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Groundwater Quality and Groundwater Levels in Dougherty County, Georgia, April 2019 Through March 2020

Open-File Report 2020-1120
Prepared in cooperation with Albany Utilities
By:
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20201120

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Abstract

The Upper Floridan aquifer is the uppermost, reliable aquifer in southwest Georgia. The aquifer lies on top of the Claiborne, Clayton, and Cretaceous aquifers, all of which exhibited water level declines in the 1960s and 1970s. The U.S. Geological Survey has been working cooperatively with Albany Utilities to monitor groundwater quality and availability in these aquifers since 1977.

During January 2020, nine wells were sampled—six for anions, metals, and nitrate plus nitrite as nitrogen, and three for anions, metals, and pesticides. Nitrate plus nitrite as nitrogen concentrations ranged from 2.4 milligrams per liter (mg/L) to 10.4 mg/L, and no pesticides were detected. Nitrate plus nitrite as nitrogen concentrations in well 12L277, open to the Upper Floridan aquifer, have been above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Maximum Contaminant Level of 10 mg/L for nitrates in drinking water since 2014.

Flow direction in the Upper Floridan aquifer is to the south and toward the Flint River. Water levels varied during the past year above and below period of record median values. Water levels in the Upper Floridan aquifer were primarily above median levels. Water levels in the Claiborne aquifer were above median levels, whereas water levels in the Clayton and Cretaceous aquifers were below median levels.

Suggested Citation

Gordon, D.W., 2020, Groundwater quality and groundwater levels in Dougherty County, Georgia, April 2019 through March 2020: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2020–1120, 12 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20201120.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Groundwater Quality
  • Groundwater Levels
  • Summary
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Groundwater quality and groundwater levels in Dougherty County, Georgia, April 2019 through March 2020
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2020-1120
DOI 10.3133/ofr20201120
Year Published 2020
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) South Atlantic Water Science Center
Description vi, 12 p.
Country United States
State Georgia
County Dougherty County
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details