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Estimating Domestic Self-Supplied Water Use in Rhode Island, 2014–21

Scientific Investigations Report 2024-5109
Prepared in cooperation with the Rhode Island Water Resources Board
By: , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20245109

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Abstract

Water withdrawal from private groundwater wells is often unaccounted for in water planning studies, and water from private wells can be a source of exposure to environmental contaminants. The sizes of populations that depend on private wells for domestic water use and the amounts of water that are withdrawn from these wells are generally poorly represented in data collection efforts because of the challenges of locating, metering, or gathering withdrawal information from individual property owners. To address this problem, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Rhode Island Water Resources Board, estimated the volume of water withdrawn from domestic self-supply wells and the populations who use them for the State of Rhode Island at a 30-meter pixel spatial resolution and one-month temporal resolution between July 2014 and June 2021.

The number of people reliant on domestic self-supply wells has increased in Rhode Island over the study period; however, the statewide estimate of total water withdrawal has not statistically increased. Withdrawals from private wells are largest in the inland areas of the western part of the State, and the towns of Scituate and Charlestown have the highest estimated withdrawals. Statewide monthly withdrawals ranged from 3.987 million gallons per day in March 2018 to 7.767 million gallons per day in September 2016. The median per capita domestic water use rate was 46.0 gallons per capita per day.

Suggested Citation

Chamberlin, C.A., Armstrong, I.P., and Stagnitta, T.J., 2024, Estimating domestic self-supplied water use in Rhode Island, 2014–21: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2024–5109, 29 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20245109.

ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Purpose and Scope
  • Data and Methods
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • Conclusions
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Estimating domestic self-supplied water use in Rhode Island, 2014–21
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2024-5109
DOI 10.3133/sir20245109
Year Published 2024
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) New England Water Science Center
Description Report: vii, 29 p.; Data Release
Country United States
State Rhode Island
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details