A nitrate groundwater standard for the 1990 farm bill

Overuse of fertilizer and/or animal wastes has been cited as the reason for elevated nitrate concentrations in groundwater in agricultural areas. In coastal plain regions of the United States and in other areas where farming practices are conducted over aquifers in unconsolidated sediments, nitrate contamination may occur primarily as a result of climactic abnormalities even when the nutrients are used according to recommended practices. Water quality standards are often cited as a way to protect to protect groundwater quality. Research suggests that current best management practices are not capable of allowing producers in coastal plain regions to always comply with a nitrate standard for groundwater of 10mg/l of nitrate.