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Data from Decadal Change in Groundwater Quality Web Site, 1988-2014, Version 2.0

Metadata Updated: January 7, 2026

Evaluating Decadal Changes in Groundwater Quality: Groundwater quality data were collected from 5,000 wells between 1988-2001 (first sampling event) by the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Water-Quality Assessment Project. Samples are collected in groups of 20-30 wells with similar characteristics called networks. About 1,500 of these wells in 67 networks were sampled about 10 years later between 2002-2012 (second sampling event) to evaluate decadal changes in groundwater quality. Between 2012 and 2014 (third sampling event), a subset of these networks has been sampled again, allowing additional results to be displayed on the web page: Decadal changes in groundwater quality. Changes to this web page are referred to herein as Version 2.0. With the additional data, it is possible to evaluate changes in water quality between the 2nd and 3rd sampling event for 16 networks, changes in water quality between the 1st and 3rd sampling event for 13 networks, and changes across all 3 sampling events for 14 networks. A total of 73 networks have been sampled at least twice. Samples were obtained from monitoring wells, domestic-supply wells, and some public-supply wells before any treatment on the system. Groundwater samples used to evaluate decadal change were collected from networks of wells with similar characteristics. Some networks, consisting of domestic or public supply wells, were used to assess changes in the quality of groundwater used for drinking water supply. Other networks, consisting of monitoring wells, assessed changes in the quality of shallow groundwater underlying key land use types such as agricultural or urban lands. Networks were chosen based on geographic distribution across the Nation and to represent the most important water-supply aquifers and specific land-use types. Online Mapper Showing Decadal Changes in Groundwater Quality: Decadal changes in concentrations of pesticides, nutrients, metals, and organic contaminants in groundwater were evaluated in a total of 73 networks across the Nation comparing changes between selected sampling events. Decadal changes in median concentrations for a network are classified as large, small, or no change in comparison to a benchmark concentration. For example, a large change in chloride concentrations indicates that the median of all differences in concentrations in a network is greater than 5 percent of the chloride benchmark per decade. For chloride, which has a Secondary Maximum Contaminant level of 250 milligrams per liter, this would mean the change in concentration exceeded 12.5 milligrams per liter, or 5 percent of the benchmark. Decadal Groundwater Quality Networks: 230 networks were sampled from 1998 to 2001 to assess the status of the Nation's groundwater quality. Each dot on the above map represents the center point of a network of about 20 to 30 wells. Networks sampled in the first round only are shown in green. 67 networks were resampled from 2002 to 2012 to assess decadal changes in groundwater quality and are shown in blue. Networks sampled from 2012 to 2014 and at least one previous round are shown in orange. A total of 73 networks have been sampled at least twice.

Access & Use Information

Public: This dataset is intended for public access and use. License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

Downloads & Resources

Dates

Metadata Created Date January 7, 2026
Metadata Updated Date January 7, 2026

Metadata Source

Harvested from DOI USGS DCAT-US

Additional Metadata

Resource Type Dataset
Metadata Created Date January 7, 2026
Metadata Updated Date January 7, 2026
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Maintainer
Identifier http://datainventory.doi.gov/id/dataset/USGS_5a0cac1ae4b09af898cd4307
Data Last Modified 2020-08-26T00:00:00Z
Category geospatial
Public Access Level public
Bureau Code 010:12
Metadata Context https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.jsonld
Metadata Catalog ID https://ddi.doi.gov/usgs-data.json
Schema Version https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema
Catalog Describedby https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.json
Harvest Object Id 9ca45158-b14a-43ff-bd64-4ca4338955ac
Harvest Source Id 2b80d118-ab3a-48ba-bd93-996bbacefac2
Harvest Source Title DOI USGS DCAT-US
Metadata Type geospatial
Old Spatial -128.696099187, 20.664375973, -64.589455608, 51.047319151
Source Datajson Identifier True
Source Hash ce83db9cd21ddb1bfbd10868f4927436cb8257c11940c51409ef751391524915
Source Schema Version 1.1
Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": -128.696099187, 20.664375973, -128.696099187, 51.047319151, -64.589455608, 51.047319151, -64.589455608, 20.664375973, -128.696099187, 20.664375973}

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