News Release

July 1, 2009	Donita Turk	785-832-3570	dmturk@usgs.gov

Ozark Aquifer Water Quality Studied

In August 2005, the U.S. Geological Survey initiated a three-year study to address water supply and water quality issues in the Ozark Aquifer, co-funded by the USGS and the State of Kansas, and supported by the efforts of state agencies in the Tri-State area (Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri). Water supply wells in some areas of the aquifer have experienced water level declines. With a growing demand for water within the region, concerns about future water availability prompted by water-level declines and poorer quality ground water, mostly in Kansas, created a need to better understand this valuable resource in order to better address its long-term management.

The water-quality assessment of the Ozark Aquifer study has been completed. Results indicate a natural evolution toward more saline water occurs along a groundwater flow path from southwest Missouri to southeastern Kansas. The secondary drinking water regulation for dissolved solids of 500 mg/L (28%) and maximum contaminant level of 0 mg/L for lead (30%) are commonly exceeded in Ozark Aquifer in the 40 water supply wells sampled. Groundwater in the Kansas part of the Ozark aquifer is naturally degraded compared to the Missouri part. Upwelling of saline water is not apparent in the Pittsburg, Kansas well field indicating minimal or no effects of pumping on degradation of the water quality.

Results from the water availability part of the study will be available at the end of August 2009.This part of the study includes a ground-water flow model simulating the effects of existing and possible municipal and industrial ground-water withdrawal rates on ground-water availability.

The information acquired from this study will help water managers make decisions about the long-term viability of ground water as a source of water supply for the Tri-State area, the placement of new large capacity water-supply wells to minimize the effects on existing users, and the potential for future contamination of the wells.

A final public forum to discuss the results of the entire study will be held at the end of August in Joplin. Further details about the public forum will be announced in mid-August.

The water quality report is now available online at:

http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2009/5093/

To view other USGS water information in Kansas, visit:

http://ks.water.usgs.gov