Rhode Island

The Ground Water Atlas of the United States presents a comprehensive summary of the Nation's ground-water resources, and is a basic reference for the location, geography, geology, and hydrologic characteristics of the major aquifers in the Nation. The information was col-lected by the U.S. Geological Survey and other agencies during the course of many years of study. Results of the U.S. Geological Survey's Regional Aquifer-System Analysis Program, a systematic study of the Nation's major aquifers, were used as a major, but not exclusive, source of information for compilation of the Atlas. The Atlas, which is designed in a graphical format that is supported by descriptive discus-sions, includes 13 chapters, each representing regional areas that collectively cover the 50 States and Puerto Rico. Each chapter of the Atlas presents and describes hydrogeologic and hydrologic conditions for the major aquifers in each regional area. The scale of the Atlas does not allow portrayal of minor features of the geology or hydrology of each aquifer presented, nor does it include discussion of minor aquifers. Those readers that seek detailed, local information for the aquifers will find extensive lists of references at the end of each chapter. An introductory chapter presents an overview of ground-water conditions Nationwide and discusses the effects of human activities on water resources, including saltwater encroachment and land subsidence