studies include the development of statewide groundwater DRASTIC vulnerability assessment model for Nebraska and Oklahoma . Conversely, such large-scale regional groundwater vulnerability studies are common in other countries around the world. There is currently no statewide groundwater vulnerability study for the state of Maryland. Most existing vulnerability studies focused on the pesticide pollution or groundwater quality studies in specific regions of the state . Groundwater pollution remains a major public concern in the state of Maryland. For example, Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) leakages have resulted in groundwater pollution in many parts of the state, resulting in several class action lawsuits . As of April 30, 2009, there are 8,580 underground storage tanks (UST) and 11,109 confirmed releases in the state. Another source of groundwater pollution in the state includes non-point source pollutions such as pesticide leachates due to the wide use of pesticide in many part of the state . A United States Geological Survey (USGS) report identified 27 different pesticides and pesticide byproducts in Maryland’s western and central regions groundwater system. Other potential sources of groundwater pollution include spillage at the ground surface, and waste disposal sites. One of the assumptions of the DRASTIC methodology is that contaminations occur at the ground surface. However, most of the potential groundwater pollution sources in the state of Maryland do not occur at the ground surface. This suggests that the DRASTIC map generated in this study cannot be singularly used to determine the suitability of a site for waste disposal or USTs. In these cases, other factors such as design criteria will play a major role in the decision-makings. We believe a statewide groundwater vulnerability map can serve as a screening tool to determine areas where
studies include the development of statewide groundwater DRASTIC vulnerability assessment model for Nebraska and Oklahoma . Conversely, such large-scale regional groundwater vulnerability studies are common in other countries around the world. There is currently no statewide groundwater vulnerability study for the state of Maryland. Most existing vulnerability studies focused on the pesticide pollution or groundwater quality studies in specific regions of the state . Groundwater pollution remains a major public concern in the state of Maryland. For example, Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) leakages have resulted in groundwater pollution in many parts of the state, resulting in several class action lawsuits . As of April 30, 2009, there are 8,580 underground storage tanks (UST) and 11,109 confirmed releases in the state. Another source of groundwater pollution in the state includes non-point source pollutions such as pesticide leachates due to the wide use of pesticide in many part of the state . A United States Geological Survey (USGS) report identified 27 different pesticides and pesticide byproducts in Maryland’s western and central regions groundwater system. Other potential sources of groundwater pollution include spillage at the ground surface, and waste disposal sites. One of the assumptions of the DRASTIC methodology is that contaminations occur at the ground surface. However, most of the potential groundwater pollution sources in the state of Maryland do not occur at the ground surface. This suggests that the DRASTIC map generated in this study cannot be singularly used to determine the suitability of a site for waste disposal or USTs. In these cases, other factors such as design criteria will play a major role in the decision-makings. We believe a statewide groundwater vulnerability map can serve as a screening tool to determine areas where
Ogidan_20100706.docx