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South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Welcome to USGS South Atlantic Water Science Center's (SAWSC) Website. We offer water information for Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

News

Wildfires continue to burn in Georgia, North and South Carolina

Wildfires continue to burn in Georgia, North and South Carolina

USGS experts responding simultaneously to two major natural hazards

USGS experts responding simultaneously to two major natural hazards

Hurricane Helene Weakens to Tropical Storm, Brings Flooding to Georgia and Western Carolinas

Hurricane Helene Weakens to Tropical Storm, Brings Flooding to Georgia and Western Carolinas

Publications

Tapwater exposures, residential risk, and mitigation in a PFAS-impacted-groundwater community Tapwater exposures, residential risk, and mitigation in a PFAS-impacted-groundwater community

Tapwater (TW) safety and sustainability are priorities in the United States. Per/polyfluoroalkyl substance(s) (PFAS) contamination is a growing public-health concern due to prolific use, widespread TW exposures, and mounting human-health concerns. Historically-rural, actively-urbanizing communities that rely on surficial-aquifer private wells incur elevated risks of unrecognized TW...
Authors
Paul M. Bradley, Kristin M. Romanok, Kelly Smalling, Lee Donahue, Mark P. Gaikowski, Randy K. Hines, Sara E. Breitmeyer, Stephanie Gordon, Keith Loftin, R. Blaine McCleskey, Shannon M. Meppelink, Molly L. Schreiner

Statewide cumulative human health risk assessment of inorganics-contaminated groundwater wells, Montana, USA Statewide cumulative human health risk assessment of inorganics-contaminated groundwater wells, Montana, USA

Across the United States, rural residents rely on unregulated and generally unmonitored private wells for drinking water, which may pose serious health risks due to unrecognized contaminants. We assessed the nature, degree, and spatial distribution of cumulative health risks from inorganic contaminants in groundwater. Our analysis included nearly 84,000 data points from 6500+ wells...
Authors
Margaret J. Eggers, W. Adam Sigler, Nicklas Kiekover, Paul M. Bradley, Kelly Smalling, Albert E. Parker, Robert K.D. Peterson, John LaFave

Ecohydrological response of a forested headwater catchment to a flash drought in the Southeastern U.S. Ecohydrological response of a forested headwater catchment to a flash drought in the Southeastern U.S.

Flash droughts differ from traditionally defined droughts in their rapidity of intensification and often associated high vapor-pressure deficit. These droughts can lead to declines in streamflow and water table depth and induce water stress to vegetation at a greater rate than droughts that manifest over longer periods. However, little is known regarding the response of forested...
Authors
Jeffrey W. Riley, Luke A. Pangle, Michael Forster, Brent T. Aulenbach

Science

Assessment of Groundwater Flow Near the Savannah River Site, Georgia and South Carolina

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Savannah River Site (SRS) has manufactured nuclear materials for the National defense since the early 1950s. A variety of hazardous materials including radionuclides, volatile organic compounds, and trace metals, are either disposed of or stored at several locations at the SRS. As a result, contamination of ground water has been detected at several locations...
Assessment of Groundwater Flow Near the Savannah River Site, Georgia and South Carolina

Assessment of Groundwater Flow Near the Savannah River Site, Georgia and South Carolina

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Savannah River Site (SRS) has manufactured nuclear materials for the National defense since the early 1950s. A variety of hazardous materials including radionuclides, volatile organic compounds, and trace metals, are either disposed of or stored at several locations at the SRS. As a result, contamination of ground water has been detected at several locations...
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Archived and Completed Projects - South Atlantic Water Science Center

The USGS South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC) is comprised of water-science offices throughout Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The SAWSC conducts research and investigations related to topics such as groundwater and surface-water quality related to anthropogenic and agricultural activities, hydraulic and hydrologic modeling, tracking the movement of groundwater contamination...
Archived and Completed Projects - South Atlantic Water Science Center

Archived and Completed Projects - South Atlantic Water Science Center

The USGS South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC) is comprised of water-science offices throughout Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The SAWSC conducts research and investigations related to topics such as groundwater and surface-water quality related to anthropogenic and agricultural activities, hydraulic and hydrologic modeling, tracking the movement of groundwater contamination...
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Geohydrology of Fractured Crystalline Rock of Northern Georgia

Groundwater development and use in the fractured crystalline rocks of northern Georgia are critical to sustain population growth and economic development. Knowledge about ground-water movement, storage, vulnerability, quality, and connection with surface-water resources is limited because of the complexity of fractured-rock aquifers that underlie the region. A better understanding of the relation...
Geohydrology of Fractured Crystalline Rock of Northern Georgia

Geohydrology of Fractured Crystalline Rock of Northern Georgia

Groundwater development and use in the fractured crystalline rocks of northern Georgia are critical to sustain population growth and economic development. Knowledge about ground-water movement, storage, vulnerability, quality, and connection with surface-water resources is limited because of the complexity of fractured-rock aquifers that underlie the region. A better understanding of the relation...
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