COLIFORM BACTERIA AND NITRATE CONTAMINATION FOUND IN INDIVIDUAL ROTARY-DRILLED WELLS WITHIN VARIOUS FREDERICK COUNTY MARYLAND SOILS

Abstract

Coliform bacteria and nitrate contamination may affect water quality if well or sewer construction are inadequate. The following hypotheses were made: Coliform bacteria and nitrate contamination will vary with soil type, and nitrate contamination of wells will be more frequent than coliform contamination because attenuation of nitrates by the soil is negligible; Wells in unsewered areas will be more likely to be contaminated with coliform bacteria and nitrates than wells in sewered areas; A significant positive correlation between coliform bacteria and nitrate contamination in wells will exist only in unsewered areas. Negative significant correlations between well depth, well yield, casing length, lot size and coliform bacteria and nitrate contamination will exist only in unsewered areas; Deeper wells will have lower contaminant levels than shallower wells; Coliform bacteria and nitrate contamination will decrease when well casing is increased.