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
- 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.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.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
- Web Tools