The U.S. Geological Survey will start a $1.5 million “water-monitoring initiative” at five Suffolk County waterways to study the effects of stormwater runoff and provide real-time data that could be used to improve water quality.

Suffolk lawmakers at Wednesday's general meeting in Riverhead unanimously approved the money for the Water Reuse and Runoff Remediation Study led by the USGS, which falls under the U.S. Department of the Interior.

The USGS will set up monitoring stations at the five sites to gather data on key water-quality indicators that can be used to develop new stormwater management plans and reduce harmful nitrogen pollution that can seep into groundwater. Officials say the study fits into the county’s overall mission to improve water quality and protect the sole-source aq

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