Research & Data
Water Use and Availability
Working with the US Geological Survey (USGS) and the University of Rhode Island (URI), the agency is completing a comprehensive statewide inventory of surface water and groundwater resources currently existing, used, or available to support future uses in nine basins, i.e., watersheds. The amount of water available is determined based on historical stream flow levels and areas of stratified drift in the watersheds. The USGS and URI collect known water use data from Water Supply Systems Management Plans prepared by major public water suppliers, other individual businesses that are metered, or by estimating according to predetermined formulas. The Block Island, Blackstone, and Wood-Pawcatuck studies have been completed and the others are in draft form. A statewide summary report is planned once all the basin studies have been completed. All water data is being compiled in a database under development by USGS for use by New England states. Once complete, the studies will provide important trend data to be compared to the findings and recommendations of the 1990 study titled Water Supply Analysis for the State of Rhode Island (later adopted as State Guide Plan Element 722).
Reports
Water Use and Availability, Block Island, Rhode Island, 2000 (PDF)
Barlow, L. K., 2003, Estimated water use and availability in the Lower Blackstone River Basin, northern Rhode Island and South-Central Massachusetts, 1995-99: Water Resources Investigations Report 03-4190, 75 p.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/wri034190/pdf/wrir034190.pdf
Wild, E. C., and Nimiroski, M. T., 2004, Estimated water use and availability in the Pawcatuck Basin, southern Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut, 1995-99: U. S. Geological Survey Scientific
Investigations Report 2004-5020, 72 p.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2004/5020/
Wild, E. C., and Nimiroski, M. T., 2005, Estimated water use and availability in the South Coastal Drainage Basin, Southern Rhode Island, 1995-99: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5288, 46 p.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2004/5288/
Nimisroski, M. T., and Wild, E. C., 2005, Water use and availability in
the Woonasquatucket and Moshassuck River Basins, north-central Rhode Island: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5031, 44 p.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2005/5031/
Wild, E. C., and Nimisoski, m. t., 2007,Estimated water use and availability in the Pawtuxet and Quinebaug River Basins, Rhode Island, 1995-99, U. S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5154, 68 P.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2006/5154/
Nimiroski, M.T., and Wild, E. C., 2006, Water use and availability in the West Narragansett Bay area, coastal Rhode Island, 1995-99: Scientific Investigations Report, 2005-5256, 54p.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2005/5256/pdf/SIR_2005-5256_web.pdf
Wild, E.C., 2007, Estimated water use and availability in the East Narragansett Bay study area: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2007–5168, 51 p.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2007/5168/pdf/sir2007-5168.pdf
