| Nitrate in groundwater. A widespread and persistent problem in California. The activities that contribute nitrate to groundwater – animal operations, crop fertilization, wastewater treatment discharge, septic systems – are essential to the economy of California. Fertilizer use has leveled off after decades of increase and nutrient management schemes are being implemented across the state. But the problem won’t go away and after decades of nitrate loading in shallow aquifers, we find ourselves still grappling with solutions as thirsty Californians more and more rely on groundwater for their supply. In 2002, GRA hosted a well-received and well-attended symposium on nitrate in groundwater. It is time for an update – and a continuing look at the problem and its solutions.
Join us April 4-5, 2006 in Modesto, California for GRA’s Symposium "Nitrate in California's Groundwater: Are We Making Progress?"
This Symposium is the 17th in GRA’s popular Contaminants in Groundwater Series. Specific Symposium sessions will cover a variety of topics, including:
Occurrence and Impact
- Historical trends in California groundwater nitrate contamination
- Observed and predicted impacts of nitrate contamination on deep aquifers; impacts of nitrate contamination on drinking water supply; linkages between groundwater nitrate and surface water quality
- Nitrate occurrence in private domestic wells in shallow aquifers; public health effects of nitrate in drinking water
- Impact of various land uses and impact of changes in land use (e.g., agricultural to urban) on nitrate source loading to aquifers
- Impact of artificial recharge (including aquifer storage and recovery) on nitrate mobilization and denitrification
- Studies at the intersection of nitrate and salinity
- Watershed-based monitoring programs and TMDLs
Nitrate Loading, Transport and Aquifer Vulnerability Studies
- Nitrate source attribution using isotope tracers or co-contaminants
- Characterization of nitrate source loading; reconciling soil-zone models with subsurface models
- Characterization of nitrogen fate, transport and cycling in the saturated and vadose zones
- Nitrate loading from agricultural production and landscape management; best management practices for minimizing impacts to groundwater
- Optimal monitoring schemes for assessing nitrate occurrence and for assessing best management practices
- Regional and long term risk assessment in deeper aquifers
- Assessing aquifer vulnerability to nitrate contamination
Regulation, Management, and Treatment Technology
- Implementation of waste discharge requirements and waivers for agricultural operations and irrigated lands; Source management under the current regulatory framework
- Managing nutrients from food processing and dairy operations to minimize impacts to groundwater; impact of management practice on nitrate source loading to aquifers
- Innovative treatment technologies for use on septic systems
- Advances in treatment technology and remediation of nitrate-impaired groundwater
- Successful agency partnerships and approaches to working on groundwater nitrate issues (e.g., Monterey County Water Resources Agency)
- Nitrate management plan case studies & industry initiatives (e.g. California Dairy Quality Assurance Program)
Experts from academia, regulatory agencies, consulting, industry, and the legal arena will participate in moderated speaker sessions, posters sessions, and a closing panel discussion. The combination of invited speakers and experts from key areas, along with talks chosen from submitted abstracts, will make this an important event for all professionals working with nitrate in groundwater issues.
Exhibitors and Sponsors
If you are interested in exhibiting your organization's services or products, or being an event sponsor, please contact Mary Megarry at mmegarry@nossaman.com or 916-446-3626. GRA welcomes co-sponsors, lunch, refreshment and reception sponsors.
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