Maps: WPA Historical Data

Under a program funded by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), groundwater levels were measured during the period from 1936 to 1940. Approximately 700 observation wells were installed throughout the filled-land areas of Boston, including Back Bay, Lower Beacon Hill, South End, Fenway, Chinatown, and Bay Village. A few of these observation wells are yet extant and are used by the Boston Groundwater Trust to measure groundwater levels.

Only limited data collected during the original 1930's study are still available, being the following: first water level reading in the well; lowest and highest water levels measured over the 4 years of measurements; and the last reading made for each well. The dates on which these four readings were made are also in the available tabulated data. These water levels and the corresponding dates of readings made in the WPA wells are listed in the following tables. (Under construction)

A more complete description of the WPA survey is provided in the reports section of this web-site, under Works Progress Administration, 1940.

WPA well readings, organized by Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) grid locations.