Historical and contemporary rural land uses and land covers potentially associated with elevated nitrate levels in the Volga, South Dakota Wellhead Protection Area

Agricultural and other rural land use practices have adversely affected groundwater quality throughout the United States. The increased usage of nitrogen fertilizer has caused concern for their potential hazard to rural potable water supplies. Health problems such as methemoglobinemia are associated with nitrate contaminated water. The small community of Volga, South Dakota supports agricultural, commercial, and industrial activities, as well as a residential population. High nitrate levels were found in public supply wells, located within the City of Volga's Wellhead Protection Area (WHPA). This research identifies the current and historical potential nitrate contamination point sources within Volga's WHPA, and watershed from 1988 to 1998; identifies current and historical land use practices possibly related to non-point nitrate pollution sources within the rural portions of Volga's WHPA and watershed from 1988 to 1998; and compares historic water quality records to possible contaminant sources within the rural portions of Volga's WHPA and watershed.