The U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are collaborating on a study to better understand changes to groundwater quality beneath a densely developed coastal neighborhood as it undergoes conversion from onsite wastewater disposal to municipal sewering.
Land disposal of sewage wastewater through septic systems and cesspools is a major cause of elevated concentrations of nitrogen in the shallow coastal aquifers of southern New England. The discharge of nitrogen from these sources at the coast is affecting the environmental health of coastal saltwater bodies. In response, local, state, and federal agencies are considering expensive actions to mitigate these impacts, including the installation of municipal sewer systems. To inform these considerations, efforts are underway to increase the understanding of the fate and transport of nitrogen and other wastewater constituents in groundwater along the transport pathway from source areas to coastal surface waters.
The study objectives are to:
- Establish a monitoring network to assess groundwater levels and water quality beneath a densely developed coastal neighborhood undergoing a conversion from septic systems and cesspools to municipal sewers; and
- Develop an understanding of water-quality conditions before and after installation of the sewers.
The Little Pond Sewer Service Area project is intended to improve water quality in Little Pond, Falmouth, Massachusetts, by connecting about 1,400 properties surrounding the pond to an existing town sewer system. Connections to the new sewer system were made available starting in the spring of 2017.
In the spring of 2016, the USGS installed 18 monitoring wells and 14 multilevel samplers (MLSs) at 14 locations to monitor water levels and groundwater quality beneath the Maravista neighborhood, which is on a peninsula on the eastern side of the saltwater pond. Cores were collected during drilling to characterize the subsurface sediment. The wells were installed over an area containing about 225 homes along seven streets that cross the width of the peninsula.
Water-quality samples were collected from MLS sampling ports at all 14 sites and one background site during five sampling rounds in June 2016, April 2017, April 2018, June 2019, and September 2020. More frequent sampling at two MLSs (MA-FSW 760-M01 and MA-FSW 767-M01) was done during 16 sampling events to assess temporal trends in water quality. The water samples are analyzed for concentrations of nutrients (nitrate plus nitrite, ammonium, nitrite, and phosphorus), major ions, boron, and chloride. Parameters measured in the field include specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, pH, alkalinity, and temperature.
Sampling results to date (December 2020) are available in the project data release by McCobb and others (2019).
Links to the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) containing water-level and water-quality information by site are available by clicking on the site map. Geochemical profiles by site and date for specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, and nitrate plus nitrite are also available by clicking on the site map. These profiles will be updated as additional sampling results become available.
McCobb, T.D., LeBlanc, D.R., Barbaro, J.R., and Belaval, M., 2019, Baseline groundwater-quality data from a densely developed coastal neighborhood, Falmouth, Massachusetts (2016 - 2020) (ver. 3.0, April 2021): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9GEMMN6.
Below are geochemical profiles associated with this project.
Below are data associated with this project.
USGS Groundwater monitoring sites located in the Maravista neighborhood, Falmouth, Massachusetts - Web application
USGS installed 18 monitoring wells and 14 multilevel samplers (MLSs) at 14 locations to monitor water levels and groundwater quality beneath the Maravista neighborhood in Falmouth, Massachusetts.
Below are partners associated with this project.
- Overview
The U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are collaborating on a study to better understand changes to groundwater quality beneath a densely developed coastal neighborhood as it undergoes conversion from onsite wastewater disposal to municipal sewering.
Land disposal of sewage wastewater through septic systems and cesspools is a major cause of elevated concentrations of nitrogen in the shallow coastal aquifers of southern New England. The discharge of nitrogen from these sources at the coast is affecting the environmental health of coastal saltwater bodies. In response, local, state, and federal agencies are considering expensive actions to mitigate these impacts, including the installation of municipal sewer systems. To inform these considerations, efforts are underway to increase the understanding of the fate and transport of nitrogen and other wastewater constituents in groundwater along the transport pathway from source areas to coastal surface waters.
The study objectives are to:
- Establish a monitoring network to assess groundwater levels and water quality beneath a densely developed coastal neighborhood undergoing a conversion from septic systems and cesspools to municipal sewers; and
- Develop an understanding of water-quality conditions before and after installation of the sewers.
The Little Pond Sewer Service Area project is intended to improve water quality in Little Pond, Falmouth, Massachusetts, by connecting about 1,400 properties surrounding the pond to an existing town sewer system. Connections to the new sewer system were made available starting in the spring of 2017.
In the spring of 2016, the USGS installed 18 monitoring wells and 14 multilevel samplers (MLSs) at 14 locations to monitor water levels and groundwater quality beneath the Maravista neighborhood, which is on a peninsula on the eastern side of the saltwater pond. Cores were collected during drilling to characterize the subsurface sediment. The wells were installed over an area containing about 225 homes along seven streets that cross the width of the peninsula.
Water-quality samples were collected from MLS sampling ports at all 14 sites and one background site during five sampling rounds in June 2016, April 2017, April 2018, June 2019, and September 2020. More frequent sampling at two MLSs (MA-FSW 760-M01 and MA-FSW 767-M01) was done during 16 sampling events to assess temporal trends in water quality. The water samples are analyzed for concentrations of nutrients (nitrate plus nitrite, ammonium, nitrite, and phosphorus), major ions, boron, and chloride. Parameters measured in the field include specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, pH, alkalinity, and temperature.
Sampling results to date (December 2020) are available in the project data release by McCobb and others (2019).
Links to the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) containing water-level and water-quality information by site are available by clicking on the site map. Geochemical profiles by site and date for specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, and nitrate plus nitrite are also available by clicking on the site map. These profiles will be updated as additional sampling results become available.
McCobb, T.D., LeBlanc, D.R., Barbaro, J.R., and Belaval, M., 2019, Baseline groundwater-quality data from a densely developed coastal neighborhood, Falmouth, Massachusetts (2016 - 2020) (ver. 3.0, April 2021): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9GEMMN6.
- Multimedia
Below are geochemical profiles associated with this project.
No results found. - Web Tools
Below are data associated with this project.
USGS Groundwater monitoring sites located in the Maravista neighborhood, Falmouth, Massachusetts - Web application
USGS installed 18 monitoring wells and 14 multilevel samplers (MLSs) at 14 locations to monitor water levels and groundwater quality beneath the Maravista neighborhood in Falmouth, Massachusetts.
- Partners
Below are partners associated with this project.