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### Brackish groundwater in the United States

#### Professional Paper 1833

###### Water Availability and Use Science Program

https://doi.org/10.3133/pp1833 Tweet


#### Links

- Document: **Report**                                 (41.1 
  MB pdf)
- Figures:
- **Figure 9 Enlarged**                           
          (61.4 MB pdf) Maximum 
    dissolved-solids concentrations
- **Figure 10 Enlarged**                          
           (16.4 MB pdf) Observed 
    minimum depth to brackish or highly saline groundwater
- **Figure 14 Enlarged**                          
           (58.9 MB pdf) Distribution of 
    geochemical groups at depths
- **Figure 15 Enlarged**                          
           (15.3 MB pdf) Distribution of 
    geochemical groups for the shallowest observed occurrences of saline 
    groundwater
- **Figure 
    21**                                 (851 kB pdf) Principal aquifers within the Coastal Plains region 
    [layered pdf; see readme.txt for information]
- **Figure 
    27**                                 (922 kB pdf) Principal aquifers within the Eastern Midcontinent 
    region [layered pdf; see readme.txt for information]
- **Figure 
    35**                                 (1.00 MB pdf) Principal aquifers within the Southwestern Basin 
    region [layered pdf; see readme.txt for information]
- **Figure 
    41**                                 (983 kB pdf) Principal aquifers within the Western Midcontinent 
    region [layered pdf; see readme.txt for information]
- Appendixes:
- **Appendix Table 1–1**                          
           (24.3 kB xlsx) Effects of 
    significant regression model predictor variables
- **Appendix Table 1–1**                          
           (12.0 kB csv) Effects of 
    significant regression model predictor variables
- **Appendix Figure 4–1D**                        
             (6.35 MB pdf) Interactive 
    wire frame model of the Coastal lowlands aquifer system [see readme.txt for 
    information]
- **Appendix Figure 4–2D**                        
             (4.87 MB pdf) Interactive 
    wire frame model of the Marshall aquifer [see readme.txt for 
    information]
- **Appendix Figure 4–3D**                        
             (4.80 MB pdf) Interactive 
    wire frame model of the Central Valley aquifer system [see readme.txt for 
    information]
- **Appendix Figure 4–4D**                        
             (4.71 MB pdf) Interactive 
    wire frame model of the Denver Basin aquifer system [see readme.txt for 
    information]
- Companion File: **Fact Sheet 2017–3054** Brackish 
  Groundwater and its Potential to Augment Freshwater Supplies
- Data Release: **USGS Data 
  Release -** Geochemical database for the brackish 
  groundwater assessment of the United States
- Project Site: **Water 
  Availability and Use Science Program (WAUSP)**
- Read Me: **Read 
  Me**                                 (1.0 kB txt)
- Download citation as:  RIS 
  | Dublin 
  Core

First posted April 5, 2017

Director, New England Water Science 
CenterU.S. Geological Survey10 Bearfoot RoadNorthborough, MA 
01532

https://newengland.water.usgs.gov/

#### Abstract

For some parts of the Nation, large-scale 
development of groundwater has caused decreases in the amount of groundwater 
that is present in aquifer storage and that discharges to surface-water bodies. 
Water supply in some areas, particularly in arid and semiarid regions, is not 
adequate to meet demand, and severe drought is affecting large parts of the 
United States. Future water demand is projected to heighten the current stress 
on groundwater resources. This combination of factors has led to concerns about 
the availability of freshwater to meet domestic, agricultural, industrial, 
mining, and environmental needs. To ensure the water security of the Nation, 
currently [2016] untapped water sources may need to be developed.

Brackish groundwater is an unconventional water source that may offer a 
partial solution to current and future water demands. In support of the national 
census of water resources, the U.S. Geological Survey completed the national 
brackish groundwater assessment to better understand the occurrence and 
characteristics of brackish groundwater in the United States as a potential 
water resource. Analyses completed as part of this assessment relied on 
previously collected data from multiple sources; no new data were collected. 
Compiled data included readily available information about groundwater 
chemistry, horizontal and vertical extents and hydrogeologic characteristics of 
principal aquifers (regionally extensive aquifers or aquifer systems that have 
the potential to be used as a source of potable water), and groundwater use. 
Although these data were obtained from a wide variety of sources, the compiled 
data are biased toward shallow and fresh groundwater resources; data 
representing groundwater that is at great depths and is saline were not as 
readily available.

One of the most important contributions of this assessment is the creation of 
a database containing chemical characteristics and aquifer information for the 
known areas with brackish groundwater in the United States. Previously published 
digital data relating to brackish groundwater resources were limited to a small 
number of State- and regional-level studies. Data sources for this assessment 
ranged from single publications to large datasets and from local studies to 
national assessments. Geochemical data included concentrations of dissolved 
solids, major ions, trace elements, nutrients, and radionuclides as well as 
physical properties of the water (pH, temperature, and specific conductance). 
Additionally, the database provides selected well information (location, yield, 
depth, and contributing aquifer) necessary for evaluating the water 
resource.

The assessment was divided into national-, regional-, and aquifer-scale 
analyses. National-scale analyses included evaluation of the three-dimensional 
distribution of observed dissolved-solids concentrations in groundwater, the 
three-dimensional probability of brackish groundwater occurrence, and the 
geochemical characteristics of saline (greater than or equal to 1,000 mg/L of 
dissolved solids) groundwater resources. Regional-scale analyses included a 
summary of the percentage of observed grid cell volume in the region that was 
occupied by brackish groundwater within the mixture of air, water, and rock for 
multiple depth intervals. Aquifer-scale analyses focused primarily on four 
regions that contained the largest amounts of observed brackish groundwater and 
included a generalized description of hydrogeologic characteristics from 
previously published work; the distribution of dissolved-solids concentrations; 
considerations for developing brackish groundwater resources, including a 
summary of other chemical characteristics that may limit the use of brackish 
groundwater and the ability of sampled wells producing brackish groundwater to 
yield useful amounts of water; and the amount of saline groundwater being used 
in 2010.

#### Suggested Citation

Stanton, J.S., Anning, D.W., Brown, C.J., Moore, 
R.B., McGuire, V.L., Qi, S.L., Harris, A.C., Dennehy, K.F., McMahon, P.B., 
Degnan, J.R., and Böhlke, J.K., 2017, Brackish groundwater in the United States: 
U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1833, 185 p., 
https://doi.org/10.3133/pp1833.

ISSN: 2330-7102 (online)

ISSN: 1044-9612 (print)

#### Table of Contents

- Acknowledgments
- Executive Summary
- Introduction
- Previous National- and Regional-Scale Studies
- Data and Methods Used for Analyses
- Brackish Groundwater in the United States
- Regional- and Aquifer-Scale Brackish Groundwater
- Data Gaps and Limitations
- Next Steps for Assessing Brackish Groundwater
- References Cited
- Appendix 1. Estimation Results for Dissolved-Solids Regression 
  Model
- Appendix 2. Equations Used in Geochemical Analysis
- Appendix 3. Relation Between Dissolved-Solids Concentration and Specific 
  Conductance
- Appendix 4. Estimating Brackish Groundwater Volumes for Selected Principal 
  Aquifers With Three-Dimensional Models

First posted April 5, 2017

Director, New England Water Science 
CenterU.S. Geological Survey10 Bearfoot RoadNorthborough, MA 
01532

https://newengland.water.usgs.gov/

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