As part of water-quality data collection activities in New England, water samples are analyzed for chloride in monitoring networks and projects across Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Chloride is of interest because high concentrations may affect aquatic life in streams or affect water quality of reservoirs and aquifers used for drinking water.
Chloride concentrations in streams in forested areas in New England tend to be low, as there are limited geological sources of chloride. However, in recent years U.S. Geological Survey studies have documented increasing chloride concentrations and loads in streams in New England (Savoie and others, 2017; Mullaney, 2016). The increases in chloride concentrations and loads can be attributed to the following sources: deicing salts applied to public roads and private property, and discharges from wastewater treatment facilities and on-site septic systems. Less important sources include atmospheric deposition, the use of salts for water softening, and potassium chloride in agricultural fertilizers (Mullaney and others, 2009). Salt for deicing is the largest end use of salt in the United States (Bolen, 2021).
Recent and historical data for active water-quality monitoring stations on streams in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island can be viewed at https://newengland.water.usgs.gov/web_app/chloride/Clmap.html.
References
Bolen, W.P., 2021, 2017 minerals yearbook—Salt [Advance Release]: U.S. Geological Survey, accessed on June 24, 2022 at https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/atoms/files/myb1-2017-salt.pdf
Mullaney, J.R., 2016, Nutrient, organic carbon, and chloride concentrations and loads in selected Long Island Sound tributaries—Four decades of change following the passage of the Federal Clean Water Act: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2015–5189, 47 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20155189.
Mullaney, J.R., Lorenz, D.L., Arntson, A.D., 2009, Chloride in groundwater and surface water in areas underlain by the glacial aquifer system, northern United States: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5086, 41 p., https://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2009/5086.
Savoie, J.G., Mullaney, J.R., and Bent, G.C., 2017, Analysis of trends of water quality and streamflow in the Blackstone, Branch, Pawtuxet, and Pawcatuck Rivers, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, 1979 to 2015: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2016–5178, 43 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20165178.
Water Quality Monitoring in the Scituate Reservoir Drainage Area, Rhode Island
Corrosivity
Surface Water Quality Monitoring in Rhode Island
Surface Water Quality Monitoring in Connecticut
Groundwater chloride concentrations in domestic wells and proximity to roadways in Vermont, 2011–2018
Landscape drivers of dynamic change in water quality of US rivers
Streamflow, water quality, and constituent loads and yields, Scituate Reservoir Drainage Area, Rhode Island, Water Year 2017
Streamflow, water quality, and constituent loads and yields, Scituate Reservoir Drainage Area, Rhode Island, Water Year 2016
Streamflow, water quality, and constituent loads and yields, Scituate Reservoir Drainage Area, Rhode Island, water year 2015
Quality of water from crystalline rock aquifers in New England, New Jersey, and New York, 1995-2007
Loads and yields of deicing compounds and total phosphorus in the Cambridge drinking-water source area, Massachusetts, water years 2009–15
Analysis of trends of water quality and streamflow in the Blackstone, Branch, Pawtuxet, and Pawcatuck Rivers, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, 1979 to 2015
Concentration, flux, and trend estimates with uncertainty for nutrients, chloride, and total suspended solids in tributaries of Lake Champlain, 1990–2014
Nutrient, organic carbon, and chloride concentrations and loads in selected Long Island Sound tributaries—Four decades of change following the passage of the Federal Clean Water Act
Methods for evaluating potential sources of chloride in surface waters and groundwaters of the conterminous United States
Chloride concentrations, loads, and yields in four watersheds along Interstate 95, southeastern Connecticut, 2008-11: factors that affect peak chloride concentrations during winter storms
Chloride Data for Streams in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island
View recent and historical chloride and specific conductance data for active water-quality monitoring stations on streams in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
- Overview
As part of water-quality data collection activities in New England, water samples are analyzed for chloride in monitoring networks and projects across Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Chloride is of interest because high concentrations may affect aquatic life in streams or affect water quality of reservoirs and aquifers used for drinking water.
Winter water-quality sample collection at USGS gage 01188000, Bunnell Brook near Burlington, Connecticut. Chloride concentrations in streams in forested areas in New England tend to be low, as there are limited geological sources of chloride. However, in recent years U.S. Geological Survey studies have documented increasing chloride concentrations and loads in streams in New England (Savoie and others, 2017; Mullaney, 2016). The increases in chloride concentrations and loads can be attributed to the following sources: deicing salts applied to public roads and private property, and discharges from wastewater treatment facilities and on-site septic systems. Less important sources include atmospheric deposition, the use of salts for water softening, and potassium chloride in agricultural fertilizers (Mullaney and others, 2009). Salt for deicing is the largest end use of salt in the United States (Bolen, 2021).
Recent and historical data for active water-quality monitoring stations on streams in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island can be viewed at https://newengland.water.usgs.gov/web_app/chloride/Clmap.html.
References
Bolen, W.P., 2021, 2017 minerals yearbook—Salt [Advance Release]: U.S. Geological Survey, accessed on June 24, 2022 at https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/atoms/files/myb1-2017-salt.pdf
Mullaney, J.R., 2016, Nutrient, organic carbon, and chloride concentrations and loads in selected Long Island Sound tributaries—Four decades of change following the passage of the Federal Clean Water Act: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2015–5189, 47 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20155189.
Mullaney, J.R., Lorenz, D.L., Arntson, A.D., 2009, Chloride in groundwater and surface water in areas underlain by the glacial aquifer system, northern United States: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5086, 41 p., https://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2009/5086.
Savoie, J.G., Mullaney, J.R., and Bent, G.C., 2017, Analysis of trends of water quality and streamflow in the Blackstone, Branch, Pawtuxet, and Pawcatuck Rivers, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, 1979 to 2015: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2016–5178, 43 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20165178.
- Science
Water Quality Monitoring in the Scituate Reservoir Drainage Area, Rhode Island
The Scituate Reservoir system is the largest inland body of water in Rhode Island and the principal drinking-water supply for more than 60 percent of the State’s population. The system includes the Scituate Reservoir and five tributary reservoirs with a maximum storage capacity of 37 billion gallons. The drainage basin that contributes water to the reservoir extends across 93 square miles in...Corrosivity
Corrosivity describes how aggressive water is at corroding pipes and fixtures. Corrosive water can cause lead and copper in pipes to leach into drinking water and can eventually cause leaks in plumbing. Surface water and groundwater, both sources of drinking water, can potentially be corrosive.Surface Water Quality Monitoring in Rhode Island
Since 1979, the USGS has monitored water quality in the major river basins of Rhode Island contributing to Narragansett Bay.Surface Water Quality Monitoring in Connecticut
The 2,983 miles of streams in Connecticut support a range of uses, including drinking water, recreation, and fish and shellfish habitat. The State is required by the Clean Water Act to assess the health of these waters every two years. - Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 21
Groundwater chloride concentrations in domestic wells and proximity to roadways in Vermont, 2011–2018
The Vermont Department of Health and the U.S. Geological Survey analyzed the concentrations of chloride in groundwater samples collected from 4,319 domestic wells across Vermont between 2011 and 2018. Ninety of these wells were sampled twice and the remaining 4,229 were sampled once. This sample size represents approximately 4 percent of all wells in the State of Vermont. More than half of the welAuthorsJoseph P. Levitt, Sille L. LarsenLandscape drivers of dynamic change in water quality of US rivers
Water security is a top concern for social well-being and dramatic changes in the availability of freshwater have occurred as a result of human uses and landscape management. Elevated nutrient loading and perturbations to major ion composition have resulted from human activities and have degraded freshwater resources. This study addresses the emerging nature of stream water quality in the 21st ceAuthorsEdward G. Stets, Lori A. Sprague, Gretchen P. Oelsner, Henry M. Johnson, Jennifer C. Murphy, Karen R. Ryberg, Aldo V. Vecchia, Robert E. Zuellig, James A. Falcone, Melissa L. RiskinStreamflow, water quality, and constituent loads and yields, Scituate Reservoir Drainage Area, Rhode Island, Water Year 2017
As part of a long-term cooperative program to monitor water quality within the Scituate Reservoir drainage area, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Providence Water Supply Board, collected streamflow and water-quality data at the Scituate Reservoir and tributaries. Streamflow and concentrations of chloride and sodium estimated from records of specific conductance were used to calcAuthorsKirk P. SmithStreamflow, water quality, and constituent loads and yields, Scituate Reservoir Drainage Area, Rhode Island, Water Year 2016
As part of a long-term cooperative program to monitor water quality within the Scituate Reservoir watershed, the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Providence Water Supply Board collected streamflow and water-quality data at the Scituate Reservoir and tributaries. Streamflow and concentrations of chloride and sodium estimated from records of specific conductance were used to calculateAuthorsKirk P. SmithStreamflow, water quality, and constituent loads and yields, Scituate Reservoir Drainage Area, Rhode Island, water year 2015
Streamflow and concentrations of sodium and chloride estimated from records of specific conductance were used to calculate loads of sodium and chloride during water year (WY) 2015 (October 1, 2014, through September 30, 2015) for tributaries to the Scituate Reservoir, Rhode Island. Streamflow and water-quality data used in the study were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Providence WAuthorsKirk P. SmithQuality of water from crystalline rock aquifers in New England, New Jersey, and New York, 1995-2007
Crystalline bedrock aquifers in New England and parts of New Jersey and New York (NECR aquifers) are a major source of drinking water. Because the quality of water in these aquifers is highly variable, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) statistically analyzed chemical data on samples of untreated groundwater collected from 117 domestic bedrock wells in New England, New York, and New Jersey, and froAuthorsSarah M. Flanagan, Joseph D. Ayotte, Gilpin R. RobinsonLoads and yields of deicing compounds and total phosphorus in the Cambridge drinking-water source area, Massachusetts, water years 2009–15
The source water area for the drinking-water supply of the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts, encompasses major transportation corridors, as well as large areas of light industrial, commercial, and residential land use. Because of the large amount of roadway in the drinking-water source area, the Cambridge water supply is affected by the usage of deicing compounds and by other constituents that areAuthorsKirk P. SmithAnalysis of trends of water quality and streamflow in the Blackstone, Branch, Pawtuxet, and Pawcatuck Rivers, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, 1979 to 2015
Trends in long-term water-quality and streamflow data from six water-quality-monitoring stations within three major river basins in Massachusetts and Rhode Island that flow into Narragansett Bay and Little Narragansett Bay were evaluated for water years 1979–2015. In this study, conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, theAuthorsJennifer G. Savoie, John R. Mullaney, Gardner C. BentConcentration, flux, and trend estimates with uncertainty for nutrients, chloride, and total suspended solids in tributaries of Lake Champlain, 1990–2014
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission and the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, estimated daily and 9-month concentrations and fluxes of total and dissolved phosphorus, total nitrogen, chloride, and total suspended solids from 1990 (or first available date) through 2014 for 18 tributaries of Lake Champlain. EstAuthorsLaura MedalieNutrient, organic carbon, and chloride concentrations and loads in selected Long Island Sound tributaries—Four decades of change following the passage of the Federal Clean Water Act
Trends in long-term water-quality and streamflow data from 14 water-quality monitoring sites in Connecticut were evaluated for water years 1974–2013 and 2001–13, coinciding with implementation of the Clean Water Act of 1972 and the Connecticut Nitrogen Credit Exchange program, as part of an assessment of nutrient and chloride concentrations and loads discharged to Long Island Sound. In this study,AuthorsJohn R. MullaneyMethods for evaluating potential sources of chloride in surface waters and groundwaters of the conterminous United States
Chloride exists as a major ion in most natural waters, but many anthropogenic sources are increasing concentrations of chloride in many receiving waters. Although natural concentrations in continental waters can be as high as 200,000 milligrams per liter, chloride concentrations that are suitable for freshwater ecology, human consumption, and agricultural and industrial water uses commonly are onAuthorsGregory E. Granato, Leslie A. DeSimone, Jeffrey R. Barbaro, Lillian C. JeznachChloride concentrations, loads, and yields in four watersheds along Interstate 95, southeastern Connecticut, 2008-11: factors that affect peak chloride concentrations during winter storms
Chloride (Cl-) concentrations and loads and other water chemistry characteristics were assessed to evaluate potential effects of road-deicer applications on streamwater quality in four watersheds along Interstate 95 (I–95) in southeastern Connecticut from November 1, 2008, through September 30, 2011. Streamflow and water quality were studied in the Four Mile River, Oil Mill Brook, Stony Brook, andAuthorsCraig J. Brown, John R. Mullaney, Jonathan Morrison, Joseph W. Martin, Thomas J. Trombley - Web Tools
Chloride Data for Streams in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island
View recent and historical chloride and specific conductance data for active water-quality monitoring stations on streams in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.