Hydrologic-Data Collection in the Five Boroughs of New York City

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By New York Water Science Center August 12, 2015

Problem

Previous hydrologic studies have indicated that there may be sufficient water resources underlying Queens, Kings, Richmond, New York, and Bronx Counties for use as a supplemental water supply in times of drought or other emergency. An extensive ground-water and surface-water monitoring program is necessary to provide a comprehensive hydrologic data set for use in ongoing and future ground-water investigations.

Objective

The project will provide a continuous hydrologic data set needed for resource assessment, planning, and protection. To meet this objective the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, maintains and operates a network of approximately 225 monitoring wells, 8 streamflow stations, and 10 lakes or ponds within the five boroughs of New York City. Ground- and surface-water levels are monitored at varying frequencies to accurately assess seasonal fluctuations and long-term trends in ground-water and surface-water storage. Water-quality data is collected to monitor nutrient and contaminant loading within the region to determine the condition of the water in the aquifer system and whether it can be used as a source of supplemental supply. All samples are analyzed by the USGS for a broad range of constituents, which include selected nutrients, major ions, trace metals, volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, and pesticides.

All data collected for the project are published in annual data reports and are available on the internet at http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/. The data, collected using standardized instruments procedures, contribute to a nationally consistent data set for assessment of the water quality of the Nation.

Related Publications

Monti, Jack Jr., and Busciolano, Ronald, 2009, Water-Table and Potentiometric-Surface Altitudes in the Upper Glacial, Magothy, and Lloyd Aquifers beneath Long Island, New York, March-April 2006: U.S. Geological Survey, Scientific Investigations Map 3066, 4 sheets

Busciolano, Ronald 2005 Statistical analysis of long-term hydrologic records for selection of drought-monitoring sites on Long Island, New York: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5152, 47 p., online only.

Busciolano, Ronald 2002 Water-table and potentiometric-surface altitudes of the Upper Glacial, Magothy, and Lloyd aquifers on Long Island, New York, in March-April 2000, with a summary of hydrogeologic conditions U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 01-4165,17 p., 6 sheets.

Cartwright, R.A. 2002 History and hydrologic effects of ground-water use in Kings, Queens, and western Nassau Counties, Long Island, New York, 1800's through 1997: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 01-4096. 79 p.

Buxton, H.T. and Shernoff, P.K. 1999 Ground-water resources of Kings and Queens Counties, Long Island, New York: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2498, 113 p., 7 pls.

Misut, P.E. and Monti, Jack, Jr. 1999 Simulation of ground-water flow and pumpage in Kings and Queens Counties, Long Island, New York: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 98-4071, 50 p.

Kontis, A.L. 1999 Simulation of freshwater-saltwater interfaces in the Brooklyn-Queens aquifer system, Long Island, New York: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 98-4067, 26 p.

Busciolano, Ronald, Monti, Jack, Jr., and Chu, Anthony 1998 Water-table and potentiometric-surface altitudes of the Upper Glacial, Magothy, and Lloyd aquifers on Long Island, New York, in March-April 1997, with a summary of hydrogeologic conditions U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 98-4019, 17 p., 3 pls. (6 sheets).

Cartwright, R.A., Chu, Anthony, Candela, J.L., Eagen, V.K., Monti, Jack, Jr., and Schubert, C.E. 1998 Ground-water quality in Kings, Queens, and western Nassau Counties, Long Island, New York, 1992-96, with geophysical logs from selected wells: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 98-298, 118 p.

Chu, Anthony, Monti, Jack, Jr., and Bellitto, A.J., Jr. 1997 Public-supply pumpage in Kings, Queens and Nassau Counties, New York 1880-1995: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 97-567, 61 p.

Monti, Jack, Jr. 1997 Number of water-level measurements made in Kings and Queens County wells, Long Island, New York, 1910-95, by decade: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 97-44, 15 p.

Monti, Jack, Jr. and Chu, Anthony 1997 Water-table altitude in Kings and Queens Counties, New York, in March 1997: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 134-97, 2 p.

Terracciano, S.A. 1997 Position of the freshwater/saltwater interface in southeastern Queens and southwestern Nassau Counties, Long Island, New York, 1987-88: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 96-456, 17 p.

Chu, Anthony 1996 Results of specific-capacity tests in Kings and Queens Counties, New York, 1919-82: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 96-575, 12 p.

Chu, Anthony and Stumm, Frederick 1995 Delineation of the saltwater-freshwater interface at selected locations in Kings and Queens Counties, Long Island, New York, through use of borehole geophysics techniques [abs.] in Association of Long Island Geologists, Second Conference on Geology of Long Island and Metropolitan New York, Programs with Abstracts, State University of New York at Stony Brook, April 22, 1995, p. 21-30.

Buxton, H.T. and Shernoff, P.K. 1995 Ground-water resources of Kings and Queens Counties, Long Island, New York: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 92-76, 111 p.

Doriski, T.P. 1987 Potentiometric-surface of the water-table, Magothy and Lloyd aquifers on Long Island, New York, in 1984: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 86-4189, 4 plates, scale 1:125,000.

Doriski, T.P. 1986 Potentiometric-surface altitude of major aquifers on Long Island, New York, in 1983: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 85-4321, 8 plates.

Donaldson, C.D. and Koszalka, E.J. 1983 Potentiometric surface of the Lloyd aquifer, Long Island, New York, in January 1979: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 82-162, 2 sheets, scale 1:250,000.

Donaldson, C.D. and Koszalka, E.J. 1983 Potentiometric surface of the Magothy aquifer, Long Island, New York in March 1979: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 82-160, 2 sheets.

Donaldson, C.D. and Koszalka, E.J. 1983 Water table on Long Island, New York, March 1979: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 82-163, 2 sheets.

Buxton, H.T., Soren, Julian, Posner, Alex, and Shernoff, P.K. 1981 Reconnaissance of the ground-water resources of Kings and Queens Counties, New York: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 81-1186, 59 p.

Soren, Julian 1978 Subsurface geology and paleogeography of Queens County, Long Island, New York: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations, Open-File Report 77-34, 17 p.

Nakao, J.H. and Erlichman, F.R. 1978 The http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/pp750Bwater table on Long Island, New York, in March 1975: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 78-569, 10 p.

Prince, K.R. 1976 The potentiometric surface of the Magothy aquifer on Long Island, New York, in March 1975: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 76-536, 12 p.

Soren, Julian 1976 Basement flooding and foundation damage from water-table rise in the East New York section of Brooklyn, Long Island, New York: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 76-95, 14 p.

Koszalka, E.J. 1975 The water table on Long Island, New York, in March 1974: Suffolk County Water Authority, Long Island Water Resources Bulletin LIWR-5, 7 p.

Rich, C.A., Prince, K.R., and Spinello, A.G. 1975 Potentiometric surface of the Lloyd aquifer on Long Island, New York, in January 1975: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report, 12 p.

Koszalka, E.J. and Koch, Ellis 1974 Water table on Long Island, New York, March 1971: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report, 1 map.

Cohen, Philip and Kimmel, G.E. 1971 Status of salt-water encroachment in 1969 in southern Nassau and southeastern Queens Counties, Long Island, New York: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 700-D, p. D281-D286.