Utility of Screening in Environmental Monitoring, Part 1: Occurrence and Distribution of VOCs in Groundwater

Screening procedures can improve the cost-effectiveness of monitoring programs to detect contaminants in water. Data sets on groundwater quality developed at Iowa State Univ. were used to demonstrate the utility of selected screening methods. Three VOC data sets are described from which general trends can be identified. The data sets are: U.S. Groundwater Supply Survey (EPA), Iowa Drinking Water Supply Survey, and U.S. Hazardous Waste Site Survey (EPA). Occurrence and distribution patterns of a few VOCs, as elucidated from the data sets, are reviewed to illustrate their use in designing groundwater quality monitoring programs. The use of rapid screening methods to identify and isolate contamination problems is discussed.