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.
Hydrologic Data at SAWSC
Hydrologic Data at SAWSC
We provide current and historical surface-water, groundwater, water quality, water use, and ecological data in various formats (map, graphical, tabular).
Science at SAWSC
Science at SAWSC
The South Atlantic Water Science Center collects high-quality hydrologic data and conducts unbiased, scientifically sound research on Georgia's, North Carolina's, and South Carolina's water resources.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...