Estimation, Analysis, Sources, and Verification of Consumptive Water Use Data in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin

The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River basin provides water for many uses and for wildlife habitat; thus many groups have developed strategies to manage the basin \u27s water resource. The International Joint Commission (IJC) is reviewing and comparing available consumptive-use data to assess the magnitude and effect of consumptive uses under present projected economic and hydraulic conditions on lake levels. As a part of this effort, the U.S. Geological Survey compared its own estimates of consumptive use in the United States with those generated by (1) the International Great Lakes Diversions and (2) the IJC. The U.S. Geological Survey also developed two methods of calculating consumptive-use projections for 1980 through 2000; one method yields an estimate of 6,490 cu ft/s for the year 2000; the other yields an estimate of 8,330 cu ft/s. These two projections could be considered the upper and lower limits for the year 2000. The reasons for the varying estimates are differences in (1) methods by which base year values were developed, and (2) the methods or models that were used to project consumptive-use values for the future. Acquisition of consumptive-use data from water users or governmental agencies or ministries would be desirable to minimize reliance on estimates. (USGS

Survey of Selected Organic Compounds in Aquifers of New York State Excluding Long Island

Samples from 56 wells at 49 sites in New York State, excluding Long Island, were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for the presence of organic compounds designated \u27 priority pollutants \u27 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Most samples were taken from public-supply wells tapping shallow, permeable aquifers, the most susceptible to contamination. Analytical sensitivity reported by the laboratory for most compounds was less than 1 microgram per liter, but contamination during collection, shipping, or laboratory processing required that concentrations be about 10 micrograms per liter before the presence of a compound could be confirmed. Only a small percentage of wells sampled in this study was found to be contaminated. Where contamination is present, it probably results from point sources such as landfills or dumps rather than from general sources such as atmospheric deposition or proximity to urban centers. Two sites, Brewster in Putnam County and Olean in Cattaraugus County, showed clear evidence of contamination. Two other sites, Corning in Steuben County and Fulton in Oswego County, showed evidence of possible contamination. (USGS

Alternative Sources of Large Seasonal Ground-water Supplies in the Headwaters of the Susquehanna River Basin, New York

The northern divide of the Susquehanna River basin crosses 29 broad valleys that contain thick glacial deposits but are drained only by small headwater streams. Much groundwater could be withdrawn from sand and gravel deposits in these valleys with little immediate effect on streamflow. A digital model of the headwater reach of one typical valley suggests that pumping 10.8 million gal/day for 2 months every summer would lower the water table as much as 33 ft, cause the upper 1,900 ft of the stream draining the valley to go dry, and reduce streamflow downvalley by 1.2 million gal/day by the time pumping ceased. Saturated thickness of surficial sand and gravel exceeds 40 ft in about half the headwater valley reaches; the valley floor areas range from 0.2 to 9 sq mi. Seepage losses from small streams that carry runoff from adjacent till-covered uplands are a major source of recharge to aquifers in these valleys under natural conditions and would increase if the water table were lowered by seasonal withdrawals. Some aquifers beneath extensive clay layers in these and other valleys of the Susquehanna River basin may be partially independent of streams but not easily evaluated. (USGS

Water-Resources Investigations Report 81-47

Purpose and scope: This report presents results of a survey conducted in New York from 1978-80 to determine the occurrence and extent of ground-water contamination by organic chemicals and to establish whether airborne contaminants from industrial and metropolitan centers might be a factor in aquifer contamination. To these ends, 74 samples from 56 wells at 49 sites across New York State excluding Long Island1 were analyzed for the organic chemicals listed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as "priority pollutants." The general location of sites sampled is given in figure 1 (p. 26); information on wells sampled is given in table 8 (p. 27)

Ground-water appraisal of the Pine Bush area, Albany County, New York /

Bibliography: p. 31.Mode of access: Internet

Estimation, analysis, sources, and verification of consumptive water use data in the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River Basin /

Includes bibliographical references (p. 25-28).Mode of access: Internet