Pennsylvania Water Science Center
Groundwater
Introduction
Groundwater science for Pennsylvania, or conducted by center staff.
from the Archives
Map of average annual groundwater recharge, 1971-2000, by basin.
From our archived compilation of estimates and methods for groundwater recharge in Pennsylvania
Groundwater RechargeBrowse Groundwater science related to:
Groundwater Quality Monitoring Network
Overview
Pennsylvania’s Statewide Fixed Station Groundwater Quality Monitoring Network (GWMN) currently consists of a set of 27 groundwater wells located in 26 counties that are sampled twice a year for a host of chemical constituents. The GWMN was established to characterize the ambient groundwater quality of Pennsylvania aquifers and to provide a temporal dataset to address seasonal...
Groundwater Availability and Use
The USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center helps water providers assess the availability of groundwater for use in homes, on farms, and in industrial activities.
Pesticides in Pennsylvania Groundwaters
This project is part of a collaboration that began in the 1980’s between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) to further the understanding of groundwater quality in areas where pesticides are applied. The work continues presently with active cooperation and funding support from the PDA and USGS Cooperative Matching Funds Program. The current focus...
Groundwater Quality of Domestic Supply Wells in Pennsylvania
Most rural residents in Pennsylvania use groundwater from domestic supply wells for drinking, cleaning and other purposes. Some groundwater samples have been analyzed for private purposes, but those results generally are not readily available to the public. Many of the publicly available water-quality samples from rural areas were collected more than 30 years ago. Quality-assured groundwater...
Pennsylvania Drought Condition Monitoring
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection relies upon a number of parameters to monitor water-supply-drought conditions, among which are four parameters displayed herein—precipitation, stream flows, groundwater levels, and the Palmer Drought-Severity Index. These parameters are used only as indicators of the four stages of...
Accelerating Aquifer Storage & Recovery in the Middle East and North Africa Region
At the request of the U.S. Agency for International Development, USGS is helping regional partners manage scarce groundwater resources, and improve water supply, using artificial recharge methods.
Contaminants in groundwater near North Penn Area Superfund sites
USGS has investigated groundwater flow and contaminant transport in the vicinity of Superfund sites in Montgomery County, southeastern Pennsylvania, in cooperation with EPA. Additional cooperative support for these investigations has been provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Montgomery County, and local government agencies.
Contaminants in groundwater near former Navy bases in southeastern Pennsylvania
USGS has investigated groundwater flow and contaminant transport in the vicinity of former Navy bases in Bucks and Montgomery Counties, southeastern Pennsylvania, in cooperation with the U.S. Navy. Additional cooperative support for these investigations has been provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bucks and Montgomery...
Groundwater Quality Monitoring Network
Overview
Pennsylvania’s Statewide Fixed Station Groundwater Quality Monitoring Network (GWMN) currently consists of a set of 27 groundwater wells located in 26 counties that are sampled twice a year for a host of chemical constituents. The GWMN was established to characterize the ambient groundwater quality of Pennsylvania aquifers and to provide a temporal dataset to address seasonal...
Contaminant Fate and Transport Studies in Fractured Sedimentary Rock Aquifers at the former Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC), West Trenton, N.J.
Contaminants associated with industry are present in groundwater in fractured-rock aquifers, posing long-term hazards to drinking-water supplies and ecosystems. The heterogeneous character of fractured rock challenges our understanding, monitoring, and remediation of such sites.
Groundwater Monitoring
Groundwater Monitoring and Tools for Pennsylvania
Fractured Rock Hydrology Research - Pennsylvania
Presentations, abstracts, and other unpublished material are available in the USGS Archive.
Hydrologic Effects of Pymatuning Earthquake
Within hours after the Pymatuning earthquake of September 25, 1998, in northwestern Pennsylvania, local residents reported wells becoming dry, wells beginning to flow, and the formation of new springs. About 120 household-supply wells reportedly went dry within 3 months after the earthquake. About 80 of these wells were on a ridge between Jamestown and Greenville, where water-level declines of...