Contaminants in groundwater near former Navy bases in southeastern Pennsylvania
Latest Packer Test Report
Results of 2018–19 Water-Quality and Hydraulic Characterization of Aquifer Intervals Using Packer Tests and Preliminary Geophysical-Log Correlations for Selected Boreholes at and Near the Former Naval Air Warfare Center Warminster, PA
Latest Borehole Logging Report
Geophysical and video logs of selected wells at and near the former Naval Air Warfare Center Warminster
Exposed Sedimentary Rocks of Newark Basin
Flow and transport are in dipping sedimentary beds of alternating lithology and fractures within the sandstones, mudstones, and shales
Regional Flow Paths from Possible PFAS Sources
USGS used data on well withdrawals, recharge rates, aquifer properties, groundwater levels, and stream base flow to simulate flow paths, 1999-2017
Surface-Water Data in Study Area
Can be used with water quality data to evaluate the mass of contaminants transported by streams, and evaluate groundwater contributions
USGS has investigated groundwater flow and contaminant transport in the vicinity of former Navy bases in Bucks and Montgomery Counties, southeastern Pennsylvania, in cooperation with the U.S. Navy. Additional cooperative support for these investigations has been provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bucks and Montgomery counties, and local government agencies.
Highlights
- The latest report (see Publications) describes results of packer tests and other vertical profiling methods in 15 boreholes in fractured sedimentary bedrock in Northampton, Warminster, and Warwick Townships.
- Regional groundwater-flow paths from possible PFAS source locations at and near Willow Grove and Warminster bases terminate at streams and pumping wells with a few miles of the bases.
- Industrial chemical contaminants have migrated in fractured-rock aquifers in the vicinity of former Navy bases.
- Newark Basin aquifers of the Brunswick Group and the Lockatong and Stockton Formations have been used for industrial and drinking-water supply.
- Field testing characterized the highly heterogeneous and anisotropic strata showing the predominant role of bed-oriented fractures in contaminant migration.
- Measured water levels in wells were used to construct water-level maps, and aquifer testing revealed high-permeability hydraulic connections between wells.
Recent & Ongoing Studies
- USGS is conducting borehole geophysical and packer testing to help characterize the area hydrogeology and design groundwater monitoring systems.
- Groundwater-flow modeling was used to synthesize field-test results using a 3D hydrogeologic framework of dipping shale, mudstone, and sandstone strata.
- Modeling was used to show how changes in pumping over time have changed flow paths from possible contaminant source areas, providing scientific information for characterization, monitoring, and remediation activities.
- Areas contributing recharge to groundwater that then discharges to streams or water-supply wells were mapped using groundwater-flow modeling; as groundwater withdrawals in the area have decreased, a higher proportion of local recharge ultimately discharges to streams.
Streamflow Monitoring
USGS provides streamflow information in the study area that can be used in conjunction with water quality data to evaluate the mass of contaminants transported by streams and the relations between concentrations and flow conditions. Other applications may include evaluating groundwater/surface water interactions and transient effects of point discharges from wastewater treatment plants.
Data Access
- Stream gage data in the study area is Tabulated Here.
- Find these and other surface-water data using the National Water Information System (NWIS) Mapper.
For reports, datasets, and maps collated by location see
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Related data
Links to USGS surface water data in the study area is provided on the 'Overview' tab.
Or, find USGS data using NWIS mapper for Pennsylvania.
Geohydrology and ground-water quality of Warwick Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Results of borehole geophysical logging and hydraulic tests conducted in Area D supply wells, former U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center, Warminster, Pennsylvania
Geohydrology and distribution of volatile organic compounds in ground water in the Casey Village area, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Identification of water-bearing zones by the use of geophysical logs and borehole television surveys, collected February to September 1997, at the Former Naval Air Warfare Center, Warminster, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Southeastern Pennsylvania ground water protected area
Results of borehole geophysical logging and aquifer-isolation tests conducted in the John Wagner and Sons, Inc. former production well, Ivyland, Pennsylvania
Evaluation of geophysical logs, Phase I, at Willow Grove Naval Air Station, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Maps of difference between ground-water contributions to base flow for the various recurrence intervals and ground-water withdrawals in the Neshaminy Creek basin, Pennsylvania
Water-use analysis program for the Neshaminy Creek basin, Bucks and Montgomery counties, Pennsylvania
Geohydrology of the Stockton Formation and cross-contamination through open boreholes, Hatboro Borough and Warminster Township, Pennsylvania
Geohydrology and vertical distribution of volatile organic compounds in ground water, Fischer and Porter Company Superfund Site, Warminster, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Below are news stories associated with this project.
Below are partners associated with this project.
USGS has investigated groundwater flow and contaminant transport in the vicinity of former Navy bases in Bucks and Montgomery Counties, southeastern Pennsylvania, in cooperation with the U.S. Navy. Additional cooperative support for these investigations has been provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bucks and Montgomery counties, and local government agencies.
Highlights
- The latest report (see Publications) describes results of packer tests and other vertical profiling methods in 15 boreholes in fractured sedimentary bedrock in Northampton, Warminster, and Warwick Townships.
- Regional groundwater-flow paths from possible PFAS source locations at and near Willow Grove and Warminster bases terminate at streams and pumping wells with a few miles of the bases.
- Industrial chemical contaminants have migrated in fractured-rock aquifers in the vicinity of former Navy bases.
- Newark Basin aquifers of the Brunswick Group and the Lockatong and Stockton Formations have been used for industrial and drinking-water supply.
- Field testing characterized the highly heterogeneous and anisotropic strata showing the predominant role of bed-oriented fractures in contaminant migration.
- Measured water levels in wells were used to construct water-level maps, and aquifer testing revealed high-permeability hydraulic connections between wells.
Recent & Ongoing Studies
- USGS is conducting borehole geophysical and packer testing to help characterize the area hydrogeology and design groundwater monitoring systems.
- Groundwater-flow modeling was used to synthesize field-test results using a 3D hydrogeologic framework of dipping shale, mudstone, and sandstone strata.
- Modeling was used to show how changes in pumping over time have changed flow paths from possible contaminant source areas, providing scientific information for characterization, monitoring, and remediation activities.
- Areas contributing recharge to groundwater that then discharges to streams or water-supply wells were mapped using groundwater-flow modeling; as groundwater withdrawals in the area have decreased, a higher proportion of local recharge ultimately discharges to streams.
Streamflow Monitoring
USGS provides streamflow information in the study area that can be used in conjunction with water quality data to evaluate the mass of contaminants transported by streams and the relations between concentrations and flow conditions. Other applications may include evaluating groundwater/surface water interactions and transient effects of point discharges from wastewater treatment plants.
Data Access
- Stream gage data in the study area is Tabulated Here.
- Find these and other surface-water data using the National Water Information System (NWIS) Mapper.
For reports, datasets, and maps collated by location see
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Related data
Links to USGS surface water data in the study area is provided on the 'Overview' tab.
Or, find USGS data using NWIS mapper for Pennsylvania.
Geohydrology and ground-water quality of Warwick Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Results of borehole geophysical logging and hydraulic tests conducted in Area D supply wells, former U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center, Warminster, Pennsylvania
Geohydrology and distribution of volatile organic compounds in ground water in the Casey Village area, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Identification of water-bearing zones by the use of geophysical logs and borehole television surveys, collected February to September 1997, at the Former Naval Air Warfare Center, Warminster, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Southeastern Pennsylvania ground water protected area
Results of borehole geophysical logging and aquifer-isolation tests conducted in the John Wagner and Sons, Inc. former production well, Ivyland, Pennsylvania
Evaluation of geophysical logs, Phase I, at Willow Grove Naval Air Station, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Maps of difference between ground-water contributions to base flow for the various recurrence intervals and ground-water withdrawals in the Neshaminy Creek basin, Pennsylvania
Water-use analysis program for the Neshaminy Creek basin, Bucks and Montgomery counties, Pennsylvania
Geohydrology of the Stockton Formation and cross-contamination through open boreholes, Hatboro Borough and Warminster Township, Pennsylvania
Geohydrology and vertical distribution of volatile organic compounds in ground water, Fischer and Porter Company Superfund Site, Warminster, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Below are news stories associated with this project.
Below are partners associated with this project.