OPEN FILE REPORT NO. 85


toxic. Industrialization and increased demand for products containing trace metals has
overwhelmed the natural biogeochemical cycle, and anthropogenic sources for trace metals
now far outweigh natural sources (Smith, 1992).

 In Florida, lead is one of the most important metal contaminants found in groundwater.
This contaminant, along with other metals, is primarily distributed in the atmosphere,
water, soil and sediments. Atmospheric pollutants are often the primary source of water-
borne metals. These pollutants are introduced into the atmosphere by mining operations,
smelting, manufacturing activities and the combustion of fossil fuels (Smith, 1992).

 Contamination of groundwater by lead is caused primarily by combustion of fossil fuels
containing lead additives. Lead additives were phased out of fuels in the U.S. and Canada
by 1990, but other sources of contamination including mining, smelting and refining of lead
and other metals still persist. Lead bioaccumulates in aquatic organisms affecting the high-
er trophic levels the most. In humans, lead causes severe health problems including meta-
bolic disorders, neurological and reproductive damage and hypertension. In Florida, the
Primary Standard for lead in drinking water is 15 mg/L.

 When trace metals are released into the environment, they present major problems
because they are not biodegradable. These pollutants tend to stay in the environment and
accumulate in foodwebs and ecosystems. In higher concentrations, other trace metals, like
arsenic and cadmium, can have adverse effects on aquatic and terrestrial environments.
There are Primary Standards for other trace metals found in groundwater in Florida
(Florida DEP Ground Water Guidance Concentrations, 1994).

Biological Analytes

 Spring water samples were analyzed for total coliform, fecal coliform, Escherichia coli
(E. coli), and Enterococci. These analytes are used to assess the sanitary quality of spring
water and to determine the potential for waterborne diseases (bacterial and viral). The pri-
mary source of these contaminants is fecal waste from warm-blooded animals. When
detected in numbers that exceed the maximum contaminant level (MCL), coliforms may
indicate that the spring has been contaminated by domestic sewage overflow or non-point
sources of human and animal waste. Measurements made on these biological analytes are
reported in colonies per 100 milliliters.

 Total coliform bacteria are a group of closely related, mostly harmless bacteria that live
in the digestive tract of animals. The extent to which total coliforms are present in spring
water can indicate general water quality and the amount of fecal contamination. By further
examining fecal coliforms, E. coli and Enterococci, it is possible to estimate the amount of
human fecal contamination of the sample. Human contact with water that is contaminated
with fecal wastes can result in diseases of the digestive tract including gastroenteritis and
dysentery. Typhoid fever, hepatitis A, and cholera are also related to contact with fecally
contaminated water.

 Currently, there are criteria for bacteriological quality in Florida's ground water.
Groundwater in the state has a limit on total coliform bacteria of 4 colonies per 100 milli-
liters. E. coli and Enterococci do not currently have water quality standards in Florida.