The primary source of self-supplied domestic water use is from private wells which are often unmonitored. As a result, estimates of the quantities of water withdrawn are based off of relatively small amounts of data. To gain a better understanding of this type of water use, a project was initiated in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to meter private domestic wells which will help improve estimates of domestic water use in New Jersey.
In New Jersey, 11 percent of the population relies on getting their water supply from their own well. Unlike homes getting their water from public supply systems, homes using their own wells do not typically meter their water use. To help resource managers ensure there are plentiful water resources in New Jersey, it is important to understand how much water is being used by households with private wells. Acquiring metered data from homes with private wells helps to improve the estimates of gallons of water used per person per day, also known as gallons per capita.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) New Jersey Water Science Center (NJWSC) is involved in a cooperative project with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and two national programs, Next Generation Water Observation Systems (NGWOS) and Integrated Water Availability Assessments (IWAAs), to collect data for a water use study on self-supplied domestic water use. The objective is to better understand how much water is withdrawn daily from private residential wells.
The study requires the installation of a clamp-on (no pipe cutting) ultrasonic meter coupled with a data collection platform and transmitter to relay total gallons used in a specific period. Equipment may remain in place for up to two years in each home, with volunteer’s permission. See the photos provided here and in the multimedia tab for examples of an ultrasonic meter strapped on the water pipe, the basement wall mount of the data collection platform, and the outside equipment installation.
The results of this study will be available to the public through various publications. All information regarding participant’s personal identity including participant’s name, physical address, telephone number, email address, or any other form of contact information is protected from release and will only be maintained within the USGS for the purposes of homeowner contact, equipment installation, calibration, and removal of equipment at the close of the project.
If you or anyone you know has an on-site well and pump for home water supply and are interested in volunteering or would like more information about this study, please contact Liam Kenefic by phone at (609) 273 - 7073 or by email at lkenefic@usgs.gov and check out our flyer seeking volunteers (found under the Multimedia tab).
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Associated USGS Programs:
USGS Integrated Water Availability Assessments (IWAAs)
USGS Next Generation Water Observation System (NGWOS)
USGS Water Availability and Use Science Program (WAUSP)
- Overview
The primary source of self-supplied domestic water use is from private wells which are often unmonitored. As a result, estimates of the quantities of water withdrawn are based off of relatively small amounts of data. To gain a better understanding of this type of water use, a project was initiated in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to meter private domestic wells which will help improve estimates of domestic water use in New Jersey.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.USGS Hydrologic Technician Nick Smith installing equipment at a private well monitoring site. In New Jersey, 11 percent of the population relies on getting their water supply from their own well. Unlike homes getting their water from public supply systems, homes using their own wells do not typically meter their water use. To help resource managers ensure there are plentiful water resources in New Jersey, it is important to understand how much water is being used by households with private wells. Acquiring metered data from homes with private wells helps to improve the estimates of gallons of water used per person per day, also known as gallons per capita.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) New Jersey Water Science Center (NJWSC) is involved in a cooperative project with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and two national programs, Next Generation Water Observation Systems (NGWOS) and Integrated Water Availability Assessments (IWAAs), to collect data for a water use study on self-supplied domestic water use. The objective is to better understand how much water is withdrawn daily from private residential wells.
The study requires the installation of a clamp-on (no pipe cutting) ultrasonic meter coupled with a data collection platform and transmitter to relay total gallons used in a specific period. Equipment may remain in place for up to two years in each home, with volunteer’s permission. See the photos provided here and in the multimedia tab for examples of an ultrasonic meter strapped on the water pipe, the basement wall mount of the data collection platform, and the outside equipment installation.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Data Collection Platform (DCP) setup at a private well monitoring site. The results of this study will be available to the public through various publications. All information regarding participant’s personal identity including participant’s name, physical address, telephone number, email address, or any other form of contact information is protected from release and will only be maintained within the USGS for the purposes of homeowner contact, equipment installation, calibration, and removal of equipment at the close of the project.
If you or anyone you know has an on-site well and pump for home water supply and are interested in volunteering or would like more information about this study, please contact Liam Kenefic by phone at (609) 273 - 7073 or by email at lkenefic@usgs.gov and check out our flyer seeking volunteers (found under the Multimedia tab).
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Associated USGS Programs:
USGS Integrated Water Availability Assessments (IWAAs)
USGS Next Generation Water Observation System (NGWOS)
USGS Water Availability and Use Science Program (WAUSP)
- Multimedia
- Partners