Figure 1. Ground-water resources of Fairfield County, Ohio (adapted from Ground-Water Resources of Fairfield County map, J.J. Schmidt, 1992 (revised), ODNR Division of Water; illustration prepared by Carlos Lopez).
S. Chris Anderson
James M. Raab
Larry C. Brown
Karen T. Ricker
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 and formations. This publication contains information about the ground-water resources underlying Fairfield 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 Water Resources of Fairfield County, AEX-480.23.
Much of the water-resource and water-quality terminology used in this publication is described in Extension Fact Sheets AEX 460 and 465. Ohio Extension publications are available through the Fairfield County office of Ohio State University Extension (614-653-5419).
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 unconsolidated aquifers, composed of layers of coarse to fine grained sand, gravel, clay, and silt, are the most productive ground-water sources in Fairfield County. The two best unconsolidated aquifers are located beneath the floodplain of the Hocking River and in an ancestral drainage channel of glacial origin extending from Buckeye Lake to Baltimore to Canal Winchester.
Another major source of ground water, and the most extensive in the county, is the sandstone aquifers. Sandstone formations are usually adequate sources of ground water for domestic use. However, they vary in the amount of water yielded as a result of the differences in the size and amount of spaces between the sand grains. The size and amount of spaces is controlled by the degree to which the sand grains are cemented together and the composition of the formation. The more shale or sandy shale is mixed with the sandstone, generally the less water the material will retain because shale does not allow water to readily pass through it. Joints and fractures in the sandstone can increase the water-storage capacity and pathways for water movement. The number of fractures and other openings in sandstone varies greatly from one location to another and affects the amount of water that may be encountered when drilling a well. The position of such fractures rarely can be determined from the land surface; therefore, there is always some uncertainty as to the production capability of a proposed well.
Ground water also occurs in lenses (or pockets) of sand and gravel deposited by glacial processes. These deposits occur above the sandstone bedrock, and may be interbedded in glacial till or deposited in stratified layers. Glacial till is an unsorted mixture of clay, silt, sand, gravel, and boulders deposited by the glacial processes that occurred here approximately 10,000 to 20,000 years ago. Glacial till generally does not provide enough water to support a well.
The 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, 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.
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 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 (since the early 1950's, well drillers have been required by State law to file a construction log of each new well). 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 (each county has a published, county-specific, ground-water map).
Estimates of the size, shape, geologic make-up, and yields of aquifers have been mapped for Fairfield County. The map presented in Figure 1 is a generalized representation of the water-bearing formations underlying Fairfield County (adapted from map by J. J. Schmidt, 1992). This illustration is based on a hydrogeologic interpretation of the well-log data from Fairfield County and surrounding areas. It should be used only as a guide to understanding the ground-water resources in the county. The section below provides a brief description of the types of aquifers illustrated on the map in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Ground-water resources of Fairfield County, Ohio (adapted from Ground-Water Resources of Fairfield County map, J.J. Schmidt, 1992 (revised), ODNR Division of Water; illustration prepared by Carlos Lopez).
Area A in Figure 1 is the most productive aquifer in Fairfield County. Yields in excess of 600 gpm may be obtained from properly constructed, large-diameter wells in the permeable sand and gravel deposits beneath the Hocking River floodplain.
Sand and gravel deposits denoted as Area B partially fill ancestral drainage channels. These deposits may yield as much as 500 gpm at depths of 65 to 165 feet. Extensive test drilling is recommended to locate the coarse deposits. Test wells reveal more than 300 feet of unconsolidated deposits, created by glacial runoff, that filled the ancestral channel extending from Buckeye Lake to Baltimore, and west to Canal Winchester.
Area C is mostly located along the perimeter of the Hocking River floodplain, extending from the southern edge of Violet Township to Sugar Grove. This area is characterized by relatively thin to thick layers of sand and gravel interbedded with thick clay layers deposited in ancestral valleys. Potential yields of as much as 100 gpm may be developed. Isolated permeable zones exist and test wells are necessary to locate coarse deposits for maximum yield.
Berea Sandstone in the northwestern portion of the county, and the Black Hand Sandstone in the central and southern portion of the county, are the principal water-bearing formations illustrated as Area D. Larger diameter wells developed in the Black Hand Sandstone at depths in excess of 250 feet may yield more than 75 gpm. The average depth for domestic wells seldom exceeds 140 feet.
Area E, located primarily in the northern half of the county, denotes areas of relatively thick clay layers interbedded with water-bearing sand and gravel deposited in ancestral drainage channels. Well depth may range from 35 to more than 235 feet, and yields range to as much as 40 gpm. Few wells are developed in the sandstone and shale bedrock if coarse deposits are not encountered. Figure 2 is a generalized cross section (referenced in Figure 1 as the line X-X') of a portion of western Fairfield County. This cross section illustrates the depth of the glacial drift over the sandstone and shale bedrock in Bloom Township, and the sand and gravel deposits in the ancestral drainage channel.
Figure 2. Generalized cross section of a portin of Fairfield County, Ohio, illustrating the depth of glacial drift over sandstone and shale bedrock, and the valley of sand and gravel deposits (adapted from Underground Water Resources map M-9, ODNR Division of Water; illustration prepared by Kim Wintringham).
Thin lenses (pockets) of sand, gravel, and clay, illustrated as Area F and located primarily in Bloom and Amanda townships, were deposited as glacial moraine. These deposits may yield as much as 15 gpm.
Located primarily along the eastern and western edges of the county, Area G contains wells that are developed at depths of 30 to more than 250 feet in the underlying Mississippian shaley sandstone. Average depths seldom exceed 135 feet and yields are usually less than 10 gpm.
Area 4-H denotes thin lenses of sand and gravel interbedded with thick layers of silty clay. Domestic water supplies may be developed at average depths of about 130 feet and yields of about 3 to 10 gpm may be expected. Wells not encountering sand and gravel are drilled into the shale along the western edge of the county or into the sandy shale along the eastern edge.
The poorest yielding formation in Fairfield County is illustrated as Area I. Sandy shale and shale bedrock beneath thin glacial drift yields less than 2 gpm. Supplemental storage is often necessary to assure adequate domestic supplies. Deeper drilling may encounter salt water in Rush Creek and Richland townships.
The water level in any well usually does not remain constant, but may change depending upon several factors. Rainfall distribution and amount may affect ground-water recharge and discharge, and subsequently may affect the water level in area wells. Also, wells that are hydraulically connected to a stream may show fluctuations in the water-table level as the stream level changes. 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, in cooperation with the USGS, manages a statewide network of water-level observation wells. The network currently consists of 102 State-operated sites equipped with continuous water-level recorders. Water-level data are collected to provide a database for scientists and water resources managers to learn about short- and long-term water-level fluctuations in various aquifers.
The ODNR Division of Water monitors ground-water levels in four wells in Fairfield County. These wells are located in West Rushville, Baltimore, Lancaster and Madison townships, and are noted as Observation Wells F-1, F-5, F-6, and F-7, respectively, in Figure 1. Well data and the historic water levels are provided in Table 1.
| Table 1. Characteristics of observation wells in Fairfield County, Ohio1. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Well No. | F-1 | F-5 | F-6 | F-7 |
| Well Data | ||||
| Well Depth (feet) | 84 | 180 | 108 | 120 |
| Depth to Bedrock (feet) | 76 | na2 | na | 20 |
| Water-Bearing Formation3 | SS,SH | SG | SG | SS |
| Land Surface Datum Elevation (feet) | 980 | 850 | 820 | 980 |
| Records Since (month/year) | 4/1946 | 6/1971 | 6/1978 | 8/1988 |
| Historic Water Levels | ||||
| Lowest Water Level4 | 21.9 | 34.5 | 27.4 | 25.4 |
| Month/Year of Occurrence | 11/1994 | 9/1984 | 8/1988 | 9/1988 |
| Highest Water Level4 | 7.3 | +1.05 | 15.9 | 12.4 |
| Month/Year of Occurrence | 5/1962 | 11/1979 | 3/1991 | 4/1991 |
| 1. Data obtained from ODNR Division of Water. | ||||
| 2. Data not available. | ||||
| 3. SS--Sandstone; SH--Shale; SG--Sand and Gravel. | ||||
| 4. Water level (in feet) below land surface. | ||||
| 5. Water level was actually above land surface. | ||||
Various state and federal agencies have participated in programs to determine the ground-water quality in Ohio. For six wells in Fairfield 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 6. These sites consist of five private wells and one municipal well.
The results from some of the chemical tests performed on these Fairfield County wells are given in Table 2. The chemical constituents listed are total dissolved solids, hardness (as CaCO3), iron, 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 2). For private wells, there are no legally enforceable drinking water-quality standards other than total coliform, which is an indicator of bacteriological quality.
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 some uses. Wells drilled into shale or sandy shale may produce water that contains objectionable quantities of hydrogen sulfide gas (rotten egg odor). Hydrogen sulfide concentrations as small as 1 ppm can result in an offensive, rotten egg odor and taste. In general, the probability of obtaining hydrogen sulfide in objectionable amounts increases with the depth drilled.
The information in Table 2 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 water quality at the time of sampling, which was not the same for all wells. The data provided in Table 2 were taken from a water sample obtained just after the well was put into operation. Even though four of these wells were developed in the sand and gravel aquifers underlying Fairfield County, and these wells are in the range of 57 to 117 feet deep, some variation exists in the concentrations 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 (see AEX 465).
| Table 2. Chemical constituents of selected Fairfield County, Ohio, wells1. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Well No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | WQ Std2 |
| Well Depth (feet) | 117 | 104 | 287 | 105 | 57 | 360 | |
| Capacity (gpm) | 6 | 800 | 7 | na3 | 15 | 10 | |
| Depth to Bedrock (feet) | ne4 | ne | 17 | ne | ne | 18 | |
| Water-Bearing Formation5 | SG | SG | SS | SG | SG | SS | |
| Chemical Constituents6 | |||||||
| Total Dissolved Solids | 427 | 563 | 381 | 365 | 283 | 150 | 500 |
| Hardness (as CaCO3) | 336 | 459 | 320 | 333 | 255 | 120 | none7 |
| Iron (Fe) | 1.3 | 3.7 | 6.2 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 0.3 |
| Sulfate (SO4) | 58 | 138 | 68 | 37 | 27 | 14 | 250 |
| 1. Data on these wells taken from map by J.J. Schmidt, 1992 (revised); 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. SS--Sandstone; SG--Sand and Gravel. | |||||||
| 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: Iron concentrations greater than 0.3 ppm may cause brown or black stains on laundry, plumbing fixtures and sinks. Metallic taste may be present which may affect the taste of beverages made from the water. Sulfate: 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. | |||||||
| 7. No USEPA Secondary Water Quality Standard. | |||||||
Fairfield 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. The productive sand and gravel, and sandstone formations that underlie much of Fairfield County have the potential to provide excellent water adequate for domestic, agricultural, industrial, 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 provides 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.
The Fairfield County office of Ohio State University Extension can provide other publications on the county's water resources. Your Extension agent, the Fairfield County Health Department, and Ohio EPA (Central District Office, 3232 Alum Creek Dr., Columbus, OH 43207-3417) can provide information on well-water testing and drinking-water quality. Your local health department and county Extension office also will be able to provide information about proper well construction and requirements for private water systems. For example, State law requires that each new well constructed must be cased to a minimum depth of 25 feet. The health department issues permits and inspects new well construction.
The ODNR Division of Water, 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 the map, Ground-Water Resources of Fairfield County, and other information available through the Division. This map is much more detailed than that given in Figure 1, and the Water Resources Section can provide detailed information on ground-water availability and wells. The Water Resources Section also has conducted a ground-water pollution potential study for the county. This information was published in 1996 (see Bibliography). In regards to constructing a new well, the Division maintains a list of the State's registered and bonded well drillers. Hydrogeologists in the Division may be able to provide you with a list of well drillers who are familiar with geological conditions in your area, and provide technical assistance on proper well construction.
An additional excellent source of Ohio ground-water information is the USGS, Ohio District (975 W. Third Ave., Columbus, OH 43212). The USGS has conducted and published a number of ground- and surface-water investigations in Ohio. Additional information on Ohio's geological formations can also be obtained through the USGS, and through ODNR's Division of Geological Survey.
Central Ohio Water Plan. 1977. ODNR Division of Water.
Effects on Ground-Water Quality and Induced Infiltration of Wastes Disposed into the Hocking River at Lancaster (Fairfield County), Ohio. 1967. S. E. Norris. Ground Water 5(3):15-19.
Geology of Fairfield County. 1962. E. W. Wolfe, J. L. Forsyth and G. D. Dove. Bulletin 60. ODNR Division of Geological Survey.
Ground- and Surface-Water Terminology. 1994. L. C. Brown and L. P. Black. AEX 460. Ohio State University Extension.
Ground Water Pollution Potential of Fairfield County Ohio. 1996. Report No. 41. ODNR Division of Water.
Ground-Water Resources of Fairfield County. 1992 (revised). 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. 1996. R. Leeds, L. C. Brown and N. L. Watermeier. AEX 465. Ohio State University Extension.
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.
Potential Impacts of a Proposed Reservoir on Hydrologic and Water-Quality Conditions in Little Rush Creek Watershed, Fairfield County, Ohio. 1982. J. Hern and R. L. Jones. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 82-109.
Underground Water Resources (maps of various river basins). 1958-1962. ODNR Division of Water.
Water Resources Data, Ohio, Water Year 1995. Volume 1. Ohio River Basin Excluding Project Data. 1996. U.S. Geological Survey Water-Data Report OH-95-1.
Water Resources of Fairfield County. 1995. S. C. Anderson, K. T. Ricker and L. C. Brown. AEX-480.23. Ohio State University Extension.
Water Resources of the Black Hand Sandstone Member of the Cuyahoga Formation and Associated Aquifers of Mississippian Age in Southeastern Ohio. 1982. S. E. Norris and G. C. Mayer. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 82-170.
Water Testing. 1988. K. Mancl. AEX 314. Ohio State University Extension.
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 Karen T. Ricker. Partial support for this publication was provided by these cooperating agencies and programs: Ohio State University Extension, Fairfield County; Fairfield Soil and Water Conservation District; Fairfield County Regional Planning Commission; Overholt Drainage Education and Research Program; and the Ohio Management Systems Evaluation Area project (USDA CSREES Grant No. 94-EWQI-1-9057).
The project leaders acknowledge the following reviewers: Bonnie Dailey, Joe Steiger and Fred Gurile (Fairfield SWCD); John Shreve (Fairfield County Health Dept.); Dave Cashell (ODNR Division of Water); Scott Golden (Environmental Health, ODH); Mike Bondoc and Linnea Saukko (Ohio EPA CDO); and Steve Hindall (USGS, Ohio District).
A special thanks to Carlos Lopez and Kate Weber (Undergraduate Engineering Assistants) for illustration preparation, and Kim Wintringham (Associate Editor, Section of Communications and Technology, Ohio State University Extension) 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