The Cambridge Water Department supplies approximately 13 million gallons per day of drinking water to more than 100,000 customers. Raw water is obtained from a serial system of three primary storage reservoirs—Cambridge Reservoir (also known as the Hobbs Brook Reservoir), Stony Brook Reservoir, and Fresh Pond Reservoir—in parts of Cambridge, Lexington, Lincoln, Waltham, and Weston, Massachusetts. These reservoirs receive inflow from more than 13 subbasins within a source area of 23.7 square miles. The Cambridge drinking-water source area contains major transportation corridors including Interstate 95, State Routes 2, 2A, 20, and 117, and commuter railways as well as large impervious areas of industrial, commercial, and residential land use.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Cambridge Water Department have been working together since 1997 on studies and programs designed to ensure that the city’s drinking-water supply is as free of contamination as possible. In 1997–98, the USGS provided an assessment of limnological conditions in the three serial storage reservoirs and described the water-quality conditions in the drinking-water source area. Subsequently, the USGS and Cambridge Water Department designed and implemented a monitoring network for the tributaries flowing into the drinking-water supply reservoirs. Streamflow, water-quality, and meteorological data collected by the USGS from this network are available to the public through the USGS National Water Information System website and in published reports.
From 2004 through 2008, the USGS and Cambridge Water Department characterized water quality during base-flow (conditions generally representing only groundwater discharge) and storm-runoff conditions in four tributaries to the Cambridge and Stony Brook Reservoirs and in the main stem of Stony Brook, the primary source of inflow to the Stony Brook Reservoir. Water-quality conditions were similarly characterized for the period of 2009 through 2015. Currently, the USGS, in cooperation with the Cambridge Water Department, operates water-quality monitoring stations on every major tributary and on the three reservoirs in the drinking-water source area.
Loads and yields of deicing compounds and total phosphorus in the Cambridge drinking-water source area, Massachusetts, water years 2009–15
Water quality in the Cambridge, Massachusetts, drinking-water source area, 2005-8
Water-quality conditions, and constituent loads and yields in the Cambridge drinking-water source area, Massachusetts, water years 2005–07
Storms, streams, and reservoirs - Assessing water quality in the Cambridge, Massachusetts, drinking-water source area
Factors affecting reservoir and stream-water quality in the Cambridge, Massachusetts, drinking-water source area and implications for source-water protection
- Overview
The Cambridge Water Department supplies approximately 13 million gallons per day of drinking water to more than 100,000 customers. Raw water is obtained from a serial system of three primary storage reservoirs—Cambridge Reservoir (also known as the Hobbs Brook Reservoir), Stony Brook Reservoir, and Fresh Pond Reservoir—in parts of Cambridge, Lexington, Lincoln, Waltham, and Weston, Massachusetts. These reservoirs receive inflow from more than 13 subbasins within a source area of 23.7 square miles. The Cambridge drinking-water source area contains major transportation corridors including Interstate 95, State Routes 2, 2A, 20, and 117, and commuter railways as well as large impervious areas of industrial, commercial, and residential land use.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Cambridge Water Department have been working together since 1997 on studies and programs designed to ensure that the city’s drinking-water supply is as free of contamination as possible. In 1997–98, the USGS provided an assessment of limnological conditions in the three serial storage reservoirs and described the water-quality conditions in the drinking-water source area. Subsequently, the USGS and Cambridge Water Department designed and implemented a monitoring network for the tributaries flowing into the drinking-water supply reservoirs. Streamflow, water-quality, and meteorological data collected by the USGS from this network are available to the public through the USGS National Water Information System website and in published reports.
From 2004 through 2008, the USGS and Cambridge Water Department characterized water quality during base-flow (conditions generally representing only groundwater discharge) and storm-runoff conditions in four tributaries to the Cambridge and Stony Brook Reservoirs and in the main stem of Stony Brook, the primary source of inflow to the Stony Brook Reservoir. Water-quality conditions were similarly characterized for the period of 2009 through 2015. Currently, the USGS, in cooperation with the Cambridge Water Department, operates water-quality monitoring stations on every major tributary and on the three reservoirs in the drinking-water source area.
Hydrologic Technician taking a streamgage measurement at USGS 01104420 in the Cambridge Reservoir Watershed, Massachusetts. - Multimedia
- Publications
Loads 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. SmithWater quality in the Cambridge, Massachusetts, drinking-water source area, 2005-8
During 2005-8, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Cambridge, Massachusetts, Water Department, measured concentrations of sodium and chloride, plant nutrients, commonly used pesticides, and caffeine in base-flow and stormwater samples collected from 11 tributaries in the Cambridge drinking-water source area. These data were used to characterize current water-quality conditions, toAuthorsKirk P. Smith, Marcus C. WaldronWater-quality conditions, and constituent loads and yields in the Cambridge drinking-water source area, Massachusetts, water years 2005–07
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 ongoing development in the drinking-water source area, the Cambridge water supply has the potential to be affected by a wide variety of contaminants. The U.S. GeologicalAuthorsKirk P. SmithStorms, streams, and reservoirs - Assessing water quality in the Cambridge, Massachusetts, drinking-water source area
No abstract available.AuthorsMarcus C. Waldron, Matthew G. Cooke, Christopher M. RagnelliFactors affecting reservoir and stream-water quality in the Cambridge, Massachusetts, drinking-water source area and implications for source-water protection
This report presents the results of a study conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Water Department, to assess reservoir and tributary-stream quality in the Cambridge drinking-water source area, and to use the information gained to help guide the design of a comprehensive water-quality monitoring program for the source area. Assessments oAuthorsMarcus C. Waldron, Gardner C. Bent - Partners