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By MARY K. BLEWITT
Arundel Newspapers State Writer
RICHMOND — Since the recent Alar apple scare, Virginians' awareness of agricultural pesticide use has been heightened.
Many consumers are making a more conscious effort to rinse their' fruits and Vegetables before eating them. Others are going even further by seeking out organically grown crops.
However, a subject that seems to have received less attention is the contamination of ground water by pesticides used in agriculture. Researchers are continuing to study the possibility that the use of agricultural pesticides might pose a threat to human health.
"We think it's an emerging problem," said Allen Hammer, director of the State Division of Water Supply Engineering. More than 40 percent of Virginia's 5.4 million residents rely on ground water for their drinking water, according to Diana Weigmann, assistant director of research and administration at the Virginia Water Resources Research Center (VWRRC).
Some 04 of the state’s 95 counties rely on ground water to supply 50 percent or more of their drinking water. Residents of 47 counties and live independent cities rely completely on ground water for their water supply, said Weigrnann.
Ground water, the water below-the earth’s surface that supplies wells, is usually untreated.
"Most people believe they should be able to use ground water without any treatment," said Hammer. In recent years, though, there has been growing concern and evidence that ground water is not as pure as it was once thought to be.
The presence ol pesticides
52.0%