Reason for Study

The proximity of the seacoast region in Southeastern New Hampshire to metropolitan Boston has led to a 36 percent population increase over the past 20 years. This population increase, and associated development, has been accompanied by an estimated 50 percent increase in the use of ground- and surface-water resources for drinking, industrial, and other purposes during the same period. Ensuring the sustainability of water resources into the future will require quantification of water storage and movement in surface- and ground-water systems, and a thorough understanding of past, current, and future water demands.

Who are the participants?

• U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
• New Hampshire Coastal Program (NHCP)
• New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NH DES)
  • New Hampshire Geological Survey (NHGS)
  • New Hampshire Water Supply Engineering Bureau (WSEB)
• Participating communities in the study area: Brentwood, Durham, East Kingston, Exeter, Greenland, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Kensington, Lee, Madbury, Newington, North Hampton, Rye, Seabrook, Strafford, Stratham, Rockingham County
• Ground-water Project Advisory Team (GPAT)

Throughout the study, close coordination will be maintained between the participating agencies, communities in the study area, regional planning agencies, public water suppliers, and others to collect data, evaluate future growth, and identify realistic management options.

General Approach

• Compile existing data on wells, water levels, and aquifers
• Install and operate an enhanced monitoring network for ground and surface water
• Determine water use and water use budget for each town
• Estimate general water availability in each community
• Evaluate effects of projected future growth using a ground-water flow model for a portion of the study area

Project Timeline