Development and Operation of Groundwater, Surface-Water, and Water-Quality Monitoring Networks in Richmond, New York, and Bronx Counties, New York

Objectives

The primary objective is to develop, operate, and maintain long-term monitoring networks on ground-water elevation, pond or lake level, stream discharge, and water quality in Richmond, New York, and Bronx Counties to provide a comprehensive, uninterrupted foundation of hydrologic data. These data are essential for addressing future management and development scenarios for New York City's water resources including: assessment of supplemental water-supply scenarios, ground-water modeling, urban development planning, water-quality and salt-water encroachment studies, wetlands management, and other water-management problems.

Approach

1. Compilation of Records: Records of past observation wells and stream-gaging sites in Richmond, New York, and Bronx Counties were compiled.
2. Field Reconnaissance and Surveying: The location, condition, and site accessibility of the wells and stream-gaging sites found in the data search were determined by USGS personnel in the field.
3. Ground-Water- and Surface-Water-Station Installation: The USGS installed 19 shallow ground-water observation wells in Richmond County, 4 in New York County, and 5 in Bronx County. In Richmond County an additional 8 privately drilled monitoring wells were added to the USGS network. Additionally, 4 streams in Richmond and Bronx Counties are being monitored with continuous stream-gaging equipment. The USGS also installed two lake-level gages at lakes determined to be in hydrologic contact with the local water-table aquifer.
4. Equipment Installation: Continuous ground-water-level recorders are installed at 9 observation wells and 2 pond-level gages; continuous stream-stage recorders are installed at the 4 stream-gaging stations. The 4 stream-gaging stations, and 2 of the 9 selected observation wells are instrumented with satellite- or telephone-telemetry equipment, enabling data collected and transmitted from these sites to be made available in near real-time. All stations will be visited regularly by USGS personnel to perform equipment maintenance and quality assurance
5. Network Monitoring: Water-level elevation, pond level, stream discharge, and ground-water- and surface-water-quality data were collected routinely at selected sites in Richmond, New York, and Bronx Counties. Ground-water sampling was performed on a 2-year rotating schedule of 25 wells per year, so each site in the network was sampled every other year. Samples were analyzed at the USGS's National Water Quality Laboratory for a broad range of constituents, including selected nutrients, major ions, trace metals, volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, organochlorine pesticides, and wastewater indicators.
6. Database Management: All ground-water elevation, pond level, stream discharge, and water-quality data were verified for accuracy and archived in the USGS's National Water Information System (NWIS).
7. Dissemination of Data (Deliverables): Data collected by the study were compiled and published annually in the USGS's Water Resources Data Report. A USGS Fact Sheet or Open File Report describing the hydrogeology and the water-level contours of the local aquifer systems will also be published every two years. Selected data will be available via the Internet.