Geology topics

Research about Scituate Reservoir Drainage Area

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Scituate Reservoir Drainage Area.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2025

Streamflow, water quality, and constituent loads and yields, Scituate Reservoir drainage area, Rhode Island, water year 2022

As part of a long-term cooperative program to monitor water quality within the Scituate Reservoir drainage area, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with Providence Water (formerly the Providence Water Supply Board), collected streamflow and water-quality data in tributaries to the Scituate Reservoir, Rhode Island. Streamflow and concentrations of chloride and sodium estimated from records of specific conductance for 16 tributaries were used to calculate loads of chloride and sodium during water year 2022 (October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022). Water-quality samples were collected by Providence Water at 37 sampling stations on tributaries to the Scituate Reservoir during water year 2022. These water-quality data are summarized by using values of central tendency and are used, in combination with measured (or estimated) streamflows, to calculate loads and yields of selected water-quality constituents for water year 2022. Annual mean streamflows for monitoring stations in this study ranged from about 0.31 to 28.0 cubic feet per second during water year 2022. At the 16 continuous-record streamgages, tributaries transported about 2,600 metric tons of chloride and 1,600 metric tons of sodium to the Scituate Reservoir; annual chloride yields for the tributaries ranged from 15 to 100 metric tons per square mile, and annual sodium yields ranged from 10 to 59 metric tons per square mile. At the stations where water-quality samples were collected by Providence Water, the medians of the median daily loads were 55,000 million colony forming units per day for coliform bacteria, 1,300 million colony forming units per day for Escherichia coli , 230 kilograms per day for chloride, 11 grams per day as nitrogen for nitrite, 620 grams per day as nitrogen for nitrate, and 440 grams per day as orthophosphate for phosphate, The medians of the median yields were 25,000 million colony forming units per day per square mile for coliform bacteria, 810 million colony forming units per day per square mile for Escherichia coli , 110 kilograms per day per square mile for chloride, 5.1 grams per day per square mile as nitrogen for nitrite, less than 300 grams per day per square mile as nitrogen for nitrate, and 230 grams per day per square mile as orthophosphate for phosphate.

Rhode Island↗

USGS2024

Streamflow, water quality, and constituent loads and yields, Scituate Reservoir drainage area, Rhode Island, water year 2021

As part of a long-term cooperative program to monitor water quality within the Scituate Reservoir drainage area, the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with Providence Water (formerly Providence Water Supply Board) collected streamflow and water-quality data in tributaries to the Scituate Reservoir, Rhode Island. Streamflow and concentrations of chloride and sodium estimated from records of specific conductance for 16 tributaries were used to calculate loads of chloride and sodium during water year 2021 (October 1, 2020, through September 30, 2021). Water-quality samples were collected by Providence Water at 36 sampling stations on tributaries to the Scituate Reservoir during water year 2021. These water-quality data are summarized by using values of central tendency and are used, in combination with measured (or estimated) streamflows, to calculate loads and yields of selected water-quality constituents for water year 2021. Annual mean streamflows for monitoring stations in this study ranged from 0.37 to 32.4 cubic feet per second during water year 2021. At the 16 continuous-record streamgages, tributaries transported about 2,900 metric tons (t) of chloride and 1,800 t of sodium to the Scituate Reservoir; annual chloride yields for the tributaries ranged from 15 to 110 metric tons per square mile (t/mi 2 ), and annual sodium yields ranged from 10 to 68 t/mi 2 . At the stations where water-quality samples were collected by Providence Water, the medians of the median daily loads were 180 kilograms per day for chloride, 12 grams per day as nitrogen for nitrite, less than 700 grams per day as nitrogen for nitrate, 410 grams per day as orthophosphate for phosphate, 71,000 million colony forming units per day for coliform bacteria, and less than 2,000 million colony forming units per day for Escherichia coli . The medians of the median yields were 67 kilograms per day per square mile for chloride, 4.2 grams per day per square mile as nitrogen for nitrite, 400 grams per day per square mile as nitrogen for nitrate, 180 grams per day per square mile as orthophosphate as phosphate, 46,000 million colony forming units per day per square mile for coliform bacteria, and 1,000 million colony forming units per day per square mile for Escherichia coli .

Rhode Island↗

USGS2024

Streamflow, water quality, and constituent loads and yields, Scituate Reservoir drainage area, Rhode Island, water year 2020

As part of a long-term cooperative program to monitor water quality within the Scituate Reservoir drainage area, the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with Providence Water (sometimes known as Providence Water Supply Board) collected streamflow and water-quality data in tributaries to the Scituate Reservoir, Rhode Island. Streamflow and concentrations of chloride and sodium estimated from records of specific conductance for 14 tributaries were used to calculate loads of chloride and sodium during water year 2020 (October 1, 2019, through September 30, 2020). Water-quality samples were collected by Providence Water at 37 sampling stations on tributaries to the Scituate Reservoir during water year 2020. These water-quality data are summarized by using values of central tendency and are used, in combination with measured (or estimated) streamflows, to calculate loads and yields of selected water-quality constituents for water year 2020 in this report. Annual mean streamflows for monitoring stations in this study ranged from about 0.32 to 26.7 cubic feet per second during water year 2020. At the 14 continuous-record streamgages, tributaries transported about 2,200 metric tons of chloride and 1,400 metric tons of sodium to the Scituate Reservoir; annual chloride yields for the tributaries ranged from 13 to 110 metric tons per square mile, and annual sodium yields ranged from 8.8 to 6 metric tons per square mile. At the stations where water-quality samples were collected by Providence Water, the medians of the median daily loads were 220 kilograms chloride per day, 10 grams nitrite as nitrogen per day, 500 grams nitrate as nitrogen per day, 290 grams orthophosphate as phosphate per day, 55,000 million colony forming units of coliform bacteria per day, and less than 900 million colony forming units of Escherichia coli per day. The medians of the median yields were 76 kilograms chloride per day per square mile, 4.1 grams nitrite as nitrogen per day per square mile, 240 grams nitrate as nitrogen per day per square mile, 100 grams orthophosphate as phosphate per day per square mile, 31,000 million colony forming units of coliform bacteria per day per square mile, and less than 260 million colony forming units of Escherichia coli per day per square mile.

Rhode Island↗

USGS2022

Streamflow, water quality, and constituent loads and yields, Scituate Reservoir drainage area, Rhode Island, water year 2019

As part of a long-term cooperative program to monitor water quality within the Scituate Reservoir drainage area, the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Providence Water Supply Board collected streamflow and water-quality data at the Scituate Reservoir and tributaries. Streamflow and concentrations of chloride and sodium estimated from records of specific conductance were used to calculate loads of chloride and sodium during water year 2019 (October 1, 2018, through September 30, 2019) for tributaries to the Scituate Reservoir, Rhode Island. Streamflow was measured or estimated by the U.S. Geological Survey following standard methods at 23 streamgages; 14 of these streamgages are equipped with instrumentation capable of continuously monitoring water level, specific conductance, and water temperature. Water-quality samples were collected by the Providence Water Supply Board at 37 sampling stations, which also include the 14 continuous-record streamgages maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey, during water year 2019 as part of a long-term sampling program; all stations are in the Scituate Reservoir drainage area. Water-quality data collected by the Providence Water Supply Board are summarized by using values of central tendency and are used, in combination with measured (or estimated) streamflows, to calculate loads and yields (loads per unit area) of selected water-quality constituents for water year 2019. The largest tributary to the reservoir, the Ponaganset River, which was monitored by the U.S. Geological Survey, contributed a mean streamflow of 40 cubic feet per second to the reservoir during water year 2019. For the same period, annual mean streamflows measured (or estimated) for the other monitoring stations in this study ranged from about 0.55 to about 26 cubic feet per second. Together, tributaries equipped with instrumentation capable of continuously monitoring specific conductance transported about 3,500 metric tons of chloride and 2,100 metric tons of sodium to the Scituate Reservoir during water year 2019; annual chloride yields for the tributaries ranged from 20 to 180 metric tons per square mile, and annual sodium yields ranged from 14 to 100 metric tons per square mile. At the stations where water-quality samples were collected by the Providence Water Supply Board, the medians of the median concentrations were 25.1 milligrams per liter for chloride, 0.001 milligram per liter as nitrogen for nitrite, 0.08 milligram per liter as nitrogen for nitrate, 0.03 milligram per liter as phosphate for orthophosphate, 1,000 colony forming units per 100 milliliters for total coliform bacteria, and 10 colony forming units per 100 milliliters for Escherichia coli ( E. coli ). The medians of the median daily loads of chloride, nitrite, nitrate, orthophosphate, total coliform, and E. coli bacteria were 340 kilograms per day, 18 grams per day, 1,000 grams per day, 410 grams per day, 81,000 million colony forming units per day, and less than 1,800 million colony forming units per day, respectively. The medians of the median yields of chloride, nitrite, nitrate, orthophosphate, total coliform, and E. coli bacteria were 140 kilograms per day per square mile, 6.8 grams per day per square mile, 440 grams per day per square mile, 140 grams per day per square mile, 32,000 million colony forming units per day per square mile, and 660 million colony forming units per day per square mile, respectively.

Rhode Island↗

USGS2022

Streamflow, water quality, and constituent loads and yields, Scituate Reservoir drainage area, Rhode Island, water year 2018

As part of a long-term cooperative program to monitor water quality within the Scituate Reservoir drainage area, the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Providence Water Supply Board collected streamflow and water-quality data at the Scituate Reservoir and tributaries. Streamflow and concentrations of chloride and sodium estimated from records of specific conductance were used to calculate loads of chloride and sodium during water year 2018 (October 1, 2017, through September 30, 2018) for tributaries to the Scituate Reservoir, Rhode Island. Streamflow was measured or estimated by the U.S. Geological Survey following standard methods at 23 streamgages; 14 of these streamgages are equipped with instrumentation capable of continuously monitoring water level, specific conductance, and water temperature. Water-quality samples were collected by the Providence Water Supply Board at 36 sampling stations, which also include the 14 continuous-record streamgages maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey, during water year 2018 as part of a long-term sampling program; all stations are in the Scituate Reservoir drainage area. Water-quality data collected by the Providence Water Supply Board are summarized by using values of central tendency and are used, in combination with measured (or estimated) streamflows, to calculate loads and yields (loads per unit area) of selected water-quality constituents for water year 2018. The largest tributary to the reservoir, the Ponaganset River, which was monitored by the U.S. Geological Survey, contributed a mean streamflow of 33 cubic feet per second to the reservoir during water year 2018. For the same period, annual mean streamflows measured (or estimated) for the other monitoring stations in this study ranged from about 0.34 to about 20 cubic feet per second. Together, tributaries equipped with instrumentation capable of continuously monitoring specific conductance transported about 3,100 metric tons of chloride and 1,900 metric tons of sodium to the Scituate Reservoir during water year 2018; annual chloride yields for the tributaries ranged from 18 to 140 metric tons per square mile, and annual sodium yields ranged from 12 to 80 metric tons per square mile. At the stations where water-quality samples were collected by the Providence Water Supply Board, the medians of the median concentrations were 25.8 milligrams per liter for chloride, 0.001 milligram per liter as nitrogen for nitrite, 0.11 milligram per liter as nitrogen for nitrate, 0.04 milligram per liter as phosphate for orthophosphate, 1,200 colony forming units per 100 milliliters for total coliform bacteria, and 10 colony forming units per 100 milliliters for Escherichia coli ( E. coli ). The medians of the median daily loads of chloride, nitrite, nitrate, orthophosphate, total coliform, and E. coli bacteria were 220 kilograms per day, 15 grams per day, less than 890 grams per day, 360 grams per day, 93,000 million colony forming units per day, and less than 700 million colony forming units per day, respectively. The medians of the median yields of chloride, nitrite, nitrate, orthophosphate, total coliform, and E. coli bacteria were 110 kilograms per day per square mile, 5.5 grams per day per square mile, 250 grams per day per square mile, 210 grams per day per square mile, 36,000 million colony forming units per day per square mile, and 410 million colony forming units per day per square mile, respectively.

Rhode Island↗

USGS2019

Streamflow, water quality, and constituent loads and yields, Scituate Reservoir Drainage Area, Rhode Island, Water Year 2017

As part of a long-term cooperative program to monitor water quality within the Scituate Reservoir drainage area, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Providence Water Supply Board, collected streamflow and water-quality data at the Scituate Reservoir and tributaries. Streamflow and concentrations of chloride and sodium estimated from records of specific conductance were used to calculate loads of chloride and sodium during water year 2017 (October 1, 2016, through September 30, 2017) for tributaries to the Scituate Reservoir, Rhode Island. Streamflow was measured or estimated by the U.S. Geological Survey following standard methods at 23 streamgages; 14 of these streamgages are equipped with instrumentation capable of continuously monitoring water level, specific conductance, and water temperature. Water-quality samples were collected by the Providence Water Supply Board at 36 sampling stations, which also include the 14 continuous-record streamgages maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey, during water year 2017 as part of a long-term sampling program; all stations are in the Scituate Reservoir drainage area. Water-quality data collected by the Providence Water Supply Board are summarized by using values of central tendency and are used, in combination with measured (or estimated) streamflows, to calculate loads and yields (loads per unit area) of selected water-quality constituents for water year 2017. The Ponaganset River, which is the largest tributary to the reservoir and was monitored by the U.S. Geological Survey, contributed a mean streamflow of 29 cubic feet per second to the reservoir during water year 2017. For the same period, annual mean streamflows measured (or estimated) for the other monitoring stations in this study ranged from about 0.44 to about 20 cubic feet per second. Together, tributaries equipped with instrumentation capable of continuously monitoring specific conductance transported about 3,100 metric tons of chloride and 1,900 metric tons of sodium to the Scituate Reservoir during water year 2017; chloride yields for the tributaries ranged from 16 to 140 metric tons per square mile, and sodium yields, from 10 to 80 metric tons per square mile. At the stations where water-quality samples were collected by the Providence Water Supply Board, the medians of the median concentrations were 25.3 milligrams per liter for chloride, 0.002 milligram per liter as nitrogen for nitrite, 0.10 milligram per liter as nitrogen for nitrate, 0.05 milligram per liter as phosphate for orthophosphate, 1,200 colony forming units per 100 milliliters for total coliform bacteria, and 14 colony forming units per 100 milliliters for Escherichia coli ( E. coli ). The medians of the median daily loads of chloride, nitrite, nitrate, orthophosphate, total coliform, and E. coli bacteria were 230 kilograms per day, 17 grams per day, 860 grams per day, 690 grams per day, 84,000 million colony forming units per day, and 1,200 million colony forming units per day, respectively. The medians of the median yields of chloride, nitrite, nitrate, orthophosphate, total coliform, and E. coli bacteria were were 87 kilograms per day per square mile, 6.1 grams per day per square mile, 280 grams per day per square mile, 260 grams per day per square mile, 44,000 million colony forming units per day per square mile, and 655 million colony forming units per day per square mile, respectively.

Rhode Island↗

USGS2018

Streamflow, water quality, and constituent loads and yields, Scituate Reservoir Drainage Area, Rhode Island, Water Year 2016

As part of a long-term cooperative program to monitor water quality within the Scituate Reservoir watershed, the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Providence Water Supply Board collected streamflow and water-quality data at the Scituate Reservoir and tributaries. Streamflow and concentrations of chloride and sodium estimated from records of specific conductance were used to calculate loads of chloride and sodium during water year (WY) 2016 (October 1, 2015, through September 30, 2016) for tributaries to the Scituate Reservoir, Rhode Island. Streamflow was measured or estimated by the U.S. Geological Survey following standard methods at 23 streamgages; 14 of these streamgages are equipped with instrumentation capable of continuously monitoring water level, specific conductance, and water temperature. Water-quality samples were collected by the Providence Water Supply Board at 34 sampling stations that also include 14 continuous-record streamgages maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey during WY 2016 as part of a long-term sampling program; all stations are in the Scituate Reservoir drainage area. Water-quality data collected by the Providence Water Supply Board are summarized by using values of central tendency and are used, in combination with measured (or estimated) streamflows, to calculate loads and yields (loads per unit area) of selected water-quality constituents for WY 2016. The largest tributary to the reservoir, the Ponaganset River, which was monitored by the U.S. Geological Survey, contributed a mean streamflow of 18 cubic feet per second to the reservoir during WY 2016. For the same period, annual mean streamflows measured (or estimated) for the other monitoring stations in this study ranged from about 0.27 to about 12 cubic feet per second. Together, tributaries equipped with instrumentation capable of continuously monitoring specific conductance transported about 2,100,000 kilograms of chloride and 1,300,000 kilograms of sodium to the Scituate Reservoir during WY 2016; chloride and sodium yields for the tributaries ranged from 14,000 to 95,000 kilograms per square mile and from 8,600 to 56,000 kilograms per square mile, respectively. At the stations where water-quality samples were collected by the Providence Water Supply Board, the medians of the median concentrations were 27.9 milligrams per liter for chloride, 0.002 milligram per liter as nitrogen for nitrite, 0.13 milligrams per liter as nitrogen for nitrate, 0.07 milligram per liter as phosphate for orthophosphate, and 700 and 10 colony forming units per 100 milliliters for total coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli ( E. coli ), respectively. The medians of the median daily loads of chloride, nitrite nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, orthophosphate, and total coliform and E. coli bacteria were 170 kilograms per day, 8.9 grams per day, 570 grams per day, 320 grams per day, 41,000 million colony forming units per day, and 680 million colony forming units per day. The medians of the median yields of chloride, nitrite nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, orthophosphate, total coliform, and E. coli bacteria were 53 kilograms per day per square mile, 4.7 grams per day per square mile, 130 grams per day per square mile, 165 grams per day per square mile, 23,000 million colony forming units per day per square mile, and 340 million colony forming units per day per square mile, respectively.

Rhode Island↗