Is atrazine a problem in the Study Unit?
As stated in the report, atrazine is the most heavily applied pesticide to agricultural lands in the Study Unit and was one of the pesticides most commonly detected in streams and ground water. However, the detection level of atrazine used in this study (typically 0.001 microgram per liter (g/L) or about 0.001 part per billion) was much lower than the USEPA drinking-water standard of 3 g/L for atrazine. With the exception of the storm-runoff study in the Stillwater River Basin, few samples had atrazine concentrations that exceeded this drinking-water standard. In addition, the Harsha Lake study demonstrated that public water suppliers can effectively remove most atrazine from their water source. Individuals should contact their local water suppliers regarding information on atrazine levels in their tap water. Individuals using a domestic water supply should contact their county health departments regarding information on how to get their water tested.
