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Results of a 1983-84 reconnaissance of 15 municipal wastewater treatment plants in Florida indicated that effluent from most of the plants contains trace concentrations of volatile organic compounds. Chloroform was detected in the effluent at 11 of the 15 plants and its common occurrence was likely the result of chlorination. The maximum concentration of chloroform detected in the effluent sampled was 120 micrograms per liter. Detectable concentrations of selected organophosphorus insecticides were also common. For example, diazinon was detected in the effluent at 12 of the 15 plants with a maximum concentration of 1.5 micrograms per liter. Organochlorine insecticides, primarily lindane, were detected in the effluent at 8 of the 15 plants with a maximum concentration of 1.0 micrograms per liter. Volatile compounds, primarily chloroform, were detected in water from monitor wells at four plants and organophosphorus insecticides, primarily diazinon, were present in the ground water at three treatment plants. Organochlorine insecticides were not detected in any samples from monitor wells. Based on the limited data available, this cursory reconnaissance suggests that the organic contaminants commonly occurring in the effluent of many of the treatment plants are not transported into the local ground water.

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An indexing and classification system for water and other earthscience data is defined for use in the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water Information System (NWIS), and other similar systems such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Water Quality Control Information System (STORET). All five-digit EPA parameter identification codes, which are used in both of these systems, have been classified into a three-level hierarchical system of categories called groupings. The first level in the hierarchy is called the Sample Medium level and includes 42 groupings that classify a parameter code according to the environmental matrix or phase from which the sample is collected. The second level in the hierarchy is called the General Physical/Chemical level and consists of 12 groupings that classify the codes according to whether they represent site characteristics, sample properties, major inorganic constituents, minor inorganic constituents, nutrients, radiochemicals, stable isotopes, industrial organic substances, agricultural organic substances, natural organic substances, biological taxa or biological properties. With minor exceptions, parameter codes assigned to a particular General Physical/ Chemical Grouping can also be assigned to any one of the Sample Medium Groupings. The third level in the hierarchy is called the Specific Physical/Chemical level and consists of 436 more specific physical and chemical groupings. A parameter code assigned to a particular Specific Physical/Chemical Grouping is assigned to an appropriate General Physical/ Chemical Grouping and Sample Medium Grouping, based on the information supplied in the parameter code description. Each parameter code has been assigned a three-part seven-digit integer indexing code that incorporates the three-level hierarchy.