Ambient Groundwater Quality Monitoring in New York
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By New York Water Science Center
January 26, 2018
Over one-third of New York State (NYS) residents rely on groundwater as a potable drinking water source. Understanding the quality of NYS groundwater is important for the protection of public health and security of this resource.
The objective of the ambient groundwater quality monitoring project in NYS is to quantify and report on ambient groundwater quality from bedrock and glacial-drift aquifers in upstate New York and is an ongoing cooperative project between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). The project began in 2002, and the last round of sampling occurred in 2022 All of the data are accessible through the USGS National Water Information System, as well as USGS Open-File Reports and USGS Data Releases linked on this webpage. In spring 2024, the USGS and NYSDEC began a statewide groundwater quality analysis that utilizes this upstate NY dataset (almost 900 wells sampled) and USGS-collected groundwater quality data in Long Island (almost 200 wells sampled) to better understand the quality of groundwater used for drinking water across NYS. Data analysis and interpretation is focused on assessing factors affecting the occurrence and distribution of constituents across the state, particularly those that are of concern to public health regionally or statewide. Groundwater sampling will resume in spring 2026 following a redesign of the program that utilizes findings from the statewide analysis.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Below are data associated with this project.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 27
Groundwater quality in the Delaware and St. Lawrence River Basins, New York, 2010 Groundwater quality in the Delaware and St. Lawrence River Basins, New York, 2010
Water samples were collected from 10 production and domestic wells in the Delaware River Basin in New York and from 20 production and domestic wells in the St. Lawrence River Basin in New York from August through November 2010 to characterize groundwater quality in the basins. The samples were collected and processed by standard U.S. Geological Survey procedures and were analyzed for 147
Authors
Elizabeth A. Nystrom
Groundwater quality in the Lake Champlain Basin, New York, 2009 Groundwater quality in the Lake Champlain Basin, New York, 2009
Water was sampled from 20 production and domestic wells from August through November 2009 to characterize groundwater quality in the Lake Champlain Basin in New York. Of the 20 wells sampled, 8 were completed in sand and gravel, and 12 were completed in bedrock. The samples were collected and processed by standard U.S. Geological Survey procedures and were analyzed for 147 physiochemical
Authors
Elizabeth A. Nystrom
Groundwater quality in the Chemung River Basin, New York, 2008 Groundwater quality in the Chemung River Basin, New York, 2008
The second groundwater quality study of the Chemung River Basin in south-central New York was conducted as part of the U.S. Geological Survey 305(b) water-quality-monitoring program. Water samples were collected from five production wells and five private residential wells from October through December 2008. The samples were analyzed to characterize the chemical quality of the...
Authors
Amy J. Risen, James E. Reddy
Groundwater quality in the Eastern Lake Ontario Basin, New York, 2008 Groundwater quality in the Eastern Lake Ontario Basin, New York, 2008
Water samples were collected from nine production wells and nine private residential wells in the Eastern Lake Ontario Basin of New York from August through October 2008 and analyzed to characterize the chemical quality of groundwater. The wells were selected to provide adequate spatial coverage of the 3,225-square-mile study area; areas of greatest groundwater use were emphasized. Eight...
Authors
Amy J. Risen, James E. Reddy
Groundwater quality in the Lower Hudson River Basin, New York, 2008 Groundwater quality in the Lower Hudson River Basin, New York, 2008
Water samples were collected from 32 production and domestic wells in the study area from August through November 2008 to characterize the groundwater quality. The study area, which covers 5,607 square miles, encompasses the part of the Lower Hudson River Basin that lies within New York plus the parts of the Housatonic, Hackensack, Bronx, and Saugatuck River Basins that are in New York...
Authors
Elizabeth A. Nystrom
Ground-Water Quality in the Upper Hudson River Basin, New York, 2007 Ground-Water Quality in the Upper Hudson River Basin, New York, 2007
Water samples were collected from 25 production and domestic wells in the Upper Hudson River Basin (north of the Federal Dam at Troy, N.Y.) from August through November 2007 to characterize the ground-water quality. The Upper Hudson River Basin covers 4,600 square miles in upstate New York, Vermont, and Massachusetts; the study area encompasses the 4,000 square miles that lie within New...
Authors
Elizabeth A. Nystrom
Groundwater Quality in Central New York, 2007 Groundwater Quality in Central New York, 2007
Water samples were collected from 7 production wells and 28 private residential wells in central New York from August through December 2007 and analyzed to characterize the chemical quality of groundwater. Seventeen wells are screened in sand and gravel aquifers, and 18 are finished in bedrock aquifers. The wells were selected to represent areas of greatest groundwater use and to provide...
Authors
David A.V. Eckhardt, J.E. Reddy, Stephen B. Shaw
Ground-Water Quality in Western New York, 2006 Ground-Water Quality in Western New York, 2006
Water samples were collected from 7 production wells and 26 private residential wells in western New York from August through December 2006 and analyzed to characterize the chemical quality of ground water. Wells at 15 of the sites were screened in sand and gravel aquifers, and 18 were finished in bedrock aquifers. The wells were selected to represent areas of greatest ground-water use...
Authors
David A.V. Eckhardt, James E. Reddy, Kathryn L. Tamulonis
Ground-Water Quality in the Mohawk River Basin, New York, 2006 Ground-Water Quality in the Mohawk River Basin, New York, 2006
Water samples were collected from 27 wells from August through November 2006 to characterize ground-water quality in the Mohawk River Basin. The Mohawk River Basin covers 3,500 square miles in central New York; most of the basin is underlain by sedimentary bedrock, including shale, sandstone, and carbonates. Sand and gravel form the most productive aquifers in the basin. Samples were...
Authors
Elizabeth A. Nystrom
Ground-Water Quality in the Genesee River Basin, New York, 2005-2006 Ground-Water Quality in the Genesee River Basin, New York, 2005-2006
Water samples were collected from 7 community water system wells and 15 private domestic wells throughout the Genesee River Basin in New York State (downstream from the Pennsylvania border) from October 2005 through March 2006 and analyzed to characterize the chemical quality of ground water in the basin. The wells were selected to represent areas of greatest ground-water use and to...
Authors
David A.V. Eckhardt, J.E. Reddy, Kathryn L. Tamulonis
Ground-Water Quality in the Delaware River Basin, New York, 2001 and 2005-2006 Ground-Water Quality in the Delaware River Basin, New York, 2001 and 2005-2006
The Federal Clean Water Act Amendments of 1977 require that States monitor and report on the quality of ground water and surface water. To satisfy part of these requirements, the U.S. Geological Survey and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation have developed a program in which ground-water quality is assessed in 2 to 3 of New York State's 14 major basins each year. To
Authors
Elizabeth A. Nystrom
Ground-Water Quality in the St. Lawrence River Basin, New York, 2005-06 Ground-Water Quality in the St. Lawrence River Basin, New York, 2005-06
The Federal Clean Water Act requires that States monitor and report on the quality of ground water and surface water. To satisfy part of these requirements, the U.S. Geological Survey and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation have developed a program in which ground-water quality is assessed in 2 to 3 of New York State's 14 major river basins each year. To characterize...
Authors
Elizabeth A. Nystrom
Below are partners associated with this project.
Over one-third of New York State (NYS) residents rely on groundwater as a potable drinking water source. Understanding the quality of NYS groundwater is important for the protection of public health and security of this resource.
The objective of the ambient groundwater quality monitoring project in NYS is to quantify and report on ambient groundwater quality from bedrock and glacial-drift aquifers in upstate New York and is an ongoing cooperative project between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). The project began in 2002, and the last round of sampling occurred in 2022 All of the data are accessible through the USGS National Water Information System, as well as USGS Open-File Reports and USGS Data Releases linked on this webpage. In spring 2024, the USGS and NYSDEC began a statewide groundwater quality analysis that utilizes this upstate NY dataset (almost 900 wells sampled) and USGS-collected groundwater quality data in Long Island (almost 200 wells sampled) to better understand the quality of groundwater used for drinking water across NYS. Data analysis and interpretation is focused on assessing factors affecting the occurrence and distribution of constituents across the state, particularly those that are of concern to public health regionally or statewide. Groundwater sampling will resume in spring 2026 following a redesign of the program that utilizes findings from the statewide analysis.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Below are data associated with this project.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 27
Groundwater quality in the Delaware and St. Lawrence River Basins, New York, 2010 Groundwater quality in the Delaware and St. Lawrence River Basins, New York, 2010
Water samples were collected from 10 production and domestic wells in the Delaware River Basin in New York and from 20 production and domestic wells in the St. Lawrence River Basin in New York from August through November 2010 to characterize groundwater quality in the basins. The samples were collected and processed by standard U.S. Geological Survey procedures and were analyzed for 147
Authors
Elizabeth A. Nystrom
Groundwater quality in the Lake Champlain Basin, New York, 2009 Groundwater quality in the Lake Champlain Basin, New York, 2009
Water was sampled from 20 production and domestic wells from August through November 2009 to characterize groundwater quality in the Lake Champlain Basin in New York. Of the 20 wells sampled, 8 were completed in sand and gravel, and 12 were completed in bedrock. The samples were collected and processed by standard U.S. Geological Survey procedures and were analyzed for 147 physiochemical
Authors
Elizabeth A. Nystrom
Groundwater quality in the Chemung River Basin, New York, 2008 Groundwater quality in the Chemung River Basin, New York, 2008
The second groundwater quality study of the Chemung River Basin in south-central New York was conducted as part of the U.S. Geological Survey 305(b) water-quality-monitoring program. Water samples were collected from five production wells and five private residential wells from October through December 2008. The samples were analyzed to characterize the chemical quality of the...
Authors
Amy J. Risen, James E. Reddy
Groundwater quality in the Eastern Lake Ontario Basin, New York, 2008 Groundwater quality in the Eastern Lake Ontario Basin, New York, 2008
Water samples were collected from nine production wells and nine private residential wells in the Eastern Lake Ontario Basin of New York from August through October 2008 and analyzed to characterize the chemical quality of groundwater. The wells were selected to provide adequate spatial coverage of the 3,225-square-mile study area; areas of greatest groundwater use were emphasized. Eight...
Authors
Amy J. Risen, James E. Reddy
Groundwater quality in the Lower Hudson River Basin, New York, 2008 Groundwater quality in the Lower Hudson River Basin, New York, 2008
Water samples were collected from 32 production and domestic wells in the study area from August through November 2008 to characterize the groundwater quality. The study area, which covers 5,607 square miles, encompasses the part of the Lower Hudson River Basin that lies within New York plus the parts of the Housatonic, Hackensack, Bronx, and Saugatuck River Basins that are in New York...
Authors
Elizabeth A. Nystrom
Ground-Water Quality in the Upper Hudson River Basin, New York, 2007 Ground-Water Quality in the Upper Hudson River Basin, New York, 2007
Water samples were collected from 25 production and domestic wells in the Upper Hudson River Basin (north of the Federal Dam at Troy, N.Y.) from August through November 2007 to characterize the ground-water quality. The Upper Hudson River Basin covers 4,600 square miles in upstate New York, Vermont, and Massachusetts; the study area encompasses the 4,000 square miles that lie within New...
Authors
Elizabeth A. Nystrom
Groundwater Quality in Central New York, 2007 Groundwater Quality in Central New York, 2007
Water samples were collected from 7 production wells and 28 private residential wells in central New York from August through December 2007 and analyzed to characterize the chemical quality of groundwater. Seventeen wells are screened in sand and gravel aquifers, and 18 are finished in bedrock aquifers. The wells were selected to represent areas of greatest groundwater use and to provide...
Authors
David A.V. Eckhardt, J.E. Reddy, Stephen B. Shaw
Ground-Water Quality in Western New York, 2006 Ground-Water Quality in Western New York, 2006
Water samples were collected from 7 production wells and 26 private residential wells in western New York from August through December 2006 and analyzed to characterize the chemical quality of ground water. Wells at 15 of the sites were screened in sand and gravel aquifers, and 18 were finished in bedrock aquifers. The wells were selected to represent areas of greatest ground-water use...
Authors
David A.V. Eckhardt, James E. Reddy, Kathryn L. Tamulonis
Ground-Water Quality in the Mohawk River Basin, New York, 2006 Ground-Water Quality in the Mohawk River Basin, New York, 2006
Water samples were collected from 27 wells from August through November 2006 to characterize ground-water quality in the Mohawk River Basin. The Mohawk River Basin covers 3,500 square miles in central New York; most of the basin is underlain by sedimentary bedrock, including shale, sandstone, and carbonates. Sand and gravel form the most productive aquifers in the basin. Samples were...
Authors
Elizabeth A. Nystrom
Ground-Water Quality in the Genesee River Basin, New York, 2005-2006 Ground-Water Quality in the Genesee River Basin, New York, 2005-2006
Water samples were collected from 7 community water system wells and 15 private domestic wells throughout the Genesee River Basin in New York State (downstream from the Pennsylvania border) from October 2005 through March 2006 and analyzed to characterize the chemical quality of ground water in the basin. The wells were selected to represent areas of greatest ground-water use and to...
Authors
David A.V. Eckhardt, J.E. Reddy, Kathryn L. Tamulonis
Ground-Water Quality in the Delaware River Basin, New York, 2001 and 2005-2006 Ground-Water Quality in the Delaware River Basin, New York, 2001 and 2005-2006
The Federal Clean Water Act Amendments of 1977 require that States monitor and report on the quality of ground water and surface water. To satisfy part of these requirements, the U.S. Geological Survey and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation have developed a program in which ground-water quality is assessed in 2 to 3 of New York State's 14 major basins each year. To
Authors
Elizabeth A. Nystrom
Ground-Water Quality in the St. Lawrence River Basin, New York, 2005-06 Ground-Water Quality in the St. Lawrence River Basin, New York, 2005-06
The Federal Clean Water Act requires that States monitor and report on the quality of ground water and surface water. To satisfy part of these requirements, the U.S. Geological Survey and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation have developed a program in which ground-water quality is assessed in 2 to 3 of New York State's 14 major river basins each year. To characterize...
Authors
Elizabeth A. Nystrom
Below are partners associated with this project.