Groundwater Capabilities at MD-DE-DC
Realtime Groundwater Data
Get realtime data across Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C.
MD-DE-DC Water Science Center Capabilities Sites
There's a lot of capable talent in here!
Our region's water supply comes from streams and rivers, groundwater, and reservoirs. Areas not served by public-water supply rely on groundwater withdrawn from fractured rock aquifers in western Maryland, or surficial (water table) and confined aquifers within the Atlantic Coastal Plain Aquifer System in Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C. The MD-DE-DC WSC collects data from about 400 groundwater wells throughout the region.
A Graphical and Mapping Interface for Analysis of Hydrologic Data
The Groundwater Toolbox is a graphical and mapping interface for analysis of hydrologic data. The software is customized interface built on the non-proprietary, open-source MapWindow geographic information system software, running on the Windows OS.
Hydrologic study at Farm Creek Marsh, MD from April 2015 to April 2016
In 2015, the USGS began a year-long hydrologic study to investigate the extent and cause of water inundation. The combination of water-quality, hydrologic, and soils data indicate that inundation is caused by tide and storm events, not GW discharge.
Hydrogeology and Shallow GW Quality in the Tidal Anacostia Watershed
Groundwater hydrology and geochemistry within the tidal Anacostia River watershed are related to natural and human influences. The flow and interaction of shallow groundwater are affected by human activities in this highly urbanized watershed.
Our groundwater program specializes in using hydrologic, geologic, chemical, water-use, and other data to understand and address groundwater quality and quantity issues, including the following:
- Explaining contaminant fate and transport in groundwater in the complex geologic settings of fractured rock or unconsolidated sediments.
- Describing groundwater impacted by human activities, whether it be organic and inorganic contaminants at hazardous waste sites, or a broad range of contaminants such as urban, agricultural, and sewage disposal sources.
- Using models to identify optimal (simulated) withdrawal patterns from aquifer systems based on hydrologic, geologic, or economic criteria.
- Providing enhanced groundwater use databases to help manage the resource for sustainable and ecologically sound supplies.
Investigative capabilities include groundwater model development and maintenance, down-hole and surface geophysics, groundwater sampling, advanced geochemical, microbial, and hydrologic data-collection techniques, groundwater age determination, statistical and spatial analysis, database design and maintenance, as well as interpretive reporting and communication of results to water resource managers and our cooperators.
Our data on the groundwater resources of the region are available at the USGS Waterdata for the Nation dashboard.
Science capabilities include groundwater model development and maintenance, down-hole and surface geophysics, advanced geochemical, microbial, and hydrologic data-collection techniques, statistical and spatial analysis, database design and maintenance, and interpretive reporting and communication of results to cooperators, the general public, and federal, state, and local water managers.
Groundwater Wells
Artificial Groundwater Recharge
Enhanced hydrologic and geomorphic monitoring in Ten Mile Creek, Montgomery County, Maryland
Geomorphic Responses to Stream Channel Restoration at Minebank Run, Baltimore County, Maryland
Our region's water supply comes from streams and rivers, groundwater, and reservoirs. Areas not served by public-water supply rely on groundwater withdrawn from fractured rock aquifers in western Maryland, or surficial (water table) and confined aquifers within the Atlantic Coastal Plain Aquifer System in Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C. The MD-DE-DC WSC collects data from about 400 groundwater wells throughout the region.
A Graphical and Mapping Interface for Analysis of Hydrologic Data
The Groundwater Toolbox is a graphical and mapping interface for analysis of hydrologic data. The software is customized interface built on the non-proprietary, open-source MapWindow geographic information system software, running on the Windows OS.
Hydrologic study at Farm Creek Marsh, MD from April 2015 to April 2016
In 2015, the USGS began a year-long hydrologic study to investigate the extent and cause of water inundation. The combination of water-quality, hydrologic, and soils data indicate that inundation is caused by tide and storm events, not GW discharge.
Hydrogeology and Shallow GW Quality in the Tidal Anacostia Watershed
Groundwater hydrology and geochemistry within the tidal Anacostia River watershed are related to natural and human influences. The flow and interaction of shallow groundwater are affected by human activities in this highly urbanized watershed.
Our groundwater program specializes in using hydrologic, geologic, chemical, water-use, and other data to understand and address groundwater quality and quantity issues, including the following:
- Explaining contaminant fate and transport in groundwater in the complex geologic settings of fractured rock or unconsolidated sediments.
- Describing groundwater impacted by human activities, whether it be organic and inorganic contaminants at hazardous waste sites, or a broad range of contaminants such as urban, agricultural, and sewage disposal sources.
- Using models to identify optimal (simulated) withdrawal patterns from aquifer systems based on hydrologic, geologic, or economic criteria.
- Providing enhanced groundwater use databases to help manage the resource for sustainable and ecologically sound supplies.
Investigative capabilities include groundwater model development and maintenance, down-hole and surface geophysics, groundwater sampling, advanced geochemical, microbial, and hydrologic data-collection techniques, groundwater age determination, statistical and spatial analysis, database design and maintenance, as well as interpretive reporting and communication of results to water resource managers and our cooperators.
Our data on the groundwater resources of the region are available at the USGS Waterdata for the Nation dashboard.
Science capabilities include groundwater model development and maintenance, down-hole and surface geophysics, advanced geochemical, microbial, and hydrologic data-collection techniques, statistical and spatial analysis, database design and maintenance, and interpretive reporting and communication of results to cooperators, the general public, and federal, state, and local water managers.
Groundwater Wells
Artificial Groundwater Recharge
Enhanced hydrologic and geomorphic monitoring in Ten Mile Creek, Montgomery County, Maryland