APPENDIX 



CAPE COD AQUIFER MANAGEMENT PROJECT (CCAMP) RECOMMENDATIONS 



PESTICIDES 

 January, 1988 



Pesticide contamination of groundwater resources remains largely un- 

 characterized on Cape Cod. While limited testing of some public and pri- 

 vate supply wells, as well as a study of groundwater quality beneath golf 

 courses, have not turned up significant concentrations of pesticides, a 

 data gap exists with respect to this potential source of groundwater quali- 

 ty degradation. Geologic and environmental conditions on Cape Cod indi- 

 cate the area is conducive to pesticide leaching. A relatively high rate 

 of recharge, combined with sandy soils, shallow depths to water table and 

 localized spots of elevated nitrate -nitrogen in groundwater put the penin- 

 sula in a category of vulnerability. Under this scenario, private wells 

 are at greatest risk from many sources of contamination, including pesti- 

 cides, because they are shallower than public supply wells and draw in 

 less water to provide for dilution. 



Fortunately, intensive agricultural practices with liberal pesticide 

 applications are not widespread on Cape Cod. A large number of other 

 commercial applications are prevalent however, including lawn care, small 

 scale agricultural operations and right-of-way maintenance. In order to 

 quantify the threat that pesticide application poses to groundwater quali- 

 ty on Cape Cod, a program of random sampling of private drinking water 

 wells, observation wells and/or monitoring wells is needed. Such a pro- 

 gram needs to be supplemented by activity on the state and federal levels 

 to evaluate and restrict those chemicals that could potentially cause 

 unreasonable adverse effects to man and/or the environment. 



INSTITUTIONAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS 



FEDERAL 



1. Develop MCLs for all pesticides found in groundwater or with likeli- 

 hood of leaching to groundwater. 



2. Develop analytic methods for pesticides which may be capable of leach- 

 ing to groundwater. 



3. Facilitate information flow to lower levels of government on environ- 

 mental fates and human health effects of pesticides. 



4. Develop information on synergistic health effects of multiple 

 pesticide residues in drinking water. 



5. Coordinate environmental fate studies at state and national level. 



