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Using EPA's Computerized Data Base (STORET) to Analyze for Agricultural Water Pollution¹

ABSTRACT

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's computer data base (STORET) was employed to retrieve stream water quality data for a 9-year period on an agricultural watershed in Maryland, 40 km northwest of Washington, D.C. Most of the farms in the area are large dairy operations that have waste management and storage facilities. During the study period, farmers increased their use of no-till and minimum-tillage corn (Zea mays L.) practices by as much as 90%, and several operators also installed animal waste-control facilities.

Total PO₄, fecal coliform, and NO₃ + NO₂-N data from four sampling stations in the watershed were retrieved from STORET and statistically analyzed using linear regression to relate concentration and time. The regressions indicated that concentrations of total PO₄ and fecal coliform decreased with time. Total PO₄ data from all four sampling stations showed a significant inverse relationship between time and concentration (5% probability or less). Of the four fecal coliform regressions, the furthest-upstream sampling station was significant while the next one downstream approached significance (6% level). No statistical significance was evident in the NO₃ + NO_2-N regression equations at any of the four stations during the 9-year period.

Results indicated that the time and costs for this type of analysis were reduced substantially by using the computer-stored data base rather than direct sampling and laboratory analysis. A study similar to this one, but with in-house data collection and analysis, would cost approximately 10 times more than the study reported herein.

Key Words: agricultural runoff • nonpoint pollution • total phosphate • fecal coliform • nitrate- and nitrite-N • minimum tillage • no-till • animal waste control

¹ Contribution of the Div. of Environmental and Urban Systems, Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg, VA 24061. Financial support provided by the EPA Water Planning Div.; Dep. of Soil Science, Univ. of Minnesota; and Div. of Environmental and Urban Systems, Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ.

² Water Control Engineer, Bureau of Water Control Mgt., Virginia State Water Control Board, Richmond, VA 23230; former EPA intern and graduate student, Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ.

³ Soils Specialist, Dep. of Soil Science, Agric. Ext. Serv., Univ. of Minnesota, St. Paul. MN 55108; Former USDA Ext. Serv. Liaison attached to EPA.

⁴ Assistant Professor, Div. of Environmental and Urban Systems, Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ.

Received for publication August 1, 1981.