Figure 1. Average monthly precipitation (in inches) in Crawford County, Ohio (1961-1990);
Steven C. Prochaska
Kristina M. Boone
Larry C. Brown
Water is a resource often taken for granted. In recent years, water availability and quality have become important public concerns in Crawford County. The county's population of 47,870 (1990 census data) is predominantly rural, and about 56 percent of all households rely on surface water for their water supply. By understanding where water is obtained and how it is used in the county, residents can gain a better appreciation for their water. Providing a brief overview of Crawford County's water resources, this fact sheet is intended to help increase public awareness and understanding of water resources. 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. Ohio State University Extension publications are available through all Ohio county Extension offices.
An average of approximately 38 inches of precipitation falls on Crawford County annually. Figure 1 illustrates the average monthly precipitation for the county for the period 1961 to 1990. Based on this 30-year record, the average precipitation is 3.2 inches per month, with February (average 1.9 inches) typically being the driest month, and July (4.4 inches) the wettest. There can be, however, extreme variations in some years and in certain months within a year. Such seasonal and yearly extremes, which may have serious consequences, often are not apparent from the long-term precipitation information.
Figure 1. Average monthly precipitation (in inches) in Crawford
County, Ohio (1961-1990);
Portions of Crawford County drain into four Ohio watersheds: the Muskingum River basin, Huron River basin, Scioto River basin and Sandusky River basin. Water draining into the Muskingum and Scioto rivers eventually joins the Ohio River, while the Sandusky River and Huron River basins lead to Lake Erie. The Sandusky River, the largest watershed in Crawford County, runs from east to west across the county. Combined, the Sandusky and Scioto River basins drain over 90 percent of the county. A generalized surface-water map of Crawford County is given in Figure 2.
Surface waters are affected by the soil type and topography of the land adjacent to them, and the way humans use the land. Land use, such as residential development, construction, and agricultural production, can increase the amount of sediment entering a body of water. The type of soils in an area also influences surface water because of the soil's infiltration capacity. With some soils, rainfall is more likely to run off, while other soils allow water to infiltrate more readily.
The county contains approximately 257,400 land acres, of which 89 percent is farmland. Thirty-eight different soil types are present within the county, the majority of which are poorly-drained, water-deposited silts and clays. The county water acreage consists of about 432 acres of lakes and reservoirs, including the Outhwaite Reservoir (150 acres) and the Celeryville Reservoir (75 acres). Originally used for drinking water and drainage, most of the water acreage is now used for drainage. The county contains approximately 185 linear miles of major streams and rivers (estimated from ODNR Div. of Water river basin maps). In addition, 121 miles of county maintained ditches and four miles of private maintained ditches are used for land drainage. This availability lends itself to many uses by both communities and individuals.
Figure 2. Surface water resources in Crawford County, Ohio
(adapted from ODNR Division of Water river basin maps by
R. A. Roberts)
The primary ground-water resources of Crawford County consist of unconsolidated glacial formations of clay, silt, sand and gravel from 10 to 100 feet in depth, and consolidated bedrock layers of limestone, shale and sandstone. Limestone bedrock formations are found in the western one-third of the county and shale bedrock formations are found in the central one-third of county. A combination of shale and sandstone bedrock formations are found in the eastern one-third of the county. Wells capable of yielding more than 100 gallons per minute (gpm) may be developed in the limestone formations of western Crawford County. In the central part of the county, well yields of two gallons or less per minute are common from the non-water-bearing shale bedrock. Wells drilled in the sandstone and shale bedrock formations in the eastern third of the county often yield from 3 to 20 gpm. Ground-water supplies, whether they are developed from bedrock or glacial deposits, will occasionally have a high natural mineral content resulting in hard water. This water usually requires treatment for domestic use. Varying amounts of iron are found, and objectionable amounts of hydrogen sulfide generally increase with the depth drilled. An overview of the ground-water resources in the county is given in Crawford County Ground-Water Resources, AEX-490.17.
The yield of a well will vary considerably depending on the age and depth of the well, well construction, the diameter of the casing, pump capacity and age, and more importantly, properties of the geologic formation. Specific information on ground-water availability and wells can be obtained by contacting the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Div. of Water.
Based on long-term weather records, Ohio receives an average of 38 inches of precipitation per year. These 38 inches move through a complex path called the hydrologic cycle. Of these 38 inches, about 10 inches (26 percent) become runoff, which moves immediately to surface-water bodies like streams and lakes. Two inches are retained at the ground surface and evaporate back into the atmosphere in a relatively short period of time. Twenty-six of the 38 total inches enter the soil surface through infiltration. Twenty of these 26 inches go into soil storage and later are returned to the atmosphere by the combination of evaporation and transpiration (evapotranspiration). The remaining 6 inches of precipitation (16 percent of the total) have the potential to recharge the ground-water supply. Two of these 6 inches eventually move to springs, lakes, or streams as ground-water discharge. The remaining 4 inches either return to the atmosphere by evapotranspiration or are withdrawn to supply water needs. For further reading, refer to Ohio's Hydrologic Cycle, AEX 461.
Statewide averages applied to the county's average annual precipitation provide a rough estimate of how many inches will result in runoff and how many inches have the potential to reach aquifers. Based on statewide averages of runoff and ground-water recharge, Crawford County's 38 inches of average annual precipitation result in about 10 inches of runoff to streams and lakes, and about 6 inches have the potential to recharge aquifers, annually. Values for particular locations will differ according to local conditions.
Water use for each of Crawford County's public water-supply systems is given in Table 1. For each water system, this table presents an estimate of the population served, water source, estimated daily usage and treatment plant capacity.
The county's largest public water system is the city of Bucyrus, which uses the Sandusky River surface water resource for its supply and stores its water in four municipal reservoirs. New Washington and Galion use surface water resources stored in municipal reservoirs; Crestline and three non-municipal associations use wells for their water supplies.
Ground water is a major water source for rural households in Crawford County. Approximately 33 percent of all households obtain their water from private wells. Based on an estimated usage of 75 gallons per person per day, about 1.2 million gallons per day (gpd) from private wells is used. Additional private water uses include industry, golf course and crop irrigation, and livestock use, mostly from ground-water supplies. The remaining 67 percent of households use public-water supplies with ground or surface water as the source, as identified in Table 1.
Some water users in Ohio must register their withdrawals with the ODNR Div. of Water. Through the Water Withdrawal Facility Registration Program, owners of facilities that could withdraw 100,000 gpd (70 gpm) or more must register those facilities. Information collected through this program includes withdrawal capacity, ground- or surface-water sources, location and type of water use, and location of discharge points. The program is for registration only, and not for allocation or permission. Registered withdrawers file annual reports of their water use. This information helps planners at ODNR determine the availability of water for projected needs and better manage and protect Ohio's water resources. Documenting water use also provides official records for individual uses. For more information, contact ODNR, Div. of Water.
Crawford also has 17 non-transient non-community public water supplies. Non-transient non-community systems are small public supplies, such as some schools and industries, that serve more than 25 of the same people for six months of the year. In Crawford County, approximately 3,468 people are served by non-transient non-community systems, and the total usage is 72,500 gallons per day.
| Table 1. Water Use in Crawford County, Ohio.1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Water System | Population Served | Primary Water Source | Water Usage (GPD)2 | Treatment Plant Capacity (GPD) |
| Bucyrus | 13,651 | Surface Water | 1,980,000 | 4,115,000 |
| Crestline | 4,950 | Ground Water | 841,000 | 1,080,000 |
| Galion | 11,859 | Surface Water | 1,240,000 | 4,043,000 |
| Linlare Village | 85 | Ground Water | 13,600 | 0 |
| New Washington | 1,100 | Surface Water | 96,000 | 224,000 |
| Other3 | 214 | Ground Water | 23,425 | 0 |
| 1 Estimates from Ohio EPA using 1993 data, adjusted by Leonard Black, ODNR Div. of Water. | ||||
| 2 GPD = gallons per day. | ||||
| 3 Other - includes Ranchwood and Spring Valley mobile home parks. | ||||
Natural processes and human activities affect the quality of our water supplies. Throughout Ohio, human activities contribute to nonpoint source pollution, through which a major portion of the sediment, nutrients, acids and salts, heavy metals, toxic chemicals, and pathogens enter the state's water resources. Nonpoint source pollution is the introduction of impurities into a surface-water body or an aquifer, usually through a non-direct route and from sources that are "diffuse" in nature. This type of pollution affects both ground and surface water. Examples include automobile emissions, runoff from parking lots, runoff and drainage from agricultural fields, feedlots, and home gardens, and runoff and drainage from construction, mining and logging.
As water moves through the limestone, shale, and sandstone geologic formations underlying Crawford County, it dissolves and carries in solution minerals contained in the bedrock. Iron and hydrogen sulfide are contaminants of wells particularly in the central part of the county. AEX-490.17 summarizes some of the county's natural ground-water quality aspects.
Human activities, such as agricultural production, domestic waste disposal, and lawn and turf care, may have some influence on the county's ground-water quality. In a 1988 study by Heidelberg College, 114 wells in the county were sampled for nitrate content, of which 84 (74 percent of total) contained nitrate-nitrogen concentrations in the range of 0 to 0.3 parts-per-million (ppm). This range is assumed to represent natural background levels. Twelve wells (11 percent) were tested in the range of 0.3 to 3.0 ppm; these values may or may not indicate human influence. The fourteen wells (12 percent) that tested in the range of 3.0 to 10 ppm may indicate elevated concentrations resulting from human activities. Only four wells (4 percent) tested at over 10 ppm nitrate-nitrogen, which exceeds the safe drinking-water standard. The average test value for the 114 wells tested was 1.52 ppm. Bacterial counts are another indicator of ground-water quality. The Crawford County Department of Health tests water samples for concerned citizens. Results of these tests indicate an occasional fecal coliform well contamination in wells. Design, location and condition of a well, as well as the characteristics of the soils and geologic formations in which the well is constructed, influence the potential for pollutants to enter the well.
Runoff and sediment from residential development, construction sites and agricultural lands may enter the county's streams and lakes. Also, runoff may carry other pollutants, such as lawn and agricultural chemicals (pesticides and fertilizers), effluent from septic systems, oil and gas from spills, and industrial wastes. Through the Ohio Nonpoint Source Assessment and Water Resources Inventory, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) and ODNR have found that 13,000 stream miles in Ohio have been affected by nonpoint source pollution. Crawford County contains portions of several streams and their tributaries that have been classified by the Assessment as being affected by nonpoint source pollution. Based on the findings of the Assessment and Inventory, the Ohio Nonpoint Source Management Plan has been implemented to help improve the quality of the state's waters. For specific information on results of the Assessment and details of the Management Plan for the county, contact the Ohio EPA Northwest District Office (347 N. Dunbridge Rd., Bowling Green, OH 43402).
Overall, Crawford County has a safe supply of water. County citizens have a major challenge to protect water resources from pollutants that could affect the quality of the water supply. For more information about nonpoint source pollution, refer to Nonpoint Source Pollution: Water Primer, AEX 465, available from your county Extension office.
Water availability and quality are important public concerns. Water problems can be both costly and inconvenient. While the present and future availability of water is good for Crawford County, water is a precious resource that must be conserved and protected. We must all work together to maintain an adequate supply of good quality water.
This fact sheet provided information on water facts for Crawford County. For more information on water resources and drinking-water quality in the county, contact the Crawford County office of Ohio State University Extension. In addition, the following agencies may be able to provide information on other water resources topics in the county: Crawford Soil and Water Conservation District; Crawford County Health Department; ODNR Div. of Water (Fountain Square, Col., OH 43224); U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Ohio District (975 W. Third Ave., Col., OH 43212); Ohio EPA (1800 WaterMark Dr., Col., OH 43266); and Ohio Department of Health (PO Box 118, Col., OH 43226).
Central Ohio Water Plan. 1977. ODNR Div. of Water.
Crawford County Ground-Water Resources. 1993. S.C. Prochaska, A.W. Jones, L.C. Brown and K.M. Boone. AEX-490.17. Ohio State University Extension.
Crawford County, Ohio Soil Survey. 1980. USDA-Soil Conservation Service.
Doane's Agricultural Report. 1992. Farm Water Systems.
Estimated Water Use in Ohio, 1990, Public Water Supply Data. 1993. USGS. Open-File Report 93-72.
Flood of July 1-2, 1987, in North-Central Ohio. 1989. USGS. Open-File Report 89-376.
Gazetteer of Ohio Streams. 1960. Ohio Water Inventory Report No. 12. ODNR Div. of Water.
Ground-Water Resources of Crawford County. 1981. J.J. Schmidt. ODNR Div. of Water. (map).
Hydrologic Atlas for Ohio: Average Annual Precipitation, Temperature, Streamflow, and Water Loss for the 50-Year Period 1931-1980. 1991. L.J. Hartstine. Water Inventory Report No. 28. ODNR Div. of Water.
Inventory of Municipal Water-Supply Systems by County, Ohio. 1977. Ohio Water Inventory Report No. 24. ODNR Div. of Water.
Inventory of Ohio's Lakes. 1980. Ohio Water Inventory Report No. 26. ODNR Div. of Water.
Monthly Station Normals of Temperature, Precipitation, and Heating and Cooling Degree Days, 1961-90, Ohio. 1992. Climatology of the United States, No. 81 (by state). NOAA.
Northwest Ohio Water Development Plan. 1986. ODNR Div. of Water.
Nitrate and Pesticides in Private Wells of Ohio: A State Atlas. 1989. Water Quality Laboratory, Heidelberg College.
Nitrate In Drinking Water. 1987. K.M. Mancl. Bulletin No. 744. Ohio State University Extension.
Nonpoint Source Pollution: Water Primer. 1993. R. Leeds and L.C. Brown. AEX 465. Ohio State University Extension.
Ohio Ground-Water Quality. USGS National Water Summary - Ohio. 1986. USGS. Water-Supply Paper 2325.
Ohio Ground-Water Resources. USGS National Water Summary - Ohio. 1984. USGS. Water-Supply Paper 2275.
Ohio Nonpoint Source Management Program. 1993. ODNR. Fountain Square, Col., OH 43224-1387.
Ohio Surface-Water Resources. USGS National Water Summary - Ohio. 1985. USGS. Water-Supply Paper 2300.
Ohio Water Resource Inventory: Executive Summary and Volumes 1-4. 1992. Ohio EPA. Col., OH 43266-0149.
Ohio's Hydrologic Cycle. 1990. L.C. Brown and K.M. Coltman. AEX 461. Ohio State University Extension.
Private Water Systems Handbook. 1987. MWPS-14. Midwest Plan Service, Ames, IA.
Soil and Water Conservation District Resource Inventory. 1985. USDA-Soil Conservation Service.
State of Ohio Nonpoint Source Assessment: Volumes 1-6. 1990. Ohio EPA. Col., OH 43266-0149.
Surface and Ground Water Terminology. 1990. L.C. Brown and L.P. Black. AEX 460. Ohio State University Extension.
Water - Ohio's Remarkable Resource. 1982. ODNR Div. of Water.
Withdrawal and Distribution of Water By Public Water Supplies in Ohio. 1985. USGS. Open-File Report 89-423.
This publication was produced through the Ohio Water Resources Education Project, in cooperation with: ODNR Div. of Water; Ohio EPA; USGS, Ohio District; and Ohio Department of Health (ODH). Project leaders are Larry C. Brown and Kristina M. Boone. Support was provided, in part by: the cooperating agencies; Crawford County office of OSU Extension; Crawford County Commissioners; Overholt Drainage Education and Research Program; and USDA Extension Service Grant No. 90-EWQI-1-9018.
The project leaders express appreciation to the following reviewers: Brad VanVoorhis (USDA-SCS); Steve Brinkman (Crawford County Health Department); James M. Raab, David Cashell and Leonard Black (ODNR Div. of Water); Scott Golden (Environmental Health, ODH); James Wade (USDA-SCS); Steve Hindall and Ron Veley (USGS, Ohio District); Tim Fishbaugh (Ohio EPA, Northwest District); Jay Fleming (Ohio EPA Div. of Drinking and Ground Water); and Larry Antosch (Ohio EPA Div. of Surface 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, Publications Editor (Section of Communications and Technology, OSU), 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