Groundwater Quality of Domestic Supply Wells in Pennsylvania
Science Center Objects
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 datasets established using consistent field procedures are needed to characterize current water-quality conditions in bedrock and unconsolidated aquifers tapped by domestic-supply wells in Pennsylvania.
Data and Products
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County Level Reports
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Baseline Groundwater Quality in Pennsylvania
Several county groundwater baseline studies have already been completed and others are ongoing in Northeast and Northcentral Pennsylvania. The objective of each county study is to characterize the current chemical quality of groundwater from shallow freshwater aquifers used by private domestic-supply wells. All data collected helps private landowners, local communities, conservation groups, consultants and natural resource agencies to better understand current conditions and assess natural and anthropogenic influences on local aquifers.
The objective of these studies are accomplished by analyzing water samples from approximately 45-80 wells per county. Each well must meet prescribed construction criteria and is randomly selected where possible so that the findings are not biased toward wells with known water-quality issues and so all major rock types and land uses in each county are represented. Well selection, sampling, procedures, laboratory analyses, and reporting follow established USGS protocols.
Benefits and Products include the following:
- Interpretative analyses and peer-reviewed reports of scientific findings
- Analysis of a comprehensive suite of chemical characteristics
- Sampling done with consistent USGS standard procedures
- Data are available in perpetuity for public access through the National Water Information System (NWIS) or Science Base.
- Potential funding support through grant opportunities and USGS Cooperative Matching Funds
County groundwater assessments:
Potter County (Dan Galeone, Charles Cravotta, Dennis Risser) - 2017
Report Data
Clinton County (John Clune, Charles Cravotta) - 2017
Report Data
Bradford County (John Clune, Charles Cravotta) - 2016
Report Data
Pike County (Lisa Senior, Charles Cravotta) - 2015
Report Data
Lycoming County (Eliza Gross, Charles Cravotta) - 2014
Report Data
Wayne County (Lisa Senior, Ron Sloto, Charles Cravotta) - 2014
Report Data
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Date published: August 31, 2020Status: ActiveShale Gas and Water Resources in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Water Science Center and other USGS scientists are studying water availability, use, quality, and ecology associated with development of shale-gas energy resources in Pennsylvania.
Latest Report: Potter County 'Baseline' Groundwater Quality (see Publications)
Contacts: Curtis Schreffler -
Date published: June 4, 2020Status: CompletedFramework for Examining Stream Ecosystem Health in Areas of Shale Gas Development—A Multi-Parameter Watershed-Based Case Study in Pennsylvania
In a case study of 25 headwater streams in Pennsylvania, no statistically significant associations were determined between shale gas development and geochemical tracers of produced waters or measures of microbial and macroinvertebrate community composition. Although the results are specific to the region studied, the integrated biological and geochemical framework provides a tool for...
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Date published: April 10, 2020Status: ActiveRegional Synthesis of Groundwater Quality in Domestic Supply Wells in Northeast and North Central Pennsylvania
USGS is synthesizing groundwater quality measurements in wells to characterize regional chemical characteristics of aquifers used for domestic supply in northeast and north central Pennsylvania.
Groundwater quality in relation to drinking water health standards and hydrogeologic and geochemical characteristics for 47 domestic wells in Potter County, Pennsylvania, 2017
As part of a regional effort to characterize groundwater in rural areas of Pennsylvania, water samples from 47 domestic wells in Potter County were collected from May through September 2017. The sampled wells had depths ranging from 33 to 600 feet in sandstone, shale, or siltstone aquifers. Groundwater samples were analyzed for physicochemical...
Galeone, Daniel G.; Cravotta, Charles A. ; Risser, Dennis W.
Groundwater quality in relation to drinking water health standards and geochemical characteristics for 54 domestic wells in Clinton County, Pennsylvania, 2017
Despite the reliance on groundwater by approximately 2.4 million rural Pennsylvania residents, publicly available data to characterize the quality of private well water are limited. As part of a regional effort to characterize groundwater in rural areas of Pennsylvania, samples from 54 domestic wells in Clinton County were collected and analyzed...
Clune, John W.; Cravotta, Charles A.
Drinking water health standards comparison and chemical analysis of groundwater for 72 domestic wells in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, 2016
Pennsylvania has the second highest number of residential wells of any state in the Nation with approximately 2.4 million residents that depend on groundwater for their domestic water supply. Despite the widespread reliance on groundwater in rural areas of the state, publicly available data to characterize the quality of private well water are...
Clune, John W.; Cravotta, Charles A.
Baseline assessment of groundwater quality in Pike County, Pennsylvania, 2015
The Devonian-age Marcellus Shale and the Ordovician-age Utica Shale, which have the potential for natural gas development, underlie Pike County and neighboring counties in northeastern Pennsylvania. In 2015, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Pike County Conservation District, conducted a study that expanded on a previous more...
Senior, Lisa A.; Cravotta, Charles A.
Groundwater quality for 75 domestic wells in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, 2014
Groundwater is a major source of drinking water in Lycoming County and adjacent counties in north-central and northeastern Pennsylvania, which are largely forested and rural and are currently undergoing development for hydrocarbon gases. Water-quality data are needed for assessing the natural characteristics of the groundwater resource and the...
Gross, Eliza L.; Cravotta, Charles A.
Baseline assessment of groundwater quality in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, 2014
The Devonian-age Marcellus Shale and the Ordovician-age Utica Shale, geologic formations which have potential for natural gas development, underlie Wayne County and neighboring counties in northeastern Pennsylvania. In 2014, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Wayne Conservation District, conducted a study to assess baseline...
Senior, Lisa A.; Cravotta, III, Charles A.; Sloto, Ronald A.
Baseline groundwater quality from 20 domestic wells in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, 2012
Water samples were collected from 20 domestic wells during August and September 2012 and analyzed for 47 constituents and properties, including nutrients, major ions, metals and trace elements, radioactivity, and dissolved gases, including methane and radon-222. This study, done in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation...
Sloto, Ronald A.
Groundwater-Quality Assessment, Pike County, Pennsylvania, 2007
Pike County, a 545 square-mile area in northeastern Pennsylvania, has experienced the largest relative population growth of any county in the state from 1990 to 2000 and its population is projected to grow substantially through 2025. This growing population may result in added dependence and stresses on water resources, including the potential to...
Senior, Lisa A.-
Date published: January 24, 2020Compilation of data not available in the National Water Information System for domestic wells sampled by the U.S. Geological Survey in Clinton County, Pennsylvania, May-September 2017
This dataset contains the lithologic class and topographic position index information and quality-assurance and quality-control data not available in the online National Water Information System for 54 domestic wells sampled by the U.S. Geological Survey in Clinton County, Pennsylvania, May-September 2017. The topographic position index (TPI) for each well location was computed on the bas
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Date published: October 29, 2019
Compilation of wells sampled, physical characteristics of wells, links to water-quality data, and quality assurance and quality control data for domestic wells sampled by the U.S. Geological Survey in Potter County, Pennsylvania, April-September 2017
This dataset contains the lithologic class and topographic position index information and quality-assurance and quality-control data not available in the online National Water Information System for 47 domestic wells sampled by the U.S. Geological Survey in Potter County, Pennsylvania, April-September 2017. The topographic position index (TPI) for each well location was computed on the ba
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Date published: January 1, 2018
Compilation of data not available in the National Water Information System for domestic wells sampled by the U.S. Geological Survey in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, May-August 2016
This dataset contains the lithologic class and topographic position index information and quality-assurance and quality-control data not available in the online National Water Information System for 72 domestic wells sampled by the U.S. Geological Survey in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, May-August 2016. The topographic position index (TPI) for each well location was computed on the basis
Attribution: Pennsylvania Water Science Center -
Date published: January 1, 2017
Field properties and results of laboratory analysis of groundwater samples collected from 79 wells in Pike County, Pennsylvania, 1982-2015
Water-quality data for groundwater samples collected by the U.S. Geological Survey from 79 wells in Pike County, Pennsylvania, 1982-2015. Data consist of field properties and results of laboratory analysis for concentrations of inorganic constituents, dissolved gases (methane, ethane and propane), radon-222, gross alpha and beta radioactivity, radium-226, and volatile organic
Attribution: Pennsylvania Water Science Center
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Date published: September 4, 2020USGS Characterizes Baseline Groundwater Quality in Potter County, Pennsylvania
A report on the groundwater quality of Potter County is the latest of seven publications characterizing water quality of aquifers underlying central and northern tier counties. Wells were sampled throughout Potter County with funding support from Commonwealth Financing Authority through the...
Attribution: Pennsylvania Water Science Center -
Date published: March 6, 2017
USGS Finds Elevated Levels of Arsenic, Radon, Methane in Some Private Wells in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Tests of 75 private drinking water wells in Lycoming County, in north-central Pennsylvania, found water from most of the sampled wells contained concentrations of radon that exceeded a proposed, nonbinding health standard for drinking water. Smaller percentages of the wells contained concentrations of arsenic or methane that exceed existing drinking water standards.
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Date published: November 13, 2014
Baseline Groundwater Quality Studies Find Naturally Occurring Methane in Northeastern Pennsylvania
Well-water tested in Wayne and Pike counties contains low-to-moderate concentrations of naturally occurring methane, according to new studies by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Attribution: Water Resources