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Pennsylvania Water Science Center

USGS is hiring Hydrologists & Hydrologic Technicians in Pennsylvania

Open to Recent Graduates, Multiple Locations

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Nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed - A Century of Change

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Water Quality of Domestic Wells in Marcellus Shale Region

New USGS study identifies factors affecting quality of groundwater used for domestic supply in north-central and north-east Pennsylvania

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First-of-its-Kind Survey of PFAS in Pennsylvania Surface Waters

In collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

Center News

USGS Collects High-Quality Water-Resources Data for Pennsylvania

Streamflow, groundwater levels, water quality, precipitation, water use, and other related data, both real time and historic

Find Water Data

Hydrologic Tools, Studies, and Research in Pennsylvania

Water availability, groundwater contamination, nutrient loading in streams, effects of land use on water quality, and other water-resource topics

Find Water Science

Next Generation Water Observing System

Delaware River Basin pilot testing includes large-scale particle image velocimetry (LSPIV) in Philadelphia

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New Product Category: Web Tools

Data access, data analysis, data visualizations, digital repositories, and interactive maps.

Web Tools

Pennsylvania Water Science Center

We work in cooperation with numerous federal, state, and local agencies to collect scientific data and conduct scientific studies of the source, quantity, quality, ecology, and use of Pennsylvania's water resources.

News

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USGS at the Pennsylvania Groundwater Symposium

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Pennsylvania Waters - Spring 2022 - Issue 7

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New Report on Pennsylvania Groundwater Quality Monitoring Network Results, 2015-19

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Publications

Power analysis for detecting the effects of best management practices on reducing nitrogen and phosphorus fluxes to the Chesapeake Bay watershed, USA

In 2010 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) which is a “pollution diet” that aims to reduce the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus entering the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States, by 25 and 24% percent, respectively. To achieve this goal the TMDL requires the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs), which are acce
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Water Resources, Cooperative Research Units, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Florence Bascom Geoscience Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Report of the River Master of the Delaware River for the period December 1, 2011–November 30, 2012

A Decree of the Supreme Court of the United States, entered June 7, 1954, established the position of Delaware River Master within the U.S. Geological Survey. In addition, the Decree authorizes diversion of water from the Delaware River Basin and requires compensating releases from certain reservoirs, owned by New York City, to be made under the supervision and direction of the River Master. The D
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Water Resources, Oklahoma Water Science Center, New England Water Science Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in groundwater used as a source of drinking water in the eastern United States

In 2019, 254 samples were collected from five aquifer systems to evaluate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) occurrence in groundwater used as a source of drinking water in the eastern United States. The samples were analyzed for 24 PFAS, major ions, nutrients, trace elements, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pharmaceuticals, and tritium. Fourteen of the 24
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Water Resources, California Water Science Center, Colorado Water Science Center, New England Water Science Center, New Mexico Water Science Center, Pennsylvania Water Science Center
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Science

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USGS Hydrographers collect water quality samples in the Susquehanna

Susquehanna River and Basin

In Pennsylvania, the USGS's water-resources roots date back to the late 1800's, with the initiation of streamflow gaging on the Susquehanna and Delaware Rivers and assessments of groundwater resources near Philadelphia. The USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center continues to provide scientific information about the water resources of the Susquehanna River Basin, in cooperation with regional and...
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Pennsylvania Water Science Center
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Susquehanna River and Basin

In Pennsylvania, the USGS's water-resources roots date back to the late 1800's, with the initiation of streamflow gaging on the Susquehanna and Delaware Rivers and assessments of groundwater resources near Philadelphia. The USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center continues to provide scientific information about the water resources of the Susquehanna River Basin, in cooperation with regional and...
Learn More
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Chesapeake Bay Watershed Index Map for Susquehanna River

Pennsylvania and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

USGS provides monitoring, analysis, modeling and research on streams and water quality to better understand the fate and transport of nutrients and sediment to the Susquehanna River and its tributaries and eventually to the Chesapeake Bay. Additional research efforts in the Susquehanna River basin focus on emerging contaminants and other stressors that effect human and aquatic life in the...
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Chesapeake Bay Activities, Pennsylvania Water Science Center
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Pennsylvania and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

USGS provides monitoring, analysis, modeling and research on streams and water quality to better understand the fate and transport of nutrients and sediment to the Susquehanna River and its tributaries and eventually to the Chesapeake Bay. Additional research efforts in the Susquehanna River basin focus on emerging contaminants and other stressors that effect human and aquatic life in the...
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Thermal photograph showing cool blue stream and warm yellow and hot red areas of the stream bank

Paired Air and Water Temperature Monitoring for Next Generation Water Observing System

USGS characterizes the relationship between a stream's water temperature and the surrounding air temperature to understand the influence groundwater flow into and out of the stream has on that relationship.
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Pennsylvania Water Science Center
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Paired Air and Water Temperature Monitoring for Next Generation Water Observing System

USGS characterizes the relationship between a stream's water temperature and the surrounding air temperature to understand the influence groundwater flow into and out of the stream has on that relationship.
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