Wells in Puerto Rico have experienced elevated nitrate concentrations in recent years. Our group, along with the help of the U.S. Geological Survey, conducted water sampling in eastern Puerto Rico to determine nitrate concentrations in ground and surface water. Sampling in El Yunque, the rain forest, was used to determine natural nitrate concentrations. Samples taken outside of the rain forest were compared to El Yunque to determine how different land usages change nitrate concentrations. We found that none of the areas sampled during our study contained nitrate concentrations over the Environmental Protection Agency's limit of 10 mg/L of nitrate as nitrogen in drinking water. We recommend further sampling.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Gamache, Charles William
• Jorczak, Kevin David
• Schienda, Alonna Marie

Subject

• Water
• Environment

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 01D074I

Keyword

• Water-supply--Environmental aspects
• Water-supply--Health aspects

Advisor

• Lew Yan Voon, Lok C.
• Vernon-Gerstenfeld, Susan

Year

• 2001

Center

• San Juan, Puerto Rico Project Center - IQP

Sponsor

• U.S. Geological Survey

Date created

• 2001-01-01

Location

• San Juan

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Rights statement

• In Copyright