Estimated Short-Term Yields of and Quality of 

Ground Water in Stratified-Drift Aquifer Areas 

in the Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts

By ALAN R. KLINGER

U.S. Geological Survey

Water-Resources Investigations Report 93-4142

Prepared in cooperation with the

MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT,

OFFICE OF WATER RESOURCES

Marlborough, Massachusetts 

1996
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Gordon P. Eaton, Director

For additional information, write to:

District Chief

Massachusetts Rhode Island District

U.S. Geological Survey

Water Resources Division

28 Lord Rd., Suite 280

Marlborough, MA 01752

Copies of this report can be purchased from:

U.S. Geological Survey

Earth Science Information Center

Open-File Reports Section

Box 25286, MS 517

Federal Center

Denver, CO 80225
CONTENTS

Abstract ...................................................................................^ 1

Introduction ................................................... 1

Description of Study Area.................................................................................................................................................. 3

Location and Water Use.......................................................................................................................................... 3

Geohydrologic Setting............................................................................................................................................ 4

Aquifer Areas..................................................................................................................................................................... 4

Short-Term Yields of Stratified-Drift Aquifer Areas ......................................................................................................... 19

Quality of Ground Water in Stratified-Drift Aquifer Areas............................................................................................... 22

Summary............................................................................................................................................................................ 29

References Cited ................................................................................................................................................................ 29

FIGURES

1-4. Maps showing:

1. Location of the Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts .................................................................................... 2

2. Names and locations of the 15 stratified-drift aquifer areas in the Neponset River

Basin, Massachusetts........................................................................................................................................ 5

3. Distribution of transmissivity for the 15 stratified-drift aquifer areas in the

Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts....................................................................................................... 6

4. Location of water-quality sampling sites, Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts........................................... 24

5,6. Graphs showing temporal variation in:

5. Chloride concentrations at selected wells in the Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts................................. 27

6. Nitrate concentrations at selected wells in the Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts.................................... 28

TABLES

1. Lithologic logs of test holes in the Fowl Meadow Reservation area, Neponset River

Basin, Massachusetts....................................................................................................................................... 20

2. Short-term yield from storage for 14 selected aquifer areas, Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts................... 21

3. Statistical summary of concentrations of selected physical properties and chemical constituents in

water samples from 16 wells in the stratified-drift aquifer areas, Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts ...... 23

4. Physical properties and concentrations of selected chemical constituents in water from the

stratified-drift aquifer areas, Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts............................................................... 25

5. Volatile organic compounds analyzed for in water samples from all aquifer areas, Neponset River

Basin, Massachusetts....................................................................................................................................... 29

Contents III
CONVERSION FACTORS AND VERTICAL DATUM

Multiply By To obtain

cubic foot (ft3)

cubic foot per second (ftVs)

foot (ft)

foot per day (ft/d)

gallon per minute (gal/min)

inch (in.)

mile (mi)

million gallons per day (Mgal/d)

square mile (mi2)

cubic foot per day per square foot

times foot of aquifer thickness

[(ftVd)/ft2]ft (reduces to ft2/d)

0.02832

0.02832

0.3048

0.3048

0.06308

25.4

1 .609

0.0438 1

2.590

0.09290

cubic meter

cubic meter per second

meter

meter per day

liter per second

millimeter

kilometer

cubic meter per second

square kilometer

cubic meter per day per 

square meter times meter 

of aquifer thickness

To convert cubic feet per second to million gallons per day, multiply by 0.6463

Sea Level: In this report, "sea level" refers to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 a geodetic datum derived from a general 

adjustment of the first-order level nets of the United States and Canada, formerly called Sea Level Datum of 1929.

IV Conversion Factors and Vertical Datum
Estimated Short-Term Yields of and Quality of 

Ground Water in Stratified-Drift Aquifer Areas in the 

Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts

By Alan R. Klinger

Abstract

This report presents the estimated short-term 

yields and quality of ground water in stratifieddrift aquifer areas in the Neponset River Basin, 

Massachusetts. Stratified glacial drift forms the 

major aquifer areas in the basin. These thin 

valley-fill aquifer areas of sand and gravel have 

saturated thicknesses of as much as 130 feet and 

widths that reach a maximum of 8,000 feet in 

some of the bedrock valleys.

For 14 selected aquifer areas, estimated shortterm yields from aquifer storage, which is representative of short-term duration yield available 

during severe drought conditions, ranged from 2.1 

to 12.4 cubic feet per second after 30 days of pumping and from 0.3 to 7.1 cubic feet per second after 

180 days of pumping.

Ground water in the basin tends to be slightly 

acidic, of low to moderate hardness, and has relatively low concentrations of dissolved solids. 

Sodium is the dominant cation and chloride the 

dominant anion. In one-half of the wells sampled, 

iron and manganese concentrations exceeded the 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Secondary 

Maximum Contaminant Levels (SMCL's) of 300 

and 50 micrograms per liter, respectively.

INTRODUCTION

Intermittent water shortages in the Neponset 

River Basin (fig. 1) are common. Except for the 

towns of Norwood and Canton, which receive water 

from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, 

all towns in the study basin rely on ground water as 

their sole source of public supply. Shortages occur 

because the aquifers are small and discontinuous, 

water use has been increasing, short-term droughts 

prevent replenishment of depleted aquifer storage, 

and anthropogenic ground-water contamination has 

limited use of supplies. If water resources are not 

fully identified and management programs pursued, 

water-supply problems are projected to increase 

(Massachusetts Department of Environmental 

Management, 1983).

This report presents the results of a study 

conducted during 1985-88 to estimate the short-term 

yields and describe the quality of ground water in 

stratified-drift aquifer areas in the Neponset River 

Basin. Only that part of the basin upstream from 

Paul's Bridge on the Neponset Valley Parkway in 

Milton was examined, omitting Quincy, and most of 

Boston and Milton (fig. 1). The omitted area was not 

examined because of its urban development and 

resulting unsuitability for municipal wells. This basin

Introduction 1
DRAINAGE BASINS OF MASSACHUSETTS

DORCHESTER BAY

42° 10'

42° 05'

EXPLANATION

l:::::::::i| AREA NOT INCLUDED IN STUDY

 -- BASIN BOUNDARY

STUDY AREA BOUNDARYNeponset Valley Parkway

5 MILES

I_____I

5 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital line graphs, 1:100,000,1988 

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 19

Figure 1. Location of the Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts.

2 Estimated Yields of and Quality of Ground Water in Stratified-Drift Aquifer Areas in the Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts
study is one of a series to assess the State groundwater resources under Massachusetts Chapter 800 

legislation. Work was done by the U.S. Geological 

Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the 

Massachusetts Department of Environmental 

Management, Office of Water Resources. The author 

thanks the town engineers and employees of the 

municipal water departments in the basin for 

providing information on ground-water exploration 

and development in their communities. Thanks also 

to those property owners who permitted access to 

their property for seismic-refraction surveying, 

monitor-well installation, and streamflow measuring.

Undeveloped, major stratified-drift aquifer areas 

in the basin were studied in detail. Short-term aquifer 

yields were estimated for 14 of the 15 aquifer areas 

previously described by Brackley and others (1973a). 

Quality of ground water was described using 

analyses for inorganic chemical constituents, specific 

conductance, pH, alkalinity, trace elements, and 

volatile organic compounds.

Numerous reports describing ground-water 

conditions in the basin's municipalities have been 

prepared by private consulting firms. Among these 

include reports by Amory Engineers (1979); 

Geraghty and Miller, Inc. (1966, 1982, 1983); 

Linenthal, Eisenberg, and Anderson, Inc. (1984); 

Weston and Sampson (1980); and Whitman and 

Howard, Inc. (1939, 1973).

DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA

Location and Water Use

The Neponset River Basin (fig. 1) drains 117 mi2 

southwest of Boston in eastern Massachusetts. It 

includes all or part of the towns of Canton, Dedham,

Dover, Foxborough, Medfield, Milton, Norwood, 

Randolph, Quincy, Sharon, Stoughton, Walpole, 

Westwood, and the city of Boston. The total drainage 

area of the study basin, that part of the Neponset 

River Basin upstream from Paul's Bridge on the 

Neponset Valley Parkway in Milton, is 93.2 mi2.

The basin is in the Seaboard Lowland Section of 

the New England Physiographic Province. Landsurface altitudes range from about 40 ft above sea 

level along parts of the Neponset River in the eastern 

part of the basin to 470 ft above sea level on Moose 

Hill in Sharon. Surface-water drainage of the 

Neponset River generally is northeast to Dorchester 

Bay. Mean annual discharge of the Neponset River at 

Norwood is 53.9 ftVs. Average annual precipitation 

at the Norwood Airport is 43.7 in. and is distributed 

fairly evenly throughout the year (National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration, 1987).

Land use is primarily residential with moderate 

industrial and commercial activity. In 1986, average 

daily demand for water in the towns in the study area 

was 38.1 ftVs and the maximum daily demand was 

about 55.5 ft3/s. Of the average 38.1 ftVs used, 

24.8 ft3/s was derived from ground-water resources 

in the basin. This amount derived from the basin's 

ground-water resources has remained fairly constant 

since 1970 and probably will not increase 

substantially. Overall, water use (including water 

imported from other river basins) in the towns of the 

basin increased 14 percent from 1970 through 1986 

and is expected to increase 23 percent over 1986 

water-use levels by the year 2020 (Massachusetts 

Department of Environmental Management, 1988).

Description of Study Area 3
Geohydrologic Setting

Bedrock underlying the Neponset River Basin is 

predominantly igneous and sedimentary. The 

bedrock is relatively impermeable and is only 

moderately weathered and fractured (Chute, 1966). 

Numerous private bedrock wells in the study area are 

used for domestic water supply. These wells typically 

yield only a few gallons per minute (Brackley and 

others, 1973b). Therefore, bedrock aquifers in the 

Neponset River Basin are not suitable for large 

municipal supplies and were not included in this 

study.

Bedrock is overlain by unconsolidated glacial 

deposits, primarily till and stratified drift. Till, an 

unsorted mixture of sand, gravel, silt, clay, and rock 

fragments, is the sole surficial deposit over nearly 50 

percent of the basin. In addition, till underlies most of 

the other surficial deposits (Chute, 1966). Till has low 

permeability and is not considered an aquifer.

Stratified-drift deposits consist of cobbles, 

gravel, sand, silt, and clay of Pleistocene and 

Holocene age. These deposits are exposed at land 

surface over about 30 percent of the basin. The 

stratified-drift deposits are narrow and thin, reaching 

a maximum thickness of 130 ft in some of the 

bedrock valleys (Chute, 1966). Widths range from 

0.1 to 1.3 mi and lengths range from about 0.7 to 2.5 

mi. Yields of wells in the fine-grained stratified drift

are usually no more than a few gallons per minute, 

whereas yields of wells in the coarse-grained 

stratified drift can exceed 300 gal/min (Lapham, 

1988) and form the only aquifer areas in the basin 

capable of sustaining municipal water supplies.

Recharge of ground water to the stratified-drift 

aquifers is primarily from infiltration of precipitation. 

Ground water moves through the aquifer and 

discharges into streams, lakes, and wetlands. Ground 

water withdrawn from the stratified-drift aquifers is 

derived from intercepted ground-water discharge, 

induced infiltration of surface water and aquifer 

storage.

AQUIFER AREAS

Fifteen aquifer areas shown in figure 2 were 

identified from a ground-water-favorability study 

conducted by Brackley and others (1973a). Transmissivity of the aquifer areas was remapped on the basis 

of the map by Brackley and others (1973a, and test 

drilling and seismic surveys conducted during this 

study, and records of test-drilling by others that were 

collected. The seismic profiles in figure 3 were used 

to determine the saturated thickness of seven of the 

aquifer areas. The distribution of transmissivity in the 

15 aquifer areas is shown in figures 3A-M.

4 Estimated Yields of and Quality of Ground Water in Stratified-Drift Aquifer Areas in the Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts
71° 05'

42° 10' __

42° 05'

5 MILES

5 KILOMETERS

EXPLANATION

School Meadow Brook 

Neponset Reservoir

l>^| AREA OF BASIN NOT INCLUDED

IN STUDY \j Neponset Reserve 

AQUIFER AREA AND LETTER DESIGNATION . .

A Mill Brook H Purgatory Brook

B Turner Pond ' Fowl Meadow Reservation

C Germany Brook

D Bird Pond

E Traphole Brook

J White Lodge

K Reservoir Pond

L Central Neponset River

M Beaver Brook aquifer

N Steep Hill Brook aquifer

O Beaver Meadow Brook aquifer

- - - BASIN BOUNDARY

 STUDY AREA BOUNDARYNeponset Valley Parkway

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital line graphs, 1:100,000,1988 

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 19

Figure 2. Names and locations of the 15 stratified-drift aquifer areas in the Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts.

Aquifer Areas 5
71° 171 71° 16'

/

42° 12'

EXPLANATION

 1,300 - - LINE OF EQUAL TRANSMISSIYITYInterval is 1,300 feet squared per day. 

Dashed where approximately located

- - BASIN BOUNDARY

^ - ^ AQUIFER BOUNDARY

 I LINE OF SEISMIC REFRACTION

A STREAMFLOW-GAGING STATION

r\

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital line graphs, 1:25,000, 1988 

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 19

3A Mill Brook aquifer area.

Figure 3. Distribution of transmissivity for the 15 stratified-drift aquifer areas in the Neponset 

River Basin, Massachusetts. (Modified from Brackley and others, 1973a.)

6 Estimated Yields of and Quality of Ground Water in Stratified-Drift Aquifers in the Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts
42° 11- C 

42° 09' 

1,300 LINE OF EQUAL TRANSMISSIVITY 

Interval is 1,300 feet squared per day.

BASIN BOUNDARY 

AQUIFER BOUNDARY 

STREAMFLOW-GAGING STATION

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital line graphs, 1:25,000,1988 

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 19

38. Turner Pond aquifer area.

Figure 3. Continued.

Aquifer Areas 7
- 1,300 LINE OF EQUAL TRANSMISSIYITYInterval is 1.300 fed squared per day

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital line graphs, 1:25,000,1988 

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 19

3C. Germany Brook aquifer area.

Figure 3. Continued.

8 Estimated Yields of and Quality of Ground Water in Stratified-Drift Aquifers in the Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts
71° 12'

42° 10

Pond 0 BIRD POND \ 

AQUIFER I

s*

1,300 LINE OF EQUAL TRANSMISSIVITY-- 

Interval is 1,300 feet squared per day

AQUIFER BOUNDARY

LINE OF SEISMIC REFRACTION

STREAMFLOW-GAGING STATION

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital line graphs, 1:25,000.1988 

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 19

3D. Bird Pond and Traphole Brook aquifer areas.

Figure 3. Continued.

Aquifer Areas 9
1,300- - LINE OF EQUAL TRANSMISSIVITY 

Interval is 1.300 feel squared per day 

Dashed where approximately located

BASIN BOUNDARY 

AQUIFER BOUNDARY 

STREAMFLOW-GAG1NG STATION

SHARON

Moose-HilT"

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital line graphs, 1:25,000, 1988 

Universal Transverse Mercator projection. Zone 19

3E. School Meadow Brook aquifer area.

Figure 3. Continued.

10 Estimated Yields of and Quality of Ground Water in Stratified-Drift Aquifers in the Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts
1,300 LINE OF EQUAL TRANSMISSIVITYInlerval is 1.300 feel squared per day

OXBOROUG

TATE HOSPITAL /CHESTNUT

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital line graphs, 1:25,000, 1988 

Universal Transverse Mercator projection. Zone 19

3F. Neponset Reservoir aquifer area.

Figure 3. Continued.

Aquifer Areas 11
0

0

I

I I

1 KILOMETER

1 MILE

]

EXPLANATION

^ /,300 LINE OF EQUAL TRANSMISSIVITYInterval 1.300 feet squared per day

 - - BASIN BOUNDARY

- ^ ^~ AQUIFER BOUNDARY

LINE OF SEISMIC REFRACTION

STREAMFLOW-GAGING STATION

jCBWIH OBSERVATION WELL AND NUMBER 

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital line graphs, 1:25,000, 1988 

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 19

3G. Purgatory Brook aquifer area.

Figure 3. Continued.

12 Estimated Yields of and Quality of Ground Water in Stratified-Drift Aquifers in the Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts
71°10' 71°09' 71°08'

42"14' 

42° 13'

EXPLANATION 

1,300 LINE OF EQUAL TRANSMISSIVITYInterval is 1.300 feel squared per day 

BASIN BOUNDARY 

AQUIFER BOUNDARY 

LINE OF SEISMIC REFRACTION

B LINE OF MARINE SEISMIC REFRACTION 

STREAMFLOW-GAGING STATION

RESERVATION 

AREA

WESTWOOD / Creenlodge

CBW 11

WHITE 

LODGE 

'AQUIFER

NORWOOD ^;<x

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital line graphs, 1:25,000,1988 

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 19

3H. Fowl Meadow Reservation area and White Lodge aquifer area.

Figure 3. Continued.

Aquifer Areas 13
71°09- 71°07' 71° 06'

42°10'

.1,300 LINE OF EQUAL TRANSMISS1VITYlnier\al is 1,500 feel squared per day

 AQUIFER BOUNDARY

 I LINE OF SEISMIC REFRACTION

A STREAMFLOW-GAGING STATION

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital line graphs, 1:25,000,1988 

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 19

31. Reservoir Pond aquifer area.

Figure 3. Continued.

14 Estimated Yields of and Quality of Ground Water in Stratified-Drift Aquifers in the Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts
7i°ir

1,300 LINE OF EQUAL TRANSM1SS1VITY-- 

Interval is 1,300 feel squared per day

B LINE OF MARINE SEISMIC REFLECTION 

Along the Neponsei River

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital line graphs, 1:25,000, 1988 

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 19

3J. Central Neponset River aquifer area.

Figure 3. Continued.

Aquifer Areas 15
71° 101

42° 06'

SHARON^

1,300- - LINE OF EQUAL TRANSMISSIVITY 

Interval is 1.300 feel squared pet day 

Dashed where approximately located

BASIN BOUNDARY

LINE OF SFISMIC REFRACTION

STREAMFLOW-GAGING STATION

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital line graphs, 1:25,000,1988 

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 19

3K. Beaver Brook aquifer area.

Figure 3. Continued.

16 Estimated Yields of and Quality of Ground Water in Stratified-Drift Aquifers in the Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts
71°08'

42° 08' 

1,300 LINE OF EQUAL TRANSMISSIVITYInlerval is 1 .300 feel squared per day

BASIN BOUNDARY 

AQUIFER BOUNDARY 

STREAMFLOW-GAGING STATION

[3

STOUGHTON

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital line graphs, 1:25,000,1988 

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 19

3L. Steep Hill Brook aquifer area.

Figure 3. Continued.

Aquifer Areas 17
71°08'

RESERVOIR POND

STOUGHTON

1,300 LINE OF EQUAL TRANSM1SS1VITYInterval is 1,300 feet squared per day

BASIN BOUNDARY 

AQUIFER BOUNDARY 

STREAMFLOW-GAGING STATION

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital line graphs, 1:25,000,1988 

Universal Transverse Mercator projection. Zone 19

3M. Beaver Meadow Brook aquifer area.

Figure 3. Continued.

18 Estimated Yields of and Quality of Ground Water in Stratified-Drift Aquifers in the Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts
SHORT-TERM YIELDS OF STRATIFIEDDRIFT AQUIFER AREAS

During severe drought, ground-water recharge and 

discharge is small, streamflow is low, and little surface 

water is stored in wetlands. Consequently, water 

pumped from aquifers under these conditions is derived 

from aquifer storage. In this report, estimates of shortterm aquifer yields were based on water available solely 

from depletion of aquifer storage.

Freeze and Cherry (1979) define aquifer yield as 

the maximum rate of withdrawal that can be sustained 

without causing an unacceptable decline in the hydraulic head of an aquifer. In this study, an unacceptable 

decline in the hydraulic head of an aquifer is defined as 

a greater than 50 percent decline in the water table in an 

aquifer near the pumped well. This value was selected 

for consistency with similar areal studies of stratifieddrift aquifer yields in the Taunton (Lapham, 1988), 

Nashua (de Lima, 1989) and Blackstone (Izbicki, in 

press) River Basins.

Fourteen of the potential 15 aquifer areas were 

selected for analysis of short-term aquifer yields. Criteria used for selecting an area for analysis was the presence of at least 40 ft of saturated aquifer material that 

had a transmissivity of at least 3,000 ft2/d and a horizontal hydraulic conductivity of the stratified drift of at 

least 100 ft/d where the well screen would be placed.

The Fowl Meadow Reservation area (area I in 

fig. 2) was the only area determined unsuitable for analysis based on the above criteria. Lithologic logs of 11 

wells drilled in this area during the project (table 1) 

indicate a saturated thickness of about 100 feet composed of mostly low hydraulic conductivity fine sands 

and silts that yield only small quantities of water to 

wells.

The short-term yields of the 14 selected aquifer 

areas (fig. 3) were calculated using a ground-water-flow 

model (McDonald and Harbaugh, 1988), with yields

expressed as a single value for several selected pumping 

periods. By design, the two-dimensional model developed for each aquifer is only a tool to estimate aquifer 

yield. These models have not been calibrated with 

respect to extensive ground-water-level data bases and 

the sensitivity of model output to changes in hydraulic 

properties of aquifer areas has not been evaluated. In 

addition, changes in the free-surface boundary that simulates the water table are nonlinear, and therefore, not 

additive (Reilly and others, 1987). These models, therefore, can not be used to predict specific changes in 

water-table configuration resulting from proposed 

ground-water pumping plans, regardless of whether the 

initial water-table configuration is known. Results from 

these models are more similar to results obtained using 

image-well models than results obtained from fully calibrated ground-water-flow models. Because of these 

limitations on model use, details of model construction 

usually provided as part of ground-water-modeling 

studies have not been included in this report.

The calculations of short-term aquifer yields were 

based on the following assumptions about the aquifer 

areas and ground-water flow in each aquifer area:

1. Stratified-drift aquifer areas are homogeneous and 

isotropic. Distribution of aquifer transmissivity 

is shown in figure 3.

2. Ground-water flow is horizontal; therefore, a twodimensional model was used.

3. No ground water flows to or from the till and 

bedrock; therefore, the aquifer areas were 

simulated as being surrounded by no-flow 

boundaries. Aquifer areas are bounded by a line 

of equal transmissivity of 1,300 ft2/d (fig. 3).

4. There is neither recharge nor streamflow, and 

neither are simulated.

5. The water table in each aquifer is considered to be 

flat prior to pumping and is simulated as such.

Short-Term Yields of Stratified-Drift Aquifer Areas 19
Table 1. Lithologic logs of test holes in the Fowl Meadow Reservation area, Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts

[Location of wells shown in figure 3H. ft, foot. Description: Refusal is a drilling term indicating the depth of a drill hole at which further penetration is 

impossible or impractical with equipment being used]

Description

Depth (ft)

From To

Description

Depth (ft)

From To

CBW 104

lat 42° 13' 31" long 71 °08' 17"

Sand, very fine; silt, some............................. 0 19

Sand, very fine; silt; clay, some.................... 19 30

Silt, clay, some.............................................. 30 125

Gravel............................................................ 125 126

Refusal.......................................................... 126

CBW 105

lat 42°13'24" long 71°08'12"

Sand, fine...................................................... 0 10

Sand, very fine; silt....................................... 10 38

Silt; sand, very fine ....................................... 38 48

Silt; clay, some.............................................. 48 98

Silt................................................................. 98 112

Refusal.......................................................... 112

CBW 106

lat 42°13'24" long 71°08'08"

Sand, medium................................................ 0 12

Sand, very fine.............................................. 12 21

Sand, very fine; silt....................................... 21 32

Silt; clay, some.............................................. 32 98

Sand, medium; silt; gravel, some.................. 98 104

Refusal.......................................................... 104

CBW 107

lat 42°13'34" long 71°08'07//

Silt................................................................. 0 35

Silt; clay, some.............................................. 35 123

Refusal.......................................................... 123

CBW 108

lat 42°13'30" long 71°08'00"

Sand, medium-fine........................................ 0 20

Sand, fine; silt, some..................................... 20 36

Silt; clay, some.............................................. 36 91

Refusal.......................................................... 91

CBW 109

lat 42°13'21" long 71°08'24"

Sand, medium; gravel................................... 0 12

Sand, medium................................................ 12 24

Sand, fine; silt............................................... 24 38

Silt; sand, fine to very fine............................ 38 55

Silt; clay, some.............................................. 55 126.5

Gravel............................................................ 126.5 127.5

Refusal.......................................................... 127.5

CBW 110

lat 42°13'24" long 71°08'18"

Silt; sand, very fine........................................ 0 12

Silt................................................................. 12 34

Sand, very fine; silt........................................ 34 55

Silt; sand, very fine; clay, some .................... 55 100

Silt; clay......................................................... 100 127

Till................................................................. 127 130

Refusal........................................................... 130

CBW 111

lat 42°12'47// long 71W33"

Sand, very fine............................................... 0 20

Sand, very fine; silt, some............................. 20 34

Silt; sand, very fine........................................ 34 45

Silt................................................................. 45 90

Silt; clay, some.............................................. 90 125

Refusal........................................................... 125

CBW 112

lat 42°13'55" long 71°07'40"

Silt; sand, fine................................................ 0 10

Silt; clay, some .............................................. 10 45

Refusal........................................................... 45

CBW 113

lat 42°12'26" long 7T08'50"

Sand, very fine; silt........................................ 0 12

Sand, medium................................................ 12 35

Sand, fine to very fine................................... 35 45

Sand, fine to very fine; 

silt; clay, some............................................ 45 60

Silt; clay, trace............................................... 60 119.5

Refusal........................................................... 119.5

CBW 114

lat 42°12'23" long 71°08'53//

Sand, medium to fine .................................... 0 30

Sand, fine; silt, some..................................... 30 43

Sand, fine; silt................................................ 43 55

Silt................................................................. 55 90

Silt; clay, trace............................................... 90 120.5

Refusal........................................................... 120.5

20 Estimated Yields of and Quality of Ground Water in Stratified-Drift Aquifer Areas in the Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts
6. Simulated wells were placed where: 

a. Saturated thickness exceeds 40 ft. 

b. Transmissivity exceeds 3,000 ft2/d.

c. Distance between adjacent wells is at least 

1,000ft.

d. A well can be developed in material with a 

hydraulic conductivity of 100 ft/d or more.

Maximum pumping rates from wells were determined by simulating constant heads at model nodes 

where desaturation was limited to 50 percent of the total 

saturated thickness. To achieve the specified head, the 

leakage to the cell containing the well was considered 

equal to the pumping rate for that well for the specified 

time period. For the well to be of value to a municipality, it had to be able to produce at least 100 gal/min after 

180 days. If the well was unable to produce that much 

water, it was eliminated as a potential well site. Maximum potential pumping rate was determined by the following equation to ensure that desaturation of nodes 

within the model did not exceed 50 percent of the total 

saturated thickness, as modified from Trescott and 

others (1976, p. 10):

Q =

H. 2-B2

(D

where

Q is the maximum pumping rate that can be

sustained assuming 50-percent

desaturation of the node, 

K is hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer

node where pumping is simulated, 

B is saturated thickness of the node at

50-percent desaturation,

Hw is saturated thickness to be maintained at 

the well (this value is a function of 

well construction and was set at 10 ft 

above the top of the screen), 

re is effective radius of the node in which 

pumping is simulated (for a square

node, re is related to width of node 

(jc) by the following approximation: 

r. = i),and

rw is radius of hypothetical well, which 

was set to 1 ft.

Results of the aquifer-yield calculations are presented in table 2. Aquifer yields ranged from 2.1 to 

12.4 ftVs after 30 days of pumping and from 0.3 to 

7.1 ft3/s after 180 days of pumping. After 30 days of 

pumping, one-half of the aquifer areas had yields of less 

than 5 ft3/s, and after 180 days, 6 of 14 aquifer areas had 

yields of less than 1.8 ft3/s. For example, if wells were 

situated to optimally develop the Mill Brook aquifer, 

yield from storage after 30 days of pumping would be 

4 ft3/s; and after 180 days of pumping, the aquifer yield 

would decrease to 1.8 ft3/s. Aquifer yields decreased on 

a per day basis in all aquifer areas. Yields were related 

to how the physical and hydraulic factors combined to 

limit the number and yield of the hypothetical well sites. 

Aquifer transmissivity and aquifer dimensions (fig. 3) 

were the critical elements in determining aquifer yield 

from storage. Greater transmissivity and aquifer dimension increase aquifer yield.

Table 2. Short-term yield from storage for 14 selected aquifer 

areas, Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts

[Yields are in cubic foot per second]

Aquifer

Mill Brook

Turner Pond

Germany Brook

Bird Pond

Traphole Brook

School Meadow Brook

Neponset Reservoir

Purgatory Brook

White Lodge

Reservoir Pond

Central Neponset River

Beaver Brook

Steep Hill Brook

Beaver Meadow Brook

Pumping period 

(in days)

30

4.0

6.0

2.4

2.7

2.1

5.5

3.8

11.0

9.1

7.0

12.4

11.5

4.7

2.7

60

3.3

5.3

2.1

1.7

1.4

5.0

3.2

9.4

7.0

7.0

11.1

8.7

3.3

2.2

90

2.7

4.6

1.6

1.2

.8

4.6

2.3

7.3

5.4

6.0

9.9

7.2

2.7

1.6

180

1.8

3.1

.8

.6

.3

3.5

1.5

4.1

3.5

4.5

7.1

3.6

1.6

1.0

365

0.9

1.4

.3

.3

.2

2.0

.8

1.3

1.5

2.3

3.6

.9

.5

.4

Short-Term Yields of Stratified-Drift Aquifer Areas 21
QUALITY OF GROUND WATER IN THE 

STRATIFIED-DRIFT AQUIFER AREAS

Ground water in the Neponset River Basin is 

slightly acidic, is soft to moderately hard, and has relatively low concentrations of dissolved solids. The 

residence time of ground water in these aquifer areas 

is short by geologic standards, and the sediments are 

resistant to chemical reaction; little dissolution of 

aquifer materials by the ground water occurs. Sodium 

is the dominant cation, but calcium and iron are 

commonly present in significant concentrations. 

Chloride is the most abundant anion. Data on groundwater quality at 16 sampled wells are summarized in 

table 3. Locations of sample sites are shown in 

figure 4.

Iron and manganese, which react alike chemically, were present in concentrations that exceeded 

the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) 

(1988b) SMCL's of 300 and 50 mg/L, respectively in 

water from one-half the wells sampled. Many municipalities must treat their water to remove these constituents. Iron and manganese concentrations in the 

aquifer areas may often be elevated because of 

mixing with surface water that percolated through a 

reducing zone in riverbed sediments (Frimpter and 

Gay, 1979). Ammonia concentrations greater than 

1 mg/L in water from these wells (table 4) confirm 

the presence of reducing environments that can mobilize the iron and manganese.

Chloride and nitrate are constituents that generally 

indicate contamination by human activities. 

Concentrations of these constituents have increased 

since 1940 (Brackley and others, 1973b) but have 

remained less than the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency (1988a,b) SMCL's of 250 mg/L for chloride 

and the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 mg/L 

for nitrate (figs. 5 and 6).

Several public-supply wells have been shut 

down because the ground water has become contaminated or because of chronic water-quality problems. 

In 1957, Norwood closed its Buckmaster Pond well 

and Ellis Avenue well field because of water-quality 

problems, including the presence of trichloroethelene 

(TCE). In 1979, public-supply wells also were shut 

down in Canton and Westwood because of contamination of ground water with TCE. The Canton and 

Dedham wells have since been returned to operation; 

contaminants in water from the Dedham wells are 

removed by use of a water-treatment plant. A School 

Meadow Brook well has been put on standby use 

after detection of volatile organic compounds in 

ground water in 1986.

During this project, water samples were analyzed for 36 volatile organic compounds (table 5) 

from all aquifer areas. The only compounds detected 

were trichlorofluoromethane, a refrigerant, in concentrations of 4.0 to 6.2 (ig/L in the School Meadow 

Brook aquifer, and tetrachloroethylene, a solvent, at a 

concentration of 4.1 (ig/L in the Purgatory Brook 

aquifer.

In addition, land use may preclude the use of 

parts of aquifer areas or potential aquifer areas for 

water supply. This is the case for the Traphole Brook 

aquifer and the Bird Pond aquifer (Interdisciplinary 

Environmental Science, Inc., 1985).

22 Estimated Yields of and Quality of Ground Water in Stratified-Drift Aquifer Areas in the Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts
Table 3. Statistical summary of concentrations of selected physical properties and chemical constituents in water samples 

from 16 wells in the stratified-drift aquifer areas, Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts

[A total of 32 samples were taken. mg/L, milligram per liter; ug/L, microgram per liter; °C, degree Celsius; uS/cm, microsiemen per centimeter at 25 

degrees Celsius; <, actual value is less than value shown]

Property or constituent Median Maximum Minimum

Properties

Specific conductance (|aS/cm)........................................................ 240

Dissolved solids, residue at 180°C (mg/L)..................................... 155

pH (units)........................................................................................ 6.4

Major ions, in mg/L 

Calcium, dissolved.......................................................................... 14.5

Magnesium, dissolved (fig/L)......................................................... 4.3

Sodium, dissolved........................................................................... 21.5

Potassium, dissolved....................................................................... 1.1

Alkalinity, total field (as CaCO3)................................................... 36

Sulfate, dissolved............................................................................ 17

Chloride, dissolved......................................................................... 35

Fluoride, dissolved.......................................................................... <.l

Silica, dissolved (fig/L)................................................................... 16.5

Nutrients, in mg/L 

Nitrogen, nitrite, total (as N)...........................................................

Nitrogen, nitrite, dissolved (as N)...................................................

Nitrogen, nitrite plus nitrate, total (as N)........................................ 1.2

Nitrogen, ammonia, total (as N)..................................................... .07

Nitrogen, ammonia plus organic, dissolved (as N)......................... .40

Phosphorus, ortho, total (as P)........................................................ .02

Phosphorus, hydrolyzable plus ortho, total (as P)........................... .02

Phosphorus, hydrolyzable plus ortho, dissolved (as P)................... .01

Trace elements, in fig/L 

Aluminum, dissolved...................................................................... 20

Arsenic, dissolved........................................................................... <1

Boron, dissolved............................................................................. 25

Iron, dissolved................................................................................. 670

Lead, dissolved ............................................................................... <5.0

Manganese, dissolved..................................................................... 185

Selenium, dissolved........................................................................ <1

Zinc, dissolved................................................................................ 21

610

355

6.9

42

17

44

3.4

63

32

130

.20

28

.36

.34 

4.9 

3.9 

4.7

.15 

1.8

.21

750

20

60

19,000

19

5,300

145

125

83.0

5.4

7.2

2.2

11

0.0

14

12

15

0

11

.30

.01

20

6 

<5.0

5

Quality of Ground Water in the Stratified-Drift Aquifer Areas 23
7ns1

<;

MEDFIELD

SIW81 

:P S(W 22 A

42°05' EXPLANATION 

STRATIFIED DRIFT AQUIFERS 

K\XN AREA NOT INCLUDED IN STUDY 

--- BASIN BOUNDARY

SIW22

STUDY AREA BOUNDARYNeponset Valley Parkway

WELL AND NUMBER~See table 4

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital line graphs, 1:100.000. 1988 

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 19

5 MILES

I I 1 I

5 KILOMETERS

Figure 4. Location of water-quality sampling sites, Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts.

24 Estimated Yields of and Quality of Ground Water in Stratified-Drift Aquifer Areas in the Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts
Table 4. Physical properties and concentrations of selected chemical constituents in water from the stratified-drift aquifer 

areas, Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts

[Location of wells shown in figure 4. All constituents assumed dissolved unless otherwise noted. |iS/cm, microsiemen per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius; 

mg/L, milligram per liter; °C, degree Celsius; Hg/L, microgram per liter; <, actual value is less than value shown]

Well No.

CBW61

CBW66

WCW87

WCW73

S2W99

S2W97

WCW88

WCW86

MLW169

NGW30

CBW103

WCW80

WCW81

SIW22

SIW81

CBW1

Well No.

CBW61

CBW66

WCW87

WCW73

S2W99

S2W97

WCW88

WCW86

USGS site 

identification No.

420940071101702

421057071081201

420904071153201

420931071155701

420740071081701

420733071144601

420732071151401

420732071151401

421151071165301

421226071105601

421330071081601

420927071123001

420930071134201

420709071113301

420752071105101

420853071074301

Alkalinity,

Date total field 

uale (mg/L as

CaCO3)

8-25-86 60

9-08-87 44

8-25-86 32

9-08-87 34

8-12-86 35

9-08-87 39

8-12-86 32

9-08-87 38

9-14-86 23

9-09-87 29

9-14-86 32

9-09-87 37

8-12-86 25

9-08-87 22

9-04-86 29

9-08-87 33

Date

8-25-86

9-08-87

8-25-86

9-08-87

8-12-86

9-08-87

8-12-86

9-08-87

9-14-86

9-09-87

8-12-86

9-08-87

9-04-86

9-08-87

9-04-86

9-08-87

8-28-86

9-09-87

9-04-86

9-09-87

8-13-86

9-08-87

8-13-86

9-08-87

8-28-86

9-08-87

8-12-86

9-09-87

9-14-86

9-09-87

8-25-86

9-08-87

Specific 

Time conductance 

(|iS/cm)

1200

1200

1400

1400

0900

0900

1100

1100

1200

1200

1130

1130

1000

1000

1000

1000

1000

1000

0800

0800

1200

1200

1000

1000

0800

0800

1300

1300

1000

1000

1000

1000

Sulfate Chloride H"*1 

(mg/L) (mg/L) ^

19

24

17

12

13

16

12

14

23

15

17

13

13

17

14

17

24 <0.10

28 <.10

31 <.10

25 <.10

15 <.10

17 <.10

26 <.10

22 <.10

59 <.10

48 <.10

21 <.10

23 <.10

39 <.10

35 <.10

40 .10

37 .10

210

233

212

230

125

140

177

202

250

235

212

221

245

264

245

264

375

405

610

540

380

360

350

385

375

398

265

244

185

205

195

210

Silica 

(mg/L)

17

22

13

15

18

21

15

17

24

19

16

21

14

16

17

21

PH 

(standard 

units)

6.2

6.2

6.4

6.4

6.3

6.4

6.1

6.2

6.5

6.6

6.3

6.4

6.3

6.3

6.3

6.3

5.9

6.1

6.6

6.7

5.8

6.1

6.9

6.7

6.3

6.4

6.4

6.6

6.6

6.7

6.2

6.4

Solids, 

residue 

at180°C

124

136

125

117

95

112

113

83

232

252

155

205

138

152

139

155

Calcium, Magnesium Sodium Potassium 

(mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L)

15

11

16

15

8.9

10

12

13

19

17

14

17

13

17

13

17

8.1

8.6

42

35

13

16

15

18

14

17

19

16

17

14

11

14

Nitrogen, 

nitrite, 

total 

(mg/L 

asN)

<0.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

.020

.020

<.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

4.9

4.4

3.5

2.9

3.7

4.1

4.0

3.6

4.6

4.3

4.8

4.6

4.3

4.7

4.3

4.7

2.2

3.5

16

12

2.6

3.3

3.4

5.2

4.2

5.1

9.0

17

4.4

4.4

3.9

4.3

Nitrogen, 

nitrite 

(mg/L 

asN)

<0.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

.020

.030

<.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

Nitrogen, 

nitrite 

plus 

nitrate, 

total 

(mg/L 

asN)

2.00

2.40

.600

1.10

<.100

<.100

1.40

1.70

<.100

<.100

4.90

4.60

1.10

<.100

.600

.800

16

21

17

18

11

14

16

23

17

19

18

21

25

31

25

31

25

28

39

36

44

37

29

25

29

26

16

22

13

20

18

17

Nitrogen, 

ammonia, total 

(mg/L as 

N)

0.040

.050

.040

.040

.190

.260

.090

.130

2.50

2.20

.050

.040

.010

.010

.050

1.00

0.90

1.0

1.2

.8

1.1

1.4

1.2

1.4

1.1

1.4

.90

1.2

.90

1.172

.90

1.1

0

.80

1.5

1.3

3.4

2.7

1.3

1.177

1.4

1.1

.90

1.3

1.0

.80

1.0

1.178

Nitrogen, 

ammonia 

plus 

organic 

(mg/L 

asN)

0.30

.30

.20

.20

.50

.40

.40

.5073

2.7

3.1

.40

.50

.40

.40

.20

.2074

Quality of Ground Water in the Stratified-Drift Aquifer Areas 25
Table 4. Physical properties and concentrations of selected chemical constituents in water from the stratified-drift aquifer 

areas, Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts Continued

Well No.

MLW169

NGW30

CBW103

WCW80

WCW81

SIW22

SIW81

CBW1

Well No.

CBW61

CBW66

WCW87

WCW73

S2W99

S2W97

WCW88

WCW86

MLW169

NGW30

CBW103

WCW80

WCW81

SIW22

SIW81

CBW1

Date

8-28-86

9-09-87

9-04-86

9-09-87

8-13-86

9-08-87

8-13-86

9-08-87

8-28-86

9-08-87

8-12-86

9-09-87

9-14-86

9-09-87

8-25-86

9-08-87

Date

8-25-86

9-08-87

8-25-86

9-08-87

8-12-86

9-08-87

8-12-86

9-08-87

9-14-86

9-09-87

9-14-86

09-09-87

8-12-86

9-08-87

9-04-86

9-08-87

8-28-86

9-09-87

9-04-86

9-08-87

8-13-86

9-08-87

8-13-86

9-08-87

8-28-86

9-08-87

8-12-86

9-09-87

9-14-86

9-09-87

8-25-86

9-08-87

Alkalinity, c, 

total field Sulfate Chloride l"JJg" 

(mg/L as (mg/L) (mg/L) /mg>L)

wSwUo^

14

24

44

54

60

25

27

43

42

49

50

45

31

43

55

63

Phosphorous, ortho, 

total (mg/L 

asP)

0.020

.030

<.010

<.010

.100

.100

.030

.040

.150

.100

.010

.010

.020

.020

.020

.020

<.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

.090

.120

.020

.020

.010

.010

.010

.010

<.010

<.010

.010

<.010

14

12

38 <0.10

35 <.10

32 130 .10

27

29

25

17

16

20

20

14

15

17

20

17

14

Phosphorous hydrolyzable plus 

ortho, total 

(mg/L as P)

0.01

.01

<.01

<.01

.08

.10

.11

.08

1.8

1.2

.02

.02

.02

.02

.02

.02

.01

.01

<.01

<.01

.11

.08

.03

.03

.42

.36

.02

.02

.01

.01

.01

.01

90 .10

78 .20

92 .20

75 <.10

86 <.10

54 <.10

67 <.10

33 <.10

42 <.10

31 <.10

22 <.10

28 <.10

31 <.10

Phosphorous hydrolyzable plus 

ortho 

(mg/L as P)

0.01

.01

<.01

<.01

.07

.11

.02

.02

.17

.21

.01

.01

.02

.04

.01

.01

<.01

<.01

<.01

<.01

.10

.16

.01

.01

.01

.01

.02

.08

<.01

<.01

.01

.01

Silica 

(mg/L)

13

15

15

19

28

24

11

14

16

17

17

20

12

11

15

12

Aluminum

20

40

30

30

<10

10

<10

10

750

660

20

30

100

160

20

20

10

20

10

30

590

340

<10

10

30

20

<10

10

10

20

50

60

Solids, 

residue 

at180°C

121

132

338

355

267

307

195

215

199

212

155

166

163

185

119

126

Arsenic

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

2

1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

20

5

1

1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

Nitrogen, 

nitrite, 

total 

(mg/L a:

<0.010

<.010

.360

.220

.010

.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

.020

.020

<.010

<.010

Boron

(ng/L)

30

20

20

20

20

30

20

20

30

20

60

30

20

20

30

40

20

30

40

30

30

40

20

20

30

20

20

20

20

20

40

50

Nitronitrite 

, (mg/L a:

<0.010

<.010

.340

.040

<.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

<.010

Iron

6

10

12

10

3,000

3,500

1,000

960

5,300

4,700

9

22

29

45

14

7

22

45

16,000

14,000

10,000

12,000

6,600

7,400

19,000

17,000

380

340

2,900

3,500

160

150

N ni{riten' Nitr°- Nitr°9en' 

Dlus gen' ammonia 

n.>r«f« ammo- plus 

s total nia' total Or9anic

1.10 <0.010 <0.20

1.70 <.010

4.20 1.10

3.70 1.60

3.30 3.90

3.90 3.50

.900 .070

1.30 .050

<.100 1.00

<.100 1.20

3.70 .030

3.10 .030

1.60 .140

2.10 .120

.900 .040

.700 .060

i «<,H Manga- Selenifuo/fi nese um ing/ J (ng/L) (ng/L)

<5

<5

<5

<5

19

13

<5

<5

<5

<5

<5

<5

<5

<5

<5

<5

<5

<5

<5

<5

5

8

<5

<5

<5

<5

5

5

<5

<5

<5

<5

100 <1

160 <1

10 <1

8 <1

370 <1

440 <1

620 <1

660 <1

140 <1

140 <1

8 <1

20 <1

5 <1

10 <1

220 <1

280 <1

10 <1

30 <1

160 <1

210 <1

250 <1

220 <1

350 <1

420 <1

5300 <1

4400 <1

160 <1

240 <1

100 <1

140 <1

360 <1

290 <1

<.20

1.2

2.2

4.1

4.7

.40

.7079

1.8

1.0

.60

.90

.50

.40

.40

.3080

Zinc

12

16

13

18

86

74

5

5

17

37

9

19

16

5

21

42

81

66

26

35

27

43

21

42

60

56

10

11

110

145

13

16

26 Estimated Yields of and Quality of Ground Water in Stratified-Drift Aquifers in the Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts
60

50

CC

LU

h;

-I 40

OC

LU

Q.

CO

DC 

CD

Ij 30

UJ D

DC

O 20

I 

O

10

CENTRAL NEPONSET AQUIFER 

WHITE LODGE AQUIFER 

NEPONSET RESERVOIR AQUIFER 

MILL BROOK AQUIFER 

SCHOOL MEADOW BROOK AQUIFER

j_L

1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984

Figure 5. Chloride concentrations at selected wells in the Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts.

Quality of Ground Water in the Stratified-Drift Aquifer Areas 27
3.5

CC 

UJ

£ 2.5

CL

CO

CC 

CJ

UJ

CJ

O 1-5

CC

CO

<

UJ

0.5

1 I I I I I I 1 T 1 I T

CENTRAL NEPONSET AQUIFER 

WHITE LODGE AQUIFER 

NEPONSET RESERVOIR AQUIFER

 MILL BROOK AQUIFER

 SCHOOL MEADOW BROOK AQUIFER

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986

Figure 6. Nitrate concentrations at selected wells in the Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts.

28 Estimated Yields of and Quality of Ground Water in Stratified-Drift Aquifer Areas in the Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts
Table 5. Volatile organic compounds analyzed for in water 

samples from all aquifer areas, Neponset River Basin, 

Massachusetts

Benzene

Bromoform

Carbon tetrachloride

Chlorobenzene

Chlorodibromethane

Chloroethene

1, 1, 2-Chloroethane

2-Chloroethyl vinyl ether

Chloroform

1, 2-Dibromoethylene

1, 2-Dichlorbenzene

1, 3-Dichlorobenzene

1, 4-Dichlorobenzene

Dichlorobromethane

Dichlorodifluoromethane

1, 1-Dichloroethane

1, 2-Dichloroethylene

1, 1-Dichloroethylene

1, 2-trans-Dichloroethylene

1, 2-Dichloropropane

1, 3-Dichloropropane

eis-1,3-Dichloropropene

trans-1, 3-Dichloropropene

Ethylbenzene

Methyl bromide

Methyl chloride

Methylene chloride

Styrene

Tetrachloroethylene

Toluene

1, 1, 1-Trichloroethane

Trichloroethylene

Trichlorofluoroethene

Vinyl chloride

Xylene

SUMMARY

This report presents the estimated short-term 

yields of and the quality of ground water in 14 stratifieddrift aquifer areas in the Neponset River Basin. The 

major aquifer areas in the basin. These aquifer areas are 

thin and narrow, with saturated thicknesses as much as 

130 ft and widths as much as 8,000 ft in some of the 

bedrock valleys. One stratified-drift deposit, the Fowl 

Meadow Reservation area, was examined but was 

considered to be unsuitable for development of 

municipal water supply on the basis of the criteria used 

in this study.

Estimates of short-term yields available from aquifer storage for the aquifer areas were made to determine 

yields available during severe drought. Aquifer yields 

ranged from 2.1 to 12.4 ft3/s after 30 days of pumping 

and from 0.3 to 7.1 ft3/s after 180 days of pumping.

Ground water in the basin tends to be slightly 

acidic, of low to moderate hardness, and has relatively 

low concentrations of dissolved solids. Sodium is the 

dominant cation and chloride the dominant anion. Iron 

and manganese concentrations exceeded the USEPA 

SMCL's of 300 and 50 |ig/L in one-half of the wells 

sampled during this study.

REFERENCES CITED

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Brook watershed, Medfield, Massachusetts: Duxbury, 

Massachusetts, 36 p.

Brackley, R.A., Fleck, W.B., and Meyer, W.R., 1973a, 

Hydrology and water resources of the Neponset and 

Weymouth River Basins, Massachusetts: U.S. Geological 

Survey Hydrologic Investigations Atlas HA-484, 

3 sheets, scale 1:31,680.

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River Basins, Massachusetts: Massachusetts Hydrologic 

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Geraghty and Miller, Inc., 1966, Investigations of groundwater resources in the town of Walpole, Massachusetts: 

Syosset, New York, 36 p.

___ 1982, Hydrogeologic investigations in the White Lodge 

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___ 1983, Ground-water resources in the Dedham Water 

Company franchise area, Dedham, Massachusetts: 

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References Cited 29
Interdisciplinary Environmental Science, Inc., 1985, Town of 

Walpole aquifer protection study: Northborough, 

Massachusetts, 20 p.

Lapham, W.W., 1988, Yield and quality of ground water from 

stratified-drift aquifers, Taunton River Basin, 

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Investigations Report 86-4053, 69 p.

Linenthal, Eisenberg, Anderson, Inc., 1984, New Neponset 

Valley relief sewer facilities plan: Boston, Massachusetts, 

250 p.

McDonald, M.G., and Harbaugh, A.W., 1988, A modular 

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1983, Water management projects of communities with 

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contaminant levels (subpart B of 141, National interim 

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Federal Regulations, Title 40, Parts 100 to 149, revised as 

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___ 1988b, Secondary maximum contaminant levels

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_____ 1973, Report relative to water system analysis,

Foxborough, Massachusetts: Wellesley, Massachusetts, 

77 p.

30 Estimated Yields of and Quality of Ground Water in Stratified-Drift Aquifer Areas in the Neponset River Basin, Massachusetts