Ohio State University Extension

Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Monroe County Ground-Water Resources

AEX-490.56

Mike Lloyd
A. Wayne Jones
Kristina M. Boone
Larry C. Brown

Water stored under the earth's surface is a plentiful, yet precious, resource in most areas of Ohio. Humans greatly affect ground water. However, the availability and quality of this resource are influenced directly by the properties of the geologic formation that holds water. The chemical and physical nature of these formations varies from area to area, creating a wide range of water yields and quality at different depths.

This publication contains information about the ground-water resources underlying Monroe County. Its purpose is to help the reader better understand the factors that influence the quantity and quality of ground water. Water resources terminology used in this publication is included in Surface and Ground Water Terminology, fact sheet AEX-460, which provides a listing of generally accepted water resource definitions. Fact sheet AEX-460 and the publication Monroe County Water Resources, AEX-480.56, are available through your county Extension office.

Aquifers

Geologic formations (e.g., sand, gravel, limestone, sandstone) have the ability to receive, store and transmit water. In general, if a formation is capable of yielding enough water to support a well or spring, it is called an aquifer. The composition of geologic material directly influences a formation's ability to hold and transmit water. For example, sand and gravel materials allow water to flow through easily. By comparison, shale, which originated from compacted layers of mud and clay, allows very little water to flow through.

The principal source of water supply for much of the unglaciated upland area of southeastern Ohio is from shaley sandstone or thin limestone aquifers. These strata are dominated by low-yielding shales and shaley sandstones that include numerous coal-bearing strata. In some places, small water supplies are available in fractured coal beds. Vertical permeability is greatly restricted, and yields in upland areas are meager. Water-bearing zones in the region typically are shallow: less than 100 feet thick. Large-diameter, gravel-packed wells commonly are constructed in this low-yield material so that reservoir space is available to collect water, which flows at rates generally less than one gallon per minute from the aquifer. Locally, the aquifers may be affected by concentrations of 500 to 1,000 parts-per-million (ppm) of chloride. In some coal-producing areas, acid ground water (pH of less than 7.0) may occur.

The only large-source aquifers in Monroe County are found along the Ohio River. These aquifers contain thick, permeable sand and gravel deposits, which can yield substantial quantities of water. This valley fill material ranges from 55 to 70 feet in thickness, and is hydraulically connected to the Ohio River.

Well Yield

Although the actual yield of a well, in gallons per minute (gpm), will vary considerably depending on the age and depth of the well, the diameter of the casing, well construction, pump capacity and age at the well depth control available water. The exact yield and depth of each well will depend on the properties of the geologic formation at the specific location of the well.

Ground-Water Availability

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Water, maintains a statewide data base of more than 700,000 well logs. The Ground-Water Resources Section of the Division manages this valuable data base, which includes some information collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA). Since 1948, well log information has been collected to increase the understanding of the ground-water resources in Ohio. Geologists and hydrogeologists continue to study the state's ground-water resources, and as a result, Ohio is one of only a few states that has been completely mapped for ground-water availability (mapped by river basin, from 1959 to 1962).

Estimates of the size, shape, geologic make-up and yields of aquifers are being mapped county by county. Most of Ohio's counties have a completed map. The map presented in Figure 1 is a generalized representation of the water-bearing formations underlying Monroe County (adapted from map by Walker, 1991). This illustration is based on a hydrogeologic interpretation of the well log data from Monroe County and surrounding areas. It should be used only as a guide to understanding the ground-water resources in the county. The remainder of this section provides a brief description of the types of aquifers illustrated on the map in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Ground-water resources of Monroe County, Ohio (modified from A.C. Walker, ODNR Division of Water, by R.A. Roberts).

AREA A: Medium Sand and Gravel

In Area A shown in Figure 1, wells drilled into the underlying sand and gravel deposits can yield from 25 to 500 gpm. These yields are considered adequate for domestic to large industrial and municipal water supplies. These formations are found along the Ohio River in the following areas: north and south of Fly; Witten Bottom; Jackson and Lee Townships, south and east of Sardis and south of Duffy; Buckhill Bottom in Ohio Township between Hannibal and Dotty; and the river valley northwest of Clarington and Opossum Creek in both Salem and Switzerland Townships. The underlying bedrock is a poor water source.

AREA B: Shallow Valley Sand and Gravel Lenses

Illustrated as Area B, a small area that features lenses or layers of sand and gravel in shallow valley fill can be found in Salem Township west of Clarington in the Sunfish Creek Valley. These sand and gravel lenses will yield up to 10 gpm.

AREA C: Alluvial Deposits in Stream Valleys

Area C is also part of the regional sandstone, shale and limestone aquifer of southeastern Ohio. Alluvium in stream valleys consists predominantly of clay and sand. Yields of less than 3 gpm are available. This feature is found in the Little Muskingum River valley in Benton and Washington Townships, in the Sunfish Creek valley in Adams and Salem Townships, and in the Opossum Creek valley in Salem and Ohio Townships.

AREA D: Sandstone, Shale and Limestone

The sandstone, shale and limestone aquifer illustrated as Area D is the principal aquifer underlying upland areas of Monroe County. Water yield seldom exceeds 2 gpm. Average well depth is 110 feet. These aquifers are found in parts of all Monroe County townships and are the only ground-water features in Bethel, Center, Franklin, Malaga, Perry, Seneca, Summit, Sunsbury, Wayne and Green Townships.

Ground-Water Levels

The water level in any well typically does not remain constant, but changes depending upon the proximity of adjacent wells and surface streams, and natural rainfall. Ground-water discharge and recharge greatly affect water levels in wells. The ODNR Division of Water monitors ground-water levels in eight wells in southeast Ohio. These wells are used to monitor the natural seasonal fluctuation or the effects of nearby pumping on water levels in sand and gravel, and sandstone aquifers in southeastern Ohio. No observation well is located in Monroe County. However, observation wells closest to Monroe County are located at Marietta in Washington County, and in Belmont County.

Ground-Water Quality

Various state and federal agencies have participated in programs to determine ground-water quality in Ohio. Chemical analyses were available from the ODNR Division of Water for four wells in Monroe County. These wells are public-water supplies located in the sand and gravel aquifers along the Ohio River, and are noted in Figure 1 as Chemical Analysis Sites 1 ,2, 3 and 4.

The results of some of the chemical tests performed on these Monroe County wells are given in Table 1. The chemical constituents listed are calcium, chloride, fluoride, iron, magnesium, manganese, sodium and sulfate. All concentrations are given in parts-per-million (ppm). For comparison purposes, drinking water-quality standards for these chemical constituents are also shown. These standards are established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for public water systems for aesthetic reasons (taste, odor, appearance, etc.), and are not enforceable. These chemical constituents do not pose a risk to human health (see notes in Table 1). There are no drinking water-quality standards for private wells.

The information in Table 1 can be used as a guide to what one might expect from an existing or new well in this sand and gravel aquifer. Even though all four of these wells were developed in the thick sand and gravel deposits in the Ohio River valley in eastern Monroe County, and all are in the range of 50 to 70 feet deep, some variation exists in the concentrations of each of these chemical constituents. Just as well yields differ, water quality will vary depending on aquifer properties at the specific location of each well. One should not forget that many human activities also affect the quality of ground water.

Table 1. Chemical constituents of selected Monroe County wells.
Well No.	1	2	3	4	WQ Std1
Well Depth (feet)	64	70	69	50
Capacity (gpm)	150	100	200	150
Depth to Bedrock (feet)	64	70	NE2	NE
Water Bearing Formation3	SG	SG	SG	SG
Chemical Constituents4
Calcium	310	108	78	7	4
Chloride	268	19	41	21	250
Fluoride	0.07	0.11	0.7	0.09	2
Iron	0.71	0.08	0.03	0.03	0.3
Magnesium	40	11	13	6	None5
Manganese	0.09	0.03	1.68	0.03	0.05
Sodium	167	11	34	14	None
Sulfate	640	93	99	48	250
1 USEPA Secondary Water Quality Standard.
2 Well constructed in this formation did not encounter bedrock.
3 SG - Sand and Gravel.
4 Units are parts-per-million, ppm; Comments as per Interpreting Your Water Test Report (1988); Calcium and Magnesium: Main constituents of hardness. Primary concerns with hardness are that more soap is required for effective cleaning, a film may form on fixtures, fabrics may yellow, and scales may form in boilers, water heaters and cooking utensils. Chloride: High concentrations may result in an objectionable salty taste to water and the corrosion of plumbing in the hot water system. Fluoride: At concentrations greater than 1.5 ppm, fluorosis (mottling) of teeth may occur. USEPA Primary Standard is 4 ppm. Iron and Manganese: Iron concentrations greater than 0.3 ppm and manganese concentrations greater than 0.03 may cause brown or black stains on laundry, plumbing fixtures and sinks. Metallic taste may be present and may affect the taste of beverages made from the water. Sodium: Major component of brine. High concentrations may impart a soda taste and be a dietary concern. Sulfate: Water containing concentrations in excess of 250 ppm may have laxative effect on persons unaccustomed to the water. Also affects the taste of water and will form a hard scale in boilers and heat exchangers.
5 No USEPA Secondary Standard.

Summary

Monroe County's ground-water resources are valuable assets to the county's citizens and industry. The availability and quality of these resources are directly influenced by the properties of the geologic formations underlying the county. By understanding the physical and chemical nature of these resources, better decisions can be made about ground-water protection, management and use. This publication provided an overview of the county's ground-water resources. It should be used as a guide, and not as a substitute for detailed information and professional advice when drilling a well.

Where to Get More Information

The Monroe County Extension office can provide other publications on the county's water resources. Your Extension agent, the Monroe County Health Department, and Ohio EPA Division of Drinking and Ground Water (1800 WaterMark Drive, Columbus, OH 43266) can provide information on well-water testing and drinking-water quality. The ODNR Division of Water -- Ground-Water Resources Section (Fountain Square, Columbus, Ohio, OH 43224) is an excellent source of information on ground water. Some of the information in this publication was summarized from the map, Ground-Water Resources of Monroe County, and other information available through the Division of Water. This map is much more detailed than that given in Figure 1, and the Ground-Water Resources Section can provide detailed information on ground-water availability and wells. The USGS, Ohio District (975 W. Third Ave., Columbus, OH 43212), also provides information concerning ground water in Ohio.

Bibliography

Ground-Water Resources of Monroe County. 1991. A.C. Walker. ODNR Division of Water. (map).

Interpreting Your Water Test Report. 1988. D. Lundstrom and S. Fundingsland. AE-937, No. 13-AENG-10. North Dakota State University Extension Service.

Monroe County Water Resources. 1992. M. Lloyd, K.M. Boone and L.C. Brown. AEX-480.56. The Ohio Cooperative Extension Service, The Ohio State University.

Ohio Ground-Water Quality. USGS National Water Summary - Ohio. 1986. U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2325.

Ohio Ground-Water Resources. USGS National Water Summary - Ohio. 1984. U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2275.

Surface and Ground Water Terminology. 1990. L.C. Brown and L.P. Black. AEX-460. Ohio Cooperative Extension Service, The Ohio State University.

Underground Water Resources (maps of various river basins). 1958-1962. ODNR Division of Water.

Water Testing. 1988. K. Mancl. AEX-314. Ohio Cooperative Extension Service, The Ohio State University.

Acknowledgments

This publication was produced through the Ohio Water Resources Education Project, in cooperation with: ODNR Division of Water; Ohio EPA; USGS, Ohio District; and Ohio Department of Health (ODH). Project leaders are Larry C. Brown and Kristina M. Boone. Support for this publication was provided, in part, by: cooperating agencies; Monroe County Extension office; Overholt Drainage Education and Research Program; and USDA Extension Service Grant No. 90-EWQI-1-9018. The project leaders acknowledge the following reviewers: David Cashell (ODNR Division of Water); Scott Golden (Environmental Health, ODH); Robert Gustafson (Agricultural Engineering, OSU); Steve Hindall (USGS, Ohio District); and Michael Preston (Ohio EPA Division of Drinking and Ground Water).

A special thanks to Michelle Roby and Ross A. Roberts (Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Assistants) for help in manuscript and graphics preparation, and Judy Kauffeld and Tonya Ewing (Section of Information and Applied Communications, OSU Extension) for editorial and graphic production.