Water Quality Assessment Report - Florida Department of ...

• Federal Superfund Sites: One Superfund site in the basin, Stauffer
Chemical in Tarpon Springs, is on the National Priority List.
• State Waste Cleanup Program Sites: There are two state Waste
Cleanup Program sites in the basin: Alaric, Inc. and APF Industries.
• Petroleum Contamination Monitoring Sites: The basin contains
more than 1,600 known petroleum contamination monitoring sites.
These sites are undergoing ground water monitoring, and some
are undergoing cleanup. Public or private drinking water supplies
affected by petroleum contamination are protected in one of several
ways: (1) the affected well is decommissioned and water is provided
from an alternative source, (2) treatment is provided at the water
plant, or (3) for affected residential wells, activated carbon fi lters
are installed to remove the contamination and meet drinking water
standards.
• State Dry Cleaning Program Sites: About 77 dry cleaning program
sites have been identifi ed in the basin. Affected water supplies
are being addressed as described for petroleum facilities.
• Brownfi eld Sites: Two brownfi eld sites have been identifi ed: the
Clearwater Area and the Young Rainey Star Center Area.
• Delineated Areas of Ground Water Contamination: Eight areas
of ground water contamination have been identifi ed by the Department’s
Delineation Program (regulated under Rule 62-524, F.A.C.,
New Potable Water Well Permitting in Delineated Areas). The
contaminant of concern is ethylene dibromide, an agrichemical and
petroleum fuel additive that is now banned from use.
Sources of Nutrients Threatening Ground Water Quality and Springs
A major concern in the Springs Coast Basin is the increased nitrate
loadings observed in the major springs groups. While the dominant source
of nitrate found in the springs is inorganic in nature (i.e., originating from
the residential and commercial use of fertilizers), organic sources may still
contribute signifi cant quantities in other areas, or on a local scale. The
agricultural application of fertilizers is also a potential source of inorganic
nitrogen in the basin. Sources of organic nitrogen include sewage effl uent
disposal, the land disposal of sewage sludge or treated wastewater, effl uent
from septic tanks, agricultural activities (poultry, dairy, and cattle), and
the application of potentially nutrient rich (with nitrogen and phosphorus)
reclaimed water as irrigation.
Nutrient concentrations in the Floridan aquifer system in the basin are
typically very low. Nitrate is easily leached into ground water, where it disperses
through the aquifer system. Natural inputs of nitrogen (e.g., organic
decay) have always supplied very low levels of nitrate to the aquifer. However,
anthropogenic sources (e.g., fertilizers and septic tanks) are increasing
the input of nitrates into the system.
As expected, nitrate concentrations are low in most areas of the basin;
in southwestern Hernando County, however, the leaching of nitrogen has
increased nitrate concentrations in the aquifer. Recent water quality studies
Water Quality Assessment Report: Springs Coast
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