Mercury species in potable ground water in southern New Jersey

Water samples from 78 private potable wells in southern New Jersey were collected for mercury analysis in 1991–1992. Analyses were performed for the quantification of reactive, volatile and methyl mercury species. Relationships of mercury with other water quality parameters were evaluated also. Total mercury concentrations varied from <1 ng L^?1 to over 36 Μg L^?1. The dominant forms in which mercury occurred in the wells sampled were Hg? and HgCl₂?, although methyl mercury was present in some wells and comprised up to 8% of the total mercury in the ground water samples.