Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet

Ohio State University Extension

Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

590 Woody Hayes Dr., Columbus, Ohio 43210


Summit County Ground-Water Resources

AEX-490.77

Ernest F. Oelker
James M. Raab
Larry C. Brown
Kristina M. Boone

Water stored under the earth's surface is a plentiful, yet precious, resource in most areas of Ohio. Many human activities may affect the quality and quantity of this resource. However, the availability and quality of this resource are influenced directly by the properties of the geologic formations that hold 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 Summit County. Its purpose is to help the reader better understand the factors that influence the quantity and quality of ground water. An overview of the county's water resources is provided in the publication Summit County Water Resources, AEX-480.77.

Much of the water resource and water quality terminology used in this publication is described in Extension Facts Sheets AEX 460 and 465. Ohio Extension publications are available through the Stark/Summit Regional Office of Ohio State University Extension.

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 material from which the formation originally was made influences its ability to store and transmit water. For example, sand and gravel allow water to flow through easily. By comparison, shale, which originated from compacted layers of mud and clay, generally allows very little water to flow through it unless the shale is highly fractured.

The water-bearing formations underlying Summit County are extremely varied in type and thickness. Generally, the surface layers consist of glacial deposits of till or clay, sometimes mixed with sand and gravel, overlying sandstone, shale or alternating layers of sandstone and shale. These layers give rise to two basic types of water-bearing formations of sedimentary origin: consolidated layers of the late Devonian, Mississippian and Pennsylvanian Age, which form the bedrock; and unconsolidated deposits of the Pleistocene age, which overlie the bedrock formations. The unconsolidated glacial deposits cover nearly all of the county to varying depths, and are the more important of the two major aquifers with respect to the availability of ground-water supplies.

A number of buried valleys are present in the county. These are ancestral drainage channels, cut into the bedrock by early streams before or during glacial activity, which subsequently have been filled with glacial deposits. Areas of the county where the buried valleys have been filled with permeable sand and gravel, which have access to sufficient stream recharge, may be capable of supplying 1,000 gallons per minute (gpm) to drilled wells. Where such valleys are not traversed by a surface stream, smaller yields are obtained. In any area where large water supplies are sought from the sand and gravel formations, exploratory drilling is strongly suggested to determine the presence of thick, permeable deposits.

In areas where thick, impermeable clayey till overlies impermeable shale bedrock, wells yielding less than 3 gpm are common. Except for these areas, however, well yields from 5 to 50 gpm generally are obtainable. The Mississippian and Pennsylvanian sandstones and shales, and the sand and gravel lenses within the glacial till, usually supply adequate yields for individual, domestic water use. The Sharon conglomerate (sandstone) of the Pennsylvanian Age is an important source of water and may supply yields of as much as 50 gpm; greater yields may be available for short pumping periods.

Well Yield

The actual yield of a well, in gpm, will vary considerably depending on the age and depth of the well, the diameter of the casing, well construction, pump capacity and age, and most importantly, properties of the geologic formation. 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

To support the development of ground-water availability assessments in Ohio, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Water, maintains a statewide database of more than 700,000 well logs. The Ground-Water Resources Section of the Division manages this valuable database, 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. 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 Summit County (adapted from map by J.J. Schmidt, 1979). This illustration is based on a hydrogeologic interpretation of the well-log data from Summit 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 Summit County, Ohio (adapted from ODNR Division of Water map by J. Humphreys).

AREA A: Permeable Sand and Gravel, High-Yield Potential

Area A in Figure 1 illustrates sand and gravel deposits, some of which are traversed by major streams. These areas produce wells capable of producing 200 to 1,000 gpm, depending on their accessibility to recharge from surface streams. Yields from formations that do not receive sufficient recharge may not exceed 500 gpm, except under short-duration pumping.

AREA B: Unconsolidated Deposits in Buried Valleys, or Beneath Thick Clay

Interbedded and interlensed deposits of sand, gravel, silt, and clay or till in buried valleys are included in the areas illustrated as Area B. These areas are capable of yielding 5 to 20 gpm at depths of up to 65 feet, and are adequate for farm and domestic supplies. Obtaining large, industrial supplies, in excess of 500 gpm, may require extensive test drilling to locate coarse material. Area B also includes deposits of sand and gravel beneath thick clay, silt, or fine sand, which may yield 3 to 10 gpm at depths less than 150 feet. However, coarse permeable deposits are known to exist at depths ranging from 240 to 460 feet. Properly designed and maintained well fields may supply adequate water supplies for small subdivisions of less than 100 homes.

AREA C: Sharon Conglomerate and Pottsville Formations

The Sharon sandstone and shale formations in Area C provide yields as great as 50 gpm to wells up to 100 feet deep. At depths greater than 100 feet in these formations, yields as great as 250 gpm may be obtained during short periods of intermittent pumping. Also included in Area C are the Pottsville sandstone and shale formations, which yield 3 to 10 gpm at depths less than 95 feet. These yields are adequate for farm and domestic supplies.

AREA D: Berea Sandstone, Cuyahoga Sandstone and Shale

Area D illustrates areas where well yields of 5 to 20 gpm can be developed from the Berea Sandstone, and yields of 3 to 10 gpm from the Cuyahoga Sandstone and Shale. Well depth is usually less than 150 feet.

AREA E: Thin Sand and Gravel Interbedded with Thick, Clay Till

The thin, non-extensive sand and gravel deposits illustrated as Area E are interbedded with thick, clayey till. Wells must be drilled below the level of the adjacent drainage to obtain yields of 3 to 10 gpm. If sand or gravel deposits are not encountered, wells are developed in the underlying bedrock to obtain individual, domestic supplies.

AREA F: Fine Sand, Silt, and Gravel in Buried Valleys

In Area F, as much as 200 feet or more of fine sand, silt and gravel deposits have filled the buried valleys. Meager supplies of less than 3 gpm can be expected, which means that additional storage may be necessary to meet domestic requirements.

AREA G: Ohio and Bedford Shales

The Ohio and Bedford shales form the bedrock surface of those areas labeled as Area G. Drilled wells seldom yield more than 1 gpm from the weathered bedrock surface.

AREA H: Lacustrine Clay and Thick, Clay Till

Area 4-H indicates areas of Lacustrine clay and very thick, clayey till deposited near the surface of the shale bedrock. Although some sand and gravel may be present, yields are minimal (less than 3 gpm) because these deposits are located above the principal drainage. Dry wells are common, and cisterns often are used as an additional source of supply.

AREA I: Buried Valleys beneath Cuyahoga and Little Cuyahoga Rivers

Buried valleys, illustrated as Area I, are located beneath portions of the Little Cuyahoga and Cuyahoga Rivers. Farm and domestic supplies in the range of 3 to 5 gpm may be available from dug or drilled wells at depths of less than 50 feet. However, some deeper wells developed near Jaite have reported yields of more than 400 gpm, which may be indicative that large ground-water supplies may be available. The physical characteristics of these deposits at depths greater than 200 feet are not well documented.

AREA J: Ground Water Containing Salt

Area J identifies places where the ground water contains a large amount of salt. Water from these areas is unsuitable for consumptive purposes. In these areas near Akron and Barberton, adjacent wells which are over-pumped may cause salt to move into other aquifers.

Ground water, whether obtained from bedrock or glacial deposits, may require some treatment. In some areas, water containing calcium carbonate (CaCO3, i.e., hard water), and iron concentrations greater than 0.3 ppm may require treatment for most uses (see notes in Table 1), except for irrigation and livestock.

Ground-Water Levels

The water level in any well usually does not remain constant, but may change depending upon several factors. Rainfall distribution and amount, and fluctuating water levels in a stream that is hydraulically connected to an aquifer may affect ground-water recharge and discharge, and subsequently may affect the water level in area wells. Also, in some cases, depending upon the hydraulic properties of the geologic formation, the intense pumping of a well, or number of wells, may cause the water level in some nearby wells to be lowered.

The ODNR Division of Water monitors ground-water levels in two wells in Summit County. One well is located at the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company on Seiberling Street in Akron, and is designated as Observation well SU-6 on Figure 1. The other Observation well, located at the Cuyahoga Falls Water Department on Monroe Falls Road, is designated as SU-7. These wells are two of a number of wells throughout northeast Ohio used to monitor the natural seasonal fluctuation of water levels in the sand and gravel aquifer.

Observation well SU-6 (Akron) is 89 feet deep in a sand and gravel formation of the Pleistocene Age. Continuous water-level measurements have been recorded at SU-6 since March 1944. The lowest level recorded on SU-6 was 59.5 feet below land surface in October 1947; the highest level recorded was 10.7 feet below land surface in December 1990. Observation well SU-7 (Cuyahoga Falls) is 100 feet deep in material similar to that of SU-6, and measurements have been recorded since August 1968. The lowest level recorded on SU-7 was 44.2 feet below land surface in September 1971; the highest level recorded was 0.48 feet above land surface in February 1990. These wells are representative of many sand and gravel wells in the region.

Ground-Water Quality

Various state and federal agencies have participated in programs to determine the ground-water quality in Ohio. For three wells in Summit County, water-quality data were available from the ODNR Division of Water. In Figure 1, these wells are noted as Chemical Analysis Sites 1 through 3. These sites are either domestic or municipal wells.

The results from some of the chemical tests performed on these Summit County wells are given in Table 1. The chemical constituents listed are total dissolved solids, hardness (as CaCO3), iron, chloride and sulfate. For comparison purposes, secondary drinking water-quality standards for these chemical constituents also are 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). For private wells, there are no legally enforceable drinking water-quality standards other than total coliform, which is an indicator of bacteriological quality.

The information in Table 1 can be used as a guide to what one might expect from an existing or new well developed in similar geologic material in the county. This information provides a general representation of the quality of the water at the time of sampling, which was not the same for all wells. In most cases, the data provided in Table 1 was taken from a water sample obtained just after the well was put into operation. Even though two of these wells were developed in the sand and gravel deposits underlying Summit County, and all are in the range of 58 to 125 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 the properties of the geologic formation at the specific location of each well.

Table 1. Chemical constituents of selected Summit County wells1.
Well No.123WQ Std2
Well Depth (feet)5812592
Capacity (gpm)20-3-
Depth to Bedrock (feet)NE4-NE
Water-Bearing Formation5SGSSSG
Chemical Constituents6
Total Dissolved Solids219622252500
Hardness (as CaCO3)200488144none7
Iron0.510.350.670.3
Chloride1.6816250
Sulfate--8.1250
1 Data on well 1 taken from watershed map P-6; wells 2 and 3 taken from watershed map E-2; General location of each well is shown on Figure 1.
2 USEPA Secondary Water Quality Standard.
3 Data not available.
4 Well constructed in this formation did not encounter bedrock.
5 SG - Sand and Gravel; SS - Sandstone.
6 Units are parts-per-million, ppm; Comments as per "Interpreting Your Water Test Report" (1988);
Total Dissolved Solids: Concentrations above 500 ppm may cause adverse taste and deteriorate domestic plumbing and appliances. Use of water containing 500 ppm is common.
Hardness: Primary concerns 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.>
Iron: Concentrations greater than 0.3 ppm may cause rust-colored stains on laundry, plumbing fixtures and sinks. Metallic taste may be present, which may affect the taste of beverages made from the water.
Chloride: Concentrations greater than 250 ppm may result in an objectionable, salty taste to water and the corrosion of plumbing in the hot water system.
Sulfate: Concentrations in excess of 250 ppm may have laxative effect on people unaccustomed to the water. Also affects the taste of water and will form a hard scale in boilers and heat exchangers.
7 No USEPA Secondary Standard.


One should not forget that many human activities also affect the quality of ground water (see AEX 465). Some wells in Greene Township near the Industrial Excess Landfill in neighboring Stark County may be subject to contamination by volatile organic compounds. Some evidence of ground-water contamination from other sources in southeastern Summit County also exists, but the exact source of contamination is, as yet, unknown.

Summary

Summit 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. Summit County has a wide range in water-bearing formations. The limestone, and sand and gravel formations underlying portions of the county have the potential to supply water adequate for domestic and agricultural uses, and many municipal uses. 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 Summit/Stark Regional Office of Ohio State University Extension can provide other publications on the county's water resources. Your Extension agent, the Summit County Health Department, and Ohio EPA Northeast District Office - NEDO (2110 East Aurora Rd., Twinsburg, OH 44087) can provide information on well-water testing and drinking-water quality. The ODNR Division of Water - Ground-Water Resources Section (Fountain Square, Columbus, OH 43224) is an excellent source of information on ground water. Some of the information in this publication was summarized from a map titled Ground-Water Resources of Summit County, and other information available through the Division of Water. This map is much more detailed than that given in Figure 1 of this publication. In addition, personnel in the Ground-Water Resources Section can provide you with more detailed information about 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 Summit County. 1979. J.J. Schmidt. 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.

Nonpoint Source Pollution: Water Primer. 1993. R. Leeds and L.C. Brown. AEX 465. Ohio State University Extension.

Northeast Ohio Water Plan. 1972. ODNR Division of Water.

Northwest Uniontown Investigation Summary, Stark and Summit Counties. 1991. V. Deppisch, Hydrogeologist, Ohio EPA.

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.

Southeast Ohio Water Plan. 1978. ODNR Division of Water.

Summit County Water Resources. 1993. E.F.Oelker, K.M. Boone and L.C. Brown. AEX-480.77. Ohio State University Extension.

Surface and Ground Water Terminology. 1990. L.C. Brown and L.P. Black. AEX 460. Ohio State University Extension.

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

Water Testing. 1988. K. Mancl. AEX 314. Ohio State University Extension.

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; Ohio State University Extension, Stark/Summit Regional Office; Summit County Council; USDA Water Quality Initiative Funds; Overholt Drainage Education and Research Program; and USDA Extension Service Grant No. 90-EWQI-1-9018. The project leaders acknowledge the following reviewers: Dan Ross (USDA-Soil Conservation Service); Scott Golden (Environmental Health, ODH); Steve Hindall (USGS, Ohio District); and Christopher Khourey (Ohio EPA, NEDO).

A special thanks to Michelle Roby, Ross Roberts, and John Humphreys (Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Assistants) for help in graphic and manuscript preparation, and Judy Kauffeld, Publications Editor (Section of Communications and Technology, Ohio State University), for editorial and graphic production.


All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status.

Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Adm. and Director, OSU Extension.

TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868



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