buffer zone with a 500-m radius for sampled wells with a production capacity of 10 gal/min or less and 

a 1,000-m radius for sampled wells with a production capacity 

of more than 10 gal/min. The smaller buffer radius of 500 m 

was used for wells with low pumping rates on the basis of the 

initial protocols proposed by Koterba and others (1995) for this 

type of evaluation. The modification that includes a larger 

buffer radius where buffer radius was assigned on the basis of 

discharge was based on the results of the ground-water flow 

model simulations reported by Stackelberg and others (2000) 

for the aquifer. Their simulation results lend credence to the 

assumption that recharge areas probably are larger for wells 

with large pumping capacity than for those with small 

pumping capacity. 

Another limitation of the circular-fixed-buffer-radius 

method for defining land use in the potential area of recharge to 

the well is encountered when the buffer zone crosses the drainage-basin boundary and extends into one or more adjacent 

drainage basins. Results of ground-water flow model simulations by Stackelberg and others (2000) indicate that a well producing a large volume of water—for example, 1 Mgal/d—may 

draw in some water from small parts of the adjoining basins. 

In the absence of an aquifer-system-wide flow model to test 

each large-volume production well to determine whether crossbasin flow is likely, the simple approach adopted in this study 
14 Occurrence of Radium-224, Radium-226, and Radium-228 in Water of the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer System, Southern N.J. 

was to clip the circular buffer zones where they crossed drainage-basin boundaries; these boundaries included both topographic highs, which serve as surface-water (and ground-water) 

divides, and streams, which serve as zones of ground-water discharge, as demonstrated by the ground-water flow model simulations by Rice and Szabo (1997) and Modica and others 

(1997). This method, even with these modifications, is probably 

over-simplified, because the circular buffer zone does not necessarily coincide wholly with the well’s contributing area; nevertheless, the approach is considered adequate for the initial 

evaluation of the distribution of Ra-224 reported here. It also is 

an adequate method for the initial comparison of Ra-224 distribution with those of Ra-226 and Ra-228 because the initial evaluation of distribution with land use for these radionuclides 

(Kozinski and others, 1995) was done using circular buffer 

zones with an 800-m radius for all wells sampled. 

Sampled wells initially were assigned to one of the three 

land-use categories on the basis of the predominant land use 

(highest percentage) within the assigned buffer zone (table 2a). 

Many of the sampled wells in the population centers in the 

southwestern and northeastern parts of the aquifer (Glassboro 

and Toms River-Metedeconk River-Kettle Creek study areas) 

are associated, however, with a mixed land use of about 30 percent agricultural, 30 percent urban/residential, and 30 percent 

forested/undeveloped land (Kauffman and others, 2001). The 

assigned predominant land use for a case such as just described 

may be biased. Where the three land uses were about equal, this 

predominant-land-use analytical approach was, therefore, not 

considered adequate for use as a tool for initial evaluation and 

to guide subsequent analysis. 

The quality of water intercepted by wells in mixed-landuse areas is most likely to be affected by leachates emanating 

from soil underlying the land-use type where most recharge and 

water flow to the well originates. In southern New Jersey, the 

quality of water intercepted by wells in mixed-land-use areas is 

more likely to be affected by the agricultural and urban/residential land, which typically is found on hillslopes and hilltops 

upgradient from wells (Rice and Szabo, 1997; Kauffman and 

others, 2001), than by forested/undeveloped land, which typically is found near wetlands downgradient from wells. As evidence of the importance of the presence of agricultural land on 

ground-water quality, Stackelberg and others (2000) showed 

that concentrations of nitrate were greater, and pesticides were 

detected more frequently, in samples from wells whose buffer 

zones contained as little as 10 percent agricultural land than in 

samples from wells whose buffer zones contained less than 10 

percent agricultural land. With the use of a geochemical massbalance model, Szabo and others (1997) found that nitrate is the 

major constituent in water derived from agricultural inputs to 

the aquifer. Kozinski and others (1995) and Rice and Szabo 

(1997) have shown that elevated concentrations of Ra-226 and 

Ra-228 are related to the presence of agricultural land and the 

presence of nitrate concentrations greater than 3 or 5 mg/L. 

Additionally, much residential development in southern New 

Jersey occurs on land that was formerly agricultural (Ayers and 

others, 2000), and ground-water quality at depth likely was 

affected by the previous agricultural land use. An implication of 

conversion of agricultural to residential land use is that the 

effects of agricultural land on ground-water quality in many residential areas likely are underestimated when recent land-use 

coverages are used in the analysis. 

Because of these documented effects of agricultural land 

use on water quality, a second land-use classification system 

based on the degree of agricultural and residential development in the vicinity of the sampled wells was designed. This 

approach is termed the “second-tier classification system” using 

the “agricultural gradient land-use approach;” it is similar to the 

approach taken by Ayers and others (2000, fig. 21) to evaluate 

the effects of agricultural and urban land use on streamwater 

quality. Ayers and others (2000) ranked stream basins on the 

basis of the amount of agricultural land in the basin. In the current study, because of the large number of sampled wells and 

the large degree of uncertainty in the extent of the wells’ contributing areas, a grouping system was used, in which the 

groups represent wells with significant but different amounts 

(predominant, abundant, and minor) of agricultural effect in the 

recharge area. In this approach, wells whose buffer zones contained agriculture as the predominant land use (highest percentage) were assigned to the “agriculture-predominant” land-use 

group. Wells were assigned to a mixed agricultural land-use 

subcategory if 10 percent and more of the total buffer area contained agricultural land but agricultural land use was not dominant, or ranged up to 32 percent. This approach is reasonable 

because results of small-scale simulations of ground-water flow 

indicate that water with elevated nitrate and radium concentrations can flow from up-gradient agricultural areas to areas with 

other land use (Rice and Szabo, 1997). By using this gradientbased classification scheme, each of the 37 wells was assigned 

to either the agriculture-predominant (19 wells) or the mixed 

agricultural/residential (18 wells) category (table 2b). 

Table 2b. Summary of land-use classification schemes used in 

this study in southern New Jersey for contributing areas around 

sampled wells 

[%, percent] 

Land-use category 

Number of sites 

(total=88) 

By gradient 

Agriculture-dominant 

Mixed-agriculture-10% to dominant 

19 

18 ] 37 

Urban/residential-dominant 26 26 

Mixed-urban/residential-10% to dominant 

Forested/undeveloped-greater than 90% 

20 

5 ] 25 

By predominance 

Agriculture-dominant 19 

Urban/residential-dominant 36 

Forested/undeveloped-dominant 33 
Occurrence of Radium-224, Other Radionuclides, and Gross Alpha-Particle Activity 15 

More than half of the 51 remaining wells were located in 

areas that consisted of less than 10 percent agricultural land and 

where residential/urban land not only was the dominant landuse type but accounted for more than 50 percent of the total land 

area within the assigned buffer zone. These wells (26) were 

classified as residential/urban-dominated. Twenty wells were 

located in areas where forested/undeveloped land was the dominant land-use type but where residential/urban land constituted 

from 10 to 30 percent of the total land area within the buffer 

zone. Wells for which undeveloped land is dominant in the 

buffer zone but residential/urban land is also present were categorized as mixed undeveloped/residential. Residential land, 

like agricultural land, is found most commonly on hilltops and 

slopes upgradient from wells, whereas forested/undeveloped 

land typically is located downgradient from wells and commonly is associated with wetlands. The category that contained 

the smallest number of wells (5), the undeveloped category, 

consisted of wells whose buffer zones contained 90 percent or 

more forested/undeveloped land. The buffer zones of some of 

these wells also contained either residential or agricultural landupgradient from the wells. Wells 330907 and 330908, for example, are in forested parkland but large agricultural fields are 

present upgradient. Water samples from these two wells contained high concentrations of nitrate, likely derived from the 

agricultural land more than 500 m upgradient from the wells. 

Because 88 wells were assigned to five land-use categories, 

some of the groups contained fewer than 20 wells. Some of the 

categories were combined so that each would contain a minimum of approximately the 20 samples recommended to be necessary for statistical testing of group distributions (Helsel and 

Hirsch, 1992). The agriculture-predominant and mixed agricultural/residential land-use groups were combined and the mixed 

residential/forested (with forested land dominant) and forested/ 

undeveloped land-use groups were combined. Thus, the 88 

wells were classified as follows: 37 agricultural plus mixed 

agricultural/other, 26 residential/urban-dominated, and 25 

mixed undeveloped/residential plus undeveloped (table 2b). 

These three groups were sufficiently close in size to be considered adequate for statistical-testing purposes. 

Relations among concentrations of Ra-224, Ra-226, 

Ra-228, and other inorganic constituents were characterized by 

use of Spearman correlations. This test is a non-parametric statistical technique that determines the co-linearity of the ranked 

values of two continuous variables (Helsel and Hirsch, 1992). 

Results of the statistical tests were considered significant at the 

95-percent confidence level. At this confidence level, the implication is that the sampling, if repeated 100 times, would result 

in a correlation among the variables 95 times; in other words, 

there is only 1 chance in 20 of obtaining the correlation by 

chance. Comparisons of concentration distributions between 

groups of Ra-isotope and inorganic-constituent data were made 

using the Wilcoxon rank-sum nonparametric test, the KruskallWallis nonparametric test, and the Tukey-Kramer multiple 

comparison test, all of which are based on the ranked concentration data (Helsel and Hirsch, 1992). The Wilcoxon rank-sum 

test, which is used to determine whether the distributions of two 

sample populations are the same or different, was used to determine whether concentrations of radionuclides differed between 

two classes of data. For example, analysis results from the 

northern outcrop areas (Burlington County and north, centered 

around the Toms-Metedeconk River area) and the southern outcrop areas (Camden County and south, centered around the 

Glassboro study area) were compared in this manner. The 

Kruskall-Wallis test was used to determine whether concentrations of Ra-224 differed among sites located in areas of differing land use. This procedure is used to determine whether two 

or more sample populations are identical by testing the null 

hypothesis that the individual group mean rank is identical to 

that for the entire dataset. If the null hypothesis was rejected 

(groups differed from the overall population data set), then the 

Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison test was used to determine 

which of the population rank means differed significantly from 

one another.

 For relational statistics, results of water-quality analyses 

of samples from two wells (330817 and 330818) were not 

included because the inorganic water chemistry was not representative of the water collected from the other 86 wells in the 

study. Water from both these wells contained high concentrations of chloride, calcium, and potassium, and water from well 

330818 also contained a high concentration of sodium. These 

wells were near roadways and may have been contaminated 

with road salt. Well 330817 also was near a lime stockpile, 

which may be the source of the elevated calcium concentrations. The anomalous data from the samples from these two 

wells strongly affected the magnitude of the correlation coefficients. For the Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison test, two 

additional analysis results—those for the samples from wells 

330907 and 330908—also were excluded from the analysis 

because these wells, although located in forested land, were 

downgradient from large agricultural fields; consequently, the 

samples from these wells contained highly elevated concentrations of nitrate, a compound typically leached to ground water 

from agricultural soils. 

Occurrence of Radium-224, Other 

Radionuclides, and Gross Alpha-Particle 

Activity 

Concentrations of Ra-224, Ra-226, Ra-228, Rn-222, other 

radionuclides, and gross alpha-particle and beta-particle activity in the 88 ground-water samples are presented in appendix 3; 

concentrations of ancillary inorganic constituents are presented 

in appendix 4. Concentrations of Ra-224, Ra-226, and Ra-228 

often were determined by more than one technique; results for 

all measurement techniques are listed in appendix 3, and the 

concentration used for statistical and mapping purposes is 

printed in bold type. Concentrations of the radium radionuclides determined by more than one technique could not 

be distinguished on the basis of the precision estimate (PE). 
16 Occurrence of Radium-224, Radium-226, and Radium-228 in Water of the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer System, Southern N.J. 

Locations of the sampled wells and the distribution of Ra-224 

are shown in figure 3. The frequency of occurrence of specified 

concentrations, distributional statistics, relations among parameters, and statistically significant differences in pH and concentrations of radionuclides and selected major ions among aquifer-region and land-use groups are reported in tables 3, 4, 5, and 

6, respectively. 

Table 3. Percentage of samples in which the concentration of 

radium radionuclides equaled or exceeded the specified concentration, Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 

1997-99 

[Total number of samples = 88; pCi/L, picocuries per liter] 

Percentage of samples in which 

Radionuclide concentration equaled or exceeded: 

1 pCi/L 3 pCi/L 5 pCi/L 

Radium-224 76 32 13 

Radium-226 69 23 9 

Radium-228 74 20 10 

Radium-226+Radium-228 82 49 30 

Radium-224 

Radium-224 was detected at concentrations greater than 

1.0 pCi/L in 67 (76 percent) of the 88 samples of water from the 

Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system (table 3, app. 3); concentrations ranged from less than 0.5 pCi/L to 16.8 pCi/L, with 

a median of 2.1 pCi/L and interquartile range from 1.2 to 

3.7 pCi/L (table 4). A histogram of Ra-224 concentrations indicates that 7 percent (6 of 88) are greater than 10 pCi/L, 12.5 percent (11 of 88) are greater than 5 pCi/L, and 32 percent (28 of 

88) are greater than or equal to 3 pCi/L (fig. 4). The Ra-224 concentration was highest (16.8 pCi/L) in a sample from a mediumdepth (61 ft below land surface) observation well (011274) in 

an agricultural area of western Atlantic County (fig. 3). The 

remaining five samples in which Ra-224 concentrations 

exceeded 10 pCi/L were from agricultural areas in Camden, 

Cumberland, and Salem Counties (fig. 3). At least one well 

from each county in which five or more wells were sampled 

produced water with a Ra-224 concentration less than 1 pCi/L; 

wells producing water with low and high concentrations of 

Ra-224 generally were interspersed. 

Radium-226 and Radium-228 

The concentrations of Ra-226 and Ra-228 in the 88 water 

samples ranged from less than 0.5 to 17.4 pCi/L (median, 

1.7 pCi/L; interquartile range, 0.9-2.9 pCi/L) and less than 

0.5 to 12.8 pCi/L (median, 1.6 pCi/L; interquartile range 0.9­

2.6 pCi/L), respectively (table 4). Most of the samples contained Ra-226 and Ra-228 in about equal concentrations 

(app. 3). At a few wells (about 10 of 88), the concentration of 

either Ra-226 or Ra-228 substantially exceeded the concentration of the other; a similar observation was made by Kozinski 

and others (1995). As selected examples, the concentration of 

Ra-228 was substantially greater than that of Ra-226 in water 

from wells 011277, 110923, 110937, and 330907 (4.69 and 

0.99, 7.70 and 3.50, 7.07 and <1.0, and 11.3 and 6.38 pCi/L, 

respectively), whereas the concentration of Ra-226 was much 

greater than that of Ra-228 in water from wells 110816, 111013, 

290496, and 330908 (5.32 and 2.22, 8.38 and 2.87, 3.40 and 

1.16, and 12.63 and 7.22 pCi/L, respectively). 

Concentrations of combined Ra in the water samples 

ranged from less than 1 pCi/L to 30.2 pCi/L, with a median of 

3.2 pCi/L (interquartile range, 2.0-5.6 pCi/L). Concentrations in 

26 samples (30 percent) exceeded the MCL of 5 pCi/L (table 3); 

this percentage is nearly identical to that determined by Szabo 

and dePaul (1998) (33 percent) using data from a larger sample 

set. Of the 26 samples, 24 also contained Ra-224 at concentrations greater than or equal to 3 pCi/L. The highest concentration 

of combined radium measured (30.2 pCi/L) was in a sample 

from the same medium-depth (61 ft below land surface) observation well (011274) in western Atlantic County that produced 

the water with the highest Ra-224 concentration (fig. 3). Each 

of the 10 samples with Ra-224 concentrations of 5 pCi/L or 

greater also contained combined radium at a concentration 

greater than 5 pCi/L. Nine percent of the samples (8 of 88) 

contained combined radium at concentrations greater than 

10 pCi/L, and 49 percent (43 of 88) contained 3 pCi/L or greater 

(table 3). On the other hand, the concentration of combined 

radium was less than1 pCi/L in 18 percent of the samples (16 of 

88); both Ra-226 and Ra-228 concentrations were less than 

1 pCi/L in 15 of the 21 samples in which the Ra-224 concentration also was less than 1.0 pCi/L. 

Gross Alpha-Particle Activity 

Gross alpha-particle activities ranged from 1.37 to 

77.3 pCi/L, with a median of 14.9 pCi/L (interquartile range 

6.8-23.9 pCi/L). This result indicates that gross alpha-particle 

activity exceeded the MCL in nearly 50 percent of the 88 samples. Gross alpha-particle activity was highest (77.3 pCi/L) in a 

sample from a well (070737) in an agricultural area of southern 

Camden County (fig. 3). Gross alpha-particle activity exceeded 

70 pCi/L in 3 of the 88 samples, 50 pCi/L in 6, and 30 pCi/L in 

13 of the 88 samples. The concentration of combined radium 

was greater than the 5 pCi/L MCL in all 13 of these samples. 

Gross alpha-particle activity was greater than 15 pCi/L in 24 of 

the 25 samples in which the concentration of combined radium 

exceeded 5 pCi/L; the gross alpha-particle activity in the sole 

remaining sample (from well 291350) was 14.4 pCi/L. 

Gross alpha-particle and beta-particle activities were less 

than the respective LRLs in nearly 10 and 15 percent of 

samples, respectively. Unless otherwise specified, the LRL 

generally was used to evaluate analysis results for gross alphaparticle and gross beta-particle activity; in selected cases, 
Occurrence of Radium-224, Other Radionuclides, and Gross Alpha-Particle Activity 17 

Table 4. Statistical summary of radionuclide, selected major-ion and trace-element concentrations and pH in water samples from the 

Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99: (a) for the complete data set, (b) by region, and (c) by land-use classification (gradient method). 

[Concentration units: radionuclides, (radium-224, radium-226, radium-228, radium-226 + radium=228, gross alpha- and beta-particle activity, radon-222), 

picocuries per liter; pH, standard units; major ions (nitrate + nitrite, calcium, magnesium, potassium), milligrams per liter; trace elements (barium, strontium), 

micrograms per liter. <, less than] 

Concentration 

Constituent Number 

of 

samples 

Minimum 10th 

percentile 

25th 

percentile 

Median 75th 

percentile 

90th 

percentile 

Maximum 

Arithmetic 

mean 

Standard 

deviation 

Radium-224 88 <0.5 0.5 1.2 2.1 3.7 7.1 16.8 3.0 3.1 

Radium-226 88 <.5 <.5 .9 1.7 2.9 4.8 17.4 2.3 2.7 

Radium-228 88 <.5 <.5 .9 1.6 2.6 5.4 12.8 2.2 2.3 

Radium-226 + Radium-228 88 <1 <1 2.0 3.2 5.6 9.4 30.2 4.6 4.7 

Gross alpha-particle activity 88 <3 3.3 6.8 14.9 23.9 39.0 77.3 18.5 16.7 

Gross beta-particle activity 88 <4 <4 5.6 8.7 15.4 24.0 57.2 12.0 10.3 

Radon-222 77 52.0 124.0 191.0 237.0 362.0 511.0 1,007.0 294.9 198.4 

pH 88 4.1 4.3 4.5 4.7 4.9 5.1 5.8 4.7 .3 

Nitrate plus nitrite 88 <.05 .1 1.0 2.5 5.1 11.2 23.7 4.2 5.0 

Calcium 87 .1 .8 1.5 3.3 5.5 16.0 32.5 5.6 7.0 

Magnesium 87 .3 .8 1.3 2.6 3.7 7.3 14.7 3.4 3.0 

Potassium 86 .2 .8 1.1 2.0 2.8 5.4 11.3 2.6 2.2 

Barium 74 14.5 27.0 45.9 66.7 104.2 178.0 779.2 97.3 113.4 

Strontium 81 2.7 9.6 15.5 24.9 48.0 78.0 149.7 37.1 32.0 

Concentration 

Constituent Number 

of 

samples 

Minimum 10th 

percentile 

25th 

percentile 

Median 75th 

percentile 

90th 

percentile 

Maximum 

Arithmetic 

mean 

Standard 

deviation 

Northern outcrop 

Radium-224 36 <0.5 0.6 1.2 1.9 2.5 3.2 3.6 1.8 0.9 

Radium-226 36 <.5 .6 .9 1.3 1.9 2.9 3.4 1.5 .8 

Radium-228 36 <.5 <.5 .8 1.4 1.8 2.3 2.4 1.3 .7 

Combined radium 36 <1 <1 2.0 2.8 3.6 4.6 5.6 2.8 1.3 

Gross alpha 36 <3 4.3 6.8 12.7 15.4 20.0 28.3 12.3 6.5 

Gross beta 32 < 4 <4 4.4 7.3 9.0 11.3 16.2 7.0 3.5 

Radon-222 30 91.0 142.0 193.0 219.5 286.0 444.5 1,007.0 271.5 172.7 

pH 36 4.2 4.3 4.7 4.8 4.9 5.1 5.4 4.8 .3 

Nitrate plus nitrite 36 <.05 .1 .8 1.2 1.9 3.2 5.0 1.5 1.2 

Calcium 36 .1 .4 1.0 1.6 3.8 5.5 6.8 2.5 2.0 

Magnesium 36 .3 .7 1.1 2.2 2.9 3.5 4.8 2.1 1.1 

Potassium 35 .5 .8 1.0 1.9 2.5 3.5 5.4 2.0 1.3 

Barium 28 14.5 2.0 30.3 46.9 68.2 80.5 154.5 51.6 29.9 

Strontium 34 2.7 5.5 12.4 19.5 27.1 32.5 77.9 21.1 14.3 

Southern outcrop 

Radium-224 52 <.5 .5 0.9 2.6 4.5 11.0 16.8 3.8 3.8 

Radium-226 52 <.5 <.5 .8 1.9 3.7 5.7 17.4 2.9 3.3 

Radium-228 52 <.5 <.5 1.0 2.0 3.4 7.1 12.8 2.9 2.8 

Combined radium 52 <1 <1 1.9 4.4 7.6 11.5 30.2 5.8 5.8 

Gross alpha 52 <3 2.6 6.7 18.8 31.6 50.5 77.3 22.8 20.0 

Gross beta 50 <4 <4 6.9 12.2 19.7 31.5 57.2 15.3 11.8 

Radon-222 47 52.0 104.0 184.0 249.0 387.0 585.0 990.0 309.8 213.6 

pH 52 4.1 4.4 4.4 4.6 4.9 5.0 5.8 4.7 .3 

Nitrate plus nitrite 52 <.05 .2 2.5 4.7 7.2 12.9 23.7 6.0 5.8 

Calcium 51 .4 1.1 2.7 4.6 9.0 21.2 32.5 7.8 8.3 

Magnesium 51 .3 .9 1.9 3.3 6.0 9.4 14.7 4.3 3.6 

Potassium 51 .2 .9 1.5 2.1 3.0 7.0 11.3 2.9 2.6 

Barium 46 16.2 33.8 53.6 78.7 135.0 287.8 779.2 125.1 135.0 

Strontium 47 6.4 11.3 19.1 37.4 70.0 119.2 149.7 48.7 36.2 
18 Occurrence of Radium-224, Radium-226, and Radium-228 in Water of the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer System, Southern N.J. 

Table 4. Statistical summary of radionuclide, selected major-ion and trace-element concentrations and pH in water samples from the 

Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99: (a) for the complete data set, (b) by region, and (c) by land-use classification (gradient method).—Continued 

Concentration 

Constituent Number 

of 

samples 

Minimum 10th 

percentile 

25th 

percentile 

Median 75th 

percentile 

90th 

percentile 

Maximum 

Arithmetic 

mean 

Standard 

deviation 

Agricultural/mixed agriculture 

Radium-224 37 <0.5 0.7 1.6 2.5 4.0 8.3 16.8 3.7 3.7 

Radium-226 37 <.5 .6 1.1 2.1 3.5 5.7 17.4 3.1 3.3 

Radium-228 37 <.5 <.5 1.3 2.1 3.1 6.7 12.8 2.8 2.7 

Combined radium 37 <1 1.1 2.3 4.4 7.5 11.5 30.2 6.0 5.7 

Gross alpha 37 <3 4.3 8.5 16.2 31.3 54.4 77.3 23.4 20.2 

Gross beta 36 <4 5.2 7.2 13.3 19.9 28.0 57.2 15.8 11.8 

Radon-222 33 52.0 124.0 191.0 249.0 379.0 511.0 982.0 301.5 203.8 

pH 37 4.1 4.3 4.5 4.6 4.8 5.1 5.8 4.7 0.3 

Nitrate plus nitrite 37 <.05 1.1 3.0 4.8 7.3 12.9 22.6 6.2 5.2 

Calcium 37 .4 1.6 2.9 4.8 8.8 24.8 32.5 8.6 9.1 

Magnesium 37 .8 1.4 2.3 3.5 6.0 9.4 14.7 4.6 3.3 

Potassium 37 .9 1.3 1.8 2.4 3.5 7.9 11.3 3.4 2.7 

Barium 34 30.0 48.4 59.0 78.7 135.0 254.0 441.5 128.3 142.4 

Strontium 34 5.5 17.3 22.3 36.7 63.2 90.7 149.7 48.6 34.4 

Urban/residential 

Radium-224 26 <0.5 0.5 1.3 2.0 2.7 4.6 11.1 2.5 2.3 

Radium-226 26 <.5 .5 .9 1.4 2.1 3.4 5.3 1.7 1.2 

Radium-228 26 <.5 <.5 .9 1.6 1.8 3.9 7.1 1.8 1.5 

Combined radium 26 <1 <1 1.9 3.1 4.5 6.7 9.4 3.5 2.2 

Gross alpha 26 <3 3.6 6.9 14.0 22.1 27.2 38.8 15.1 9.5 

Gross beta 24 <4 <4 6.8 8.1 12.2 16.8 24.9 9.4 5.4 

Radon-222 25 91.0 137.0 190.0 230.0 307.0 412.0 1,007.0 275.2 181.4 

pH 26 4.4 4.4 4.6 4.8 4.9 5.0 5.2 4.8 .2 

Nitrate plus nitrite 26 .3 .8 1.2 2.2 3.2 5.3 12.2 2.9 2.5 

Calcium 25 .6 1.1 1.5 3.0 4.3 6.2 10.9 3.5 2.5 

Magnesium 25 .9 1.1 2.0 2.9 3.5 4.3 12.3 3.0 2.2 

Potassium 25 .8 .8 1.2 1.9 2.7 5.3 6.1 2.4 1.6 

Barium 20 19.0 29.3 36.6 61.4 90.3 141.5 189.2 72.1 44.8 

Strontium 23 9.7 14.6 16.1 24.6 42.0 77.9 121.7 34.9 28.3 

Mixed-undeveloped/residential plus undeveloped 

Radium-224 25 <0.5 <0.5 0.6 1.5 2.6 3.9 11.7 2.4 2.9 

Radium-226 25 <.5 <.5 .7 1.2 1.9 3.1 12.6 1.9 2.6 

Radium-228 25 <.5 <.5 .6 1.3 1.7 3.0 11.3 1.8 2.4 

Combined radium 25 <1 <1 1.2 2.4 3.3 5.5 19.9 3.7 4.8 

Gross alpha 25 <3 <3 4.6 12.3 17.9 28.3 65.5 14.8 15.4 

Gross beta 22 <4 <4 <4 5.7 8.6 15.4 41.2 8.8 10.2 

Radon-222 19 101.0 104.0 192.0 223.0 369.0 585.0 990.0 309.2 1.9 

pH 25 4.3 4.3 4.4 4.8 4.9 5.1 5.8 4.8 .4 

Nitrate plus nitrite 25 <.05 <.05 .1 .8 1.6 2.7 23.7 2.5 5.7 

Calcium 25 .1 .3 .8 1.1 3.5 9.0 16.1 3.3 4.4 

Magnesium 25 .3 .3 .7 1.1 2.3 2.7 13.5 2.1 2.8 

Potassium 24 .2 .5 .7 1.0 2.2 2.5 2.9 1.4 .8 

Barium 20 14.5 17.3 22.0 44.7 57.3 184.2 385.1 69.7 94.7 

Strontium 24 2.7 5.0 8.7 11.9 27.4 48.0 122.3 23.0 26.4 
Occurrence of Radium-224, Other Radionuclides, and Gross Alpha-Particle Activity 19 

Table 5. Spearman rank correlation coefficients for relations of Radium-224, Radium-226, and Radium-228 concentrations to concentrations of selected constituents in water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99 

[All coefficients shown are significant at the 95-percent confidence level; -- indicates that the correlation coefficient is not significant at the 95-percent confidence 

level] 

Radionuclide 

Gross 

alphaparticle 

activity 

Gross 

betaparticle 

activity 

Radium224 Radium226 Radium228 Combined 

radium pH 

Nitrate 

plus 

nitrite 

Calcium Magnesium 

Radium-224 + 0.89 + 0.87 1 + 0.74 + 0.91 + 0.88 - 0.36 + 0.56 + 0.48 + 0.65 

Radium-226 + .77 + .71 + .74 1 + .79 + .91 -- + .61 + .33 + .59 

Radium-228 + .83 + .85 + .91 + .77 1 + .95 - .38 + .60 + .43 + .64 

Table 6. Significance levels for Kruskal-Wallis statistical tests 

comparing concentrations of radionuclides, concentrations of 

selected inorganic ions, and pH by region (northern and southern 

outcrop) and land-use groups (by predominance: agricultural, 

residential, and undeveloped), Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, 

southern New Jersey, 1997-99 

[Statistical test result significant at the 95-percent confidence level indicating 

differences among the groups is shown in bold print] 

Constituent Region Land use 

Radium-224 0.0213 0.0308

Radium-226 .0413 .0069

Radium-228 .0042 .0085

Radium-226 + radium-228 .0054 .0043

Gross alpha-particle activity .0144 .0405

Gross beta-particle activity .0003 .0010

Radon-222 .3996 .7988 

pH .0310 .2561 

Nitrate plus nitrite .0001 .0001

Calcium .0005 .0012

Magnesium .0034 .0001

however, standard sample aliquots for these analyses were 

increased in order to quantify activity below the 3- and 4-pCi/L 

LRLs, respectively (app. 3). Gross alpha-particle activity was 

lowest (1.37 pCi/L) in the sample from well 111011; the concentrations of Ra-224, Ra-226, and Ra-228 were all 0.25 pCi/L 

or less in water from this well, constituting the lowest concentration of total radium in the 88 samples. 

Quality-Assurance Results 

The maximum difference between analytical results for 

concentrations of Ra-224 in the 22 split samples for any pair 

was 0.8 pCi/L. Concentrations in all but four of the pairs overlapped within the bounds of one standard deviation PE as 

defined by the counting error. Relative percent differences 

(RPD) for raw, unrounded values of the sample pairs ranged 

from 0 to 34 percent; RPDs generally increased as concentrations approached the LRL of 0.5 pCi/L. The maximum difference between analytical results for the five sample pairs for 

sequential replicates analyzed at the same laboratory was 

0.6 pCi/L. The RPDs for these samples ranged from 8 to 

25 percent. These results indicate that the Ra-224 concentration 

results are about equally precise and repeatable as results of 

other standard radionuclide analyses (Krieger and Whittaker, 

1980; Parsa and Hoffman, 1992). 

Sample contamination at the 1.0-pCi/L level was not 

detected in any pumping equipment blank sample for any 

radionuclide determined (app. 2). This result indicates that 

samples were not contaminated with radionuclides during any 

step of the sample-collection, sample-handling, and sampleanalysis process. 

Similarly, sample contamination at the 1-μg/L level was 

not detected for a host of trace elements used as indicators of 

various modes of sample contamination. Sample contamination 

was not noted for mercury, lead, or copper, which are typical 

aerosol contaminants, indicating that samples were not contaminated with aerosols in either field or laboratory handling 

(app. 2). Furthermore, no contamination with pump components such as chromium, nickel, molybdenum, and iron (Ivahnenko and others, 2001) was detected, indicating that sample 

contamination resulting from contact with pumping equipment 

did not occur or was minimal. Concentrations of manganese 

exceeded 1 μg/L in one pumping-equipment blank sample. Subsequent analysis of the associated tubing-and-filter blank sample indicated the absence of manganese at this concentration 

level, thereby indicating that the pump was the likely source of 

the manganese. This result is consistent with those obtained for 

pumping-equipment blank samples by Ivahnenko and others 

(2001). Several (8) blank samples showed minor contamination 

with boron and (or) aluminum. Boron may be an artifact of the 

acid preservative that was stored in borosilicate glass ampules, 

and concentrations of aluminum persistently are biased high at 

the analytical laboratory (Faires, 1993). 
20 Occurrence of Radium-224, Radium-226, and Radium-228 in Water of the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer System, Southern N.J. 

25 

20 

15 

10 

5 

0 

Total number of samples = 88 

3 or greater: 29 (33 percent) 

5 or greater: 11 (13 percent) 

6 or greater: 10 (11 percent) 

9 or greater: 6 (7 percent) 

Concentration (pCi/L)--

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 

RADIUM-224 CONCENTRATION, IN PICOCURIES PER LITER (pCi/L) 

Figure 4. Radium-224 concentrations in water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer NUMBER OF SAMPLES 

system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99. 

Overall, analysis of the quality-assurance samples demonstrates that the water samples generally were free of random 

low-level sample contamination resulting from sample handling in the field and laboratory. Detection of trace concentrations of possible contaminants from pump components in the 

absence of detectable radionuclides in the blank samples indicates that, although low-level trace-element concentration 

results must be interpreted carefully, random contamination 

with radionuclides during sample handling is not of concern. 

Factors Affecting Distribution of Radium-224 

Radium-224 was detected at concentrations greater than 

1.0 pCi/L in 67 of the 88 samples of water from the KirkwoodCohansey aquifer system. The detection frequency of Ra-224 

was substantial at the 3 pCi/L, 5 pCi/L and 10 pCi/L levels 

(28, 11, and 6 of the 88 samples, respectively) (fig. 4). The 

occurrence, mobility, and distribution of Ra-224 are related to 

the presence of other constituents and to the physical characteristics of the aquifer system outcrop area. 

Other Radioactive Constituents 

Concentrations of Ra-224 were significantly correlated 

with those of Ra-228 (r = 0.91), Ra-226 (r = 0.74), and combined radium (r = 0.88) (table 5; fig. 5). The strong correlation 

with concentrations of Ra-228 is not surprising given that both 

radionuclides are part of the same decay series (the Th-232 

series) and that Ra-228 decays indirectly, through Ac-228 and 

Th-228, to Ra-224 (fig. 1). The degree of correlation between 

concentrations of Ra-224 and Ra-226 is similar to the degree of 

correlation between concentrations of Ra-228 and Ra-226 (r = 

0.77). This value closely matches the previously determined 

correlation coefficients of 0.75 and 0.67 reported for water from 

the aquifer by Kozinski and others (1995) and Szabo and others 

(1997), respectively. Concentrations of radium isotopes are 

strongly correlated because all are mobile under the same chemical conditions (Zapecza and Szabo, 1988) and because radium 

radionuclides can be mobilized as a result of radionuclide recoil 

effects (Fleischer, 1980). Moreover, both Ra-226 and Ra-228 

are present in the aquifer materials (Szabo and others, 1997); 

concentrations of Ra-226 and Ra-228 each range from less than 

0.1 to about 0.8 pCi/g of aquifer sediment. This occurrence in 

the sediment is a likely reason for concurrence in the water. 
1:5 

Factors Affecting Distribution of Radium-224 21 

RADIUM-224 CONCENTRATION,

IN PICOCURIES PER LITER20 

0 20 40 60 80 

GROSS ALPHA-PARTICLE ACTIVITY, 

IN PICOCURIES PER LITER 

a 

20 

0 5 10 15 20 

RADIUM-228 CONCENTRATION, 

IN PICOCURIES PER LITER 

b 

20 

1:1 

15 15 15 

10 10 10

5 5 5 

0 0 0 

0 5 10 15 20 

RADIUM-226 CONCENTRATION, 

IN PICOCURIES PER LITER 

1:1 

c 

Figure 5. Relation of radium-224 concentrations to (a) gross alpha-particle activity, (b) radium-228 concentration and (c) radium-226 

concentration in water from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99. 

Radium-224 is an alpha-particle-emitting radionuclide that generally is present at the highest concentration of any radioisotope 

in water samples from the aquifer; the Ra-224 concentration 

was greater than both the Ra-226 and the Ra-228 concentrations 

in 52 (59 percent) of the 88 samples. Thus, a strong, significant 

correlation is expected between concentrations of Ra-224 and 

gross alpha-particle activity. Concentrations of Ra-224 were 

significantly correlated with gross alpha-particle activities 

determined within 48 hours of sample collection (Spearman 

rank correlation coefficient r = 0.89) (table 5). The ratio of gross 

alpha-particle activity to Ra-224 concentration was approximately 5:1 (fig. 5). 

pH 

Concentrations of Ra-224 generally were highest in the 

samples with the lowest pH and exhibited a moderately strong, 

statistically significant inverse relation to pH (r =-0.36; table 5). 

The importance of low pH in mobilizing radium can be verified 

by examining the distribution of elevated concentrations of Ra 

with respect to pH. The median pH of the 88 samples in this 

study was 4.7. Results of the Wilcoxon test indicate that concentrations of Ra-224 and combined Ra and gross alpha-particle activities in samples whose pH exceeded the median were 

statistically different from those in samples where the pH was 

less than this value; in all cases, the concentrations or activities 

were highest in the group with the lowest pH. Of the 46 samples 

with a pH less than or equal to 4.7, 22 (48 percent) contained 

Ra-224 at concentrations of 3 pCi/L or greater. Of this same 

subset of samples, 19 (41 percent) also contained combined Ra 

at concentrations that exceeded the 5-pCi/L MCL. Furthermore, 

of the 28 samples (32 percent of the 88) that contained Ra-224 

at a concentration greater than or equal to 3 pCi/L, 21 (75 percent) had a pH less than or equal to 4.7 (fig. 6), 24 (83 percent) 

had a pH of 4.8 or less, and all but 1 had a pH less than 5.0. 

All 10 samples in which the Ra-224 concentration exceeded 

5 pCi/L had a pH less than 5, and 8 (80 percent) had a pH less 

than or equal to 4.7. In contrast, only 19 percent (8 of 42) of the 

samples with a pH greater than 4.7 contained Ra-224 at concentrations of 3 pCi/L or greater, and the same percentage contained combined Ra at concentrations of 5 pCi/L or greater. 

Only one (7 percent) of the 15 samples that had a pH greater 

than 5 also contained Ra-224 at a concentration greater than 

3 pCi/L (well 110002; pH, 5.1; Ra-224, 4.5 pCi/L; combined 

Ra, 6.3 pCi/L). Water from this well previously was found to 

have a pH of 5.1 and combined Ra of 5.2 pCi/L (Kozinski and 

others, 1995), indicating that this well is consistently intercepting water that contains abundant Ra but is slightly less acidic 

than the typical Ra-rich water from the aquifer. Only two samples that contained combined radium at a concentration greater 

than 5 pCi/L had a pH greater than 5 (fig. 6); the pH values were 

5.1 and 5.5 (wells 291131 and 050161, respectively). 

As pH decreases, all isotopes of radium (including 

Ra-224) become more mobile because the hydrogen ions 

compete effectively with radium for the available sorption or 

exchange sites (Szabo and others, 1997). Because the sorption 

and exchange capacity of the sediments that make up the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system is extremely low, even a small 

increase in free hydrogen-ion content (decrease in pH) can 

result in a substantially diminished sorption (and exchange) 

capacity. The quartzose aquifer materials are virtually nonreactive and provide minimal buffering capacity; therefore, any 

chemical reaction that produces hydrogen ion can result in a 

large and rapid decrease in pH. 
4.00-4.39

4.40-4.594.60-4.794.80-4.995.00-5.79 

4.00-4.394.40-4.594.60-4.794.80-4.995.00-5.79 

22 Occurrence of Radium-224, Radium-226, and Radium-228 in Water of the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer System, Southern N.J. 

30 30

EXPLANATION 

NUMBER OF SAMPLES

40 

61 37 

19 

7 

a 

33 

50 37 

29 

7 

b 

20 

10 

Number of samples in which (a) the 20 

concentration of radium-224 was 

greater than or equal to 3 pCi/L; 

(b) the concentration of combined 

radium was greater than or equal 

to 5 pCi/L 

Number of samples in which (a) the 

10 

0 concentration of radium-224 was 

less than 3 pCi/L; (b) the concentration 

of combined radium was less than 5 pCi/L 

40	 Percentage of samples in which (a) the 

concentration of radium-224 was greater 

than or equal to 3 pCi/L; (b) the concentration 

of combined radium was greater than or 

equal to 5 pCi/L 

0 

pH, IN STANDARD UNITS pH, IN STANDARD UNITS 

Figure 6. Number of water samples in which (a) the concentration of radium-224 was greater than or equal to 3 pCi/L and (b) the concentration 

of combined radium was greater than or equal to 5 pCi/L as a function of pH, Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99. 

Geography 

Concentrations of Ra-224, Ra-226, and Ra-228 varied 

geographically; concentrations were greater in samples from 

the southern part of the aquifer outcrop area (median concentrations 2.6, 1.9, and 2.0 pCi/L, respectively) than in samples 

from the northern part (median concentrations 1.9, 1.3, and 

1.4 pCi/L, respectively). The northern part of the outcrop area 

includes Burlington and Ocean Counties. The southern part of 

the outcrop area includes Atlantic, Camden, Cumberland, 

Gloucester, and Salem Counties. 

Concentrations of Ra-224 in 24 (45 percent) of the 53 samples from the southern part of the aquifer outcrop area exceeded 

3 pCi/L, and concentrations of combined radium in 23 (43 percent) exceeded the 5-pCi/L MCL. Concentrations of Ra-224 in 

11 samples from this part of the outcrop area exceeded 5 pCi/L; 

concentrations of combined radium and gross alpha-particle 

activities in these 11 samples exceeded their respective MCLs. 

All 11 samples were from wells in the southernmost part of the 

study area-western Atlantic, southern Camden, northern Cumberland, and eastern Salem Counties (figs. 3 and 8). 

In the northern part of the study area, the samples in which 

the concentrations of Ra-224, Ra-226, and Ra-228 were highest 

were from wells centered in northeastern Ocean County 

(figs. 3a, 3b, 7, 8a, and 8b). The effect of Ra-224 on gross alphaparticle activity in the northern part of the outcrop area is sufficiently great that gross alpha-particle activities in 15 samples 

from this region (analyzed within 48 hours of collection) were 

greater than or equal to the 15-pCi/L MCL (fig. 8), whereas 

gross alpha-particle activities in all water samples collected 

prior to 1997 and analyzed about 30 days after sample collection were less than 15 pCi/L. In the current study, the wells that 

yielded water in which gross alpha-particle activity exceeded 

the MCL are in Dover, Manchester, and Lakewood Townships 

in Ocean County (fig. 7), an area that includes parts of the Toms 

River and Kettle Creek drainage basins (fig. 8). Concentrations 

of combined radium were greater than the 5-pCi/L MCL in 

three samples. The area of occurrence of elevated radioactivity 

that originated primarily from Ra-226 and Ra-228 and thus was 

detectable before 1997 was in selected areas in one county 

(Ocean), as opposed to the four-county area of radioactive water 

in the southern part of the aquifer outcrop area described above 

(fig. 8). In the current study, 4 stream basins (HUC11) in the 

northern portion of the aquifer have yielded at least one sample 

in which various criteria for radioactivity were exceeded, as 

opposed to 12 in the southern portion (fig. 9). Four samples in 

these stream basins in the northern part of the outcrop area contained concentrations of Ra-224 greater than 3 pCi/L (fig. 3) but 

less than 5pCi/L. 

Water throughout the aquifer outcrop area is predominantly acidic, with a typical pH less than 5.0. The pH is only 

slightly lower in the southern part of the area than in the northern part (medians 4.6 and 4.8, respectively; table 4), but this difference is statistically significant. The southern part of the area 

differs from the northern part in the predominance of agricultural land and the presence of the Bridgeton Formation overlying the Cohansey Sand. The outcrop areas of the Bridgeton Formation generally coincide with areas of agricultural land use 

(Kozinski and others, 1995; Szabo and dePaul, 1998). Concentrations of Ra-224 (as well as those of combined radium) were 

highest in agricultural areas overlying the Bridgeton Formation 

in southwestern New Jersey (fig. 3). This spatial distribution of 

Ra-224 is consistent with results of previous work (Kozinski 

and others, 1995; Szabo and dePaul, 1998) for Ra-226 and 

Ra-228 distributions. Concentrations of chemical species that 

are related to agriculture, such as nitrate and the divalent cations 

calcium, magnesium, barium, and strontium, were significantly 

higher in the southern part of the outcrop area (Camden County 
Factors Affecting Distribution of Radium-224 23 

75 74

40 

39 

0/1 0/1 

0/2 

6/11 

5/7 3/6

0/1 

0/4 

0/1 

1/3 

1/2 

0/1 

4/23 

0/1 

2/4 

0/1 

1/3 

0/3 

1/2 

0/2 

0/2 

3/3 

1/2

DELAWARE

ATLANTI

NEW JERSEY 

0/1 

C 

OCEAN 

0/1 

PENNSYLVANIA 

DELAWARE 

BAY 

RARITAN 

BAY 

NEW YORK 

0 10 20 MILES 

0 10 20 KILOMETERS 

EXPLANATION 

Outcrop of Kirkwood Formation 

Township in which samples were collected 

Township in which no samples were collected 

Fall Line 

5/7 Number of samples in which the criterion was 

exceeded/total number of samples 

Exceedance = concentration of radium-224 

greater than or equal to 3 picocuries per liter 

Figure 7a. Distribution by municipality of water samples collected and number of samples in which the criterion for radium-224 was 

exceeded, Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99. 
24 Occurrence of Radium-224, Radium-226, and Radium-228 in Water of the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer System, Southern N.J. 

75 74

40 

39 

0/1 0/1 

0/2 

0/1 

0/4 

0/1 

1/3 

5/11 

1/2 

2/4 

0/1 

0/1 

3/6 

1/3 

2/23 

5/7 

0/3 

2/2 

0/2 

0/2 

2/3 

1/2 

0/1 

0/1 

DELAWARE

ATLANTIC 

OCEAN 

0/1 

PENNSYLVANIA 

DELAWARE 

BAY 

RARITAN 

BAY 

NEW JERSEY 

NEW YORK 

0 

0 

10 

10 

20 MILES 

20 KILOMETERS 

EXPLANATION 

Outcrop of Kirkwood Formation


Township in which samples were collected


Township in which no samples were collected


Fall Line


5/7 Number of samples in which the criterion was 

exceeded/total number of samples 

Exceedance = concentration of combined radium (radium-226 plus 

radium-228) greater than or equal to 5 picocuries per liter 

Figure 7b. Distribution by municipality of water samples collected and number of samples in which the criterion for combined radium 

was exceeded, Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99. 
ATLANTIC 

OCEAN 

Factors Affecting Distribution of Radium-224 

75 74 

NEW YORK 

RARITAN 

BAY 

PENNSYLVANIA 

1/1 

2/8 

1/1 1/4 2/3 

40 2/5 

1/1 8/18 

0/1 

NEW JERSEY 1/1 

0/1 0/1


1/1


2/4 

0/1 0/1


0/1


1/1 

3/4 5/6 

1/1 0/2 

4/5 

5/13 

2/3 

DELAWARE 

BAY 0 10 20 MILES 

39 

0 10 20 KILOMETERS 

EXPLANATION 

Stream basin (HUC 11) in which samples were collected Sample in which gross alpha-particle activity: 

Stream basin (HUC 11) in which no samples were collected Exceeded the criterion 

Updip extent of Kirkwood Formation Did not exceed the criterion 

Fall Line 

Exceedance = gross alpha-particle activity greater than Major stream within HUC 11 basin or equal to 15 picocuries per liter (sample analyzed 

0/1 Number of samples in which the criterion was exceeded/ within 48 hours of collection); HUC, Hydrologic Unit Code; 

total number of samples some wells are not visible on the map at this scale because 

of proximal location.) 

DELAWARE 

25 

Figure 8a. Distribution by hydrologic unit code (HUC) of water samples collected and number of samples in which the criterion for 

gross alpha-particle activity was exceeded, Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99. 
ATLANTIC 

OCEAN 

26 Occurrence of Radium-224, Radium-226, and Radium-228 in Water of the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer System, Southern N.J. 

75 74 

NEW YORK 

RARITAN 

BAY 

PENNSYLVANIA 

0/1 

1/8 

1/1 0/4 0/3 

40 1/5


0/1 3/18


0/1


NEW JERSEY 0/1


1/1
 1/1


0/1


4/5 

0/1 0/1


0/1


0/1 

4/4 3/6 

0/1 1/2 

2/3 

7/13 

0/3 

DELAWARE 0 10 20 MILES BAY 

39


0 10 20 KILOMETERS


EXPLANATION 

Stream basin (HUC 11) in which samples were collected Sample in which concentration of radium-224: 

Stream basin (HUC 11) in which no samples were collected Exceeded the criterion 

Updip extent of Kirkwood Formation Did not exceed the criterion 

Fall Line 

Exceedance = concentration of radium-224 greater than 

Major stream within HUC 11 basin or equal to 3 picocuries per liter (sample analyzed within 

48 hours of collection); HUC, Hydrologic Unit Code; some 

5/7 Number of samples in which the criterion was exceeded/ wells are not visible on the map at this scale because of 

total number of samples proximal location. 

DELAWARE 

Figure 8b. Distribution by hydrologic unit code (HUC) of water samples collected and number of samples in which the criterion for 

radium-224 was exceeded, Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99. 
Atlantic

Camden/Gloucester

Cumberland 

Salem

Ocean/Burlington 

0 

10 

20 

30 

Atlantic

Camden/Gloucester

Cumberland 

Salem

Ocean/Burlington 

Factors Affecting Distribution of Radium-224 27 

40 40 

EXPLANATION 

Number of samples in which (a) the 30 

33 25 

64 

57 

a 11

42 50 

68 

57 

b 43

NUMBER OF SAMPLES

concentration of radium-224 was 

greater than or equal to 3 pCi/L; 

(b) radioactivity MCL was exceeded 20 

Number of samples in which (a) the 

concentration of radium-224 was 

less than 3 pCi/L; (b) no radioactivity 

MCL was exceeded 

10 

0 

33 Percentage of samples in which the 

criterion was exceeded 

COUNTY COUNTY 

Figure 9. Number of water samples in which (a) the concentration of radium-224 was greater than or equal to 3 pCi/L, and (b) radioactivity 

maximum contaminant level was exceeded, by county or counties, Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-1999. 

and south, centered about the Glassboro study area (fig. 2)) than 

in the northern part (Burlington County and north, centered 

about the Toms River-Metedeconk River Basin area). Median 

concentrations of these inorganic chemical constituents in water 

samples in the south were 4.7, 4.6, and 3.3 mg/L, and 79 and 

37 μg/L, respectively, whereas those in the north were 1.2, 1.6, 

and 2.2 mg/L, and 47 and 19 μg/L, respectively (table 4b). 

(Application of these constituents to agricultural soils in southern New Jersey, as well as other sources, is discussed in detail 

by Kozinski and others (1995). A more generalized discussion 

of the history of soil amendments and their effects on groundwater quality through time is given by Bohlke and Denver 

(1995). The divalent cations compete with radium for sorption 

sites, thereby providing a second chemical mechanism of 

radium mobilization that enhances the mobilization effects of 

the acidic water. This second mechanism likely is more important in the southern part of the outcrop area than in the northern 

part, as concentrations of divalent cations (and nitrate) are 

higher in water from the southern part than in water from the 

northern part. 

Results of indirect measurements using various techniques 

have established that the Bridgeton Formation, found predominantly in the southern part of the outcrop area, contains higher 

concentrations of radionuclides than the underlying Cohansey 

Sand (Zapecza and Szabo, 1989; Duval, 1991; Gundersen and 

Peake, 1992). Results of direct radiochemical analysis of 

Bridgeton Formation sediments collected by Szabo and others 

(1997) indicate that Ra-226 and Ra-228 are more abundant than 

in sediment samples from the Cohansey Sand. Therefore, shallow wells underlying the Bridgeton Formation in southwestern 

New Jersey may be particularly vulnerable to contamination 

with Ra-224, Ra-226, and Ra-228 as acidic recharge containing 

agricultural leachates percolates through the permeable gravel. 

The geographic distribution of the naturally occurring radioactive materials in the Bridgeton Formation overlaps with the distribution of geochemical conditions exacerbated by intensive 

agricultural land-use practices that act in combination to 

maximize the potential for ground water in the southern 

(and especially southwestern) part of the Kirkwood-Cohansey 

aquifer system outcrop where elevated radium concentrations 

are found. 

Nitrate 

Two criteria—pH and nitrate concentration—were used 

initially to determine the likely frequency of occurrence of concentrations of combined radium greater than the 5-pCi/L MCL 

and of Ra-224 concentrations greater than or equal to 3 pCi/L 

(fig. 10). The selection of these two criteria was based on correlations of concentrations of radium isotopes with concentrations 

or values of inorganic constituents and physical or chemical 

properties obtained in this study (table 5) as well as on the 

results of previous work (Szabo and dePaul, 1998; Szabo and 

others, 1997; Kozinski and others, 1995). (Additionally, nitrate 

concentration can be used as a reasonable surrogate for the 

prevalence of agricultural land (Rice and Szabo, 1997; Kauffman and others, 2001).) Because nitrification generates acidity 

and because the concentration of nitrate typically is highest 

where the concentrations of divalent cations are highest (Szabo 

and others, 1997), it was hypothesized that combined-radium 

concentrations would exceed the MCL of 5 pCi/L far more frequently where the ground water was more acidic than was typical for the aquifer (pH less than the median of 4.8), and where 

nitrate concentrations were higher (greater than 5.0 mg/L) than 

typical nitrate concentrations of much less than 1.0 mg/L in 
28 Occurrence of Radium-224, Radium-226, and Radium-228 in Water of the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer System, Southern N.J. 

a 

0 

5 

10 

15 

20 

25 

30 

35 

NUMBER OF SAMPLES

0 

45 

26 57 

pH > 4.8, NO3 < 3.0 pH > 4.8, NO3 > 3.0 pH < 4.8, NO3 < 3.0 pH < 4.8, NO3 > 3.0 

pH, IN STANDARD UNITS AND NITRATE CONCENTRATION, IN MILLIGRAMS PER LITER 

EXPLANATION 

Number of samples in which the concentration of radium-224 was--

Greater than or equal to (>) 3 picocuries per liter 

Less than (<) 3 picocuries per liter 

45 Percentage of samples in which the concentration of radium-224 was greater than or equal to 

3 picocuries per liter 

< Less than; > Greater than; < Less than or equal to; > Greater than or equal to 

pH > 4.8, NO3 < 3.0 pH > 4.8, NO3 > 3.0 pH < 4.8, NO3 < 3.0 pH < 4.8, NO3 > 3.0 

pH, IN STANDARD UNITS AND NITRATE CONCENTRATION, IN MILLIGRAMS PER LITER 

EXPLANATION 

Number of samples in which concentration of combined radium (radium-226 + radium-228) was: 

Greater than or equal to (>) 5 picocuries per liter


Less than (<) 5 picocuries per liter


55	 Percentage of samples in which the concentration of radium (radium-226 + radium 228) 

was greater than or equal to 5 picocuries per liter 

< Less than; > Greater than; < Less than or equal to; > Greater than or equal to 

0 

5 

10 

15 

20 

25 

30 

35 

0 

55 

22 54 

NUMBER OF SAMPLES 

b 

Figure 10. Number of water samples in which (a) the concentration of radium-224 was greater than or equal 

to 3 picocuries per liter and (b) the concentration of combined radium was greater than or equal to 5 picocuries per liter, as a function of selected ranges of pH and nitrate concentration, Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer 

system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99. 
undeveloped (forested) areas (Szabo and others, 1997). (Ultimately, the nitrate criterion was reduced from 5 to 3 mg/L, for 

reasons discussed below.) Because concentrations of combined 

Ra are strongly correlated to those of Ra-224 and to gross alphaparticle activities, this hypothesis also can be applied to estimate the frequency of occurrence of these other radioactive constituents (fig. 10). Therefore, the same two chemical criteria 

may be used to estimate the frequency of occurrence of gross 

alpha-particle activities greater than the MCL of 15 pCi/L 

(fig. 10). 

Nitrate concentrations in production wells sampled in this 

study from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system tended to be 

lower than those from domestic or observation wells, and typically were less than 5 mg/L. The nitrate concentration in only 9 

(19 percent) of the 47 production wells exceeded 5 mg/L. These 

nine wells were in Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem Counties. The nitrate concentration in 9 additional production wells 

sampled in this study exceeded 3 mg/L (38 percent of the 47 

sampled). These wells were in Atlantic and Camden Counties as 

well as the three counties mentioned above. The maximum 

nitrate concentration in any production well in Ocean County 

sampled during this study was 2.45 mg/L; the combined-radium 

and Ra-224 concentrations were less than 5 and 3 pCi/L, respectively, in water from this well. Szabo and dePaul (1998) similarly reported that the median nitrate concentration for samples 

from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system was 2.8 mg/L for 

production wells for samples they collected during 1989-1996, 

whereas the median concentration for samples from domestic 

wells was 5.8 mg/L. For each type of well, however, both this 

and previous studies confirm that the highest nitrate concentrations typically are in the southwestern part of the aquifer system 

outcrop area. 

The number of samples in which the concentration of 

Ra-224 or of combined radium was either less than, or greater 

than or equal to, the specified concentration or value for each 

group of samples meeting the four pH and nitrate-concentration 

criteria combinations is shown in figure 10. The percentage of 

samples in each group in which the specified concentration of 

the radionuclide of interest was exceeded also is shown. Concentrations of Ra-224 greater than 3 pCi/L and concentrations 

of combined radium greater than 5 pCi/L occurred most frequently in the samples with low pH (less than 4.8) and elevated 

nitrate concentrations (greater than or equal to 3 mg/L). In more 

than half the samples with these two characteristics, the concentrations of concern for the Ra isotopes were exceeded. In the 

samples for which neither of these criteria was met, no Ra-224 

concentration exceeded 3 pCi/L and only one combined-radium 

concentration exceeded 5 pCi/L. 

Both Kozinski and others (1995) and Szabo and dePaul 

(1998) reported that concentrations of combined radium commonly exceeded 5 pCi/L in samples that contained nitrate at a 

concentration of only 3 mg/L. With the improved measurement 

procedures for radioactivity (the 48-hour holding time), the 

lower nitrate-concentration (3 mg/L) criterion, as opposed to 

the 5-mg/L criterion used by Kozinski and others (1995), can be 

indicative of samples with radioactivity in excess of the MCL 

Factors Affecting Distribution of Radium-224 29 

or criterion of concern (3 pCi/L for Ra-224 concentration, for 

example), although the statistical level of confidence may not 

be as high as the 0.99-level of confidence reported by Kozinski 

and others (1995) for the 5-mg/L criterion. The objective of 

using trace chemical criteria is not to provide ultimate certainty 

as to the level of radioactivity (or any other trace contaminant) 

present in the water, but rather to provide inexpensive guidance 

to the likelihood that the level of radioactivity (or other trace 

contaminant) will exceed the level of concern. The focus of this 

study is not to use a “cut point” of nitrate concentration with 

nearly absolute certainty (for example, the 99-percent confidence level), but rather to test criteria levels that are adequate to 

indicate a reasonably high likelihood that the sample may be of 

concern when considering likely levels of radioactivity (or 

other trace contaminant concentrations). Therefore, in this 

study 3 mg/L was chosen as the nitrate-concentration “cut 

point” for water-quality groups used to estimate the frequency 

of combined-radium concentrations greater than the 5-pCi/L 

MCL and the selected concentration criterion of 3 pCi/L for 

Ra-224. 

 Overall, the most likely predictor of exceeding the 

15-pCi/L MCL for gross alpha-particle activity, the 5-pCi/L 

MCL for combined radium, or the selected Ra-224 concentration of 3 pCi/L was the combination of a pH less than 4.8 and 

a nitrate concentration greater than 3 mg/L; one or more of these 

three radionuclide concentrations or activities of concern were 

exceeded in about 60 percent of the samples in this group 

(fig. 10). Of the 39 (44 percent) of the 88 samples in which the 

concentration of nitrate exceeded 3 mg/L, the concentration of 

Ra-224 exceeded 3 pCi/L in 22 (56 percent) (see fig. 10). Even 

in those water samples where pH was greater than 4.8, the concentration of Ra-224 was likely to exceed 3 pCi/L and the concentration of combined radium was likely to exceed 5 pCi/L if 

the sample also contained nitrate at a concentration of 3 mg/L 

or more (5 of 11 samples, or 45 percent). On the other hand, the 

specified Ra-224 concentration of 3 pCi/L was not exceeded in 

any sample in which the pH was greater than 4.8 and the nitrate 

concentration was less than 3 mg/L, and the 5-pCi/L MCL for 

combined radium was not exceeded in the 22 samples that met 

the same criteria (fig. 10). The results of the current study corroborate the importance of nitrate and associated dissolved mineral matter (derived from land-applied salts) for mobilizing Ra 

in the dilute acidic waters of the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer 

system as reported previously by Kozinski and others (1995). 

Land Use 

Concentrations of Ra-224, Ra-226, and Ra-228 in water 

samples showed statistically significant differences with 

predominant land use. Radium concentrations generally were 

higher in samples from agriculture-dominated areas than in 

samples from areas where other land uses were dominant 

(table 6). Differences between the concentrations of Ra-224, 

Ra-226, and Ra-228 in samples from the 35 wells in agricultural 

and mixed agricultural areas (median values 2.5, 2.1, and 

2.1 pCi/L, respectively) and those in samples from the 25 wells 
30 Occurrence of Radium-224, Radium-226, and Radium-228 in Water of the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer System, Southern N.J. 

in undeveloped and light residential areas (median values 

1.5, 1.2, and 1.3 pCi/L, respectively) also were statistically 

significant (tables 4c and 6; fig. 11). Results of the Wilcoxon 

rank sum test indicate that the mean of the ranked values of the 

concentrations of each of these radionuclides was significantly 

greater in agricultural areas than in nonagricultural areas 

(table 6). This result holds even for the second-tier classification 

system (the agricultural gradient land-use approach) described 

earlier, which is based not on predominant land use but on 

the presence of even a small amount of agricultural land 

(10 percent) within the appropriate circular buffer area about 

the well (table 7; fig. 11). Boxplots of the distributions of 

Ra-224 and combined-radium concentrations grouped by land 

use (fig. 11) show a decreasing concentration gradient from 

agricultural land (on the left) to little agriculture present, mostly 

undeveloped land (on the right). Tukey-Kramer groups statistically determined by analysis of ranks of radium radionuclide 

concentrations are delineated along the upper horizontal axis. 

Radium concentrations were highest in water from wells in 

agricultural areas regardless of the land-use classification 

system used in this analysis. 

Most agricultural land in southern New Jersey overlies 

well-drained soils found on ridges (Rice and Szabo, 1997; 

Kauffman and others, 2001) and, therefore, is likely to coincide 

with the recharge area for water intercepted by downgradient 

wells. The effect of agricultural activities on water quality, 

therefore, is large; even a small percentage of agricultural land 

in the buffer zone surrounding a well can affect the quality of 

the water it yields. Undeveloped land typically is found in 

poorly drained, low-lying wetlands areas downgradient from 

wells; water recharged in such areas, therefore, is not likely to 

be intercepted by wells. Results of ground-water flow simulations (Rice and Szabo, 1997) indicate that most water recharged 

near wetlands follows short flowpaths and is discharged to the 

adjoining wetland within 5 to 10 years. Distributions of transient tracers measured in water samples collected by Szabo and 

others (1996), Rice and Szabo (1997), and Modica and others 

(1997, 1998) adjacent to streams in the study area are consistent 

with this interpretation. 

Concentrations of divalent cations (such as calcium, magnesium, and strontium) in water in agricultural areas are elevated (above background concentrations) as a result of leaching 

of soil additives, along with nitrate, but without a corresponding 

increase in pH (tables 6 and 7). For example, the median concentrations of calcium and magnesium in agricultural areas 

(4.8 and 3.5 mg/L, respectively) are substantially higher than 

those in undeveloped/light-residential areas (1.1 and 1.1 mg/L, 

respectively) and also higher than those in urban areas (3.0 and 

2.9 mg/L, respectively) (table 4). The additional divalent cations along with the hydrogen ions that are present as a result of 

the nitrification process compete effectively for sorption sites 

with radium (Szabo and others, 1997), providing a second 

mechanism for radium mobilization. 

Effects of Improvements in Analytical 

Protocols on Measured Distributions of 

Radioactive Constituents 

The median gross alpha-particle activity in the 88 water 

samples collected from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system 

by the USGS after 1997 (this study) was 14.9 pCi/L (table 4); 

gross alpha-particle activity in 49 percent of the samples 

exceeded the 15-pCi/L MCL. The median gross alpha-particle 

activity measured in water samples collected from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system by the USGS before 1997 was 

5.4 pCi/L; gross alpha-particle activity in only 14 percent of 

those samples exceeded the 15-pCi/L MCL (Szabo and dePaul, 

1998). The highest gross alpha-particle activity in this study 

(post-1997 sampling), 77.3 pCi/L, is nearly twice the 

43.3-pCi/L maximum gross alpha-particle activity reported 

previously by Szabo and dePaul (1998) for samples collected 

before 1997. This large difference in gross alpha-particle activity represents formerly undetected radioactivity from shortlived alpha-particle-emitting radioisotopes, primarily Ra-224. 

These short-lived radionuclides and the alpha particles they 

emit are now detectable and quantifiable because of advances in 

analytical technology and strict compliance with the reduced 

laboratory holding time of 48 hours mandated by the State of 

New Jersey since September 2002 (New Jersey Department of 

Environmental Protection, 2002). 

The analytical capability to detect and quantify the 

presence of short-lived radioisotopes (such as Ra-224) and the 

reduction in sample holding time for gross alpha-particle 

activity analysis has led to identification of ground waters that 

contain more radioactivity than previously had been known 

(figs. 8 and 9). When the new 48-hour gross alpha-particle 

measurement protocol was used, the 15-pCi/L gross alphaparticle activity MCL was exceeded (fig. 8) and Ra-224 was 

determined to be present in concentrations up to, or even higher 

than, 5 pCi/L in samples from some parts of southern New 

Jersey where previous measurements of gross alpha-particle 

activity had not indicated the presence of levels of concern, 

primarily central Ocean County in south-central New Jersey 

and, to a lesser extent, southeastern New Jersey. Gross alphaparticle activity exceeded 15 pCi/L in samples from some wells 

in Dover, Manchester, and Lakewood Townships (fig. 8c) in 

north-central and northeastern Ocean County, primarily in the 

Kettle Creek drainage basin (fig. 9c). With the new 48-hour 

measurement protocol, the MCL also was exceeded in 

southeastern New Jersey, in the downstreammost portion of 

the Great Egg Harbor River and Mill Creek drainage basins 

(fig. 9c). In these areas, gross alpha-particle activity in samples 

collected and analyzed before 1997 did not exceed the MCL or, 

alternatively, the samples had not been tested extensively for 

the presence of radium because gross alpha-particle activity 

was presumed to be low on the basis of a few (about 5) 
Agriculture

dominant 

Mixed

agriculture 

Urban

dominant 

Mixed

urban

Undeveloped

only 

Agriculture

dominant 

Mixed

agriculture

Urban

dominant 

Mixed

urban

Undeveloped

only 

Effects of Improvements in Analytical Protocols on Measured Distributions of Radioactive Constituents 31 

A AB B	 A AB AB AB B 

50 50 

a b (39) (19) 20 (26) 20 (20) (26) 

10 10 

(23) (20) 5 5 

(3) 

2 2 

1 1 

0.5 0.5 

0.2 0.2 

0.1 0.1 

COMBINED RADIUM, IN PICOCURIES PER LITER	 RADIUM-224, IN PICOCURIES PER LITER

0.05 0.05 

AGRICULTURE URBAN UNDEVELOPED


AND MIXED AND LIGHT


AGRICULTURE RESIDENTIAL


A AB B	 A AB AB AB B 

100 100 

c d

50 (39)	 50 (19) 

(20) 

20 20 

(26) (26) 

10 10 (23) (20)

5 5 

(3) 

2 2 

1 1 

0.5 0.5 

0.2 0.2 

0.1 0.1 

AGRICULTURE URBAN UNDEVELOPED


AND MIXED AND LIGHT


AGRICULTURE RESIDENTIAL


EXPLANATION 

(19)	 Number of observations 

Maximum value 

75th percentile 

Median 

25th percentile 

Minimum value 

A Tukey-Kramer group 

Figure 11. Distribution of concentration of radium-224 in water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern 

New Jersey, 1997-99, by (a) lumped land-use category and (b) narrowly defined land-use category; and distribution of concentration of 

combined radium (radium-226 plus radium-228) by (c) lumped land-use category and (d) narrowly defined land-use category. 
32 Occurrence of Radium-224, Radium-226, and Radium-228 in Water of the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer System, Southern N.J.

Table 7. Results of Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison test to determine differences in ranks of constituent 

concentrations by land-use group for water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern 

New Jersey, 1997-99. 

[ND, no difference; *, not applicable; %, percent; Tukey groups: groups with the same letter designation (A, B, AB, BC, ABC) are 

not statistically different from each other; groups with different letter designations are statistically different from each other. 

Land-use code 

Constituent 

1 2 3 4 5

 Five land-use categories (gradient) 

Radium-224 A AB AB B AB

Radium-226 A A AB B B

Radium-228 A A AB B AB

Radium-226 plus Radium-228 A A AB B B

Gross alpha-particle activity A AB AB B B

Gross beta-particle activity A AB BC C BC 

Radon-222 ND ND ND ND ND 

pH ND ND ND ND ND

Nitrate plus nitrite A B B C C

Magnesium A B B C C

Calcium A B BC C BC

Sodium B AB A B AB

Potassium A AB ABC C ABC

Strontium A B BC C BC

Barium A A AB B AB 

Chloride ND ND ND ND ND

Combined land-use categories 

Radium-224 A AB B * * 

Radium-226 A AB B * * 

Radium-228 A AB B * * 

Radium-226 plus Radium-228 A AB B * * 

Gross alpha-particle activity A AB B * * 

Gross beta-particle activity A B B * * 

Radon-222 ND ND ND * * 

pH ND ND ND * * 

Nitrate plus nitrite A B C * * 

Magnesium A A B * * 

Calcium A AB B * * 

Sodium B A B * * 

Potassium A A B * * 

Strontium A A B * * 

Barium A AB B * * 

Chloride ND ND ND * * 

Land-use code 

Land-use Five Three 

categories categories 

Agriculture-dominant 1 

1 Mixed-agriculture-10% to dominant 2 ] 

Urban/residential-dominant 3 2 

Mixed-urban/residential-10% to dominant, agricultural less than 10% 4 

3 Forested/undeveloped-greater than 90% 5 ] 
Contribution of Recently Detected Radium-224 to Gross Alpha-Particle Activity 33 

measurements made without using the new protocols. Gross 

alpha-particle activities greater than 15 pCi/L when analysis 

was completed within 48 hours of sample collection also have 

been reported by Bolton (2000) for water from the Coastal Plain 

aquifers of Maryland, where such results had not previously 

been determined. 

In many parts of southwestern New Jersey where samples 

of water had been collected from the Kirkwood-Cohansey 

aquifer system before 1997, the concentration of combined 

radium or gross alpha-particle activity was known to exceed the 

MCL (Szabo and dePaul, 1998). Southwestern New Jersey 

(Glassboro study area and vicinity—see fig. 2) typifies the 

scenario in which water from the aquifer was found to be more 

radioactive than previously had been known, but at least one 

sample collected before 1997 in each township and drainage 

basin to which the scenario applied contained either combined 

radium at a concentration greater than 5 pCi/L or gross alphaparticle activity greater than 15 pCi/L (figs. 9b, c). Therefore, 

the potential for the presence of elevated levels of radioactive 

constituents in water from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer 

system used for drinking in southwestern New Jersey was 

already known (N.J. Department of Environmental Protection, 

1997; Szabo and dePaul, 1998). Results of the current study, 

however, show that this water also contains Ra-224, in many 

places at concentrations greater than 3 or 5 pCi/L (figs. 8a, 9a), 

and, therefore, allow for a more accurate characterization of the 

actual radioactivity content of the drinking water than 

previously was possible. 

The combined-radium concentration in at least one sample 

collected from the Toms River drainage basin (fig. 9c) before 

1997 was greater than 5 pCi/L (Szabo and dePaul, 1998, fig. 1), 

but at the time this finding was considered to be an anomalous 

and isolated instance. During this study, however, gross alphaparticle activity resulting from the presence of Ra-224 and other 

radioactive constituents was found to be greater than 15 pCi/L 

in some parts of the Toms River drainage basin (primarily, but 

not solely, Berkeley Township). Because the gross alpha-particle-activity is now known to be greater than that determined 

before 1997, it can be concluded that water from the northeastern part of the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system outcrop area 

also may commonly, not rarely, contain elevated radioactivity. 

Contribution of Recently Detected Radium224 to Gross Alpha-Particle Activity 

The presence of Ra-224 and the additional alpha radiation 

emitted by the ground water in which it is found may pose an 

additional quantifiable health risk not directly accounted for by 

the USEPA MCL of 5 pCi/L that was established by the Radionuclide Rule of 2000 (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 

2000a) for combined radium in drinking water. One of the 

major reasons for studying the occurrence, distribution, and 

mobility of naturally occurring radionuclides (Ra-224, or other 

commonly occurring radionuclides) is that the amount of the 

radionuclide present represents the objective, measurable physical phenomenon of radiation to which individuals may be 

exposed. The computation of the risk from the radiation exposure, however, represents an interpretation of the physical phenomenon of radiation and human exposure to it and may vary 

considerably depending on the risk model used (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1999). Mays and others (1985) estimated the cancer risk from Ra-224 to be less than that from 

Ra-226. The short half-life of Ra-224 was considered to limit 

the radiation dose to the body (or to bone). Because of its short 

half-life, however, much of the ingested Ra-224 decays on bone 

surfaces, where its effectiveness in causing damage to living 

bone cells is enhanced. Nevertheless, recent reevaluation indicates that although the lifetime cancer risk from the ingestion of 

Ra-224 is greater than that suggested by Mays and others 

(1985), it is less than that from the ingestion of an equal amount 

of Ra-226 or Ra-228 (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 

1999). Additional research to identify the metabolic pathways 

of Ra-224 in the body after ingestion will allow public-health 

officials to further refine estimates of the risk from radiation 

exposure because of ingestion of ground water that contains this 

radioactive constituent and/or its radioactive progeny.) The 

USEPA did not establish an MCL for Ra-224 concentration in 

drinking water with the implementation of the Radionuclide 

Rule of 2000 (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2000a). 

In the absence of an MCL, the relative importance of the presence of Ra-224 in terms of its contribution to the total amount 

of radioactivity in ground water can be evaluated by comparing 

the distribution of Ra-224 concentrations to the distributions of 

Ra-226 concentrations, Ra-228 concentrations, and gross 

alpha-particle activities. 

Of the 88 wells from which water samples were collected, 

32 percent produced water containing Ra-224 at concentrations 

exceeding 3 pCi/L (fig. 4); concentrations exceeded 5, 6, and 

9 pCi/L in 12.5, 11, and 7 percent of the samples, respectively 

(tables 3 and 4). The 5-pCi/L MCL for combined radium was 

exceeded in approximately 30 percent of the samples, whereas 

the 30th percentile for the distribution of Ra-224 concentrations 

was 3.2 pCi/L. On the basis of concentration distributions alone, 

then, samples in which Ra-224 concentrations exceed about 

3 pCi/L constitute about the same proportion of the sample 

population (have about the same frequency of occurrence) as 

those samples with a combined-radium concentration greater 

than the MCL. 

The generalized regional distribution of radioactivity in 

drinking water produced from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer 

system can be determined from the percentage of samples from 

each county in which either the MCL for gross alpha-particle 

activity, the MCL for combined radium, or the value of concern 

for Ra-224 (3 pCi/L) is exceeded. (County rather than HUC 

boundaries were used for this analysis because the number of 

samples associated with the individual HUCs was insufficient 

to evaluate regional trends.) 

The number of samples collected in each of the seven 

counties, as well as the fraction in which each of the individual 

criteria was exceeded and the fraction in which at least one of 
34 Occurrence of Radium-224, Radium-226, and Radium-228 in Water of the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer System, Southern N.J. 

the criteria was exceeded, are shown in figure 9. Cumberland 

County in southwestern New Jersey appears to be the area of 

greatest concern because at least one of the three criteria was 

exceeded in 68 percent of the samples, and concentrations of 

Ra-224 exceeded 3 pCi/L in 64 percent. Ra-224 concentrations 

in about one-quarter to one-half the samples from each of the 

four remaining counties in the southernmost part of the State 

(Atlantic, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem Counties) exceeded 

3 pCi/L (fig. 7a) and at least one MCL for radionuclide concentration or radioactivity was exceeded in nearly one-half the 

samples (fig. 7b). Data from Burlington County, in the northcentral New Jersey Coastal Plain, are insufficient for adequate 

evaluation; therefore, analysis results for samples from Burlington and Ocean Counties were combined. In Burlington and 

Ocean Counties, at least one of the three criteria was exceeded 

in 37 percent of the samples, and concentrations of Ra-224 

exceeded 3 pCi/L in 11 percent. 

Of the sampled wells, Ra-224 concentrations in water from 

12.5 percent (11 of 88) exceeded 5 pCi/L (table 3; fig. 4). All of 

these samples were from wells in the southwestern part of the 

aquifer system outcrop area, specifically western Atlantic, 

southern Camden, northern Cumberland, and eastern Salem 

Counties (fig. 3). Therefore, because Ra-224 emits alpha-particle radiation, the presence of water containing alpha-particle 

radioactivity at levels of concern (based on the USEPA MCL) 

is most prevalent in the southwestern part of the State. Because 

Ra-226 also emits alpha particles and has a long half-life, gross 

alpha-particle activity determined even without strict holdingtime protocol is elevated in ground water in this part of the 

State, as previously documented by Szabo and dePaul (1998). 

The widespread occurrence of Ra-224 at concentrations greater 

than or equal to 3 pCi/L, coupled with the presence of Ra-226 

at concentrations of nearly the same magnitude, likely causes 

alpha radioactivity in the ground water when determined within 

48 hours of sample collection, to exceed the USEPA MCL, not 

only in southwestern New Jersey, but also in the north-central 

and northeastern parts of the New Jersey Coastal Plain, especially north-central Ocean County (figs. 3, 7, and 8). 

Summary 

Water from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system in the 

New Jersey Coastal Plain, which is used extensively for drinking-water supply, contains Ra-226 and Ra-228 at concentrations that exceed the USEPA 5-pCi/L MCL for combined 

radium. Water from the aquifer system also contains Ra-224 at 

concentrations that are sufficiently high to contribute considerable gross alpha-particle radioactivity to the water. Improvements in analytical technology have allowed gamma and alpha 

spectroscopic techniques to be used to determine concentrations 

of Ra-224. Concentrations of Ra-224 in samples collected from 

88 wells during 1997-99 ranged from 0.5 to 16.8 pCi/L 

(median 2.1 pCi/L); concentrations in 32 percent of the samples 

exceeded 3 pCi/L. Concentrations of Ra-226 and Ra-228 in the 

same samples ranged from <0.5 to 17.4 pCi/L (median 

1.7 pCi/L) and from <1 to 12.8 pCi/L (median 1.6 pCi/L), 

respectively. In 52 (59 percent) of the 88 samples, the concentration of Ra-224 was higher than the concentration of either of 

the two other radium radioisotopes. As part of ongoing work in 

the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, the USGS, in cooperation with the NJDEP, investigated the presence of elevated and 

varying gross alpha-particle activity in the aquifer system that 

is not explained by the concentrations of long-lived (years) 

alpha-particle-emitting radionuclides, such as Ra-226 and 

U-238. The aquifer system is regionally extensive (more than 

3.00 mi

2

) underlying southern New Jersey. The aquifer system 

is the predominant source of drinking water in this area. 

Concentrations of Ra-224 correlate strongly with those of 

both Ra-228 and Ra-226 (Spearman correlation coefficients 

0.91 and 0.74, respectively). Concentrations of Ra-224, Ra-226, 

and Ra-228 were greatest in the most acidic samples. Radioisotope concentrations in samples with a pH less than 4.7 exceeded 

the MCL for combined Ra and/or a concentration of Ra-224 of 

3 pCi/L at a rate three times that of those in samples with a pH 

greater than 4.7. Of the 28 samples in which the concentration 

of Ra-224 was greater than or equal to 3 pCi/L, 21 (75 percent) 

had a pH less than or equal to 4.7, and all but 1 had a pH less 

than 5.0. Generally, concentrations of Ra-224, Ra-226, and Ra228 were higher in water from the southwestern and south-central parts of the aquifer system outcrop area than in water from 

the northern part, and were higher in water from areas where 

agricultural land was dominant, or at least present, than in nonagricultural areas. These results are consistent with those 

reported previously. In the northeastern and southeastern parts 

of the outcrop area, however, concentrations of radium-224 

greater than 3 pCi/L as well as concentrations of combined 

radium and alpha-particle activities in excess of the respective 

USEPA MCLs were detected, although previous measurements 

had not shown the water to contain radioactivity at these levels. 

Most of the samples that contained radionuclides at levels of 

concern were from north-central and northeastern Ocean 

County and southeastern Atlantic County. 

The presence of Ra-224 poses an additional, quantifiable 

health risk not currently captured by the USEPA MCL for combined radium in drinking water. Additional documentation of 

the natural distribution of Ra-224 could help public-health officials in their efforts to estimate the amount of exposure that can 

be attributed to this radionuclide and to determine whether to 

establish an MCL for this constituent. 

Acknowledgments 

The authors gratefully acknowledge the following individuals at NJDEP for their assistance: Karl Muessig, the New Jersey State Geologist, for administering the project; Dr. Gerald 

Nicholls and Patricia Gardner for discussions outlining the risk 

posed to consumers from radium; Barker Hamill for alerting 

public water-supply purveyors and consumers to the findings of 

the study; Vincent Monaco for providing analysis results to 

individual public water-supply purveyors; and Alan Dillon and 
John Fields for comparing radium-concentration results from 

mutually sampled wells and for incorporating the results into 

NJDEP databases. The authors thank the many water-system 

managers who allowed access to public-supply wells; special 

thanks are given Richard Ottens of United Water Toms River, 

Kevin Dixon of New Jersey American Water Company, and 

Paul Hoerner of the Vineland Water and Sewer Utility, and their 

respective staff members for their assistance in the collection of 

large numbers of samples from their water systems. The authors 

express appreciation to all private well owners who granted 

access to their wells for sampling. The authors also thank David 

Bolton (Maryland Geological Survey) and Joseph Ayotte 

(USGS) for their helpful reviews of the report. 

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Appendix 1 39 

Appendix 1 
Appendix 1. Selected well-record information for wells used to measure radioactive constituents in water from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer syst

1997-99. 

[Latitude longitude datum code: NAD27, North American Datum of 1927; NAD83, North American Datum of 1983. Altitudes are reported relative to the National Geodetic Verentheses in column headings is the code used to identify the item in the U.S. Geological Survey Ground-Water System Inventory (GWSI) database. --, not available] 

U.S. Geological 

Survey well 

number 

(C5) 

Municipality 

(C13) 

New Jersey 

permit number 

(C213) 

Latitude 

longitude 

datum code 

Latitude 

(C9) 

Longitude 

(C10) 

Altitude of land 

surface 

(feet) 

(C16) 

Depth of well 

(feet below land 

surface) 

(C28) 

Top of open 

interval 

(feet below lan

surface) 

(C83) 

010151 010582 010589 010792 

Egg Harbor Twp Somers Point City Somers Point City Hammonton Town 

36-00428 36-00021 36-00388 31-19462 

NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 

392524 391906 391924 393823 

0743329 0743629 0743550 0744929 

45 15 19 

120 

208 

99.0 

159 218 

172 

79 

129 178 

010958 Hamilton Twp 36-12463 NAD27 392708 0743808 75 180 120 010973 011240 011272 011273 011274 

Galloway Twp Buena Vista Twp Buena Vista Twp Buena Vista Twp Buena Vista Twp 

36-14415 31-49933.1 35-18898 35-18897 35-18896 

NAD27 NAD83 NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 

392944 393530.3 392900 392900 392900 

0742810 0745237.8 0745331 0745331 0745331 

30 75 91 91 91 

185 

19 20 39 61 

134 

17 15 37 57 

011277 011278 051092 070490 070603 

Buena Vista Twp Buena Vista Twp Woodland Twp Winslow Twp Gloucester Twp 

35-18900 35-18899 32-08688 31-05542 31-16697 

NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 NAD83 NAD83 

392901 392901 395308 394247.8 394414.2 

0745355 0745355 0743453 0745710.3 0750022 

101 101 123 115 160 

64.5 79.5 85 

113 120 

62.5 75.5 55 72 

100 

070737 070842 070866 110002 110013 

Winslow Twp Winslow Twp Gloucester Twp Bridgeton City Bridgeton City 

31-36453 31-49664 31-32431 34-00561 34-00598 

NAD27 NAD83 NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 

394505 393939.3 394358 392432 392552 

0745450 0745341.5 0750120 0751312 0751450 

160 100 150 

30 65 

119 

14 71 98.0 

117 

91 12 50.3 72.0 76.0 

110186 110225 110226 110230 110238 

Upper Deerfield Twp Vineland City Vineland City Vineland City Vineland City 

54-00012 35-00962 35-00668 35-00017 55-00007 

NAD83 NAD83 NAD83 NAD83 NAD27 

393001 392810.9 392959.2 392851.9 392923 

751306.5 750235.6 750015.0 750059.7 0750234 

110 

68.7 

100 113 

85 

172 181 162 177 163 

147 151 132 137 108 

110252 110254 110255 110274 110708 

Vineland City Vineland City Vineland City Upper Deerfield Twp Vineland City 

35-00667 31-05227 35-00869 34-01195 35-07632 

NAD83 NAD83 NAD83 NAD27 NAD27 

392817.5 393209.5 392937.5 392722 392801 

750115.8 750245.3 750338.4 0751235 0750037 

83 90 75 

100 

80 

175 160 174 110 163 

145 130 140 

70.0 

117 
[Latitude longitude datum code: NAD27, North American Datum of 1927; NAD83, North American Datum of 1983. Altitudes are reported relative to the National Geodetic Ve

rentheses in column headings is the code used to identify the item in the U.S. Geological Survey Ground-Water System Inventory (GWSI) database. --, not available] 

Appendix 1. Selected well-record information for wells used to measure radioactive constituents in water from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer syst1997-99.—Continued 

U.S. Geological 

Survey well 

number 

(C5) 

Municipality 

(C13) 

New Jersey 

permit number 

(C213) 

Latitude 

longitude 

datum code 

Latitude 

(C9) 

Longitude 

(C10) 

Altitude of land 

surface 

(feet) 

(C16) 

Depth of well 

(feet below land 

surface) 

(C28) 

Top of open 

interval 

(feet below lan

surface) 

(C83) 

110923 110933 110934 110937 110939 

Upper Deerfield Twp Bridgeton City Millville City Vineland City Vineland City 

35-06947 34-05096 35-17509 35-17868 35-18084 

NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 NAD83 NAD83 

392901 392640 392415 392919.9 392827.8 

0751034 0751328 0750146 750116.8 750138.3 

112 

84 45 

114 

95 

130 110 133 

69.5 37 

120 

86 98 67 35 

111000 111011 111012 111013 111014 

Vineland City Upper Deerfield Twp Upper Deerfield Twp Upper Deerfield Twp Upper Deerfield Twp 

31-40983 34-05931 34-05930 34-05929 34-05932 

NAD83 NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 

393255.9 393056 393056 393056 393100 

750358.8 0751254 0751254 0751254 0751222 

75 

102 102 102 121 

148.5 

18 39 60 60 

105 

13 37 58 58 

150209 150375 151065 151113 151264 

Newfield Boro Monroe Twp Washington Twp Washington Twp Monroe Twp 

31-04599 31-14080 31-28782 31-34637 31-51568 

NAD83 NAD83 NAD83 NAD27 NAD83 

393251.7 394006.8 394326.2 394233 394022.4 

750113.9 745834.3 750208.9 0750454 745909.3 

118 148 152 145 145 

162 147 

85 

112 

53 

132 118 

59.2 82 50.5 

151393 151395 290058 290088 290097 

Clayton Boro Clayton Boro Dover Twp Dover Twp Dover Twp 

31-54007 31-54005 33-01185 33-01147 33-01229 

NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 

393939 393939 395715 395933 395945 

0750309 0750309 0741231 0741312 0741222 

130 130 

10 40 80 

34 70 56.0 86.0 

126 

32 68 46.0 66.0 

106 

290127 290437 290487 290488 290496 

Jackson Twp Lakewood Twp Manchester Twp Manchester Twp Manchester Twp 

29-05818 29-06181 32-00874 28-06885 29-06442 

NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 

400210 400427 395708 395729 400104 

0741926 0741109 0742130 0742343 0741651 

80 55 

180 150 

85 

53.0 62.0 92.0 

143 

87.0 

43.0 43.0 61.0 

123 

290591 290627 290628 290811 290928 

Dover Twp Dover Twp Dover Twp Manchester Twp Berkeley Twp 

29-09781 33-02075 33-02076 32-07287 33-13599 

NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 

400226 395936 395936 395812 395735 

0741431 0741229 0741219 0742026 0741440 

90 80 80 

140 

30 

102 125 135 117 102.5 

82.0 

105 115 

97.0 72 

291032 291073 291086 291115 291131 

Dover Twp Lakewood Twp Lakehurst Boro Jackson Twp Lakewood Twp 

33-16164-0 29-17066 29-09314 48-00340 29-27498 

NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 

395848 400301 400040 400105 400339 

0741442 0740946 0741931 0742406 0741222 

65.79 35 68 

120 

75 

88 78 59 80 90 

74 58 51 60 
[Latitude longitude datum code: NAD27, North American Datum of 1927; NAD83, North American Datum of 1983. Altitudes are reported relative to the National Geodetic Ve

rentheses in column headings is the code used to identify the item in the U.S. Geological Survey Ground-Water System Inventory (GWSI) database. --, not available] 

Appendix 1. Selected well-record information for wells used to measure radioactive constituents in water from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer syst1997-99.—Continued 

U.S. Geological 

Survey well 

number 

(C5) 

Municipality 

(C13) 

New Jersey 

permit number 

(C213) 

Latitude 

longitude 

datum code 

Latitude 

(C9) 

Longitude 

(C10) 

Altitude of land 

surface 

(feet) 

(C16) 

Depth of well 

(feet below land 

surface) 

(C28) 

Top of open 

interval 

(feet below lan

surface) 

(C83) 

291216 291229 291230 291231 291232 

Dover Twp Dover Twp Dover Twp Dover Twp Dover Twp 

33-35775 29-26727 33-99983 29-26752 --

NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 

395927 395936 395957 400002 395950 

0741232 0741239 0741248 0741252 0741248 

80 70.00 70 60 70 

131 110 

65 55 80 

109 100 

45 35 60 

291233 291234 291342 291343 291344 

Dover Twp Dover Twp Dover Twp Dover Twp Dover Twp 

33-29984 33-16035 33-19959 29-25021 --

NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 

395946 395928 395951 395958 400009 

0741249 0741249 0741157 0741201 0741149 

60 60.00 78 83 70 

70 85 98 98 

180 

50 65 90 83 

170 

291345 291346 291347 291348 291349 

Dover Twp Dover Twp Dover Twp Dover Twp Dover Twp 

29-18822 29-16364 29-29026 33-16396 29-15469 

NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 

400014 400040 400048 400057 400059 

0740816 0741210 0741153 0741218 0741205 

7 

77 80 73 76 

77 

180 110 

77 70 

67 

170 100 

74 66 

291350 330778 330817 330818 330836 

Dover Twp Upper Pittsgrove Twp Upper Pittsgrove Twp Upper Pittsgrove Twp Pittsgrove Twp 

29-16644 30-07965 30-11702 30-11704 35-17396 

NAD27 NAD27 NAD83 NAD83 NAD83 

400112 393654 393915.5 393413.2 393016.9 

0741232 0751351 751220.9 751416.5 750544.0 

82 

137 142 140 

88 

73 55 22 32 29 

69 44 20 30 27 

330907 330908 330911 

Pittsgrove Twp Pittsgrove Twp Pittsgrove Twp 

35-18877 35-18876 35-18873 

NAD27 NAD27 NAD27 

393030 393030 393046 

0750905 0750905 0750852 

95 95 72 

48 80 62 

46 78 60 
Appendix 2 43 

Appendix 2 
Appendix 2. Results of analyses for radionuclides, major ions, and selected trace elements in quality-assurance blank samples from the Kirkwood-C

1997-99. [mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; pCi/L, picocuries per liter; <, less than; N, nitrogen; --, not analyzed; number in parentheses in heading is parameter code property, or characteristic in the U.S. Geological Survey water-quality database (NWIS) in which individual samples are identified by sample record numbers] 

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

identification number 

Sample 

record 

number 

Sample 

date 

(mm/dd/yy) 

Nitrogen, 

ammonia, 

filtered 

(mg/L as N) 

(00608) 

Nitrogen, 

nitrite, 

filtered 

(mg/L as N) 

(00613) 

Nitrogen, 

NO2+NO3, 

filtered 

(mg/L as N) 

(00631) 

Phosphorus, 

orthophosphate, 

filtered 

(mg/L) 

(00731) 

Calcium, 

filtered 

(mg/L) 

(00915) 

Magnesium, 

filtered 

(mg/L) 

(00925) 

Sodium, 

filtered 

(mg/L) 

(00930) 

Silica, 

filtered 

(mg/L) 

(00955) 

400000074000097 99700324 7/28/97 -- -- -- -- 0.002 0.002 0.045 <0.020 394528075004301 99700307 9/11/97 <0.002 <0.001 <0.005 <0.001 <.002 <.001 <.025 <.020 395848074144202 99800068 11/5/97 <.002 .001 <.005 <.001 .051 .005 <.025 .031 395812074202602 99800066 11/17/97 <.002 <.001 <.005 <.001 .022 <.001 <.025 <.020 400000074000098 99700257 8/18/97 -- -- -- -- <.002 <.01 <.20 -- 

395945074122001 99800070 12/23/97 -- -- -- -- <.002 <.001 <.025 <.020 395957074124801 99800293 6/4/98 <.002 <.001 <.005 .001 <.002 <.001 <.025 <.020 400107074122501 99800296 8/26/98 <.002 <.001 <.005 <.001 .003 <.001 <.025 <.020 393001075130801 99900012 12/9/98 <.002 <.001 <.005 <.001 <.002 <.004 .034 <.05 

400000074000097 99900062 6/21/99 .003 <.001 .006 .005 .006 .001 <.025 <.020 395356074570805 99900104 8/4/99 <.002 <.001 <.005 .001 .003 .001 .025 <.020 400339074122201 99800295 8/9/99 .002 .001 <.005 <.001 <.002 <.001 <.025 .054 392920075011902 99900183 8/20/99 <.002 <.001 <.005 <.001 .012 .002 <.025 <.020 393104075122201 99900141 9/15/99 -- -- -- -- .006 <.001 <.025 .022 393818075132401 99900143 9/23/99 -- -- -- -- .005 .001 <.025 <.020 

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

identification number 

Sample

 record

 number 

Sample 

date 

(mm/dd/yy) 

Cadmium, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01025) 

Chromium, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01030) 

Cobalt, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01035) 

Copper, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01040) 

Iron, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01046) 

Lead, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01049) 

Manganese, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01056) 

Thallium, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01057) 

400000074000097 99700324 7/28/97 <0.30 <0.20 <0.20 <0.20 <3.00 <0.30 <0.10 <0.10 394528075004301 99700307 9/11/97 <.30 <.20 <.20 <.20 3.16 <.30 <.10 <.10 395848074144202 99800068 11/5/97 <.30 <.20 .22 .24 <3.00 <.30 1.45 <.10 395812074202602 99800066 11/17/97 <.30 <.20 <.20 <.20 <3.00 <.30 <.10 <.10 400000074000098 99700257 8/18/97 <1 <5 -- <10 <3.00 <10 <1.0 -- 395945074122001 99800070 12/23/97 <.30 <.20 <.20 <.20 <3.00 <.30 <.10 <.10 395957074124801 99800293 6/4/98 <.30 <.20 <.20 <.20 <3.00 <.30 <.10 <.10 400107074122501 99800296 8/26/98 <.30 <.20 <.20 <.20 <3.00 <.30 <.10 <.10 393001075130801 99900012 12/9/98 -- -- -- -- <10.0 -- <3.0 -- 400000074000097 99900062 6/21/99 <.30 <.20 <.20 <.20 <3.00 <.30 <.10 <.10 395356074570805 99900104 8/4/99 <.30 <.20 <.20 <.20 <3.00 <.30 ,.10 <.10 400339074122201 99800295 8/9/99 <.30 <.20 <.20 <.20 <3.00 <.30 <.10 <.10 392920075011902 99800183 8/20/99 <.30 <.20 <.20 <.20 <3.00 <.30 .34 <.10 393104075122201 99900141 9/15/99 <.30 .44 <.20 <.20 <3.00 .30 .12 <.10 393818075132401 99900143 9/23/99 <.30 25.82 <.20 <.20 <3.00 <.30 .10 <.10 
[mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; pCi/L, picocuries per liter; <, less than; N, nitrogen; --, not analyzed; number in parentheses in heading is parameter code 

property, or characteristic in the U.S. Geological Survey water-quality database (NWIS) in which individual samples are identified by sample record numbers] Appendix 2. Results of analyses for radionuclides, major ions, and selected trace elements in quality-assurance blank samples from the Kirkwood-C1997-99.—Continued 

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

identification number 

Sample 

record 

number 

Sample 

date 

(mm/dd/yy) 

Strontium, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01080) 

Zinc, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01090) 

Antimony, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01095) 

Aluminum, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01106) 

Uranium, 

natural, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(22703) 

Mercury, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(71890) 

Radium224, 

filtered 

(p/CiL) 

(50833) 

Radium226, 

filtered 

(p/CiL) 

(09511) 

400020074600097 99700324 7/28/97 <0.10 <0.50 <0.20 1.17 <0.20 -- -- -- 394528075094301 99700307 9/11/97 <.10 <.50 <.20 1.64 <.20 <0.1 -- -- 395848074144202 99800068 11/5/97 .36 .89 <.20 1.65 <.20 <.1 <0.5 <0.5 395812074202602 99800066 11/17/97 <.10 .93 <.20 1.14 <.20 <.1 <.5 <.5 400000074000098 99700257 8/18/97 <.5 <.3 -- -- -- -- -- -- 395745074122001 99800070 12/23/97 <.10 <.50 <.20 1.23 <.20 -- -- 395957074124801 99800293 6/4/98 <.10 <.50 <.20 .94 <.20 <.1 <.5 .1 400107074122501 99800296 8/26/98 <.10 <.50 <.20 2.15 <.20 <.1 <1 .034 393001075130801 99900012 12/9/98 -- -- -- -- -- -- <1 .046 400000074000097 99900062 6/21/99 <.10 .7 <.20 <.30 <.20 <.1 <1 <.02 395356074570805 99900104 8/4/99 <.10 <.50 <.20 <.30 <.20 <.1 .018 <.02 400339074122201 99800295 8/9/99 <.10 <.50 <.20 <.30 <.20 <.1 <1 .05 392920075011902 99800183 8/20/99 <.10 3.833 <.20 <.30 <.20 <1 .02 393104075122201 99900141 9/15/99 <.10 .75 <.20 .73 <.20 <.1 -- -- 393818075132401 99900143 9/23/99 <.10 .78 <.20 <.30 <.20 <.1 -- -- 

Appendix 3 47 

Appendix 3 
Appendix 3. Concentrations of radionuclides in water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99. 

[pCi/L, picocuries per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; Cs-137, cesium-137; PE, precision estimate; CE, counting error; SSMDC, sample specific minimum detectable concentr

anayzed; <, less than. Bold type indicates result used in statistical analysis when more than one analytical technique was used. Associated quality assurance data indicator code: 30, sequential replicate; 100, multiple types. Number in parentheses is parameter code used to identify the constituent, property, or characteristic in the U.S. Geological Survey wwhich individual samples are identified by sample record numbers.] 

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

number 

391905074363101 391924074354901 392415075014601 392430075131301 

U.S. 

Geological 

Survey 

well 

number 

010582 010589 110934 110002 

Date 

(mm-dd-yy) 

06-30-98 07-19-99 

07-19-99 

09-29-97 07-08-97 

Time 

(eastern 

standard) 

1030 1211 1212 1030 1100 

Sample 

record 

number 

99800887 99900749 99903390 99701182 99700927 

Gross alpha, 

filtered 

(as Thorium230) (pCi/L) 

(04126) 

3.6 

24.23 

<3.0 

42 

--

Alpha count, 

PE 2 sigma, 

filtered 

(as Thorium230) (pCi/L) 

(75987) 

0.9 6.27 1.7 2.1 

--

Alpha, filtered, 

(counting 

times not 

specified) 

(as Thorium230) (pCi/L) 

(01503) 

<3.0 

14.14 

------

Alpha, filtered, 

CE 2 sigma 

(counting times 

not specified) 

(as Thorium230) (pCi/L) 

(01504) 

3.67 

--------

392455074320701 392552075145001 392640075132801 392708074380801 

010151 

110013 

110933 010958 

07-20-99 

06-24-97 

07-14-97 

10-14-97 

09-22-97 

1151 1040 1105 1025 1025 

99900750 99700837 99701135 99800018 99701126 

4.95 

38.8 49.7 25.5 

3.3 

2.88 1.8 3.1 1.4 

.5 

--

28.71 16.2 19.7 

--

--

5.09 3.79 4.09 

--

392724075123603 392801075003701 392811075023601 392816075012101 

110274 

110708 110225 

110226 

06-30-97 

05-27-97 

01-21-97 

12-10-98 

11-30-98 

1050 1020 1100 0900 0900 

99700901 99700827 99700485 99900160 99900113 

35.6 54.4 16.24 23.76 

--

1.9 3.3 3.66 4.56 

--

18.94 46.5 

2.0 

----

4.25 6.72 4.8 

----

392828075014002 392850075010301 392853075005801 392900074533101 

110939 110255 110230 110272 

11-13-97 

11-18-97 

12-10-98 11-30-98 12-07-98 

1500 1100 1100 1100 1205 

99800162 99800299 99900159 99900112 99900173 

--

11.4 

6.88 6.4 

15.69 

--

1.4 2.53 2.66 3.72 

----------

----------

392900074533102 392900074533103 392901074535503 392901074535504 392901075103401 

110273 110274 110177 110278 110923 

12-14-98 12-14-98 12-17-98 12-17-98 10-17-96 

1405 1205 1343 1140 1215 

99900174 99900175 99900201 99900202 99700720 

9.09 

76.14 26.38 31.31 

--

3.17 8.43 4.94 5.36 

--

----------

----------

392901075103401 392920075011902 

110923 

110937 

08-11-97 

11-18-97 

11-18-97 08-20-99 08-20-99 

1125 1555 1600 1200 1210 

99701125 99800308 99800309 99900989 99901267 

40.02 23.21 

------

5.71 5.13 

------

73.5 

--------

2.3 

--------
[pCi/L, picocuries per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; Cs-137, cesium-137; PE, precision estimate; CE, counting error; SSMDC, sample specific minimum detectable concentr

anayzed; <, less than. Bold type indicates result used in statistical analysis when more than one analytical technique was used. Associated quality assurance data indicator code: 30, sequential replicate; 100, multiple types. Number in parentheses is parameter code used to identify the constituent, property, or characteristic in the U.S. Geological Survey wwhich individual samples are identified by sample record numbers.] 

Appendix 3. Concentrations of radionuclides in water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99.—Contin

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

number 

392923075023401 392944074281001 392957075001901 393001075130801 

U.S. 

Geological 

Survey 

well 

number 

110238 010973 110252 110186 

Date 

(mm-dd-yy) 

05-19-97 07-21-99 11-30-98 12-09-98 

12-09-98 

Time 

(eastern 

standard) 

1115 1149 1400 1401 1400 

Sample 

record 

number 

99700700 99900751 99900114 99900011 99900157 

Gross alpha, 

filtered 

(as Thorium230) (pCi/L) 

(04126) 

31.9 

<3.0 

22.12 42.2 

--

Alpha count, 

PE 2 sigma, 

filtered 

(as Thorium230) (pCi/L) 

(75987) 

1.5 1.89 4.37 5.65 

--

Alpha, filtered, 

(counting 

times not 

specified) 

(as Thorium230) (pCi/L) 

(01503) 

15.5 

--------

Alpha, filtered, 

CE 2 sigma 

(counting times 

not specified) 

(as Thorium230) (pCi/L) 

(01504) 

3.6 

--------

393015075054501 393030075090502 393030075090503 393046075085203 393056075125401 

330836 330907 330908 330911 111011 

06-16-98 11-18-98 11-30-98 11-23-98 12-16-98 

1110 1200 1220 1250 1320 

99801538 99900167 99900169 99900172 99900196 

19 50.52 65.46 

<3.0 <3.0 

2.2 6.76 7.8 1.8 1.7 

----------

----------

393056075125402 393056075125403 393100075122201 393208075024501 

111012 111013 111014 110254 

12-16-98 12-15-98 12-10-98 05-12-97 

1105 1300 1155 1140 

99900197 99900198 99900176 99700702 

6.56 

39 37.11 24 

2.65 5.77 5.5 1.3 

------

14.82 

------

3.65 
Appendix 3. Concentrations of radionuclides in water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99.—Contin

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

number 

Date 

(mm-dd-yy) 

Gross 

beta, 

filtered 

(as Cs-137) 

(pCi/L) 

(03515) 

Beta, 

2 sigma, 

filtered 

(as Cs-137) 

(pCi/L) 

(75989) 

Beta, 

filtered, 

(counting 

times not 

specified) 

(as Cs-137) 

(pCi/L) 

(03504) 

Beta, 

filtered, 

counting 

error, 

(counting 

times not 

specified) 

(as Cs-137) 

(pCi/L) 

(03503) 

Radium224, 

filtered, 

alpha count 

(pCi/L) 

(50833) 

Radium224, PE 2 

sigma, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(50834) 

Radium224, 

SS MDC, 

2xCL, 

filtered, 

(pCi/L) 

(99324) 

Radium224, 

filtered, 

gamma 

slow 

count 

(pCi/L) 

(99918) 

Radium224, CE 1 

sigma, 

filtered, 

gamma 

slow 

count 

(pCi/L) 

(99919) 

R

f

g

fa

391905074363101 06-30-98 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 391924074354901 07-19-99 16.81 5.07 -- -- 4.64 0.81 0.29 -- -- 

07-19-99 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

392415075014601 09-29-97 <4.0 3.94 -- -- -- -- -- .3 .2 392430075131301 07-08-97 9.26 3.92 14 1 -- -- -- -- -- 392455074320701 07-20-99 5.53 4.09 -- -- .90 .29 .242 -- -- 392552075145001 06-24-97 17.25 4.33 19 1 -- -- -- 6.0 .3 

392640075132801 07-14-97 29 1 8.84 3.88 -- -- -- -- -- 

10-14-97 15.22 4.24 11.8 .5 -- -- -- 4.4 .3 

392708074380801 09-22-97 2 .2 -- -- -- -- -- .5 .1 

392724075123603 06-30-97 11.54 4.1 15 1 -- -- -- 4.0 .2 

392801075003701 05-27-97 33.15 4.99 24 1 -- -- -- 7.1 .4 392801075003701 01-21-97 21.4 5.5 -- -- -- -- -- 7.7 .4 

392811075023601 12-10-98 11.37 3.77 -- -- 1.80 .46 .42 -- -- 392816075012101 11-30-98 17.4 4.36 -- -- 3.11 .56 .327 -- -- 392828075014002 11-13-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

11-18-97 8.1 0.7 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

392850075010301 12-10-98 6.73 3.55 -- -- 1.72 .40 .299 -- 392853075005801 11-30-98 8.15 3.95 -- -- 1.32 .30 .22 -- 392900074533101 12-07-98 22.09 4.24 -- -- .66 .26 .33 -- -- 392900074533102 12-14-98 16.09 4.27 -- -- 2.51 .5 .33 -- 392900074533103 12-14-98 57.23 5.81 -- -- 16.8 2.2 .6 -- 392901074535503 12-17-98 22.56 4.54 -- -- 8.28 1.36 .672 -- -- 392901074535504 12-17-98 25.31 4.65 -- -- 8.34 1.35 .732 -- -- 392901075103401 10-17-96 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 392901075103401 08-11-97 31.79 4.81 28 1 -- -- -- -- -- 

392920075011902 11-18-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

11-18-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 08-20-99 24.93 4.81 -- 11.11 1.68 .301 -- -- 08-20-99 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
Appendix 3. Concentrations of radionuclides in water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99.—Contin

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

number 

Date 

(mm-dd-yy) 

Gross 

beta, 

filtered 

(as Cs-137) 

(pCi/L) 

(03515) 

Beta, 

2 sigma, 

filtered 

(as Cs-137) 

(pCi/L) 

(75989) 

Beta, 

filtered, 

(counting 

times not 

specified) 

(as Cs-137) 

(pCi/L) 

(03504) 

Beta, 

filtered, 

counting 

error, 

(counting 

times not 

specified) 

(as Cs-137) 

(pCi/L) 

(03503) 

Radium224, 

filtered, 

alpha count 

(pCi/L) 

(50833) 

Radium224, PE 2 

sigma, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(50834) 

Radium224, 

SS MDC, 

2xCL, 

filtered, 

(pCi/L) 

(99324) 

Radium224, 

filtered, 

gamma 

slow 

count 

(pCi/L) 

(99918) 

Radium224, CE 1 

sigma, 

filtered, 

gamma 

slow 

count 

(pCi/L) 

(99919) 

R

f

g

fa

392923075023401 05-19-97 13 1 3.9 .2 392944074281001 07-21-99 <4.0 3.858 .58 .65 .924 392957075001901 11-30-98 12.56 4.14 4.15 .66 .261 393001075130801 12-09-98 10.9 3.8 3.16 .68 .53 

12-09-98 44.88 5.03 3.70 .72 .45 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- 

393015075054501 06-16-98 393030075090502 11-18-98 41.23 5.21 11.73 1.44 393030075090503 11-30-98 34.95 5.1 11.03 1.6 393046075085203 11-23-98 8.16 3.96 <.09 .08 393056075125401 12-16-98 5.58 3.75 <.23 .17 .25 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

393056075125402 12-16-98 6.94 3.81 <.54 .26 .33 393056075125403 12-15-98 16.87 4.28 4.31 .78 .62 393100075122201 12-10-98 19.71 4.15 5.68 1.02 .574 393208075024501 05-12-97 15.43 4.19 12 .5 3.9 .2 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- 
Appendix 3. Concentrations of radionuclides in water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99.—Contin

Radium- Radium- Radium- Radium- Radium- Radium- Radium- 

226, Radium­ 226, 226, 226 226, 226, Radium- 228, 

filtered, filtered, PE,2 CE 2- filtered, PE 2 sigma 228, 228, PE SS MDC, 

U.S. Geological Date filtered, 2 sigma, 

Survey station number (mm-dd-yy) planchet radon sigma, sigma, gamma gamma filtered filtered 2x CL 

count method filtered filtered, count 

count (pCi/L) (pCi/L) filtered, 

(pCi/L) (pCi/L) (pCi/L) (pCi/L) (pCi/L) (pCi/L) (81366) (76000) (pCi/L) 

(09510) (09511) (76001) (09504) (50837) (50911) (99326) 

391905074363101 06-30-98 0.6 -- -- 0.23 -- -- <.0.5 -- -- 

391924074354901 07-19-99 -- -- 0.40 -- -- -- 3.91 1.08 0.734 

07-19-99 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

392415075014601 09-29-97 -- -- -- -- 0.3 0.1 -- -- -- 392430075131301 07-08-97 3.8 -- -- .5 -- -- 2.5 -- -- 

392455074320701 07-20-99 -- -- .18 -- -- -- .894 .481 .788 

392552075145001 06-24-97 4.6 -- -- .5 5.3 .3 3.9 -- -- 

392640075132801 07-14-97 1.8 -- -- .3 -- -- 2.5 -- -- 

10-14-97 1.8 -- -- .3 1.9 .1 2.3 -- -- 

392708074380801 09-22-97 -- -- -- -- .7 .1 <0.6 -- -- 

392724075123603 06-30-97 3.8 4.1 .60 .5 4.3 .2 2.5 -- -- 

392801075003701 05-27-97 9.3 10.7 .80 .6 11.3 .6 6.0 -- -- 392801075003701 01-21-07 -- 11.5 1.8 -- 11.9 .6 6.14 1.50 .85 

392811075023601 12-10-98 -- -- .435 -- -- -- 3.07 .91 .675 392816075012101 11-30-98 -- -- .46 -- -- -- 1.86 .604 .789 

392828075014002 11-13-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

392828075014002 11-18-97 1.5 1.7 .29 -- -- -- 2.15 .685 -- 392850075010301 12-10-98 -- -- .23 -- -- -- 1.61 .598 .92 392853075005801 11-30-98 -- -- .27 -- -- -- 1.46 .527 .806 392900074533101 12-07-98 -- -- .17 -- -- -- 1.12 .506 -- 

392900074533102 12-14-98 -- -- .20 -- -- -- 1.43 .507 .565 

392900074533103 12-14-98 -- -- 2.2 -- -- -- 12.8 2.94 .61 392901074535503 12-17-98 -- -- .20 -- -- -- 4.69 1.22 .593 392901074535504 12-17-98 -- -- .49 -- -- -- 5.36 1.33 .775 392901075103401 10-17-96 -- 3.85 .61 -- -- -- 10.4 2.4 .572 

392901075103401 08-11-97 3.5 -- -- .4 -- -- 7.7 -- -- 

392920075011902 11-18-97 -- .74 .125 -- -- -- 9.88 2.36 -- 

11-18-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 08-20-99 -- -- .087 -- -- -- 7.07 1.62 .713 08-20-99 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

392923075023401 05-19-97 3.4 3.8 .20 .4 3.8 .2 2.7 -- -- 

392944074281001 07-21-99 -- -- .23 -- -- -- .389 .389 .75 

392957075001901 11-30-98 -- -- .32 -- -- -- 2.85 .812 .847 393001075130801 12-09-98 -- -- .80 -- -- -- -- -- -- 393001075130801 12-09-98 -- -- .75 -- -- -- 2.22 .73 .968 
Appendix 3. Concentrations of radionuclides in water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99.—Contin

Radium- Radium- Radium- Radium- Radium- Radium-	 Radium- 

226,	 Radium­ 226, 226, 226 226, 226, 	 Radium- 228, 

PE 2 sigma 228, PE 

U.S. Geological Date filtered, filtered, PE,2 CE 2- filtered, filtered, 228, 2 sigma, SS MDC, 

Survey station number	 (mm-dd-yy) planchet radon sigma, sigma, gamma gamma filtered filtered 2x CL 

count method filtered filtered, count 

count (pCi/L) (pCi/L) filtered, 

(pCi/L) (pCi/L) (pCi/L) (pCi/L) (pCi/L) (pCi/L) (81366) (76000) (pCi/L) 

(09510) (09511) (76001) (09504) (50837) (50911) (99326) 

393015075054501 06-16-98 1.7 -- -- .3 -- -- 1.5 -- -- 

393030075090502 11-18-98 -- -- .76 -- -- -- 11.3 2.62 -- 

393030075090503 11-30-98 -- -- 1.7 -- -- -- 7.22 1.7 -- 393046075085203 11-23-98 -- -- .048 -- -- -- .499 .37 .744 393056075125401 12-16-98 -- -- .062 -- -- -- .247 .312 .788 

393056075125402 12-16-98 -- -- .24 -- -- -- 1.64 .578 .84 

393056075125403 12-15-98 -- -- 1.08 -- -- -- 2.87 .846 .888 393100075122201 12-10-98 -- -- .70 -- -- -- 6.72 1.68 .665 393208075024501 05-12-97 2.1 -- -- .3 2.3 .2 2.6 -- -- 
Appendix 3. Concentrations of radionuclides in water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99.—Contin

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

number 

Date 

(mm-dd-yy) 

Radium-228, 

PE 2 sigma, 

filtered, 

gamma 

count 

(pCi/L) 

(50840) 

Radium-228, 

filtered, 

CE 2 sigma 

(pCi/L) 

(81367) 

Radon-222, 

total 

(pCi/L) 

(82303) 

Radon-222, 

PE 2 sigma 

(pCi/L) 

(76002) 

Lead-210, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(17503) 

Lead-210, 

PE 2 

sigma, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(75995) 

Polonium210, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(19503) 

Polonium-210, 

PE 2 sigma, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(75998) 

Uranium

natural

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(22703) 

391905074363101 06-30-98 233 20 

391924074354901 07-19-99 0.70 0.417 <1 0.03 

07-19-99 

392415075014601 09-29-97 0.2 307 21 392430075131301 07-08-97 0.5 441 23 <1.5 .27 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- 

392455074320701 07-20-99 .114 .284 <1 .03 

392552075145001 06-24-97 1.0 .6 472 24 .91 .405 392640075132801 07-14-97 .5 295 22 <1.5 .22 

10-14-97 .2 .5 

392708074380801 09-22-97 .2 216 20 

-- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- 

392724075123603 06-30-97 .4 .5 275 22 <1.5 .218 

392801075003701 05-27-97 .8 .8 209 20 <1.5 .329 392801075003701 01-21-97 .8 1.02 .49 392811075023601 12-10-98 379 23 392816075012101 11-30-98 254 21 

-- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

392828075014002 11-13-97 

392828075014002 11-18-97 .5 412 28 <1 

392850075010301 12-10-98 137 18 

392853075005801 11-30-98 141 18 392900074533101 12-07-98 254 19 <1 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

392900074533102 12-14-98 67 20 <1 392900074533103 12-14-98 249 24 <1 392901074535503 12-17-98 195 19 

392901074535504 12-17-98 249 20 <1 

392901075103401 10-17-96 308 30 <1 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

392901075103401 08-11-97 .9 <1.5 .254 

392920075011902 11-18-97 190 23 <1 

11-18-97 <1 08-20-99 <1 08-20-99 <1 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

392923075023401 05-19-97 .4 .6 406 22 <1.5 .307 

392944074281001 07-21-99 .334 .334 <1 .055 392957075001901 11-30-98 230 20 393001075130801 12-09-98 393001075130801 12-09-98 451 26 

-- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
Appendix 3. Concentrations of radionuclides in water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99.—Contin

Radium-228,	 

Lead-210, PE 2 sigma, Radium-228, Radon-222, Radon-222, Lead-210, PE 2 Polonium- Polonium-210, Uranium

U.S. Geological Date filtered, filtered, total PE 2 sigma filtered sigma, 210, PE 2 sigma, natural

Survey station (mm-dd-yy) gamma CE 2 sigma (pCi/L) (pCi/L) (pCi/L) filtered filtered filtered filtered 

number	 count (pCi/L) (pCi/L) (pCi/L) (μg/L) 

(pCi/L) (81367) (82303) (76002) (17503) (pCi/L) (19503) (75998) (22703) 

(50840) (75995) 

393015075054501 06-16-98 -- .4 -- -- -- -- -- -- <1 393030075090502 11-18-98 -- -- 493 25 -- -- -- -- <1 393030075090503 11-30-98 -- -- 990 31 -- -- -- -- <1 393046075085203 11-23-98 -- -- 331 21 -- -- -- -- -- 

393056075125401 12-16-98 -- -- 585 25 -- -- -- -- .04

393056075125402 12-16-98 -- -- 124 18 -- -- -- -- -- 

393056075125403 12-15-98 -- -- 982 32 -- -- -- -- <1 

393100075122201 12-10-98 -- -- 191 20 -- -- -- -- <1 393208075024501 05-12-97 .4 .8 127 17 <1.5 .254 -- -- <1 
Appendix 3. Concentrations of radionuclides in water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99.—Contin

Thorium-232, Thorium-230, Quality Thorium-230, Thorium-228, 

U.S. Geological Date PE 2 sigma, filtered PE 2 sigma, filtered assurance 

Survey station number (mm-dd-yy) filtered, (pCi/L) filtered (pCi/L) data indicator (pCi/L) (26503) (pCi/L) (61738)) code (75999) (75997) (99111) 

391905074363101 06-30-98 -- -- -- -- -­391924074354901 07-19-99 -- -- -- -- 30 

07-19-99 0.0175 0 0.18 1.67 30 

392415075014601 09-29-97 -- -- -- -- -­392430075131301 07-08-97 -- -- -- -- -­392455074320701 07-20-99 -- -- -- -- -­392552075145001 06-24-97 -- -- -- -- -­392640075132801 07-14-97 -- -- -- -- -­

10-14-97 -- -- -- -- -­

392708074380801 09-22-97 -- -- -- -- -­392724075123603 06-30-97 -- -- -- -- -­392801075003701 01-21-97 -- -- -- -- -­392801075003701 05-27-97 -- -- -- -- -­392811075023601 12-10-98 -- -- -- -- 10 392816075012101 11-30-98 -- -- -- -- 10 

10 

392828075014002 11-13-97 -- -- -- -­392828075014002 11-18-97 -- -- -- -- -­392850075010301 12-10-98 -- -- -- -- 10 392853075005801 11-30-98 -- -- -- -- 100 392900074533101 12-07-98 -- -- -- -- -­392900074533102 12-14-98 -- -- -- -- -­392900074533103 12-14-98 -- -- -- -- -­392901074535503 12-17-98 -- -- -- -- -­392901074535504 12-17-98 -- -- -- -- -­392901075103401 10-17-96 -- -- -- -- -­392901075103401 08-11-97 -- -- -- -- -­392920075011902 11-18-97 -- -- -- -- -­

11-18-97 -- -- -- -- -­08-20-99 -- -- -- -- 100 08-20-99 -- -- -- -- 100 

392923075023401 05-19-97 -- -- -- -- -­392944074281001 07-21-99 -- -- -- -- -­392957075001901 11-30-98 -- -- -- -- 10 393001075130801 12-09-98 -- -- -- -- 100 393001075130801 12-09-98 -- -- -- -- 100 
Appendix 3. Concentrations of radionuclides in water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99.—Contin

Thorium-232, Thorium-230, Quality Thorium-230, Thorium-228, 

U.S. Geological Date PE 2 sigma, filtered PE 2 sigma, filtered assurance filtered, filtered data indicator Survey station number (mm-dd-yy) (pCi/L) (pCi/L) (pCi/L) (26503) (pCi/L) (61738)) code (75999) (75997) (99111) 

393015075054501 06-16-98 -- -- -- -- -­393030075090502 11-18-98 .068 <1 .32 -- -­393030075090503 11-30-98 -- -- -- -- -­393046075085203 11-23-98 -- -- -- -- -­393056075125401 12-16-98 -- -- -- -- -­393056075125402 12-16-98 -- -- -- -- -­393056075125403 12-15-98 -- -- -- -- -­393100075122201 12-10-98 -- -- -- -- -­393208075024501 05-12-97 -- -- -- -- -­
Appendix 3. Concentrations of radionuclides in water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99.—Contin

Alpha, filtered, CE 2 

Gross alpha, Alpha count, Alpha, filtered, sigma counting error, U.S.	 PE 2 sigma, (counting times U.S. Geological Geological Date Time Sample filtered filtered not specified) (counting times not Survey station 	 Survey well (mm-dd-yy) (eastern record (as Thorium-230) (as Thorium-230) (as Thorium-230) specified) number standard) number (pCi/L) (as Thorium-230) number (04126)	 (pCi/L) (pCi/L) (pCi/L) (75987) (01503) (01504) 

393254075012101 150209 09-05-96 1150 99600838 -- -- --	 -­

09-16-97 1050 99701121 10.6 0.8 -- -­

393302075041501 111000 12-10-98 1300 99900161 13.64 3.38 -- -­393413075141901 330818 06-10-98 1150 99800774 2.6 1.5 -- -­

09-27-99 1210 99901154 4.25 3.18 --	 -­

393531074523901 011240 12-12-96 1255 99700312 -- -- --	 -­

08-23-99 1600 99900990 6.92 3.85 -- -­

393654075135101 330778 08-18-97 1105 99701046 25.0 2.0 -- -­393823074492901 010792 10-21-97 1025 99800020 14.8 .9 -- -­393916075122201 330817 06-17-98 1040 99801537 6.0 1.4 3.5 1.1 393939075030901 151393 11-10-98 1500 99900230 -- -- -- -­393939075030903 151395 12-01-98 1200 99900192 14.12 3.35 -- -­393940074534201 070842 09-08-97 1130 99701122 <3.0 1.35 1.5 0.3 394022074591002 151264 11-14-97 1200 99800110 -- -- -- -­

12-16-97 1410 99800297 -- -- --	 -­08-23-99 1315 99900988 18.36 4.9 --	 -­08-23-99 1210 99901263 -- -- -- -­

394026075050401 150375 10-06-97 1115 99801523 -- -- -- -­

10-06-97 1045 99800006 6.86 2.71 -- -­

394233075045401 151113 09-02-97 1045 99701123 7.34 2.78 8.5 .8 394248074571001 070490 08-04-97 1145 99701047 4.2 .5 -- -­394327075021001 151065 06-02-97 1040 99700828 22.8 1.5 11.03 3.31 394358075012001 070866 07-21-97 1110 99701134 23.6 1.0 12.98 3.4 394414075001601 070603 06-16-97 1120 99700829 19.2 1.0 8.77 2.87 394503945050745 070737 08-25-97 1117 99701124 77 2 -- -­395308074345301 051092 08-22-97 1104 99701055 <3.0 1.48 --	 -­

04-15-98 1020 99800580 7.0 0.9 -- -­

395715074123101 290058 06-19-96 1200 99600610 <3.0 1.84 -- -­

06-22-98 1250 99800889 11.7 1.5 -- -­

395722074222901 290487 11-12-97 1030 99800083 17.16 3.84 -- -­395722074231901 290488 05-11-98 1045 99800663 -- -- 1.03 .24 395735074144001 290928 06-20-96 1130 99600614 -- -- <3.0 .679 

06-20-96 1135 99600615 -- -- -- -­

395735074144001 290928 11-24-97 1100 99800166 10.5 1.1 -- -­395812074202602 290811 11-17-97 1125 99800106 10.1 .7 -- -­395848074144202 291032 11-05-97 1445 99800081 4.98 2.31 -- -­395927074123201 291216 12-03-97 1025 99800221 15.4 2.4 -- -­395928074124901 291234 06-02-98 1720 99801535 15.7 1.5 -- -­395933074131201 290088 06-18-96 1125 99600609 <3.0 .847 -- -­

06-18-96 1130 99600618 -- -- --	 -­
Appendix 3. Concentrations of radionuclides in water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99.—Contin

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

number 

Date 

(mm-dd-yy) 

Gross 

beta, 

filtered 

(as 

Cesium137) 

(pCi/L) 

(03515) 

Beta, PE 2 

sigma, 

filtered 

(as 

Cesium137) 

(pCi/L) 

(75989) 

Beta, 

filtered, 

(counting 

times not 

specified) 

(as 

Cesium137) 

(pCi/L) 

(03503) 

Beta, 

filtered, 

counting 

error, 

2 sigma 

(counting 

times not 

specified) 

(as Cesium137) 

(pCi/L) 

(03504) 

Radium224, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(50833) 

Radium224 PE 2 

sigma, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(50834) 

Radium224, 

SS MDC, 

2X CL, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(99324) 

Radium224, 

filtered, gamma, 

slow 

count 

(pCi/L) 

(99918) 

Radium224, 

CE 1 sigma, 

filtered, 

gamma 

slow count 

(pCi/L) 

(99919) 

Radiu

224

filter

gamm

fast co

(pCi/

(9992

393254075012101 09-05-96 

09-16-97 5.6 0.4 1.6 0.1 1.7 

393302075041501 12-10-98 10.21 3.72 1.62 0.379 0.299 393413075141901 06-10-98 .4

09-27-99 7.62 4.49 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

393531074523901 12-12-96 

08-23-99 7.94 4.43 .692 .143 .101 

393654075135101 08-18-97 14.0 1.0 3.0 .2 3.3 393823074492901 10-21-97 8.0 .4 2.5 393916075122201 06-17-98 5.2 .7

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

393939075030901 11-10-98 46.25 5.3 1.29 .362 .334 393939075030903 12-01-98 8.52 3.62 1.83 .34 393940074534201 09-08-97 <4.0 3.59 2.0 0.3 .4 .1 .3394022074591002 11-14-97 

12-16-97 

-- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

08-23-99 19.57 4.85 3.79 .53 .183 08-23-99 

394026075050401 10-06-97 1.8 .1 

10-06-97 11.51 4.07 1.4 .1 

394233075045401 09-02-97 9.96 3.96 4.0 .4 1.2 .1 .8

-- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- 

394248074571001 08-04-97 3.2 .3 .8 .1 .8394327075021001 06-02-97 8.37 3.97 9.5 .6 2.7 .2 2.4 394358075012001 07-21-97 14.56 4.15 11 1 3.6 .2 3.4 394414075001601 06-16-97 7.82 3.91 9.0 .5 2.2 .1 1.6 394505074545001 08-25-97 39 1 12.6 .7 12.5 

-- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- --

395308074345301 08-22-97 <4.0 3.74 

04-15-98 4.1 .3 .8

395715074123101 06-19-96 6.6 1.87 

06-22-98 7.3 .7 2.7 

395722074222901 11-12-97 13.2 4.08 1.9 .1 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- 
Appendix 3. Concentrations of radionuclides in water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99.—Contin

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

number 

Date 

(mm-dd-yy) 

Gross 

beta, 

filtered 

(as 

Cesium137) 

(pCi/L) 

(03515) 

Beta, PE 2 

sigma, 

filtered 

(as 

Cesium137) 

(pCi/L) 

(75989) 

Beta, 

filtered, 

(counting 

times not 

specified) 

(as 

Cesium137) 

(pCi/L) 

(03503) 

Beta, 

filtered, 

counting 

error, 

2 sigma 

(counting 

times not 

specified) 

(as Cesium137) 

(pCi/L) 

(03504) 

Radium224, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(50833) 

Radium224 PE 2 

sigma, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(50834) 

Radium224, 

SS MDC, 

2X CL, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(99324) 

Radium224, 

filtered, gamma, 

slow 

count 

(pCi/L) 

(99918) 

Radium224, 

CE 1 sigma, 

filtered, 

gamma 

slow count 

(pCi/L) 

(99919) 

Radiu

224

filter

gamm

fast co

(pCi/

(9992

395722074231901 05-11-98 1.3 .2 .2395735074144001 06-20-96 4.3 1.07 

06-20-96 11-24-97 2.6 .2 2.9 

395812074202602 11-17-97 1.9 .2 1.8 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

395848074144202 11-05-97 <4.0 3.65 395927074123201 12-03-97 2.2 .2 2.8 395928074124901 06-02-98 1.3 395933074131201 06-18-96 6.5 1.51 

06-18-96 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
Appendix 3. Concentrations of radionuclides in water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99.—Contin

U.S. Geological 

Survey station number 

Date 

(mm-dd-yy) 

Radium-226, 

filtered, 

planchet 

count 

(pCi/L) 

(09510) 

Radium-226, 

filtered, 

radon 

method 

(pCi/L) 

(09511) 

Radium-226, 

PE 2 sigma, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(76001) 

Radium-226, 

CE 2 sigma, 

filtered, 

(pCi/L) 

(09504) 

Radium-226, 

filtered, 

gamma 

count 

(pCi/L) 

(50837) 

Radium-226, 

PE 2 sigma, 

filtered, 

gamma count 

(pCi/L) 

(50911) 

Radium-228, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(81366) 

Radium-228, 

PE 2 sigma 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(76000) 

393254075012101 09-05-96 -- 1.2 0.19 -- -- -- 1.4 0.56 

09-16-97 1.1 -- -- 0.3 1.0 0.2 1.3 -- 

393302075041501 12-10-98 -- -- .299 -- -- -- 1.99 .69 393413075141901 06-10-98 .35 -- -- .19 -- -- <.47 -- 

09-27-99 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

393531074523901 12-12-96 -- 2.5 .42 -- -- -- 2.7 .795 

08-23-99 -- -- .18 -- -- -- 1.63 .58 

393654075135101 08-18-97 4.2 -- -- .4 4.8 .21 2.9 -- 393823074492901 10-21-97 2.7 -- -- .4 -- -- 1.6 -- 393916075122201 06-17-98 .31 -- -- .19 -- -- <.44 -- 393939075030901 11-10-98 -- -- .083 -- <.27 .17 .85 .51 393939075030903 12-01-98 -- -- .34 -- -- -- 1.26 .52 393940074534201 09-08-97 <.29 .154 .032 .17 <.1 .2 <0.52 .74 394022074591002 11-14-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

12-16-97 -- 3.32 .55 -- -- -- 1.18 .49 08-23-99 -- -- .43 -- -- -- 3.44 .96 08-23-99 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

394026075050401 10-06-97 -- .89 -- -- .9 .2 1.3 -- 

10-06-97 -- -- -- -- .9 .2 1.3 -- 

394233075045401 09-02-97 1.7 -- -- .3 1.7 .2 <.5 -- 394248074571001 08-04-97 .92 -- -- .28 .6 .2 <.6 -- 394327075021001 06-02-97 1.5 1.8 .3 .3 1.8 .2 1.7 -- 394358075012001 07-21-97 2.7 -- -- .3 2.8 .2 2.5 -- 394414075001601 06-16-97 2.6 3.2 .3 .3 3.5 .2 1.8 -- 394505074545001 08-25-97 5.7 -- -- .5 5.7 1.2 7.5 .90 395308074345301 08-22-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

04-15-98 .8 -- -- .22 -- -- <.8 -- 

395715074123101 06-19-96 -- .91 .15 -- -- -- 1.7 .518 

06-22-98 .9 -- -- .25 -- -- 1.8 -- 

395722074222901 11-12-97 -- -- -- -- 1.8 .2 -- -- 395722074231901 05-11-98 <.1 -- -- .18 -- -- <.5 -- 395735074144001 06-20-96 -- .99 .18 -- -- -- 1.6 .50 

06-20-96 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 11-24-97 .97 -- -- .27 1.0 .2 1.6 .50 

395812074202602 11-17-97 .95 -- -- .26 .9 .4 1.4 -- 395848074144202 11-05-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 395927074123201 12-03-97 2.2 -- -- .3 2.3 .4 1.5 -- 395928074124901 06-02-98 1.2 -- -- .3 -- -- .63 -- 395933074131201 06-18-96 -- 1.8 .33 -- -- -- 2.2 .68 

06-18-96 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
Appendix 3. Concentrations of radionuclides in water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99.—Contin

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

number 

Date 

(mm-dd-yy) 

Radium-228, 

PE 2 sigma, 

filtered, 

gamma 

count 

(pCi/L) 

(50840) 

Radium-228, 

filtered, CE 

2 sigma 

(pCi/L) 

(81367) 

Radon-222, 

total 

(pCi/L) 

(82303) 

Radon-222, 

PE 2 sigma 

(76002) 

Lead-210, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(17503) 

Lead-210, 

PE 2 

sigma, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(75995) 

Polonium210, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(19503) 

Polonium210, PE 2 

sigma, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(75998) 

Uranium238, filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(22603) 

393254075012101 09-05-96 -- -- 380 22 -- -- -- -- -- 

09-16-97 0.2 0.4 387 24 -- -- -- -- -- 

393302075041501 12-10-98 -- -- 90 18 -- -- -- -- -- 393413075141901 06-10-98 -- -- 225 20 -- -- -- -- -- 

09-27-99 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

393531074523901 12-12-96 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

08-23-99 -- -- 373 23 -- -- -- -- -- 

393654075135101 08-18-97 .4 .5 330 25 <1.5 0.291 -- -- -- 393823074492901 10-21-97 -- .4 52 16 -- -- -- -- -- 393916075122201 06-17-98 -- -- 225 20 -- -- -- -- -- 393939075030901 11-10-98 -- -- 190 21 -- -- -- -- -- 393939075030903 12-01-98 -- -- 101 17 -- -- -- -- -- 393940074534201 09-08-97 .2 -- 104 17 <1.5 .262 -- -- -- 394022074591002 11-14-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

12-16-97 -- -- 184 21 -- -- -- -- -- 08-23-99 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 08-23-99 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

394026075050401 10-06-97 .1 -- 122 15 -- -- -- -- <0.1 

10-06-97 .2 -- 128 18 -- -- -- -- -- 

394233075045401 09-02-97 .2 -- 859 28 <1.5 .326 -- -- -- 394248074571001 08-04-97 .2 .6 250 20 -- -- -- -- -- 394327075021001 06-02-97 .2 .4 242 20 <1.5 .298 -- -- -- 394358075012001 07-21-97 .2 .6 286 22 <1.5 .266 -- -- -- 394414075001601 06-16-97 .2 .5 511 25 <1.5 .378 -- -- -- 394505074545001 08-25-97 1.2 .9 219 19 <1.5 .279 -- -- -- 395308074345301 08-22-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

04-15-98 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

395715074123101 06-19-96 -- -- 110 19 -- -- <1 0.029 -- 

06-22-98 -- .4 91 16 -- -- -- -- -- 

395722074222901 11-12-97 .2 -- 286 22 -- -- -- -- -- 395722074231901 05-11-98 -- -- 118 18 -- -- -- -- -- 395735074144001 06-20-96 -- -- 210 19 <1.5 .301 <1 .034 -- 

06-20-96 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 11-24-97 .2 .5 196 19 -- -- -- -- -- 

395812074202602 11-17-97 .4 .4 192 20 -- -- -- -- -- 395848074144202 11-05-97 -- -- 252 20 -- -- -- -- -- 395927074123201 12-03-97 .4 .5 254 20 -- -- -- -- -- 395928074124901 06-02-98 -- .33 362 24 -- -- -- -- -- 395933074131201 06-18-96 -- -- 200 21 <1.5 .348 <1 .01 <.1 

06-18-96 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
Appendix 3. Concentrations of radionuclides in water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99.—Contin

Uranium-234, Uranium-235, Uranium, Thorium-232, Thorium-230, 

PE 2 sigma, Uranium-235, PE 2 sigma, natural, Thorium-232, PE 2 sigma, Thorium-230, PE 2 sigma, 

Date filtered	 filtered filtered 

Statin number filtered	 filtered filtered filtered filtered (mm-dd-yy) (pCi/L)	 (pCi/L) (pCi/L) (μg/L) (pCi/L) (pCi/L) (pCi/L) (pCi/L) 

(22620) (75976) (26503) 

(75992)	 (75994) (22703) (75999) (75997) 

393254075012101 09-05-96 -- -- -- <1 -- -- -- -- 

09-16-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

393302075041501 12-10-98 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 393413075141901 06-10-98 -- -- -- <1 -- -- -- -- 

09-27-99 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

393531074523901 12-12-96 -- -- -- <1 -- -- -- -- 

08-23-99 -- -- -- <1 -- -- -- -- 

393654075135101 08-18-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 393823074492901 10-21-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 393916075122201 06-17-98 -- -- -- <1 -- -- -- -- 393939075030901 11-10-98 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 393939075030903 12-01-98 -- -- -- <1 -- -- -- -- 393940074534201 09-08-97 -- -- -- <1 -- -- -- -- 394022074591002 11-14-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

12-16-97 -- -- -- <1 -- -- -- -- 08-23-99 -- -- -- <1 -- -- -- -- 08-23-99 -- -- -- <1 -- -- -- -- 

394026075050401 10-06-97 -- -- -- .04 -- -- -- -- 

10-06-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

394233075045401 09-02-97 -- -- -- <1 -- -- -- -- 394248074571001 08-04-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 394327075021001 06-02-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 394358075012001 07-21-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 394414075001601 06-16-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 394505074545001 08-25-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 395308074345301 08-22-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

04-15-98 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

395715074123101 06-19-96 -- -- -- <1 -- -- -- -- 

06-22-98 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

395722074222901 11-12-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 395722074231901 05-11-98 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 395735074144001 06-20-96 -- -- -- <1 -- -- -- -- 

06-20-96 -- -- -- <1 -- -- -- -- 11-24-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

395812074202602 11-17-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 395848074144202 11-05-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -­ 395927074123201 12-03-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 395928074124901 06-02-98 -- -- -- <1 -- -- -- -- 395933074131201 06-18-96 0.019 <0.1 0.008 <1 <1 0.011 <1 0.015 

06-18-96 -- -- -- <1 -- -- -- -- 
Appendix 3. Concentrations of radionuclides in water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99.—Contin

Gross alpha, Alpha count, PE 2 

U.S. Geological Unique Time Sample filtered sigma, filtered Date Survey station project (mm-dd-yy) (eastern record (as Thorium-230) (as Thorium-230) number number standard) number (pCi/L) (pCi/L) 

(04126) (75987) 

395933074131201 290088 01-13-97 1125 99700484 28.3 2.3 395936074122901 290627 12-08-97 1250 99800200 15.2 1.8 

12-08-97 1251 99800069 17.0 1.9 

395936074123901 291229 06-02-98 1225 99801534 9.6 1.87 395936074124001 290628 12-01-97 1030 99800183 20.5 4.19 395945074122201 290097 12-17-97 1150 99800283 15.0 1.9 395946074124901 291233 06-02-98 1133 99801540 19.0 1.0 395950074124801 291232 06-03-98 1227 99801542 27.2 2.1 395951074115701 291342 09-01-98 1500 99801546 15.31 3.91 395957074124801 291230 06-04-98 1247 99801536 20.0 2.0 395958074120101 291343 09-02-98 1210 99801547 12.29 3.42 400002074125201 291231 06-03-98 1230 99801541 15.0 1.0 400009074114901 291344 08-26-98 1420 99801549 13.87 3.7 400014074081601 291345 09-09-98 1015 99801551 3.5 2.16 

09-09-98 1025 99800295 4.62 2.4 

400037074193401 291086 04-13-98 1100 99801539 11.0 1.0 400040074121001 291346 09-02-98 1040 99801552 4.29 2.31 400048074115301 291347 08-25-98 1040 99801548 6.61 2.7 400057074121801 291348 08-31-98 1025 99801553 13.18 3.63 400059074120501 291349 09-01-98 1035 99801554 8.31 2.9 400105074240601 291115 04-29-98 1000 99800605 1.9 .3 400112074123201 291350 09-01-98 1145 99801555 14.41 3.62 400135074153901 290496 05-04-98 1050 99800662 15.2 1.0 400210074192601 290127 04-27-98 1050 99800606 5.2 .6 400226074143101 290591 06-14-96 1435 99600613 <3.0 .653 400226074143101 290591 02-10-97 1100 99700508 17.9 1.9 400301074094601 291073 04-22-98 1115 99800590 4.6 .6 400339074122201 291131 08-09-99 1408 99900871 15.09 4.15 

08-09-99 1409 99903391 -- -­

400427074110701 290437 04-20-98 1050 99800589 5.1 .6 
Appendix 3. Concentrations of radionuclides in water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99.—Contin

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

number 

Date 

(mm-dd-yy) 

Gross 

beta, 

filtered 

(as Cs-137) 

(pCi/L) 

(03515 

Gross beta, 

PE 2 sigma, 

filtered 

(as Cs-137) 

(pCi/L) 

(75989) 

Radium224, alpha 

count, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(50833) 

Radium224, PE 2 

sigma, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(50834) 

Radium224, 

SS MDC, 

2X CL, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(99324) 

Radium224, 

filtered, gamma, 

slow 

count 

(pCi/L) 

(99918) 

Radium224, CE 1 

sigma, 

filtered, 

gamma 

slow 

count 

(pCi/L) 

(99919) 

Radium224, 

filtered, 

gamma 

fast count 

(pCi/L) 

(99922) 

Radium224, PE 2 

sigma, 

filtered, 

gamma 

fast count 

(pCi/L) 

(99923) 

Ra

fil

a

c

(p

(0

395933074131201 01-13-97 3.3 0.2 

395936074122901 12-08-97 2.1 .2 2.6 0.6 395936074122901 12-08-97 2.4 .2 2.0 .6 395936074123901 06-02-98 8.08 3.89 1.3 .1 1.8 .2 

395936074124001 12-01-97 11.3 4.08 3.6 .2 

-- -- -- -- -- -- --

-- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- --

-- -- -- -- -- 

395945074122201 12-17-97 7.7 .9 2.6 .7 

395946074124901 06-02-98 8.8 .5 2.2 .2 395950074124801 06-03-98 2.2 .4 395951074115701 09-01-98 16.16 4.28 2.42 0.64 0.58 395957074124801 06-04-98 9.1 .5 2.0 .1 2.7 .3 

-- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- 

395958074120101 09-02-98 9.57 3.95 3.16 .5 .36 

400002074125201 06-03-98 7.3 .4 1.6 .4 400009074114901 08-26-98 7.39 3.88 2.46 .46 .36 400014074081601 09-09-98 <4.0 3.56 .32 .26 .44 400014074081601 09-09-98 3.87 3.66 .49 .22 .28 

-- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

400037074193401 04-13-98 4.4 .4 1.5 .2 

400040074121001 09-02-98 5.31 3.74 .82 .20 .20 

400048074115301 08-25-98 6.07 3.79 1.27 .5 

400057074121801 08-31-98 9.28 3.96 1.77 .44 .36 

400059074120501 09-01-98 6.67 3.81 1.73 .34 .29 

-- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- 

400105074240601 04-29-98 1.5 .2 .34 .19 

400112074123201 09-01-98 12.53 4.07 3.18 .86 .78 

400135074153901 05-04-98 7.0 .4 1.2 .1 1.5 .3 400210074192601 04-27-98 2.9 .3 .8 .2 

400226074143101 06-14-96 <4.0 .956 

-- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- 

-- -- ---- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

02-10-97 1.5 .1 

400301074094601 04-22-98 2.9 .3 1.2 .3 400339074122201 08-09-99 5.61 4.2 2.44 .52 .39 

08-09-99 

400427074110701 04-20-98 3.4 .3 1.1 .3 

-- -- -- -- -- -- --

-- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- 
Appendix 3. Concentrations of radionuclides in water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99.—Contin

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

number 

Date 

(mm-dd-yy) 

Radium-226, 

PE 2 sigma, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(76001) 

Radium226, 

filtered, 

CE 2 sigma 

(pCi/L) 

(09504) 

Radium226, 

filtered gamma 

count 

(pCi/L) 

(50837) 

Radium-226, 

PE 2 sigma, 

filtered, 

gamma 

count 

(pCi/L) 

(50911) 

Radium228, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(81366) 

Radium-228, 

PE 2 sigma, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(76000) 

Radium-228, 

SS MDC, 2X 

CL, filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(99326) 

Radium228, 

filtered, 

gamma 

count 

(pCi/L) 

(50839) 

Radium-

PE 2 sig

filtere

gamm

coun

(pCi/L

(50840

395933074131201 01-13-97 0.8 0.8 2.3 0.4 2.4 0.4 395936074122901 12-08-97 .3 1.8 .2 1.6 1.5 .2 395936074122901 12-08-97 1.8 .2 1.5 .2 395936074123901 06-02-98 .05 .23 .7 .2 .64 .9 .4 395936074124001 12-01-97 3.1 .4 2.4 .2 

-- ---- ----

-- -- 

-- ---- -- -- -- 

--

-- -- -- -- 

-- 

395945074122201 12-17-97 .3 1.5 395946074124901 06-02-98 .3 1.4 0.4 395950074124801 06-03-98 .3 .91 395951074115701 09-01-98 .36 1.71 .66 395957074124801 06-04-98 .1 .3 1.8 .2 2 .6 

--------

-- -- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

-- -- -- -- -- 

-- --

-- 

395958074120101 09-02-98 .19 1.91 .658 400002074125201 06-03-98 .3 1.3 400009074114901 08-26-98 .24 2.08 .676 400014074081601 09-09-98 .12 <1.0 .38 400014074081601 09-09-98 .11 .45 .383 

---- ----

-- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- --

-- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- 

400037074193401 04-13-98 .16 1.3 400040074121001 09-02-98 .17 <1.0 .481 400048074115301 08-25-98 .14 1.13 .483 400057074121801 08-31-98 .46 1.6 .596 400059074120501 09-01-98 .28 2.32 .747 

------

-- -- -- -- -- --

-- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- 

400105074240601 04-29-98 .2 <.5 400112074123201 09-01-98 .56 2.37 .759 400135074153901 05-04-98 .60 .5 3.9 .2 1.16 1.2 .2 400210074192601 04-27-98 .23 <.55 400226074143101 06-14-96 .29 1.1 .407 

--------

-- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- 

--

-- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- 

0.515 

02-10-97 .30 1.7 .2 2.0 .644 1.2 .2 

400301074094601 04-22-98 .2 .56 400339074122201 08-09-99 .23 1.69 .56 

08-09-99 

400427074110701 04-20-98 .18 1.05 

-- --

-- 

-- -- -- -- -- --

-- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- --
Appendix 3. Concentrations of radionuclides in water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99.—Contin

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

number 

Date 

(mm-dd-yy) 

Radon-222, 

PE 2 sigma 

(pCi/L) 

(76002) 

Lead-210, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(17503) 

Lead-210, 

PE 2 sigma, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(75995) 

Polonium210, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(19503) 

Polonium-210, 

PE 2 sigma, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(75998) 

Uranium238, 

dissolved 

(pCi/L) 

(22603) 

Uranium-238, 

PE 2 sigma, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(75991) 

Uranium234, 

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(22610) 

Uranium-23

PE 2 sigm

filtered 

(pCi/L) 

(75992) 

19 20 21 

395933074131201 01-13-97 <1.5 0.45 395936074122901 12-08-97 <1.5 .279 395936074122901 12-08-97 395936074123901 06-02-98 395936074124001 12-01-97 <1.5 .268 

-- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- --

-- -- --

-- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- --

-- -- --

20 19 20 20 18 

395945074122201 12-17-97 395946074124901 06-02-98 395950074124801 06-03-98 395951074115701 09-01-98 .304 .489 395957074124801 06-04-98 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- --

-- -- --

-- -- -- -- --

22 20 21 22 

395958074120101 09-02-98 400002074125201 06-03-98 400009074114901 08-26-98 400014074081601 09-09-98 400014074081601 09-09-98 

-- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- --

-- -- -- -- 

27 21 20 19 

400037074193401 04-13-98 400040074121001 09-02-98 400048074115301 08-25-98 400057074121801 08-31-98 400059074120501 09-01-98 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- --

25 21 30 19 29 0.016 0.014 0.01 

400105074240601 04-29-98 400112074123201 09-01-98 .853 .535 400135074153901 05-04-98 400210074192601 04-27-98 400226074143101 06-14-96 <1.5 .317 <1.0 <0.1 <0.1 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- --

-- -- --

-- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- --

-- -- -- -- 

22 

.105 

20 

02-10-97 <1.5 .466 

400301074094601 04-22-98 400339074122201 08-09-99 

08-09-99 .048 

400427074110701 04-20-98 

-- -- -- 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

-- -- -- 

-- -- --

-- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- ---- -- -- ---- -- -- -- --
Appendix 3. Concentrations of radionuclides in water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, southern New Jersey, 1997-99.—Contin

Uranium, Thorium-232, Thorium-232, Thorium-230, Thorium-230, Thorium-228, Tritium, Tritium, PE 2 

U.S. Geological Date natural, filtered PE 2 sigma, filtered PE 2 sigma, filtered total sigma a

Survey station 	 (mm-dd-yy) filtered (pCi/L) filtered (pCi/L) filtered (pCi/L) (pCi/L) (pCi/L) i

number (μg/L) (75976) (pCi/L) (26503) (75997) (61738) (07000) (75985) 

(22703)	 (75999) 

395933074131201 01-13-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

395936074122901 12-08-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

395936074122901 12-08-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 395936074123901 06-02-98 <1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

395936074124001 12-01-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

395945074122201 12-17-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

395946074124901 06-02-98 <1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

395950074124801 06-03-98 <1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 395951074115701 09-01-98 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 395957074124801 06-04-98 <1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

395958074120101 09-02-98 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

400002074125201 06-03-98 <1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 400009074114901 08-26-98 -- -- -- -- -- -- 38.72 2.56 400014074081601 09-09-98 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

400014074081601 09-09-98 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 400037074193401 04-13-98 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

400040074121001 09-02-98 -- -- -- -- -- -- <.3 .576 400048074115301 08-25-98 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 400057074121801 08-31-98 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 400059074120501 09-01-98 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 400105074240601 04-29-98 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 400112074123201 09-01-98 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 400135074153901 05-04-98 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 400210074192601 04-27-98 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 400226074143101 06-14-96 <1 <1 0.013 <1 0.017 -- -- -- 

02-10-97 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

400301074094601 04-22-98 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 400339074122201 08-09-99 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

08-09-99 -- <1 .207 .077 .171 0.338 -- -- 

400427074110701 04-20-98 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
Appendix 4 69 

Appendix 4 
Appendix 4. Concentrations of inorganic constituents in, and physical properties of, water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, so

1997-99. 

[NTU, nephelometric turbidity units; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius; deg C, degrees Celsius; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; 

acid neutralizing capacity; CaCO3, calcium carbonate; SiO2, silica; N, nitrogen; NO2 + NO3, nitrite plus nitrate; SO4, sulfate; P, phosphorus; C, carbon; --, not analyzed; <, less th

not quantified. Associated quality assurance data indicator code: 10, field or laboratory equipment blank; 30, sequential replicate; 100, multiple types; number in parenthesis is paconstituent, property, or characteristic in the U.S. Geological Survey water-quality database (NWIS) in which individual samples are identified by sample record numbers] 

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

number 

391905074363101 391924074354901 392415075014601 392430075131301 392455074320701 

U.S. 

Geological 

Survey well 

number 

010582 010589 

110934 110002 

010151 

Date 

(mm-dd-yy) 

06-30-98 07-19-99 

09-29-97 07-08-97 

07-20-99 

Time 

(eastern 

standard) 

1030 1211 

1030 1100 

1151 

Sample 

record 

number 

99800887 99900749 

99701182 99700927 

99900750 

Turbidity, 

field, 

unfiltered 

(NTU) 

(61028) 

0.1 

.6 

.1 .02 

.3 

pH, field 

(standard 

units) 

(00400) 

5.1 

4.4 

4.9 4.85 

4.3 

pH, lab 

(standard 

units) 

(00403) 

4.3 

5.5 

4.3 

--

--

Specific 

conductance, 

lab 

(μS/cm) 

(90095) 

148 

718 

68 

65 

--

Specific 

conductance 

(μS/cm) 

(00095) 

162 

722 

72 

135 

64 

Oxygen, 

dissolved 

(mg/L) 

(00300) 

4.8 

5.4 

4.3 

5.4 

2.6 

Tempe

ature

wate

(deg C

(00010

13.4 

14.5 

14.7 

14.7 

13.0 

392552075145001 392640075132801 392708074380801 392724075123603 

110013 

110933 

010958 110274 

06-24-97 

07-14-97 

10-14-97 

09-22-97 06-30-97 

1040 

1105 

1025 

1025 1050 

99700837 

99701135 

99800018 

99701126 99700901 

.1 

.1 

.1 

.1 .1 

4.7 

4.5 

4.4 

5.0 4.7 

--

4.6 

4.8 

----

--

91 

91 

----

155 

93 

93 

64 

144 

6.2 

4.7 

5.0 

7.6 

7.0 

13.6 

14.6 

14.5 

12.9 

13.7 

392801075003701 392811075023601 392816075012101 392828075014002 

110708 110225 110226 110939 

01-21-97 

05-27-97 

12-10-98 11-30-98 11-13-97 

1100 

1020 

0900 0900 1500 

99700485 

99700827 

99900160 99900113 99800162 

.1 

.1 

------

4.7 

4.6 

4.7 4.6 4.6 

--

--

4.7 4.8 5.2 

--

--

109 112 151 

400 

402 

106 111 143 

4.01 

4.5 

1.4 5.1 4.5 

13.8 

13.7 

13.7 14.1 13.2 

392828075014002 392850075010301 392853075005801 392900074533101 392900074533102 

110939 

110255 110230 

110272 110273 

11-18-97 

12-10-98 11-30-98 

12-07-98 12-14-98 

1100 

1100 1100 

1205 1405 

99801532 

99900159 99900112 

99900173 99900174 

.1 

.1 .1 

----

4.68 

4.4 4.7 

4.6 4.6 

--

4.7 5.0 

----

--

63 95 

----

169 

62 93 

203 278 

4.87 

3.3 6.3 

10.3 

9.7 

-15.9 

13.4 14.3 

15.0 

11.6 

392900074533103 392901074535503 392901074535504 392901075103401 

110274 110277 110278 110923 

12-14-98 12-17-98 12-17-98 10-17-96 

08-11-97 

1205 1343 1140 1215 

1125 

99900175 99900201 99900202 99700720 

99701125 

.3 .1 .2 .12 

.08 

4.46 4.4 4.1 

4.54 

5.08 

--

----

--

5.3 

--

----

--

110 

319 

257 283 

113.7 

119 

8.9 

5.56 8.37 

6.95 

6.09 

11.4 

11.4 12.4 

13.6 

15.5 

392920075011902 392923075023401 

110937 

110238 

11-18-97 

11-18-97 08-20-99 08-20-99 

05-19-97 

1555 

1600 

1200 

1210 

1115 

99800308 

99800309 

99900989 

99901267 

99700700 

.1 

.34 

.34 

.1 

--

4.5 

4.6 

4.6 

4.9 

--

--

--

4.7 

--

--

--

--

150 

--

--

162 

158 

106 

--

--

6.13 

6.4 

5.93 

--

--

16.0 

16.9 

16.9 

14.2 

--
[NTU, nephelometric turbidity units; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius; deg C, degrees Celsius; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; 

acid neutralizing capacity; CaCO3, calcium carbonate; SiO2, silica; N, nitrogen; NO2 + NO3, nitrite plus nitrate; SO4, sulfate; P, phosphorus; C, carbon; --, not analyzed; <, less th

not quantified. Associated quality assurance data indicator code: 10, field or laboratory equipment blank; 30, sequential replicate; 100, multiple types; number in parenthesis is paconstituent, property, or characteristic in the U.S. Geological Survey water-quality database (NWIS) in which individual samples are identified by sample record numbers] 

Appendix 4. Concentrations of inorganic constituents in, and physical properties of, water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, so

1997-99.—Continued 

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

number 

392944074281001 392957075001901 393001075130801 393015075054501 393030075090502 

U.S. 

Geological 

Survey well 

number 

010973 

110252 110186 

330836 330907 

Date 

(mm-dd-yy) 

07-21-99 

11-30-98 12-09-98 

06-16-98 11-18-98 

Time 

(eastern 

standard) 

1149 

1400 1400 

1110 1200 

Sample 

record 

number 

99900751 

99900114 99900157 

99801538 99900167 

Turbidity, 

field, 

unfiltered 

(NTU) 

(61028) 

.5 .14 .1 

----

pH, field 

(standard 

units) 

(00400) 

4.9 

4.5 4.5 

4.49 

4.3 

pH, lab 

(standard 

units) 

(00403) 

5.1 

4.6 4.7 

--

--

Specific 

conductance, 

lab 

(μS/cm) 

(90095) 

45 

94 

102 

--

--

Specific 

conductance 

(μS/cm) 

(00095) 

45 

92 

102 

343 

268 

Oxygen, 

dissolved 

(mg/L) 

(00300) 

0.14 

4.9 

8.1 

9.69 

6.36 

Tempe

ature

wate

(deg C

(00010

13.5 

13.3 

13.4 

13.4 

13.5 

393030075090503 393046075085203 393056075125401 393056075125402 

330908 330911 

111011 

111012 

11-30-98 11-23-98 

11-24-98 

12-16-98 

12-16-98 

1220 1250 

1251 

1320 

1105 

99900169 99900172 

99900235 

99900196 

99900197 

.1 .3 

.01 

.1 

--

4.3 5.86 

4.6 

5.1 

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

328 

82 

85 

70 

--

5.82 

0.39 

5.03 

6.8 

--

13.9 

12.5 

12.7 

11.8 

--

393056075125403 393100075122201 393208075024501 

111013 

111014 110254 

12-15-98 

12-10-98 05-12-97 

1300 

1155 1140 

99900198 

99900176 99700702 

1.7 

.1 .2 

4.5 

4.7 4.4 

--

--

4.1 

--

--

119 

159 

150 

118 

4.87 

9.88 

1.65 

11.6 

12.2 

13.3 
Appendix 4. Concentrations of inorganic constituents in, and physical properties of, water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, so

1997-99.—Continued 

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

number 

391905074363101 391924074354901 392415075014601 392430075131301 392455074320701 

Date 

(mm-dd-yy) 

06-30-98 

07-19-99 09-29-97 

07-08-97 07-20-99 

Potassium 

filtered 

(mg/L) 

(00935) 

3.41 1.03 

.90 

--

--

Sodium, 

filtered 

(mg/L) 

(00930) 

82.9 

6.2 

3.7 

--

--

ANC, 

unfltrd, 

titrated to 

4.5, lab 

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) 

(90410) 

<1 

4 

<1 

--

--

Bromide, 

filtered 

(mg/L) 

(71870) 

.02 

--

--

--

--

Chloride, 

filtered 

(mg/L) 

(00940) 

23.0 

200 

8.5 

15.5 

6.2 

Silica, 

filtered 

(mg/L as 

SiO2) 

(00955) 

7.9 

11.4 

7.7 

11.5 

--

Nitrogen, 

ammonia, 

filtered 

(mg/L as N) 

(00608) 

.037 

<.020 

<.015 

<.015 

<.020 

Nitrogen, 

ammonia + 

organic, 

filtered 

(mg/L as N) 

(00623) 

<.10 

<.20 

<.10 

--

--

Nitrogen, 

NO2+NO3, 

filtered 

(mg/L as N) 

(00631) 

2.58 

.649 

3.25 

3.31 

.192 

Nitr

nit

filt

(mg/L 

(00

<

<

<

<

<

392552075145001 392640075132801 392708074380801 392724075123603 

06-24-97 

07-14-97 

10-14-97 

09-22-97 

06-30-97 

--

1.45 

1.48 

.55 

--

--

6.1 

6.1 

7.2 

--

--

1 

3 

--

--

--

--

.04 

.03 

--

15.2 

8.6 

9.5 

14.5 

14.9 

--

9.5 

10.4 

6.8 

--

.015 

.032 

<.015 

<.015 

.020 

--

--

<.20 

<.20 

--

7.06 

2.82 

2.80 

.104 

8.22 

<

<

<

<

<

392801075003701 392811075023601 392816075012101 392828075014002 

01-21-97 

05-27-97 

12-10-98 11-30-98 11-13-97 

--

--

1.95 2.35 5.34 

--

--

8.0 6.1 

11.2 

--

--

2 2 

6 

--

--

.05 .05 

.02 

--

97.0 

12.7 11.2 

30.5 

--

--

9.0 8.7 

7.6 

--

<.015 

.411 .028 

.064 

--

--

.43 

<.10 

<.10 

--

5.03 

2.57 

6.71 

1.79 

--

<

<

<

<

392828075014002 392850075010301 392853075005801 392900074533101 392900074533102 

11-18-97 

12-10-98 

11-30-98 

12-07-98 

12-14-98 

--

1.35 

1.85 

7.00 

11.3 

--

3.2 

6.4 

1.1 

1.0 

--

<1 

3 

0 

0 

--

.03 

.05 

--

--

--

5.1 

10.8 

5.7 

7.1 

--

10.1 

8.1 

5.8 

6.4 

--

<.020 

.025 

.020 

.027 

--

<.10 

<.10 

----

--

2.76 

5.32 

7.26 6.99 

--

<

<

<

<

392900074533103 392901074535503 392901074535504 392901075103401 

12-14-98 

12-17-98 12-17-98 10-17-96 

08-11-97 

9.21 

7.08 7.91 1.8 

1.97 

3.2 

1.9 2.9 5.6 

7.1 

0 

0 2 

0 

--

--

----

--

--

17.5 

11.1 11.4 

12 

11.7 

6.4 

5.7 5.7 

7.2 

--

.034 

<.020 <.020 

<.015 

<.015 

--

----

<.20 

--

22.6 

8.14 

11.2 

7.9 

6.88 

<

<<

0

<

392920075011902 392923075023401 

11-18-97 

11-18-97 08-20-99 08-20-99 

05-19-97 

--

--

4.90 

4.68 

--

--

--

8.9 

8.7 

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

.07

--

--

--

19.0 

 19.8 

10.7 

--

--

6.5 

6.2 

--

<.020 

<.020 

<.015 

--

--

--

--

<.10 

--

--

2.40 

1.80 

4.82 

--

--

<

<

<

--

--

392944074281001 392957075001901 393001075130801 393015075054501 393030075090502 

07-21-99 

11-30-98 

12-09-98 

06-16-98 

11-18-98 

1.60 

2.15 

1.80 

11.3 

2.87 

3.5 

5.0 

3.5 

2.1 

4.7 

0 

<1 

<1 

0 

--

--

.03 

.04 

--

--

6.1 

8.0 

10.4 

20.7 

--

17.7 

7.6 

9.2 

5.5 

6.3 

<.020 

.027 

<.020 

.067 

<.020 

<.10 

<.10 

<.10 

--

--

<.050 

4.70 

5.94 

20.8 

18.5 

<

<

<

<

<
Appendix 4. Concentrations of inorganic constituents in, and physical properties of, water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, so

1997-99.—Continued 

ANC, 

unfltrd, Silica, Nitrogen, Nitrogen, Nitrogen, Nitr

Potassium Sodium, Bromide, Chloride, ammonia + 	 

U.S. Geological Date filtered filtered titrated to filtered filtered filtered ammonia, organic, NO2+NO3, nit

Survey station 	 (mm-dd-yy) (mg/L) (mg/L) 4.5, lab (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L as filtered filtered filtered filt

number (mg/L as SiO2) (mg/L as N) (mg/L as N) (mg/L 

(00935) (00930)	 CaCO3) (71870) (00940) (00955) (00608) (mg/L as N) (00631) (00

(90410) (00623) 

393030075090503 11-30-98 2.76 4.4 -- -- 24.3 6.6 <.020 -- 23.7 <393046075085203 11-23-98 .77 1.7 13 -- 3.5 18.0 .024 -- <.050 <393046075085203 11-24-98 -- -- -- -- -- -- .029 -- <.050 <393056075125401 12-16-98 3.02 2.3 4 -- 4.1 7.9 <.020 -- 2.34 <393056075125402 12-16-98 1.32 2.1 5 -- 6.2 9.8 .023 -- 2.35 <393056075125403 12-15-98 1.73 8.1 0 -- 15.7 8.2 .023 -- 5.87 <393100075122201 12-10-98 2.21 4.3 2 -- 16.7 8.7 <.020 -- 12.8 <393208075024501 05-12-97 2.10 4.9 -- -- 8.6 12.1 <.015 -- 2.15 <
Appendix 4. Concentrations of inorganic constituents in, and physical properties of, water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, so

1997-99.—Continued 

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

number 

391905074363101 391924074354901 392415075014601 392430075131301 392455074320701 

Date 

(mm-dd-yy) 

06-30-98 

07-19-99 09-29-97 

07-08-97 

07-20-99 

Carbon, 

organic, 

filtered 

(mg/L as C) 

(00681) 

.50 

<.10 

.30 

.10 

--

Aluminum, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01106) 

3500 

94 

480 

--

--

Barium, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01005) 

153 

48.8 

32.2 

--

--

Boron, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01020) 

E10 

118 

E13 

--

--

Cobalt, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01035) 

18.4 

<3.00 

<7.00 

--

--

Iron, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01040) 

120 

590 

10 

650 

--

Lead, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01049) 

<1.00 

--

--

--

--

Manganese, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01056) 

83.4 

6.6 

8.4 

--

--

Mercury, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(71890) 

.17 

<.10 

--

--

--

392552075145001 392640075132801 392708074380801 392724075123603 

06-24-97 07-14-97 

10-14-97 

09-22-97 

06-30-97 

----

.30

.20 

--

--

319 

 -­

71 

--

--

51.6 

33.8 

--

--

--

31 

10 

--

--

--

<3.00 

<3.00 

--

--

--

170 

170 

E9 

--

--

2.60

<1.00 

--

--

--

 9.9 

7.9 

7.0 

--

<.10 

<.10 

.14 

<.10 

--

392801075003701 392811075023601 392816075012101 392828075014002 

01-21-97 

05-27-97 

12-10-98 

11-30-98 

11-13-97 

--

--

.40 

.20 

1.4 

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

59 

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

580 

40 

860 

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

35.7 

21.0 

49.4 

3.6 

2.96 

--

--

--

392828075014002 392850075010301 392853075005801 392900074533101 392900074533102 

11-18-97 

12-10-98 

11-30-98 

12-07-98 

12-14-98 

0.5 

.10 

.20 

1.1 

1.0 

34 

840 

972 

--

--

154 

68.6 

70.7 

--

--

33 

27 

30 

--

--

2.41 

3.90 

<3.99 

--

--

--

<10 

E8 

60 

E10 

<1.00 

1.14

<1.21

--

--

14.6 

9.4 

17.7 

 36.5 

 37.9 

--

--

--

--

--

392900074533103 392901074535503 392901074535504 392901075103401 

12-14-98 

12-17-98 

12-17-98 

10-17-96 

08-11-97 

.60 

1.2 

1.4 

.30

--

1470 

874 

1000 

177 

 -­

779 

55.8 

50.3 

254 

--

21 

32 

29 

10.5 

--

<18.3 

<5.90 

4 

--

--

20 

40 

40 

<3 

--

<1.00 

<1.00

1 

--

--

82.0 

78.5 

 78.4 

17 

--

--

--

--

3.8 

--

392920075011902 392923075023401 

11-18-97 

11-18-97 08-20-99 08-20-99 

05-19-97 

--

--

--

--

--

432 

414 

342 

376 

--

116 

110 

104 

84.9 

--

41 

33 

--

--

--

3.81 

3.80 

3.29 

3.29 

--

--

--

E6 

E7 

--

<1.00

<1.00

<1.00

<1.00

--

 44.9 

 43.1 

 34.5 

 34.3 

--

--

--

.47 

<.10 

--

392944074281001 392957075001901 393001075130801 393015075054501 393030075090502 

07-21-99 11-30-98 

12-09-98 06-16-98 11-18-98 

.20 .20 

.20 .40 

--

83 

745 

1230 

--

--

53.6 

98.4 

288 

--

--

<16 

23 

--

--

--

E4.27 

12.2 

5.01 

--

--

960 

40 

<10 

<10 

30 

--

--

--

<1.00

<1.00 

11.7 

18.6 

15.5 

229 

38.9 

--

--

--

--

--
Appendix 4. Concentrations of inorganic constituents in, and physical properties of, water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, so

1997-99.—Continued 

Carbon, 

U.S. Geological 	 organic, Aluminum, Barium, Boron, Cobalt, Iron, Lead, Manganese, Mercury, 

Date filtered filtered filtered filtered filtered filtered filtered filtered 

Survey station 	 (mm-dd-yy) filtered (μg/L) (μg/L) (μg/L) (μg/L) (μg/L) (μg/L) (μg/L) (μg/L) 

number (mg/L as C) (01106) (01005) (01020) (01035) (01040) (01049) (01056) (71890) 

(00681)	 

393030075090503 11-30-98 .40 1310 385 E12 12.7 30 <1.00 60.0 -- 392901075103401 11-23-98 .30 16 16.2 E10 -- 3900 -- 24.1 -- 

11-24-98 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

393056075125401 12-16-98 .50 110 120 22 -- 10 -- 55.5 -- 393056075125402 12-16-98 -- 28 49.6 E14 -- 460 -- 14.2 -- 393056075125403 12-15-98 .30 <441 59.2 E12 <5.44 960 <1.00 39.2 -- 393100075122201 12-10-98 .30 138 442 E16 9.75 E6 <1.00 37.6 -- 393208075024501 05-12-97 -- 699 80.6 10 6.54 1100 <1.00 62.3 .16 
Appendix 4. Concentrations of inorganic constituents in, and physical properties of, water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, so

1997-99.—Continued 

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

number 

391905074363101 391924074354901 392415075014601 392430075131301 392455074320701 

Date 

(mm-dd-yy) 

06-30-98 07-19-99 09-29-97 07-08-97 

07-20-99 

Strontium, filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01080) 

52.0 

122 

17.0 

9.56 

--

Zinc, filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01090) 

103 

58 

44 

--

--

Quality assurance 

data indicator code 

(99111) 

30 

----

--

--

392552075145001 392640075132801 392708074380801 392724075123603 

06-24-97 07-14-97 

10-14-97 

09-22-97 

06-30-97 

--

23.1 

9.40 

--

--

--

11 

7 

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

392801075003701 392811075023601 392816075012101 392828075014002 

01-21-97 

05-27-97 

12-10-98 11-30-98 11-13-97 

--

--

------

--

--

------

--

--

10 10 10 

392828075014002 392850075010301 392853075005801 392900074533101 392900074533102 

11-18-97 

12-10-98 11-30-98 

12-07-98 12-14-98 

35.31 

90.4 75.2 

----

1.44 

3 3 

----

--

10 

100 

----

392900074533103 392901074535503 392901074535504 392901075103401 

12-14-98 12-17-98 

12-17-98 10-17-96 

08-11-97 

78.0 54.6 

63.2 52 

--

12 

<7 

3 

4 

--

----

--

--

--

392920075011902 392923075023401 

11-18-97 

11-18-97 08-20-99 08-20-99 

05-19-97 

26.0 

21.5 

----

--

5 

6 

8 

8 

--

--

------

--

392944074281001 392957075001901 393001075130801 393015075054501 393030075090502 

07-21-99 11-30-98 12-09-98 

06-16-98 11-18-98 

11.3 

61.8 71.5 

----

33 

3 9 

----

--

10 

100 

----
Appendix 4. Concentrations of inorganic constituents in, and physical properties of, water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, so

1997-99.—Continued 

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

number 

Date 

(mm-dd-yy) 

Strontium, filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01080) 

Zinc, filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01090) 

Quality assurance 

data indicator code 

(99111) 

393030075090503 11-30-98 122 18 --393046075085203 11-23-98 48.0 <20 --

11-24-98 -- -- --

393056075125401 12-16-98 32.6 <20 --393056075125402 12-16-98 29.6 E9 --393056075125403 12-15-98 57.6 4 --393100075122201 12-10-98 90.7 3 --393208075024501 05-12-97 35.5 21 --
Appendix 4. Concentrations of inorganic constituents in, and physical properties of, water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, so

1997-99.—Continued 

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

number 

U.S. 

Geological 

Survey well 

number 

Date 

(mm-dd-yy) 

Time 

(eastern 

standard) 

Sample 

record 

number 

Turbidity, 

field, 

unfiltered 

(NTU) 

(61028) 

pH, field 

(standard 

units) 

(00400) 

pH, lab 

(standard 

units) 

(00403) 

393254075012101 393302075041501 393413075141901 

150209 111000 330818 

09-05-96 

09-16-97 

12-10-98 06-10-98 

09-27-99 

1150

1050

13001150

1210

 99600838 

 99701121 

 99900161  99800774 

 99901154 

.2 

.1 

.12 

1.7 

--

4.4 

4.4 

4.7 

4.8 

4.7 

--

4.8 

5.0 

4.8 

--

393531074523901 393654075135101 393823074492901 393916075122201 

011240 330778 010792 330817 

12-12-96 

08-23-99 

08-18-97 10-21-97 06-17-98 

1255

1600

110510251040

 99700312 

 99900990 

 99701046  99800020  99801537 

.1 

.17 

.1 .1 .08 

4.3 

4.46 

5.0 4.5 4.65 

--

4.4 

----

--

393939075030901 393939075030903 393940074534201 394022074591002 

151393 151395 070842 151264 

11-10-98 12-01-98 09-08-97 11-14-97 

12-16-97 

1500120011301200

1410

 99900230  99900192  99701122  99800110 

 99800297 

.3 .1 .1 

.1 

--

4.7 4.9 4.4 

3.9 

4.8 

------

4.9 

--

394022074591002 394026075050401 394233075045401 

151264 150375 151113 

08-23-99 

08-23-99 

09-28-88 

10-06-97 

09-02-97 

1315

1210

0940

1045

1045

 99900988 

 99901263 

 98801176 

 99800006 

 99701123 

.2 

.1 

.1 

--

--

4.6 

4.5 

4.3 

4.9 

--

4.9 5.0 

--

--

--

394248074571001 394327075021001 394358075012001 394414075001601 394505074545001 

070490 151065 070866 070603 070737 

08-04-97 06-02-97 07-21-97 06-16-97 08-25-97 

11451040111011201117

 99701047  99700828  99701134  99700829  99701124 

.1 .0 .1 .1 .1 

5.8 5.1 4.8 4.9 4.9 

5.8 5.2 

------

395308074345301 395715074123101 395722074222901 

051092 290058 290487 

08-22-97 

04-15-98 

06-19-96 

06-22-98 

11-12-97 

1104

1020

1200

1250

1030

 99701055 

 99800580 

 99600610 

 99800889 

 99800083 

--

.1 

.3 

.1 

.1 

5.2 

5.4 

5.1 

4.7 

4.7 

5.6 

4.9 

--

--

--

395722074231901 395735074144001 395812074202602 

290488 290928 290811 

05-11-98 06-20-96 

06-20-96 11-24-97 

11-17-97 

10451130

11351100

1125

 99800663  99600614 

 99600615  99800166 

 99800106 

.1 .1 

.1 .1 

.1 

4.7 5.0 

5.03 4.7 

4.3 

----

--

4.9 

--

395848074144202 395927074123201 395928074124901 395933074131201 

291032 291216 291234 290088 

11-05-97 12-03-97 06-02-98 06-18-96 

06-18-96 

1445102517201125

1130

 99800081  99800221  99801535  99600609 

 99600618 

.82 .1 .68 .1 

--

4.9 4.9 4.8 4.7 

--

5.4 

5.0 

--

--

--
Appendix 4. Concentrations of inorganic constituents in, and physical properties of, water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, so

1997-99.—Continued 

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

number 

Date 

(mm-dd-yy) 

Specific 

conductance, lab 

(μS/cm) 

(90095) 

Specific 

conductance 

(μS/cm) 

(00095) 

Oxygen, 

dissolved 

(mg/L) 

(00300) 

Temperature, 

water 

(deg C) 

(00010) 

Calcium, 

filtered 

(mg/L) 

(00915) 

Magnesium, 

filtered 

(mg/L) 

(00925) 

Potassium, 

filtered 

(mg/L) 

(00935) 

Sodium, 

filtered 

(mg/L) 

(00930) 

ANC, unfiltered, 

titrated to 

4.5 lab 

(mg/L as CaCO3

(90410) 

393254075012101 393302075041501 393413075141901 

09-05-96 

09-16-97 

12-10-98 

06-10-98 

09-27-99 

--

63 

92 

604 

--

74 

65 

90 

639 

622 

4.9 

4.3 

4.2 

9.5 

8.8 

13.9 

13.2 

13.1 

12.0 

15.5 

2.40 

1.90 

2.87 

32.5 

43.4 

2.30 

2.02 

2.81 

10.5 

15.1 

1.40 

1.23 

2.53 

5.66 

4.46 

3.7 

3.3 

5.3 

60.1 

27.9 

<.5 

2 

2 

--

--

393531074523901 393654075135101 393823074492901 393916075122201 

12-12-96 

08-23-99 

08-18-97 

10-21-97 

06-17-98 

--

247 

--

--

--

387 

249 

343 

54 

348 

.6 

.8 

5.6 

9.9 

9.4 

15.4 

16.1 

15.2 

13.3 

12.4 

14.0 

8.89 

15.4 

1.59 

30.3 

5.10 

3.58 

13.2 

1.44 

9.40 

9.60 

6.10 

2.73 

1.83 

4.22 

20.0 

16.5 

19.4 

3.2 

3.8 

--

--

5 

--

--

393939075030901 393939075030903 393940074534201 394022074591002 

11-10-98 12-01-98 

09-08-97 

11-14-97 

12-16-97 

----

--

105 

--

41 53 

52 

99 

102 

3.5 8.7 

1.8 

.5 

.6 

13.1 13.3 

13.9 

14.0 

14.7 

.94 

1.10 

.42 

3.71 

--

.861 

.924 

.257 

1.70 

--

.64 

.82 

.20 

3.16 

--

2.7 

2.5 

1.8 

7.0 

--

0 

0 

5 

--

--

394026075050401 394233075045401 

08-23-99 08-23-99 

09-28-88 

10-06-97 

09-02-97 

116 

118 

--

--

--

115 

101 

87 

117 

--

.5 

.5 

2.1 

2.5 

7.0 

16.4 

13.0 

13.0 

13.1 

--

4.71 

4.41 

3.10 

2.88 

5.27 

1.94 

1.86 

2.20 

2.05 

3.70 

3.49 

3.56 

1.80 

1.79 

1.59 

8.1 

8.0 

8.6 

7.1 

5.7 

--

--

1 

--

--

394248074571001 394327075021001 394358075012001 394414075001601 394505074545001 

08-04-97 

06-02-97 

07-21-97 

06-16-97 

08-25-97 

47 

101 

----

--

48 

133 

102 

117 

63 

5.1 

6.5 

7.8 

6.5 

7.6 

13.5 

13.2 

13.2 

13.8 

13.2 

2.54 

4.60 

1.77 

----

1.30 

3.34 2.86 

----

.88 

1.65 

.97 

----

3.0 

4.4 

2.6 

----

--

--

4 

--

--

395308074345301 395715074123101 395722074222901 

08-22-97 

04-15-98 

06-19-96 

06-22-98 

11-12-97 

171 

172 

72 

--

--

176 

153 

292 

185 

64 

6.2 

5.5 

.3 

.6 

4.5 

15.5 

14.1 

13.2 

13.4 

13.2 

7.95 

6.82 

6.60 

4.31 

1.37 

1.67 

1.41 

2.60 

2.10 

1.19 

2.07 

1.88 

1.60 

1.20 

.76 

16.9 

16.0 

37.0 

20.3 

7.2 

7 

--

--

--

--

395722074231901 395735074144001 395812074202602 

05-11-98 

06-20-96 

06-20-96 11-24-97 

11-17-97 

28 

51 

51 

--

--

28 

48 

48 

51 

50 

4.7 

5.1 

5.1 

5.1 

4.7 

12.9 

13.5 

13.5 

13.7 

12.1 

.24 

1.30 

1.52 

.50 

--

.270 

.910 

.850 

.728 

--

.84 

.80 

.76 

.52 

--

2.1 

3.6 

3.8 

4.4 

--

--

<.5 

--

--

--

395848074144202 395927074123201 395928074124901 395933074131201 

11-05-97 

12-03-97 

06-02-98 06-18-96 

06-18-96 

70 

328 

125 

--

--

65 

311 

130 124 

--

9.0 

5.4 

4.2 

6.2 

--

12.2 

12.9 

17.2 

13.3 

--

1.01 

1.54 

5.53 

2.90 

--

1.59 

4.83 

2.95 

2.30 

--

1.09 

1.68 

4.58 

2.20 

--

7.0 

47.5 

8.6 

12.0 

--

--

--

--

--

--
Appendix 4. Concentrations of inorganic constituents in, and physical properties of, water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, so

1997-99.—Continued 

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

number 

Date 

(mm-dd-yy) 

Chloride, 

filtered 

(mg/L) 

(00940) 

Fluoride, 

filtered 

(mg/L) 

(00950) 

Silica, 

filtered 

(mg/L as SiO2) 

(00955) 

Sulfate, 

filtered 

(mg/L as SO4) 

(00945) 

Nitrogen, 

ammonia, 

filtered 

(mg/L as N) 

(00608) 

Nitrogen, 

ammonia + 

organic, filtered 

(mg/L as N) 

(00623) 

Nitrogen, 

NO2+NO3, 

filtered 

(mg/L as N) 

(00631) 

Nitrogen, 

nitrite, 

filtered 

(mg/L as N) 

(00613) 

Ph

(m

393254075012101 393302075041501 393413075141901 

09-05-96 

09-16-97 

12-10-98 

06-10-98 

09-27-99 

6.9 

6.2 

10.1 

66.6 

--

--

--

<.1 

.1 

--

7.4 

7.5 

7.2 

8.2 

9.9 

2.3 

1.7 

1.3 

102 

--

<.015 

<.015 

<.020 

.023 

<.020 

<.20 

<.10 

.11 

--

--

4.40 

3.45 

5.32 

16.0 

16.9 

<.010 

<.010 

<.010 

<.010 

<.010 

393531074523901 393654075135101 393823074492901 393916075122201 

12-12-96 

08-23-99 

08-18-97 

10-21-97 06-17-98 

--

25.2 

41.4 

5.9 

--

--

--

--

--

--

7.5 

6.4 

11.9 

6.3 

7.6 

--

9.4 

32.9 

.5 

--

.610 

<.020 

.028 

<.015 

.065 

.80 

E.09 

--

--

--

31.0 

12.2 

10.8 

3.02 

12.9 

.010 

<.010 

.010 

<.010 

<.010 

393939075030901 393939075030903 393940074534201 394022074591002 

11-10-98 

12-01-98 

09-08-97 11-14-97 

12-16-97 

5.2 

3.8 

2.9 

14.6 

--

--

--

--

.4 

--

12.5 

6.6 

4.5 

9.3 

--

5.3 

2.4 

12.2 

1.5 

--

<.020 

.028 

<.015 

<.020 

<.020 

--

--

--

<.10 

--

.105 

2.75 

<.050 

4.00 

3.83 

<.010 

<.010 

<.010 

<.010 

<.010 

394026075050401 394233075045401 

08-23-99 08-23-99 

09-28-88 

10-06-97 

09-02-97 

13.7 

13.9 

11.0 

11.6 

12.8 

--

<.1 

<.1 

--

--

9.7 

9.2 

11.0 

10.8 

8.4 

2.4 

1.3 

8.0 

13.7 

12.2 

.020 

<.010 

<.015 

.030 

--

E.06 

.20 

--

--

--

4.84 

2.50 

1.90 

3.19 

--

<.010 

<.010 

<.010 

<.010 

--

394248074571001 394327075021001 394358075012001 394414075001601 394505074545001 

08-04-97 

06-02-97 

07-21-97 

06-16-97 

08-25-97 

5.0 

10.7 

9.3 

13.7 

5.1 

--

--

--

--

--

7.3 

6.1 

6.4 

--

--

4.9 

15.2 

7.6 

9.1 

.3 

.049 

<.015 

<.015 

<.015 

.039 

--

--

--

--

--

.376 

5.23 

4.77 

3.85 

4.01 

<.010 

<.010 

<.010 

<.010 

<.010 

395308074345301 395715074123101 395722074222901 

08-22-97 

04-15-98 

06-19-96 

06-22-98 

11-12-97 

31.4 

27.1 

71.0 

34.9 

13.0 

<.1 

--

--

--

--

5.2 

4.7 

6.5 

5.8 

5.0 

14.5 

11.7 

12.0 

10.6 

1.9 

<.015 

.032 

.380 

.197 

.044 

<.20 

.40 

----

--

1.52 

1.06 

.210 

.320 

1.49 

.013 

.141 

<.010 

<.010 

.021 

395722074231901 395735074144001 395812074202602 

05-11-98 

06-20-96 

06-20-96 11-24-97 

11-17-97 

3.3 

6.1 

7.1 

7.4 

--

--

--

--

--

--

8.1 

6.2 

5.3 

5.4 

--

3.4 

3.3 

3.9 

3.2 

--

<.020 

.030 

<.020 

.021 

--

--

<.20 

--

--

--

<.050 

.920 

1.02 

1.13 

--

<.010 

<.010 

<.010 

<.010 

--

395848074144202 395927074123201 395928074124901 395933074131201 

11-05-97 

12-03-97 

06-02-98 

06-18-96 

06-18-96 

12.3 

87.9 

16.3 

20.0 

--

--

--

--

--

--

4.2 

6.4 

5.3 

6.9 

--

3.3 

9.7 

18.8 

7.5 

--

.021 

<.020 

.035 

.030 

--

--

--

--

<.20 

--

1.07 

1.17 

.852 

2.40 

--

.021 

<.010 

.014 

<.010 

--
Appendix 4. Concentrations of inorganic constituents in, and physical properties of, water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, so

1997-99.—Continued 

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

number 

Date 

(mm-dd-yy) 

Aluminum, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01106) 

Barium, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01005) 

Boron, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01020) 

Chromium, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01030) 

Cobalt, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01035) 

Copper, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01040) 

Iron, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01046) 

Lead, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01049) 

393254075012101 393302075041501 393413075141901 

09-05-96 

09-16-97 

12-10-98 

06-10-98 

09-27-99 

110 

242 

324 

--

--

135 

47.7 

28.7 

--

--

11 

--

--

--

--

<1.0 

<1.0 

<1.0 

--

--

2.00 

4.80 

--

--

--

8.0 

1.0 

1.1 

--

--

20 

<10 

<10 

<10 

--

<1.00 

<1.00 

<1.00 

--

--

393531074523901 393654075135101 393823074492901 393916075122201 

12-12-96 

08-23-99 

08-18-97 

10-21-97 

06-17-98 

5750 

2420 

88 

77 

213 

455 

189 

114 

74.8 

80.2 

35 

42 

14 

16 

--

1.0 

<1.0 

1.5 

--

--

18.0 

14.2 

<3.00 

<3.00 

2.35 

2.0 

1.7 

23.9 

4.1 

1.1 

30 

M 

100 

30 

<10 

<1.00 

<1.00 

2.20 

<1.00 

<1.00 

393939075030901 393939075030903 393940074534201 394022074591002 

11-10-98 

12-01-98 

09-08-97 

11-14-97 

12-16-97 

102 

298 

1600 

68 

--

18.9 

18.3 

61.1 

70.4 

--

E9 

<16 

20 

33 

23 

--

<1.0 

<1.0 

2.4 

--

--

<1.00 

1.42 

3.06 

--

--

<1.0 

<1.0 

28.4 

--

E5 

50 

20 

M 

--

--

<1.00 

<1.00 

<1.00 

--

394026075050401 394233075045401 

08-23-99 08-23-99 

09-28-88 

10-06-97 

09-02-97 

76 

79 

210 

233 

118 

74.9 

71.3 

70.0 

69.0 

77.5 

25 

10 

17 

--

--

<1.0 

<1.0 

<5.0 

1.1 

--

6.83 

9.23 

<3.00 

<3.00 

1.49 

1.4 

1.0 

<10.0 

<1.0 

<1.0 

E8 

<10 

160 

190 

120 

<1.00 

<1.00 

10.0 

<1.00 

<1.00 

394248074571001 394327075021001 394358075012001 394414075001601 394505074545001 

08-04-97 

06-02-97 

07-21-97 

06-16-97 

08-25-97 

--

--

79 25 

--

--

--

114 

79.9 

--

18 

17 

8 

----

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

<3.00 

<3.00 

--

--

--

--

--

2.5 

370 

30 

E8 

----

--

--

--

--

2.30 

395308074345301 395715074123101 395722074222901 

08-22-97 

04-15-98 

06-19-96 

06-22-98 

11-12-97 

288 208 

87 

--

--

45.6 28.0 

37.4 

--

--

--

--

18 

13 

--

<1.0 

<1.0 

--

--

--

--

--

1.00 

<3.00 

--

3.9 

<1.0 

31.2 

--

--

M 

<10 

2300 

1100 

E6 

1.00 

1.00 

3.20 

--

--

395722074231901 395735074144001 395812074202602 

05-11-98 

06-20-96 

06-20-96 11-24-97 

11-17-97 

--

102 

98 

119 

--

--

21.0 

19.0 

24.0 

--

--

15 12 

--

--

--

<1.0 

<1.0 

--

--

--

<1.00 

<1.00 

<3.00 

--

--

12.0 

12.0 

2.4 

--

240 

70 

20 

--

--

--

7.00 

7.00 

2.20 

--

395848074144202 395927074123201 395928074124901 395933074131201 

11-05-97 

12-03-97 

06-02-98 

06-18-96 

06-18-96 

--

118 

66 

133 

133 

--

109 

35.8 

53.0 

53.0 

--

18 

23 

--

--

--

--

1.3 

<1.0 

<1.0 

--

<3.00 

<1.00 

2.00 

2.00 

--

2.0 

<1.0 

6.0 

6.0 

--

10 

<10 

20 

--

--

1.20 

<1.00 

<1.00 

1.00 
Appendix 4. Concentrations of inorganic constituents in, and physical properties of, water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, so

1997-99.—Continued 

U.S. Geological 

Survey 

station number 

Date 

(mm-dd-yy) 

Manganese, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01056) 

Mercury, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(71890) 

Mercury, filtered, 

amalgam preconcentration 

(ng/L) 

(50287) 

Nickel, filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01065) 

Silver, 

filtered 

(μg/L as Ag) 

(01075) 

Strontium, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01080) 

Zinc, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01090) 

Quality 

assurance data 

indicator code 

(99111) 

393254075012101 393302075041501 393413075141901 

09-05-96 

09-16-97 

12-10-98 

06-10-98 

09-27-99 

30.0 

18.1 

155 

227 

--

.20 

<.10 

<.10 

--

--

--

--

--

54.4 

--

2.00 

3.12 

--

--

--

<1.0 

<1.0 

<1.0 

--

--

18.0 

122 

--

--

--

32 

3 

E13 

--

--

--

--

10 

--

--

393531074523901 393654075135101 393823074492901 393916075122201 

12-12-96 

08-23-99 

08-18-97 10-21-97 06-17-98 

330 

228 

26.3 15.8 54.9 

<.10 

<.10 <.10 

--

--

--

--

----

2.55 

14.0 

8.84 

2.83 

----

<1.0 

<1.0 

<1.0 

----

110 

96.2 

150 

19.1 

119 

277 

146 

65 

119 

2 

--

--

--

--

--

393939075030901 393939075030903 393940074534201 394022074591002 

11-10-98 

12-01-98 09-08-97 

11-14-97 

12-16-97 

5.7 

3.7 

12.7 

20.9 

22.8 

--

--

--

--

--

.79 

1.28 

.86 

2150 

--

--

<1.00 

2.33 

5.50 

--

--

<1.0 

<1.0 

<1.0 

--

7.98 

11.3 

6.36 

21.2 

--

E8 

3 

16 

5 

--

--

--

--

10 

--

394026075050401 394233075045401 

08-23-99 08-23-99 

09-28-88 

10-06-97 

09-02-97 

19.0 18.2 

19.0 

19.2 

16.3 

5.02 

<.10 

<.10 

<.10 

--

--

--

--

--

--

4.77 

3.80 

<10.0 

2.36 

--

<1.0 

<1.0 

<1.0 

<1.0 

--

21.9 

27.0 

26.7 

37.4 

--

45 

9 

11 

7 

2 

30 

30 

30 

--

--

394248074571001 394327075021001 394358075012001 394414075001601 394505074545001 

08-04-97 06-02-97 07-21-97 06-16-97 08-25-97 

--------

20.2 

--

<.10 <.10 <.10 

<.10 

--

------

--

--

------

--

--

------

--

11.4 24.5 

17.3 

----

--

--

--

--

53 

--

--

--

--

--

395308074345301 395715074123101 395722074222901 

08-22-97 

04-15-98 

06-19-96 

06-22-98 

11-12-97 

14.8 32.0 

21.0 

----

<.10 <.10 

----

--

--

--

--

--

122 

--

--

4.00 

--

--

<1.0 

<1.0 

----

--

--

29.2 

38.0 

24.9 

15.5 

13 

28 

8 

----

10 

--

--

--

--

395722074231901 395735074144001 395812074202602 

05-11-98 

06-20-96 

06-20-96 11-24-97 

11-17-97 

--

17.0 

18.0 

9.5 

--

--

.20 

.20 

--

--

--

--

--

66.4 

<.16 

--

<1.00 

<1.00 

--

--

--

<1.0 

<1.0 

--

--

4.84 

13.0 

7.99 

--

--

--

8 

8 

<3 

--

--

30 

30 

--

--

395848074144202 395927074123201 395928074124901 395933074131201 

11-05-97 12-03-97 06-02-98 06-18-96 

06-18-96 

--

32.4 21.8 24.0 

23.0 

--

----

<.10 

.20 

--

97.3 

2.57 

--

--

--

--

1.37 

6.00 

6.00 

--

--

<1.0 

<1.0 

<1.0 

--

24.6 

32.5 

22.0 

--

--

<3 

1 

29 

30 

10 

30 

30 

--

--
Appendix 4. Concentrations of inorganic constituents in, and physical properties of, water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, so

1997-99.—Continued 

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

number 

U.S. 

Geological 

Survey 

well 

number 

Date 

(mm-dd-yy) 

Time 

(eastern 

standard) 

Sample 

record 

number 

Turbidity, field, 

unfiltered 

(NTU) 

(61028) 

pH, field 

(standard units) 

(00400) 

pH, lab 

(standard units) 

(00403) 

395933074131201 395936074122901 395936074123901 395936074124001 395945074122201 

290088 290627 291229 290628 290097 

01-13-97 12-08-97 06-02-98 12-01-97 12-17-97 

11251250122510301150

 99700484  99800200  99801534  99800183  99800283 

.1 .1 .1 .1 .1 

4.8 4.7 5.03 4.5 5.1 

--

4.6 5.2 

----

395946074124901 395950074124801 395951074115701 395957074124801 395958074120101 

291233 291232 291342 291230 291343 

06-02-98 06-03-98 09-01-98 06-04-98 09-02-98 

11331227150012471210

 99801540  99801542  99801546  99801536  99801547 

.59 .52 .05 .68 .09 

4.7 5.2 4.2 4.88 4.5 

----------

400002074125201 400009074114901 400014074081601 400037074193401 

291231 291344 291345 

291086 

06-03-98 08-26-98 09-09-98 

09-09-98 

04-13-98 

123014201015

1025

1100

 99801541  99801549  99801551 

 99800295 

 99801539 

.80 .24 .18 

.1 

--

4.8 4.4 4.9 

4.9 

--

------

--

--

400040074121001 400048074115301 400057074121801 400059074120501 400105074240601 

291346 

291347 291348 291349 

291115 

09-02-98 

08-25-98 08-31-98 09-01-98 

04-29-98 

1040

104010251035

1000

 99801552 

 99801548  99801553  99801554 

 99800605 

.3 

.07 .07 .23 

.7 

4.5 

4.9 4.9 4.7 

5.1 

4.5 

5.1 

----

--

400112074123201 400135074153901 400210074192601 400226074143101 

291350 290496 290127 290591 

09-01-98 05-04-98 04-27-98 06-14-96 

02-10-97 

1145105010501435

1100

 99801555  99800662  99800606  99600613 

 99700508 

.9 .1 .1 .1 

.1 

4.9 4.8 5.0 4.66 

5.1 

------

5.2 

--

400301074094601 400339074122201 400427074110701 

291073 291131 290437 

04-22-98 08-09-99 04-20-98 

111514081050

 99800590  99900871  99800589 

.1 .2 .1 

4.8 5.1 4.3 

--

5.2 

--
Appendix 4. Concentrations of inorganic constituents in, and physical properties of, water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, so

1997-99.—Continued 

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

number 

 395933074131201  395936074122901  395936074123901  395936074124001  395945074122201 

Date 

(mm-dd-yy) 

01-13-97 

12-08-97 06-02-98 

12-01-97 

12-17-97 

Specific 

conductance, lab 

(μS/cm) 

(90095) 

201 

96 

235 

--

--

Specific 

conductance 

(μS/cm) 

(00095) 

128 

187 

98 

130 

221 

Oxygen, 

dissolved 

(mg/L) 

(00300) 

6.9 

6.3 

3.9 

0.8 

6.7 

Temperature 

water 

(deg C) 

(00010) 

13.0 

12.4 

14.4 

12.6 

12.5 

Calcium, 

filtered 

(mg/L) 

(00915) 

5.54 

1.14 

2.88 

5.43 

--

Magnesium, 

filtered 

(mg/L) 

(00925) 

2.54 

2.26 

2.73 

2.53 

--

Potassium, 

filtered 

(mg/L) 

(00935) 

2.53 

2.35 

2.14 

2.22 

--

Sodium, 

filtered 

(mg/L) 

(00930) 

19.1 

10.6 

9.0 

30.6 

--

ANC

unfilter

titrated pH 4.5 

(mg/L 

CaCO

(90410

--

--

--

--

--

 395946074124901  395950074124801  395951074115701  395957074124801  395958074120101 

06-02-98 06-03-98 09-01-98 06-04-98 09-02-98 

144 162 230 170 111 

143 162 235 172 120 

7.4 3.2 4.2 6.7 

.3 

13.6 14.9 12.7 12.5 13.5 

1.45 4.28 3.30 6.16 1.75 

2.28 3.37 2.89 3.08 2.57 

2.72 5.41 3.40 2.22 2.49 

18.5 15.0 26.1 16.0 

8.8 

----------

400002074125201 400009074114901 400014074081601 400037074193401 

06-03-98 08-26-98 09-09-98 

04-13-98 

136 185 

56 

55 

--

121 189 

56 

108 

--

8.1 5.7 

2.8 

10.6 

--

12.5 12.8 

14.2 

15.0 

--

5.20 6.75 

.62 

.62 

3.02 

2.21 4.22 

1.13 

1.129 

.605 

1.95 3.53 

1.05 

0.97 

.68 

13.1 13.2 

5.2 

5.102 

13.6 

--

<1 

--

--

--

400040074121001 400048074115301 400057074121801 400059074120501 400105074240601 

09-02-98 

08-25-98 08-31-98 09-01-98 04-29-98 

72 

77 

187 

76 21 

74 

79 

191 

78 19 

.3 

10.7 

10.3 

10.6 

--

13.3 

12.7 

13.5 

13.7 

13.3 

.35 

.938 

2.21 

.80 

.13 

.807 

3.514 

3.26 

3.37 

.339 

3.01 

1.04 

1.85 

2.44 

.51 

4.9 

5.057 

24.3 

4.2 

1.7 

--

--

--

--

--

400112074123201 400135074153901 400210074192601 400226074143101 

09-01-98 05-04-98 

04-27-98 

06-14-96 

02-10-97 

80 80 

80 

44 

--

88 77 

75 

44 

46 

9.5 8.4 

8.8 

8.7 

8.5 

12.7 13.5 

13.9 

12.6 

11.7 

1.37 2.60 

3.17 

.25 

--

2.34 1.99 

1.11 

1.20 

--

2.90 1.86 

.77 

1.00 

--

6.3 5.9 

7.9 

3.9 

--

----

--

1 

--

400301074094601 400339074122201 400427074110701 

04-22-98 08-09-99 

04-20-98 

93 56 

--

94 53 

78 

6.1 

10.2 

7.0 

11.4 

11.5 

12.3 

.77 

1.19 

1.13 

1.38 

1.11 

.773 

.92 

1.08 

.63 

12.4 

5.7 

7.7 

--

3 

--
Appendix 4. Concentrations of inorganic constituents in, and physical properties of, water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, so

1997-99.—Continued 

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

number 

395933074131201 395936074122901 395936074123901 395936074124001 395945074122201 

Date 

(mm-dd-yy) 

01-13-97 

12-08-97 

06-02-98 

12-01-97 12-17-97 

Silica, 

filtered 

(mg/L as 

SiO2) 

(00955) 

6.4 

5.5 

8.5 5.3 

--

Sulfate, 

filtered 

(mg/L as 

SO4) 

(00945) 

27.6 

2.1 

28.2 11.4 

--

Nitrogen, 

ammonia, 

filtered 

(mg/L as N) 

(00608) 

<.020 

<.020 

<.020 <.020 

--

Nitrogen, 

ammonia + 

organic, 

filtered 

(mg/l as N) 

((00623) 

--

--

--

----

Nitrogen, 

NO2+NO3 

filtered 

(mg/L as N) 

(00631) 

1.49 

1.79 

.202 

1.56 

--

Nitrogen, 

nitrite, 

filtered 

(mg/L as N) 

(00613) 

<.010 

.015 

<.010 

<.010 

--

Phosphorus 

ortho, 

filtered 

(mg/L as P) 

(00671) 

.014 

<.010 

.029 

<.010 

--

Carbon, 

organic, 

filtered 

(mg/L as C) 

(00681) 

.50 

.60 

.50 

.40 

.40 

Aluminum, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01106) 

1790 

26 

1350 

93 

--

395946074124901 395950074124801 395951074115701 395957074124801 395958074120101 

06-02-98 06-03-98 

09-01-98 06-04-98 

09-02-98 

5.3 5.3 

4.9 

--

--

1.4 

13.3 

22.2 

20.3 

15.3 

.046 

.036 

.056 

<.020 

<.020 

--

--

--

--

--

1.96 

2.53 

.423 

1.23 

.312 

.015 

.023 

<.010 

<.010 

<.010 

.017 

.013 

.014 

<.010 

<.010 

.50 

.70 

.40 

.60 

.30 

29 

159 

118 

--

--

400002074125201 400009074114901 400014074081601 400037074193401 

06-03-98 08-26-98 

09-09-98 

09-09-98 

04-13-98 

4.8 4.2 

--

--

--

14.1 

25.9 

3.3 

3.5 

5.8 

.026 

.079 

.036 

.026 

.037 

----

--

--

--

1.66 3.23 

.886 

.899 

.794 

.015 

.010 

<.010 

<.010 

.013 

.012 .013 

<.010 

.010 

.018 

.60 .40 

.30 

.20 

.50 

81 

431 

--

--

--

400040074121001 400048074115301 400057074121801 400059074120501 400105074240601 

09-02-98 

08-25-98 

08-31-98 

09-01-98 04-29-98 

--

--

--

--

4.5 

13.5 

.2 

.9 

.1 

.4 

<.020 

.088 

<.020 

.048 

.024 

--

--

--

--

--

<.050 

4.98 

3.18 

4.56 

.065 

<.010 

.011 

<.010 

<.010 <.010 

<.010 

.018 

.013 

.013 

.033 

.30 

.20 

.30 

.20 .20 

500 

--

--

--

--

400112074123201 400135074153901 400210074192601 400226074143101 

09-01-98 05-04-98 04-27-98 

06-14-96 

02-10-97 

--

5.4 4.1 

5.0 

--

.2 

4.0 7.0 

.8 

--

.038 

.050 .036 

.020 

<.015 

--

----

<.20 

<.20 

3.01 

2.45 

.750 

1.10 

1.20 

<.010 

<.010 

<.010 

<.010 

.020 

.013 

.015 

.011 

<.010 

<.010 

.30 

.30 

--

--

--

--

--

--

24 

--

400301074094601 400339074122201 400427074110701 

04-22-98 

08-09-99 

04-20-98 

7.2 

4.0 

3.7 

1.8 

2.4 

5.7 

.034 

<.020 

.059 

--

<.10 

--

1.56 

1.11 

.839 

<.010 

<.010 

<.010 

.021 

<.010 

.010 

--

.40 

.30 

--

14 

--
Appendix 4. Concentrations of inorganic constituents in, and physical properties of, water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, so

1997-99.—Continued 

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

number 

395933074131201 395936074122901 395936074123901 395936074124001 395945074122201 

Date 

(mm-dd-yy) 

01-13-97 12-08-97 

06-02-98 12-01-97 12-17-97 

Barium, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01005) 

45.9 

64.8 80.5 49.7 

--

Boron, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01020) 

<16 

<16 <16 

--

--

Chromium, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01030) 

<1.0 

--

--

----

Cobalt, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01035) 

<12.0 

1.86 

<12.0 

2.60 

--

Copper, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01040) 

<1.0 

<1.0 

10.4 

6.7 

--

Iron, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01046) 

180 

<10 

70 

<10 

--

Lead, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01049) 

<1.00 

<1.00 

<1.00 

<1.00 

--

Manganese, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01056) 

52.9 

20.3 

41.5 

44.4 

--

Mercury, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(71890) 

<.10 

--

--

--

--

395946074124901 395950074124801 395951074115701 395957074124801 395958074120101 

06-02-98 

06-03-98 

09-01-98 06-04-98 

09-02-98 

58.0 

34.1 

49.4 74.9 

43.6 

--

--

----

--

2.1 

2.7 

1.3 

--

--

1.79 

3.80 

2.60 

10.6 

4.70 

1.0 

<1.0 

<1.0 

--

--

10 

<10 

180 

30 

<10 

<1.00 

<1.00 

<1.00 

<1.00 

<1.00 

25.5 

108 

34.3 

68.2 

29.5 

--

--

--

--

--

400002074125201 400009074114901 400014074081601 400037074193401 

06-03-98 08-26-98 

09-09-98 

09-09-98 

04-13-98 

47.9 48.4 

30.6 

30.7 

--

----

--

--

--

1.8 

--

--

--

2.90 

1.40 

<1.00 

1.00 

--

<1.0 

--

--

--

<10 

90 

<10 

<10 

40 

<1.00 

<1.00 

<1.00 

<1.00 

--

57.1 

29.5 

10.6 

10.8 

--

--

--

--

--

--

400040074121001 400048074115301 400057074121801 400059074120501 400105074240601 

09-02-98 08-25-98 

08-31-98 09-01-98 04-29-98 

154 

76.4 

71.6 72.0 

--

--

--

----

--

--

--

----

--

<1.00 

<1.00 

1.20 2.00 

--

--

--

----

--

840 

<10 

20 20 

30 

<1.00 

<1.00 

<1.00 <1.00 

--

17.6 

22.6 

22.4 20.5 

--

--

--

----

--

400112074123201 400135074153901 400210074192601 400226074143101 

09-01-98 05-04-98 04-27-98 

06-14-96 

02-10-97 

30.0 

27.0 

----

--

--

----

14 

--

--

----

<1.0 

--

1.10 

<1.00 

----

--

--

----

4.0 

--

<10 

20 20 

E3 

--

<1.00 

<1.00 

----

--

8.4 

13.0 

----

--

--

----

.20 

<.10 

400301074094601 400339074122201 400427074110701 

04-22-98 

08-09-99 

04-20-98 

--

14.5 

--

--

18 

--

--

--

--

--

<7.00 

--

--

--

--

20 

80 

180 

--

--

--

--

12.1 

--

--

--

--
Appendix 4. Concentrations of inorganic constituents in, and physical properties of, water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, so

1997-99.—Continued 

U.S. Geological 

Survey station 

number 

395933074131201 395936074122901 395936074123901 395936074124001 395945074122201 

Date 

(mm-dd-yy) 

01-13-97 

12-08-97 06-02-98 

12-01-97 12-17-97 

Mercury, 

filtered, 

amalgam preconcentration 

(ng/L) 

(50287) 

238 

45.4 

14.9 12.2 

--

Nickel, filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01065) 

1.59 

--

--

----

Strontium, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01080) 

30.2 

46.0 

21.1 32.4 

--

Zinc, 

filtered 

(μg/L) 

(01090) 

<20 

5 

22 

<20 

--

Quality 

assurance data 

indicator code 

(99111) 

100 

10 

10 

--

--

395946074124901 395950074124801 395951074115701 395957074124801 395958074120101 

06-02-98 06-03-98 09-01-98 

06-04-98 

09-02-98 

45.5 

.93 

E.44 

10.9 

2.01 

4.63 

13.3 

10.0 

--

--

15.8 

77.9 

19.9 

38.6 

14.6 

5 

7 

9 

--

--

--

--

--

10 

--

400002074125201 400009074114901 400014074081601 400014074081601 400037074193401 

06-03-98 08-26-98 09-09-98 09-09-98 

04-13-98 

58.9 

1.27 

E.25 E.36 

--

2.99 

--

----

--

24.6 

30.6 

9.69 9.50 

19.2 

4 

--

----

--

--

--

30 30 

--

400040074121001 400048074115301 400057074121801 400059074120501 400105074240601 

09-02-98 

08-25-98 08-31-98 

09-01-98 

04-29-98 

E.14 

.81 .57 

<.10 

--

--

----

--

--

22.3 

16.1 14.6 

13.9 

2.74 

--

----

--

--

--

----

--

--

400112074123201 400135074153901 400210074192601 400226074143101 

09-01-98 

05-04-98 04-27-98 

06-14-96 

 02-10-97 

<.22 

----

--

--

--

----

2.00 

--

5.50 

27.1 21.0 

5.00 

--

--

----

3 

--

--

----

--

--

400301074094601 400339074122201 400427074110701 

04-22-98 08-09-99 04-20-98 

------

----

--

12.4 11.4 

10.9 

--

E15 

--

--

100 

--

Glossary 89 

Glossary 

A 

actinides A series of chemical elements, 

beginning with thorium and extending through 

uranium and the man-made elements with 

atomic masses greater than 92, that are 

grouped together because they may contain 

electrons in the 5f orbit. These elements have 

the highest atomic masses of all the elements 

and exceed the critical mass of 209 atomic 

mass units, the largest stable nucleus; therefore, they undergo radioactive decay to achieve 

a more stable nuclear configuration. 

activity The amount of radioactivity in a 

given volume of material such as water or air. 

For water, activity generally is expressed in 

units of picocuries per liter (pCi/L) (see definition below). 

alpha radiation Alpha radiation is a particle, 

consisting of two protons and two neutrons, 

spontaneously emitted from the nucleus of a 

subset of radioactive elements (mostly the 

heaviest elements) during radioactive decay. 

Alpha radiation is ionizing radiation, meaning 

that it strips electrons from adjacent atoms as it 

passes. Alpha radiation cannot penetrate skin; 

therefore, an alpha-particle-emitting radionuclide must be ingested in order to contact internal tissue. Because of their large size, alpha 

particles are likely to collide with cell tissue, 

causing tissue damage. An accumulation of 

tissue damage in the cell nucleus may lead to 

cell mutation and potential cancer formation. 

alpha radioactivity, gross A laboratory measurement of total alpha radioactivity emitted 

by a sample. This measurement includes alphaparticle radioactivity emitted by isotopes of 

naturally occurring uranium, thorium, radium, 

and progeny such as polonium, as well as 

alpha-particle activity emitted from isotopes of 

plutonium or americium, which are not naturally occurring. Long-term measurement, usually conducted 20 to 30 days after sample collection, determines only the amount of alphaparticle radiation present in the sample from 

long-lived radionuclides, such as naturally 

occurring uranium-238 or radium-226, or the 

isotopes of plutonium and americium. Shortterm measurement, on the order of hours or a 

few days after sample collection, determines 

the amount of alpha-particle radiation present 

in the sample from some short-lived radionuclides. 

alpha radioactivity count An analytical technique used to determine total alpha radioactivity emitted by a chemically purified sample 

that contains only one radionuclide of interest. 

The alpha-particle activity is usually counted 

in a low-background, gas-proportional 

counter. 

alpha recoil A process whereby kinetic 

energy is imparted to the product nuclide 

during alpha decay in the opposite direction 

from the emitted alpha particle, thereby damaging the crystal lattice surrounding the atom 

and potentially ejecting the atom or allowing it 

to break free from the solid structure. If the 

product atom is not ejected directly through 

recoil, it may eventually be preferentially dissolved at the locus of crystal lattice damage. 

The end result is the same: a substantial percentage of product radionuclides is mobilized 

into pore space that is potentially water-filled. 

Because the mass of a beta particle is so much 

smaller than that of an alpha particle, recoil 

during beta decay does not result in nearly as 

large an amount of radionuclide ejection as 

does alpha recoil. 

alpha spectrometry An analytical technique 

used to determine the amount of alpha radiation emitted at specified energy levels, thus, 

allowing determination of individual radionuclide concentrations (from known energy 

levels of alpha particles unique to each radionuclide). The gridded-pulse-ionization chamber is the most sensitive and most commonly 

used instrument. 

B 

beta radiation Beta radiation is a particle, 

consisting of an electron, spontaneously emitted from the nucleus of a subset of radioactive 

elements during radioactive decay. Beta radiation, like alpha radiation, is ionizing radiation, 

meaning that it strips electrons from adjacent 

atoms as it passes. Beta radiation can only penetrate the surface layer of skin; therefore, a 

beta-particle-emitting radionuclide must be 

ingested in order to contact internal organs or 

tissues. An accumulation of tissue damage in 

the cell nucleus may lead to cell mutation and 

potential cancer formation. 
90 Occurrence of Radium-224, Radium-226, and Radium-228 in Water of the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer System, Southern 

beta radioactivity, gross A laboratory mea­


surement of total beta radioactivity emitted by


a sample. This measurement includes radioac­


tivity emitted by naturally occurring progeny


of uranium and thorium, such as radium-228


and lead-210, and many other naturally occur­


ring beta-particle-emitting radioactive iso­


topes. 


beta radioactivity count An analytical tech­


nique used to determine total beta radioactivity


emitted by a chemically purified sample that 


contains only one radionuclide of interest. The 


beta-particle activity is counted in a low-back­


ground, gas-proportional counter. 


C


contaminant As defined in the Safe Drinking


Water Act, any physical, chemical, biological, 


or radiological substance or matter in water.


counting error or counting


uncertainty Because radioactive elements


decay randomly at any given instant, there is 


associated random variability or uncertainty 


with any measurement of radioactivity. The 


counting error comprises a major portion of the 


reported precision estimate (see definition


below) of any analysis for radioactivity.


D


decay product of radiation The isotope 


remaining after radioactive decay.


G


gamma radioactivity Gamma radiation is a 


“packet” of energy, also known as a photon or 


photon particle, spontaneously emitted from 


the nucleus of most radioactive elements 


during radioactive decay. Gamma radiation is 


ionizing radiation, meaning that it strips elec­


trons from adjacent atoms as it passes. Unlike 


alpha and beta radiation, gamma radiation can 


penetrate through skin into internal tissues. An


accumulation of tissue damage in the cell 


nucleus from gamma radiation may lead to cell 


mutation and potential cancer formation. Many 


of the products of Ra-224 emit gamma radioac­


tivity.


Geographic Information Retrieval and Analy­


sis (GIRAS) Data files from the U.S. Geolog­


ical Survey; GIRAS files contain land use/land 


cover information for areas in the United 


States, including attributes for land use, land


cover, political units, hydrologic units, census 


and county subdivisions, federal landownership and State landownership. These datasets 

are available to the public in both map and digital form. 

H 

Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) Numerical classification code for a drainage basin, ranging in 

scale from regional (2-digit code) to subwatershed (14-digit code). The scale of the drainage 

basins used in this report is the watershed unit, 

which is identified by an 11-digit code. 

I 

Integrated Terrain Unit (ITU) Mapping It is 

the process of adjusting terrain unit boundaries 

so that there is increased coincidence between 

the boundaries and occurrences of interdependent terrain variables such as hydrography, 

geology, physiography, soils, and vegetation 

units. 

isotope One of various forms of a single element differing in the number of neutrons in the 

nucleus. Unstable isotopes of an element decay 

through the emission of a form of radioactivity. 

L 

Laboratory Reporting Level (LRL) A minimum concentration, pre-determined by laboratory personnel before a project begins as a level 

of detection that can be routinely achieved. It 

generally is based on typical radioactivity 

counting results under routine operating conditions in a given sample matrix using known 

standards (American Society for Testing and 

Materials, 1999), and generally is defined by 

the requirement that the counted radioactivity 

must differ from the background count by six 

or more times than the standard deviation of 

the background count. The LRL for the individual radionuclide concentrations determined 

in this study was 0.5 to 1 pCi/L. Matrix interference, typically in mineralized water samples 

or in samples with unusual compositions, may 

result in difficulty in sample analysis that 

results in detection capability limited even 

above the LRL. 

M 

matrix interference The presence of a compound in a sample which in some manner 

inhibits instrument response during analysis of 

some other (target) compound. 
Glossary 91 

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) The 

maximum permissible level of a contaminant 

in water that is delivered to the free-flowing 

outlet of the ultimate user of a public watersupply system (except in the case of turbidity). 

The MCL is an expression of the acceptable 

health risk as a result of ingesting a unit of 

water containing a harmful substance (exposure). For radionuclides, health risk is developing or dying from cancer. The MCLs relevant 

to this study are 5 pCi/L for the sum of Ra-226 

and Ra-228 (termed “combined radium”) and 

15 pCi/L for gross alpha-particle activity 

(including Ra-226 but excluding radon and 

uranium). 

Minimum detectable concentration, samplespecific (SSMDC) The minimum quantity of 

a specific radionuclide detectable by the counting instrument for any given sample for a given 

analysis, defined by instrument operating conditions and variation in background radiation 

at the time of analysis. This value is computed 

individually for each radionuclide analysis on 

the basis of instrument operating conditions at 

the time. The computation is repeated for each 

individual sample analysis because of the variability in background radioactivity over time. 

In many cases, the SSMDC is less than the 

LRL (see definition above), in some cases, 

such as in a complex sample matrix, it may 

exceed the LRL. Because many of the analytical techniques used in this study are considered 

to be in the research phase of development, the 

LRL is referred to in this report when a sample 

result is evaluated, unless otherwise specified. 

N 

negative result A result from a radiation 

measurement (count) of a sample over a fixed 

interval of time where the measured radioactivity from the sample is less than the longterm average background radiation reported 

routinely by the instrument. In practical terms, 

the result is less than the sample-specific minimum detectable concentration and the LRL 

(see definitions above), and, therefore, indicates that radioactivity was not detected. 

P 

picocurie per liter The unit of measurement 

that expresses the amount of radioactivity. In 

water, one picocurie per liter (pCi/L) equals 

2.2 radioactive disintegrations per minute per 

liter of water. 

Precision Estimate (PE) or uncertainty A calculated measure of uncertainty of the laboratory analysis. The precision estimate for radionuclides includes many sources of error, some 

of which are unique to radionuclides. Because 

radioactive elements decay randomly at any 

given instant, any measurement of radioactivity has an associated uncertainty (also called 

“counting error”) independent of, and in addition to, other laboratory sources of analytical 

uncertainty. Uncertainty can be reported in a 

variety of ways; the most common include 

(1) the sum of the laboratory and counting 

uncertainty, known as the “combined standard 

uncertainty” (CSU), or, less frequently, the 

“total propagated uncertainty”, and (2) a 

“counting error” or “counting uncertainty” 

only. Since about 1980, most laboratories refer 

to the former as the “precision estimate” and 

the latter as the “counting uncertainty”. There 

is a 67-percent or a 95-percent probability that 

the true value of the radionuclide concentration 

is within one or two standard deviations, 

respectively, of the radioactivity count plus or 

minus the precision estimate or counting 

uncertainty. The precision estimate or uncertainty term generally is smaller than the measured value except when the measured value is 

low (near the LRL (see definition above)). The 

uncertainty associated with the various radionuclide concentrations determined by the measurement techniques presented in this report 

are given as the two-standard-deviation precision estimates, unless otherwise indicated. 

R 

radionuclide An isotope (see definition 

above) of an element that emits radiation. 

radium Radium is a naturally occurring 

radioactive element. There are four isotopes of 

natural radium: Ra-228, Ra-226, Ra-224, and 

Ra-223. Each results directly or indirectly from 

radioactive decay of either uranium or thorium 

(see definition below). Ra-226 has the longest 

half-life of the radium isotopes (1,620 years). 

Ra-224 has the shortest half-life of the radium 

isotopes (3.6 days). 

T 

thorium Thorium is a naturally occurring 

radioactive element. There are six isotopes of 

natural thorium: Th-234, Th-232, Th-231, 

Th-230, and Th-228, and Th-227. Th-232 is by 

far the most common, has the longest half-life 
92 Occurrence of Radium-224, Radium-226, and Radium-228 in Water of the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer System, Southern 

(14.1 billion years), and is the least radioactive 

(per unit mass). It is the initial member of the 

radioactive decay series that bears its name. 

U 

uranium Uranium is a naturally occurring 

radioactive element. It occurs naturally in 

rocks, soil, air, and water. There are three isotopes of natural uranium: U-238, U-235, and 

U-234. U-234 is the most radioactive (per unit 

mass). U-238 is by far the most common, has 

the longest half-life (4.5 billion years), and is 

the least radioactive (per unit mass). It is the 

initial member of the radioactive decay series 

that bears its name. 

W 

watershed The area that drains (contributes 

flow) to a specified surface-water body. 
For additional information, write to: 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Water Resources Division 

New Jersey District 

Mountain View Office Park 

810 Bear Tavern Rd., Suite 206 

West Trenton, NJ 08628 

or visit our Web site at: 

http://nj.water.usgs.gov/