TOXIC SUBSTANCES HYDROLOGY PROGRAM

Prepared in cooperation with the 

AIR FORCE CENTER FOR ENGINEERING AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Groundwater-Quality Data for a Treated-Wastewater 

Plume near the Massachusetts Military Reservation, 

Ashumet Valley, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2006–08

Data Series 648

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
Cover. Northward view of the Ashumet Valley on western Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The valley is distinguishable by the dark green trees 

and the central part of the golf-course fairways. Ashumet Pond is in the center right of the photo, and Cape Cod Bay is visible in the far 

distance at the top of the photo. Airfield runways of the Massachusetts Military Reservation can be seen between the bay and the pond. 

Photograph by Denis R. LeBlanc, USGS, 1984. 
TOXIC SUBSTANCES HYDROLOGY PROGRAM

Groundwater-Quality Data for a 

Treated-Wastewater Plume near the 

Massachusetts Military Reservation, 

Ashumet Valley, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 

2006–08

By Jennifer G. Savoie, Denis R. LeBlanc, Gillian M. Fairchild, Richard L. Smith, 

Douglas B. Kent, Larry B. Barber, Deborah A. Repert, Charles P. Hart, 

Steffanie H. Keefe, and Luke A. Parsons

Prepared in cooperation with the 

Air Force Center For Engineering and the Environment

Data Series 648

U.S. Department of the Interior

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

KEN SALAZAR, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Marcia K. McNutt, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2012

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Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to 

reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report.

Suggested citation:

Savoie, J.G., LeBlanc, D.R., Fairchild, G.M., Smith, R.L., Kent, D.B., Barber, L.B., Repert, D.A., Hart, C.P., Keefe, S.H., 

and Parsons, L.A., 2012, Groundwater-quality data for a treated-wastewater plume near the Massachusetts Military 

Reservation, Ashumet Valley, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2006–08: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 648, 11 p., 

CD–ROM. (Also available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/648)
iii

Contents

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

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

Monitoring Groundwater Quality in the Treated-Wastewater Plume...................................................3

Monitoring Wells...................................................................................................................................3

Multilevel Samplers..............................................................................................................................3

Sample Collection from Wells and Multilevel Samplers ................................................................3

Sample Collection from Profile Borings............................................................................................5

Field Water-Quality Measurements...................................................................................................6

Sample Preservation and Chemical Analysis ..................................................................................6

Water-Quality Data........................................................................................................................................7

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

References Cited............................................................................................................................................8

Figures

1. Map showing the study area with the locations of monitoring wells, multilevel

samplers, and profile borings sampled in 2006–08, and the extent of the

treated-wastewater plume in 2007, Ashumet Valley, Cape Cod, Massachusetts .............2

2. Map showing the portion of the study area extending from the wastewater-disposal 

beds at the Massachusetts Military Reservation to Ashumet Pond; the locations 

of monitoring wells, multilevel samplers, and profile borings sampled in 2006–08; 

and the extent of the treated-wastewater plume in 2007, Ashumet Valley, Cape 

Cod, Massachusetts.....................................................................................................................4

3. Map showing the portion of the study area extending from Ashumet Pond to 

Route 28; the locations of monitoring wells, multilevel samplers, and profile borings

sampled in 2006–08; and the extent of the treated-wastewater plume in 2007,

Ashumet Valley, Cape Cod, Massachusetts.............................................................................5

Tables

1. Location coordinates, land-surface and screen altitudes, well diameters,

casing and screen materials, and water-level altitudes and measurement dates

for monitoring wells, Ashumet Valley treated-wastewater plume, Cape Cod,

Massachusetts [Click here]......................................................................................................11

2 Location coordinates, land-surface and screen altitudes, and estimated

water-table altitudes for multilevel samplers, Ashumet Valley treated-wastewater

plume, Cape Cod, Massachusetts [Click here]......................................................................11

3 Drilling method, location coordinates, altitudes of land surface and tops and

bottoms of sampling intervals, and estimated altitudes of the water table for

direct-push and sonic profile borings, Ashumet Valley treated-wastewater plume,

Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2006–08 [Click here]...................................................................11

4 Field water-quality analyses for groundwater samples collected from wells

and multilevel samplers, Ashumet Valley treated-wastewater plume, Cape Cod,

Massachusetts, 2007 [Click here]............................................................................................11
iv

5 Concentrations of selected anions, ammonium, and nitrous oxide in groundwater

samples collected from wells and multilevel samplers, Ashumet Valley

treated-wastewater plume, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2007 [Click here].......................11

6 Ultraviolet/visible light absorbance and concentrations of dissolved organic

carbon and methylene blue active substances in groundwater samples collected

from wells and multilevel samplers, Ashumet Valley treated-wastewater plume,

Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2007 [Click here].........................................................................11

7 Concentrations of selected inorganic solutes, including cations, anions, and minor 

elements, in groundwater samples collected from wells and multilevel samplers,

Ashumet Valley treated-wastewater plume, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2007 

[Click here]...................................................................................................................................11

8 Field water-quality analyses for groundwater samples collected from direct-push

and sonic profile borings, Ashumet Valley treated-wastewater plume, Cape Cod,

Massachusetts, 2006–08 [Click here]......................................................................................11

9 Concentrations of selected anions and ammonium in groundwater samples

collected from direct-push and sonic profile borings, Ashumet Valley

treated-wastewater plume, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2006–08 [Click here].................11

10. Concentrations of selected inorganic solutes, including cations, anions, and minor

elements, in groundwater samples collected from direct-push and sonic profile

borings, Ashumet Valley treated-wastewater plume, Cape Cod, Massachusetts,

2006–08 [Click here]....................................................................................................................11
v

Conversion Factors, Data, and Abbreviations

Multiply By To obtain

Length

inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm)

inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter (mm)

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

liter (L) 0.2642 gallon (gal)

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

Area

square inch (in2

) 6.452 square centimeter (cm2)

Flow rate

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

Concentrations of Chemical Constituents

Aluminum [Al] (μM) 26.98 Aluminum [Al] (μg/L)

Ammonium [NH4

] (μM) 14.01 Ammonium [NH4] (μg/L)

Arsenic [As] (μM) 74.92 Arsenic [As] (μg/L)

Barium [Ba] (μM) 137.3 Barium [Ba] (μg/L)

Boron [B] (μM) 10.81 Boron [B] (μg/L)

Cadmium [Cd] (μM) 112.4 Cadmium [Cd] (μg/L)

Calcium [Ca] (μM) 40.08 Calcium [Ca] (μg/L)

Carbon, organic, dissolved [DOC] (μM) 12.01 Carbon, organic, dissolved [DOC] (μg/L)

Chloride [Cl] (μM) 35.45 Chloride [Cl] (μg/L)

Cobalt [Co] (μM) 58.93 Cobalt [Co] (μg/L)

Copper [Cu] (μM) 63.54 Copper [Cu] (μg/L)

Iron [Fe] (μM) 55.85 Iron [Fe] (μg/L)

Magnesium [Mg] (μM) 24.31 Magnesium [Mg] (μg/L)

Manganese [Mn] (μM) 54.94 Manganese [Mn] (μg/L)

Nickel [Ni] (μM) 58.71 Nickel [Ni] (μg/L)

Nitrate [NO3

] (μM) 14.01 Nitrate [NO3 as N] (μg/L)

Nitrite [NO2

] (μM) 14.01 Nitrite [NO2 as N] (μg/L)

Nitrous oxide [N2

O] (μM) 28.02 Nitrous oxide [N2O as N] (μg/L)

Oxygen, dissolved [O2

] (μM) .03200 Oxygen, dissolved [O2] (mg/L)

Phosphate [PO4

] (μM) .03097 Phosphate [PO4 as P] (mg/L)

Phosphorus [P] (μM) 30.97 Phosphorus [P] (μg/L)

Potassium [K] (μM) 39.10 Potassium [K] (μg/L)

Silicon [Si] (μM) 28.09 Silicon [Si] (μg/L)

Sodium [Na] (μM) 22.98 Sodium [Na] (μg/L)

Strontium [Sr] (μM) 87.62 Strontium [Sr] (μg/L)

Sulfate [SO4

] (μM) 96.06 Sulfate [SO4] (μg/L)

Zinc [Zn] (μM) 65.37 Zinc [Zn] (μg/L)
vi

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

°F=(1.8×°C)+32

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

(NGVD29).

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1927 (NAD27).

Altitude, as used in this report, refers to distance above the vertical datum.

Specific conductance is given in microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius 

(μS/cm at 25°C).

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

micromoles per liter (μM).

Acronyms

AFCEE Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment

BOD Biological oxygen demand

DOC Dissolved organic carbon

MBAS Methylene blue active substances

MMR Massachusetts Military Reservation

MLS Multilevel sampler

PVC Polyvinyl chloride

SPEIM System performance and ecological impact monitoring

USGS U.S. Geological Survey
vii

Acknowledgments

We thank Jonathan Davis and Rose Forbes of the Air Force Center for Engineering and the 

Environment (AFCEE); and Kurt Lyons, Mark Gifford, Dion Cruz, Kasey Rink, Matthew Greenberg, 

Amanda Young, Robert Buker, and their colleagues at HydroGeologic, Inc., CH2M Hill, Inc., and 

Boart Longyear, Inc., for helping to plan and organize the field work and collect the samples. A 

special thanks is due to Michelle Leab of CH2M Hill, Inc., and Brett Dubner of HydroGeologic, 

Inc., for their contributions to all aspects of this collaborative effort. 

The authors also thank Jeffrey Barbaro, Andrew Massey, Timothy McCobb, and Larissa Cupp of 

the USGS for their help in collecting and analyzing the water samples.
This page has been left blank intentionally.
Groundwater-Quality Data for a Treated-Wastewater 

Plume near the Massachusetts Military Reservation, 

Ashumet Valley, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2006–08

By Jennifer G. Savoie, Denis R. LeBlanc, Gillian M. Fairchild, Richard L. Smith, Douglas B. Kent, Larry B. 

Barber, Deborah A. Repert, Charles P. Hart, Steffanie H. Keefe, and Luke A. Parsons

Abstract

A plume of contaminated groundwater extends 

from former disposal beds at the Massachusetts Military 

Reservation’s wastewater-treatment plant toward Ashumet 

Pond, coastal ponds, and Vineyard Sound, Cape Cod, 

Massachusetts. Treated sewage-derived wastewater was 

discharged to the rapid-infiltration beds for nearly 60 years 

before the disposal site was moved to a different location in 

December 1995. 

Water-quality samples were collected from monitoring 

wells, multilevel samplers, and profile borings to characterize 

the nature and extent of the contaminated groundwater and 

to observe the water-quality changes after the wastewater 

disposal ceased. Data are presented here for water samples 

collected in 2007 from 394 wells (at 121 well-cluster 

locations) and 780 multilevel-sampler ports (at 42 locations) 

and in 2006–08 at 306 depth intervals in profile borings 

(at 20 locations) in and near the treated-wastewater plume. 

Analyses of these water samples for field parameters 

(specific conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen and phosphate 

concentrations, and alkalinity); absorbance of ultraviolet/

visible light; and concentrations of nitrous oxide, dissolved 

organic carbon, methylene blue active substances, selected 

anions and nutrients, including nitrate and ammonium, and 

selected inorganic solutes, including cations, anions, and 

minor elements, are presented in tabular format. The natural 

restoration of the sand and gravel aquifer after removal of 

the treated-wastewater source, along with interpretations of 

the water quality in the treated-wastewater plume, have been 

documented in several published reports that are listed in 

the references. 

Introduction

Treated wastewater was discharged to rapid-infiltration 

beds at the Massachusetts Military Reservation’s (MMR) 

wastewater-treatment plant on Cape Cod for nearly 60 

years before the disposal site was moved to a different 

location in December 1995. The disposal created a plume 

of contaminated groundwater that extends southward in 

the glacial sand and gravel aquifer (LeBlanc and others, 

1986) from the former disposal site toward Ashumet Pond, 

coastal ponds, and Vineyard Sound approximately along 

the alignment of a topographic feature known locally as 

the Ashumet Valley. The plume, which was first described 

by LeBlanc (1984), is about 5 miles (mi) long, 0.6–1.0 mi 

wide, and 100 feet (ft) thick (fig. 1), as generally defined by 

concentrations of nitrate-nitrogen, chloride, and boron greater 

than about 29, 170, and 0.56 micromoles per liter (μM) 

(0.4, 6.0, and 0.006 milligrams per liter (mg/L)), respectively, 

in 2007 (J.R. Barbaro, U.S. Geological Survey, written 

commun., 2010). These concentration thresholds are based 

on previous studies of groundwater quality on western Cape 

Cod (LeBlanc, 1984; Frimpter and Gay, 1979; and citations 

below). The plume of wastewater-contaminated groundwater 

is composed of a complex mixture of inorganic and organic 

solutes typical of treated sewage-derived wastewater (Barber, 

1998; Barber and others, 1988; Barber and others, 2009; 

Böhlke and others, 2006; Ceazan and others, 1989; Field and 

others, 1992; Kent and others, 2000; Kent and Fox, 2004; 

Kent and Maeder, 1999; LeBlanc, 1984; McCobb and others, 

2003; Parkhurst and others, 2003; Repert and others, 2006; 

Stollenwerk, 1996; Thurman and others, 1986; and Walter 

and others, 1996). The plume supports a microbial ecosystem 

that includes bacteria and protozoa (Harvey and Barber, 1992; 

Harvey and George, 1987; Harvey and others, 1984; Kinner 

and others, 2002; Kinner and others, 1997; Kinner and others, 

1998; and Metge and others, 1993) and has well developed 

biogeochemical zones (Abrams and Loague, 2000; Abrams 

and others, 1998; Kent and others, 1994; LeBlanc and others, 

1999; Lee and Bennett, 1998; Smith and Duff, 1988; Smith 

and others, 2004; Smith and others, 1991a; Smith and others, 

1991b). Volatile organic compounds that were released from a 

former fire-training area near the wastewater-treatment plant 

also are in the plume (Air Force Center for Environmental 

Excellence, 2005). 
2 Groundwater-Quality Data for a Treated-Wastewater Plume Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2006–08

Figure 1. The study area with the locations of monitoring wells, multilevel samplers, and profile borings sampled in 2006–08, and 

the extent of the treated-wastewater plume in 2007, Ashumet Valley, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The extent of the plume is defined 

by concentrations of nitrate-nitrogen, chloride, and boron greater than about 29, 170, and 0.56 micromoles per liter (0.4, 6.0, and 0.006 

milligrams per liter), respectively (J.R. Barbaro, U.S. Geological Survey, written commun., 2010).

Coonamessett

 Pond

Randall

Pond

Shallow

Pond

Round

Pond

 Jenkins

Pond

Fresh

Pond

Spectacle

Pond Bourne

Pond

Bog

Pond

Caleb

Pond

Waquoit

Bay

Mill

Pond

Moody

Pond

 Ashumet

Pond Johns

Pond

Frog

Pond

Deep

Pond Jenkins

Pond

Grassy

Pond

Spectacle

Pond Tim

Pond

Crooked 

Pond

Round

Pond

Flashy

Pond

Parker

Road

Pond

Coonamessett Ri ver

Childs River

Coonamessett River

Backus

River

FA LMO UT H

SA N DW IC H

MA SH PE E

151

151

28

28

SANDWICH 

ROAD

SANDWICH

ROAD

Treated-wastewater plume

Wastewater-disposal bed

Hydrology

 Pond

 Wetland

 Cranberry bog

Boundaries

 Massachusetts Military Reservation

 Town

Roads

 Primary

 Secondary

Sampling site and identifier

EXPLANATION

0 0.5 1 MILE

0 0.5 1 KILOMETER

70°34'30" 70°33' 70°31'30"

41°37'30"

41°36'

41°34'30"

See figure 3

See figure 2

Base from Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs digital data 

1:24,000 Polyconic projection, 1927 North American datum 

Massachusetts coordinate system mainland zone

F605

F605

71o 70o

42o30'

41o

30'

MASSACHUSETTS

Cape Cod

Atlantic Ocean

0 10 20 MILES

0 10 20 KILOMETERS

250,000330,000 895,000

815,000

Massachusetts 

Military Reservation 
Monitoring Groundwater Quality in the Treated-Wastewater Plume 3

In an effort to document changes in groundwater quality 

after wastewater disposal was stopped in December 1995, the 

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), with assistance from the Air 

Force Center for Engineering and the Environment (AFCEE), 

collected groundwater samples in 2006–08 near the abandoned 

rapid-infiltration beds and within and near the treatedwastewater plume (figs. 1–3). The samples were analyzed 

for field parameters (specific conductance, pH, dissolved 

oxygen and phosphate concentrations, and alkalinity); 

absorbance of ultraviolet/visible light; concentrations of 

nitrous oxide, dissolved organic carbon, methylene blue active 

substances, selected anions and nutrients, including nitrate and 

ammonium, and selected inorganic solutes, including cations, 

anions, and minor elements.

This report compiles selected groundwater quality and 

water-level data that were collected as part of this study. The 

dataset includes water-quality data from monitoring wells, 

multilevel samplers (MLSs), and profile boring samples in 

the area that extends from about 2,000 ft upgradient of the 

former infiltration beds at monitoring-well cluster S315 (fig. 2) 

to the toe of the plume near Vineyard Sound at monitoringwell cluster F497 (fig. 3). Previous water-quality data for 

the treated-wastewater plume can be found in Thurman and 

others (1984), Savoie and LeBlanc (1998), and Savoie and 

others (2006). Findings from the first few years of monitoring 

after disposal to the rapid-infiltration beds ended have been 

presented elsewhere (Barber and Keefe, 1999; Campo and 

Hess, 1999; Kent and Maeder, 1999; LeBlanc and others, 

1999; Smith and others, 1999). A comprehensive discussion 

of the effect of natural restoration on nitrogen and dissolved 

organic carbon (DOC) can be found in Repert and others 

(2006); on zinc contamination in Kent and others (2000); and 

on phosphate contamination in Parkhurst and others (2003). 

Other data, research projects, and reports related to the treatedwastewater plume can be found at the USGS Cape Cod Toxic 

Substances Hydrology Program Web site (U.S. Geological 

Survey, 2011).

In a separate effort not described in this report, AFCEE 

collected groundwater samples in 2007–09 from additional 

wells and profile borings in the area shown in figure 1 as part 

of investigations and monitoring of contaminant plumes that 

originated from a former fire-training area and a historical 

chemical spill. The results, which include concentrations 

of volatile organic compounds, are documented in AFCEE 

(2008), AFCEE (2010), and the 2006, 2007, and 2008 annual 

system performance and ecological impact monitoring 

(SPEIM) program reports for the Chemical Spill-10 and 

Ashumet Valley plumes (AFCEE, 2011).

Monitoring Groundwater Quality in the 

Treated-Wastewater Plume

Groundwater-quality samples included in this 

report were collected in 2007 from 394 monitoring wells 

(at 121 well-cluster locations) and 780 MLS ports (at 

42 locations), and in 2006–08 from 306 profile-boring 

depth intervals (at 20 locations) (figs. 1–3). These sites 

were selected from a larger set of available sites so that the 

spatial distribution of the data from the selected sites was 

sufficient to define the steep geochemical gradients near 

the disposal beds, describe the distributions of nitrate and 

ammonium in the distal portions of the plume, and determine 

historical trends in water quality in the plume since the first 

comprehensive sampling in 1978 (LeBlanc, 1984). The well, 

MLS, and profile-boring installation and sampling methods are 

summarized below. The sampling protocols also are described 

in more detail in Savoie and LeBlanc (1998); Savoie and 

others (2006); U.S. Geological Survey (variously dated); and 

AFCEE (2009).

Monitoring Wells

The monitoring wells were installed by several methods, 

including hollow-stem-auger, drive-and-wash, sonic, and 

direct-push drilling. The wells are in clusters containing one 

to nine wells. Most of the wells (353 of 394) are constructed 

of 2.0-inch (in.)- or 2.5-in.-diameter polyvinyl chloride (PVC) 

well casing and slotted PVC screens. The screens of most 

wells (362 of 394) are 2 to 5 ft long and have 0.010-in. slots. 

Fifteen wells, including 12 small-diameter (0.62-in.) wells 

installed in the bottom of Ashumet Pond by using direct-push 

drilling, are constructed of steel well casing. These wells have 

1- to 20-ft-long stainless steel wirewound or slotted screens. 

Selected monitoring-well information is given in table 1.

Multilevel Samplers

The MLSs were installed by using hollow-stem-auger 

drilling. The MLSs are constructed with 15 color-coded 

polyethylene tubes (with a 0.25-in. outside diameter and a 

0.17-in. inside diameter) within a 1.25-in.-diameter PVC 

casing. The color-coded tubes extend from the land surface, 

down the PVC casing, and out into the aquifer through holes 

drilled in the PVC at various depths. The bottom of each 

polyethylene tube, referred to as the sampling port, is open 

but screened with a fine nylon fabric. Water levels cannot 

be measured in the MLSs; the water levels at the MLS 

locations were estimated by interpolation between water levels 

measured in nearby monitoring wells (table 1). Selected MLS 

information is given in table 2. 

Sample Collection from Wells and 

Multilevel Samplers

Groundwater samples were collected from the 

2.0-in.-diameter or larger monitoring wells by using a Keck 

SP–81 submersible pump fitted with Teflon tubing and an 

isolation packer or a Grundfos Redi-Flo2 submersible pump 
4 Groundwater-Quality Data for a Treated-Wastewater Plume Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2006–08

Figure 2. The portion of the study area extending from the wastewater-disposal beds at the Massachusetts 

Military Reservation to Ashumet Pond; the locations of monitoring wells, multilevel samplers, and profile 

borings sampled in 2006–08; and the extent of the treated-wastewater plume in 2007, Ashumet Valley, Cape Cod, 

Massachusetts.

F230

F236

F239

F300

F343

F347

F379

F383

F388

F422 F424

F432

F512 F564

F565

F566

F567

F570

F572

F575 F573

F577

F582

F586

F587

F588

F589

F591 F618

F619

F620

F621

F622 F624

F627

F633

F635 F636

F661

F670

F671

F672

F673

F675

S106

S107

S112

S313

S314

S315

S316

S317

S318

S344

S421 S422

S425

S434

S436

S468

S469

S471 S470

S472

S473

S474

S491

S499

S500

S517

S518

S521

S540

S551

S552

S553

S554

S556

S557

S559 S560

S590

S593

S105

S558

F706

FA LMO UT H

SA N DW IC H

MA SH PE E

 Ashumet

Pond

70°32'45" 70°32'30" 70°32'15"

41°38'45"

41°38'30"

41°38'15"

41°38'

0 500 1,000 FEET

0 125 250 METERS

Base from Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs digital data 

1:24,000 Polyconic projection, 1927 North American datum

Massachusetts coordinate system mainland zone

SANDWICH ROAD

SANDWICH

ROAD

EXPLANATION

Treated-wastewater plume

Wastewater-disposal bed

Pond

Boundaries

 Massachusetts Military Reservation

 Town

S540 Sampling site and identifier
Monitoring Groundwater Quality in the Treated-Wastewater Plume 5

Figure 3. The portion of the study area extending from Ashumet 

Pond to Route 28; the locations of monitoring wells, multilevel 

samplers, and profile borings sampled in 2006–08; and the extent 

of the treated-wastewater plume in 2007, Ashumet Valley, Cape 

Cod, Massachusetts.

fitted with Teflon-lined polyethylene tubing. The USGS and 

AFCEE used the Keck and Grundfos pumps, respectively. 

The Keck pump intake was generally set about 2 ft above the 

top of the screen, and the packer was inflated to isolate the 

water in the casing above the packer from the pump intake. 

A minimum of three volumes of the casing below the packer 

was evacuated at a pumping rate of about 0.26 to 0.34 gallons 

per minute (gal/min) before field water-quality measurements 

were made and samples were collected. The Grundfos pump 

intake was set at the midpoint of the screened interval. A 

minimum of three volumes of the screened interval was 

evacuated at a pumping rate of about 0.026 to 0.53 gal/min, 

and samples were collected only after field water-quality 

parameters had stabilized.

Groundwater samples were collected from the 0.62- to 

1.25-in.-diameter wells by using a GeoPump2 peristaltic 

suction pump fitted with Norprene tubing that was connected 

to 0.25-in.-diameter polyethylene tubing. The open end of the 

polyethylene tubing was set about 10 ft below the static water 

level. A minimum of three casing volumes was evacuated at 

a pumping rate of about 0.26 to 0.53 gal/min before samples 

were collected. The 0.5-in.-diameter temporary well (FSW 

686–0010) was sampled by using a peristaltic pump connected 

directly to the driven casing.

Groundwater samples were collected from the MLSs 

by using a GeoPump2 peristaltic suction pump fitted with 

Norprene tubing that was connected directly to the MLS 

tubing. The pumping rate was about 0.079 gal/min, and a 

minimum of three tubing volumes was evacuated before field 

water-quality measurements were made and water samples 

were collected.

Sample Collection from Profile Borings

The profile borings were drilled by direct-push and sonic 

methods (table 3). For the direct-push borings, a GeoProbe 

model 6620DT was used to advance 1.5-in.-diameter steel 

probe rods to each sampling interval sequentially; the bottom 

5-ft-long rod was milled with 0.010-in. slots. At each sampling 

interval, 0.5-in.-diameter polyethylene tubing fitted with a 

Watera inertial-pump check valve was set into the slotted 

section at the bottom of the probe rods. Groundwater was 

pumped from the boring by using a reciprocating action; the 

pumping rate was highly dependent on depth to water and the 

aquifer material at the sampled interval, but generally was 

about 0.079 to 0.79 gal/min. The pumped water tended to 

be turbid because of the surging caused by the reciprocating 

action. A minimum of three volumes of the probe rods was 

evacuated, and samples were collected only after field waterquality parameters had stabilized.

For the sonic borings, a Boart Longyear sonic drilling 

rig was used to advance a 7.68-in.-diameter steel casing to 

the bottom of the sampling interval. Water from a municipal 

water supply was pumped down the casing during drilling 

to prevent sediments from entering the casing. A 5-ft-long 

Coonamessett

 Pond

Backus Ri ver Mill

Pond

 Ashumet

Pond

Round

Pond

F168

F244

F254

F262

F267

F271

F279

F282

F294

F350

F355

F356

F357

F358

F359

F375

F411

F412

F418

F428

F429

F430 F433

F436

F442

F443

F459

F460

F470

F471

F472

F474

F484

F487

F492

F493

F497

F501

F502

F508

F584

F585

F607

F611

F612

F613 F614

F615

F655

F657 F660

F663

F674

F676

F677

F678

F679

F680

F682

F683

F685

F686

F687

F688

F689

F690

F691

F692

F693

F694

F695

F696

F697

F698

F699

F700

F701

F702

F703

F704

F705

FA LMO UT H

FA LMO UT H

70°33'45" 70°32'30"

41°37'30"

41°36'

41°34'30"

0 0.5 1 MILE

0 0.5 1 KILOMETER

EXPLANATION

Treated wastewater plume

Hydrology

 Pond

 Wetland

 Cranberry bog

Roads

 Primary

 Secondary

F168 Sampling site and identifier

Base from Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs digital data

1:24,000 Polyconic projection, 1927 North American datum

Massachusetts coordinate system mainland zone

SANDWICH

ROAD

SANDWICH

ROAD

151

28
6 Groundwater-Quality Data for a Treated-Wastewater Plume Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2006–08

stainless steel wirewound screen attached to a 5.5-in.-diameter 

steel drill casing was lowered to the bottom of the boring, and 

the larger outer casing was pulled back about 5 ft to expose 

the screen to the aquifer. A 4-in.-diameter submersible pump 

and packer assembly fitted to polyethylene tubing was lowered 

to just above the screen, and the packer was inflated to isolate 

the screened interval from the water in the casing above the 

screen. A minimum of three volumes of the casing below 

the packer was evacuated at a pumping rate of about 0.26 to 

0.79 gal/min, and water samples were collected after field 

water-quality parameters had stabilized.

Field Water-Quality Measurements

Field water-quality parameters for samples collected 

by the USGS were measured in unfiltered grab samples. The 

specific conductance was measured with a Thermo Orion 

model 130A conductivity meter. The pH was measured with 

an Orion model 250A meter, an Orion Ross Sure-Flow model 

81–72 pH electrode, and an Orion stainless steel, temperaturecompensating probe. Dissolved oxygen concentrations greater 

than 31 μM were generally measured in samples collected in 

well flushed glass biological oxygen demand (BOD) bottles 

that were stoppered and chilled until measurement in the lab 

(within 6 hours of collection) with a YSI model 58 dissolved 

oxygen meter and YSI model 5905 probe. Dissolved oxygen 

concentrations less than 31 μM were generally measured 

in the field by using a quantitative colorimetric method 

(CHEMetrics V–2000 photometer and K–7553 Vacu-vial 

self-filling reagent ampoules) with a practical detection limit 

of 3.1 μM (0.10 mg/L)(CHEMetrics, Inc., 2011). Phosphate 

also was measured colorimetrically in selected samples in 

the field (CHEMetrics VVR photometer, K–8513 ampoules, 

and practical detection limit of 3.2 μM (0.10 mg/L PO4 as P)). 

Temperature was measured by using the Orion stainless 

steel probe in conjunction with the pH probe. Turbidity was 

measured with a HACH model 2100P portable turbidimeter. 

Alkalinity was determined in the field for selected samples 

with expected elevated concentrations of iron(II) or in the 

laboratory for most samples by an incremental titration 

method (Fishman and Freidman, 1989) with the endpoint 

determined by using Gran plots. Iron concentrations were 

measured colorimetrically in selected samples in the field 

(CHEMetrics VVR photometer, K–6003 ampoules, and 

practical detection limit of 3.6 μM (0.20 mg/L)). The iron 

values were used only to check that the appropriate method 

was used to measure alkalinity. Most samples in which iron 

was detected also had concentrations that exceeded the 

method’s maximum reporting level; for this reason, the fieldmeasured iron values are not presented in this report.

Field water-quality parameters for samples collected by 

AFCEE were measured by using a field YSI multiparameter 

model 6820 sonde. The parameters included specific 

conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen concentration, turbidity, 

temperature, and oxidation-reduction potential. For samples 

collected from the monitoring wells and sonic profile borings, 

the sonde was placed in a flow-through chamber. For samples 

collected from the direct-push profile borings, the sonde was 

placed in a 1–L beaker filled with a grab sample because the 

flow rate generally was too low for use of the flow-through 

chamber. The dissolved oxygen concentrations were higher 

than expected for some samples, perhaps because of oxygen 

contamination during filling of the 1–L beaker. The pH was 

also anomalously high for some samples, particularly the 

first few samples collected each day. Possible reasons include 

the persistent effects of the pH 7 and 10 buffers used during 

calibration of the YSI sonde at the start of each day, and 

the large potential errors associated with pH measurements 

in poorly buffered, low-conductivity water unless rigorous 

procedures tailored to this geochemical condition are used 

(Busenberg and Plummer, 1987; Kent and Maeder, 1999). 

For these reasons, dissolved oxygen concentrations and pH 

measured with the YSI sonde in samples collected from the 

direct-push profiles are not included in this report. These 

data are available in the databases of the AFCEE Installation 

Restoration Program. 

Sample Preservation and Chemical Analysis

Samples for analysis of absorbance of ultraviolet/

visible light, and concentrations of DOC, selected anions 

and nutrients, including nitrate and ammonium, and selected 

inorganic solutes, including cations, anions, and minor 

elements, were filtered through an inline polyvinylidene 

filter with a diameter of 33 millimeters (mm) and a pore 

size of 0.45 micrometers (μm)(Millipore Millex SLHV 

033 NK). A new filter was used at each well, MLS port, or 

profile-boring interval. For samples that were especially 

turbid, an inline polysulfone disk filter with a pore size of 

0.45 μm, polyester reinforcement, and an effective filtration 

area of 20 square centimeters (cm2

) was used instead 

(Pall AquaPrep 4270). The samples for analysis of selected 

inorganic solutes, including cations, anions, and minor 

elements, were preserved with trace-metal-grade nitric acid 

to a pH less than 2, the samples for analysis of ammonium 

were preserved with sulfuric acid to a pH less than 2, and 

the samples for analysis of selected anions, including nitrate, 

were frozen. Filtered and unfiltered samples for analysis of 

methylene blue active substances (MBAS) by field photometer 

and commercial laboratory, respectively, were chilled. The 

nitrous oxide samples were collected by using a syringe 

and serum bottles that had been pretreated with potassium 

hydroxide, fitted with thick butyl rubber septa, and flushed 

with helium of ultra-high-purity grade for 15 minutes. The 

pumps and sampling equipment were decontaminated with 

laboratory-grade deionized water after each well or MLS had 

been sampled. This method for decontamination had been 

shown in other studies to be sufficient (Savoie and LeBlanc, 
Water-Quality Data 7

1998). Samples of the deionized water (rinsewater blank) and 

the rinsewater from the Keck submersible pump (equipment 

rinsewater) were collected following the collection of 

groundwater samples from monitoring well FSW 355–0104. 

Duplicate analysis was performed on about 10 percent of 

the samples collected. At selected wells or MLS ports, an 

aliquot of the filtered sample was passed through a cartridge 

containing Chelex. Chelex is a cation exchanger that has a 

high selectivity for multivalent cations and therefore retains 

free metal ions while allowing strongly complexed metal ions 

to pass through (Kent and Maeder, 1999). 

Concentrations of selected anions and and nutrients, 

DOC, and nitrous oxide were analyzed by the USGS 

National Research Program laboratory in Boulder, Colorado 

(Repert and others, 2006). The selected anions and nutrients, 

including nitrate, nitrite, and ammonium, were analyzed by 

using a flow-injection autoanalyzer and ion chromatography. 

DOC was converted to carbon dioxide by heated-persulfate 

oxidation, and concentrations were determined with infrared 

or conductivity detection. Concentrations of nitrous oxide 

were determined by gas chromatography after equilibration at 

35oC. Aqueous concentrations of the gas were calculated by 

using temperature-corrected Bunsen solubility coefficients. 

Concentrations of selected inorganic solutes, including 

cations, anions, and minor elements, were determined by using 

inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy by 

the USGS National Research Program laboratory in Menlo 

Park, California. The descriptions of methods, limits of 

quantitation, precision, and accuracy for results of analyses 

for the selected inorganic solutes are described in Savoie and 

others (2004).

Concentrations of MBAS in replicate samples were 

analyzed by using a colorimetric method (method 425.1, U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, 1983). MBAS analysis is a 

measurement of total anionic surfactants, including linear- and 

branch-chained alkylbenzenesulfonates. Concentrations of 

MBAS were analyzed at the USGS office in Northborough, 

Massachusetts, several days after the samples were collected 

by using a CHEMetrics model I–2017 single analyte meter 

and R–9423 Vacu-vial self-filling reageant ampoules. The 

practical detection limit of the method is 0.25 mg/L. Replicate 

samples for MBAS were analyzed by Test America, a 

commercial laboratory in Savannah, Georgia.

Water-Quality Data

Water samples collected in 2007 from 394 monitoring 

wells (at 121 well-cluster locations) and 780 MLS ports (at 

42 locations) and in 2006–08 from 306 profile-boring depth 

intervals (at 20 locations) were analyzed for field waterquality parameters (table 4); concentrations of selected anions, 

ammonium, and nitrous oxide (table 5); concentrations of 

DOC and MBAS, and absorbance of ultraviolet/visible light 

(table 6); and concentrations of selected inorganic solutes, 

including cations, anions, and minor elements (table 7). Water 

samples collected in 2006–08 from 306 profile-boring depth 

intervals (at 20 locations) were analyzed for field water-quality 

parameters (table 8); concentrations of selected anions and 

ammonium (table 9); and concentrations of selected inorganic 

solutes, including cations, anions, and minor elements (table 

10). Duplicate analyses for the analytes are included in the 

data tables and designated by “-D”. Samples that were filtered 

through the Chelex filter are designated by “-X” in table 7. 

Analyses of the rinsewater blank and equipment-rinsewater 

samples are shown at the bottoms of tables 5 and 7.

The entries in the data tables are sorted by sampling site, 

which can include one or more wells and MLSs. The sites 

are shown in figures 2 and 3 with short labels that include 

only the first letter of the town code (for example, the label 

“MA-FSW” in the town of Falmouth is shown as “F”), 

followed by the three-digit sequential site number for that 

town. The tables list the sampling points at a site in order of 

descending altitude rather than in alphanumerical order so that 

the vertical distributions of concentrations and water-quality 

parameters are evident.

The temperature was measured at land surface in either 

a beaker along with the pH measurements or in a flow cell 

with the YSI sonde. The temperature measured by these 

methods may differ substantially from the temperature in the 

aquifer at the sampling point because of warming or cooling 

during passage of the water up the sample-collection tube and 

through the pump.

Lithium concentrations were below quantitation 

limits in all samples but are reported in tables 7 and 10 for 

completeness (the method used to develop the limits of 

quantitation for the inorganic solutes is described in Savoie 

and LeBlanc (1998)). Zinc concentrations less than 0.2 μM 

in table 7 are subject to large random errors that may be 

related to contamination during sampling. The source of 

contamination was not identified.

The field water-quality data in table 8 for the profile 

borings made by using the direct-push method were 

commonly affected by turbid samples resulting from the 

reciprocating action of the inertial pump. The data also were 

affected by low pumping rates resulting from the small surface 

area open to the aquifer on the slotted steel probe rods and 

the difficulty of developing the slots to obtain greater yields. 

The high turbidity in some samples also may have affected 

the measurements made colorimetrically in the field for 

dissolved oxygen and phosphate concentrations. Because 

of the high turbidity, the generally challenging sampling 

environment during drilling operations, and the collection of 

samples directly from probe rods and drill casings made of 

steel, the profile-boring samples were not analyzed for minor 

elements such as iron, manganese, and boron. Despite these 

considerations, the borehole profiles provide valuable data on 

the vertical distributions of chemical parameters in areas of the 

plume that have few permanent sampling locations.
8 Groundwater-Quality Data for a Treated-Wastewater Plume Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2006–08

Summary

During the period 2006–08, the U.S. Geological 

Survey and the Air Force Center for Engineering and the 

Environment collected groundwater samples from 394 

wells, 780 multilevel-sampler ports, and 306 profileboring depth intervals in and near the treated-wastewater 

plume that originates from rapid-infiltration disposal beds 

at the Massachusetts Military Reservation, Cape Cod, 

Massachusetts. The beds were used for about 60 years ending 

in December 1995. The natural restoration of the sand and 

gravel aquifer as uncontaminated groundwater flushes through 

the area of the treated-wastewater plume is being studied 

by the U.S. Geological Survey. This report provides data to 

support research on the natural restoration of the plume and 

transport of contaminants such as nitrate and ammonium in the 

sand and gravel aquifer. The groundwater samples described 

in this report were collected from points in and adjacent to 

the 5-mi-long plume. The chemical data presented include 

field water-quality parameters (specific conductance, pH, 

dissolved oxygen concentration, turbidity, temperature, and 

alkalinity); concentrations of selected anions and nutrients, 

including nitrate and ammonium, dissolved organic carbon, 

nitrous oxide, methylene blue active substances, and selected 

inorganic solutes, including cations, anions, and minor 

elements; and absorbance of ultraviolet/visible light. 

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study: Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, v. 1, no. 1, 

p. 143–161.

U.S. Geological Survey, 2011, Cape Cod Toxic-Substances 

Hydrology research site, Toxic Substances Hydrology 

Program, accessed February 9, 2012, at http://ma.water.

usgs.gov/MMRCape.

U.S. Geological Survey, variously dated, National field manual 

for the collection of water-quality data: U.S. Geological 

Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, book 

9, chaps. A1–A9.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1983, Methods for 

chemical analysis of water and wastes: U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency publication no. 600/4–79/020, 491 p.

Walter, D.A., Rea, B.A., Stollenwerk, K.G., and Savoie, 

Jennifer, 1996, Geochemical and hydrologic controls 

on phosphorus transport in a sewage-contaminated 

sand and gravel aquifer near Ashumet Pond, Cape Cod, 

Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 

2463, 89 p.
Tables 11

Tables 

Click on link to view tables

1. Location coordinates, land-surface and screen altitudes, well diameters, casing and screen materials, and waterlevel altitudes and measurement dates for monitoring wells, Ashumet Valley treated-wastewater plume, Cape Cod, 

Massachusetts [Click here]

2. Location coordinates, land-surface and screen altitudes, and estimated water-table altitudes for multilevel samplers, 

Ashumet Valley treated-wastewater plume, Cape Cod, Massachusetts [Click here]

3. Drilling method, location coordinates, altitudes of land surface and tops and bottoms of sampling intervals, and estimated 

altitudes of the water table for direct-push and sonic profile borings, Ashumet Valley treated-wastewater plume, Cape Cod, 

Massachusetts, 2006–08 [Click here]

4. Field water-quality analyses for groundwater samples collected from wells and multilevel samplers, Ashumet Valley 

treated-wastewater plume, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2007 [Click here]

5. Concentrations of selected anions, ammonium, and nitrous oxide in groundwater samples collected from wells and 

multilevel samplers, Ashumet Valley treated-wastewater plume, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2007 [Click here]

6. Ultraviolet/visible light absorbance and concentrations of dissolved organic carbon and methylene blue active substances 

in groundwater samples collected from wells and multilevel samplers, Ashumet Valley treated-wastewater plume, Cape 

Cod, Massachusetts, 2007 [Click here]

7. Concentrations of selected inorganic solutes, including cations, anions, and minor elements, in groundwater samples 

collected from wells and multilevel samplers, Ashumet Valley treated-wastewater plume, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2007 

[Click here]

8. Field water-quality analyses for groundwater samples collected from direct-push and sonic profile borings, Ashumet Valley 

treated-wastewater plume, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2006–08 [Click here]

9. Concentrations of selected anions and ammonium in groundwater samples collected from direct-push and sonic profile 

borings, Ashumet Valley treated-wastewater plume, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2006–08 [Click here]

10. Concentrations of selected inorganic solutes, including cations, anions, and minor elements, in groundwater samples 

collected from direct-push and sonic profile borings, Ashumet Valley treated-wastewater plume, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 

2006–08 [Click here]

 
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Prepared by the Pembroke Publishing Service Center.

For more information concerning this report, contact:

Director

U.S. Geological Survey

Massachusetts-Rhode Island Water Science Center

10 Bearfoot Road, 

Northborough, MA 01532

dc_ma@usgs.gov

or visit our Web site at

http://ma.water.usgs.gov
Savoie and others—Groundwater-Quality Data for a Treated-Wastewater Plume, Ashumet Valley, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2006–08—Data Series 648