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(Last updated: 11-22-04))

Although southern New England is not commonly considered a region in which water abundance (as distinct from water quality) is a problem, the record from the previous few years suggests that water abundance is indeed an issue about which RI citizens need to be informed. The Rhode Island Water Recources Board has recently published a drought management plan which provides a layered response to draughts in Rhode Island.

The Scituate Reservoir, located about 15 miles west of Providence, RI, serves most of Rhode Island's population with drinking water. Water storage in the main Scituate reservoir began in 1925 and a nearby treatment plant went in operation in 1926. Since then, the water level in the reservoir has been constantly monitored. In recent years, the Scituate Reservoir was equiped with modern computer based recording equipment to monitor reservoir water level and treatment plant influent. The digital records are collected by the Providence Water Supply Board (PWBS), which operates the Scituate Reservoir. PWBS then forwards water level and plant influent data automatically to Dr. Boving's data base where the data stream is converted into graphs for display on this website. Currently, the graphs are updated weekly, but eventually daily, real-time updates will be made available.