Ohio State University Extension

Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

590 Woody Hayes Dr., Columbus, Ohio 43210

Water Resources of Allen County

AEX-480.02

Water is a resource often taken for granted. In recent years, water availability and quality have become important public concerns in Allen County. The county's population of 110,179 (1992 Ohio Department of Development estimate) is predominantly urban with 41 percent of the population living within the City of Lima or Delphos; 16 percent living in one of eight villages; and the remaining 43 percent living in unincorporated areas of the county. Forty-three percent of the county's population relies on ground water for the water supply. This fact sheet provides a brief overview of Allen County's water resources, and is intended to help increase public awareness and understanding about this vital resource. By understanding where water is obtained and how it is used in the county, residents can gain a better appreciation for their water supply. The 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.

Precipitation

An average of approximately 36 inches of precipitation falls on Allen 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 3.0 inches per month, with February (1.8 inches) typically being the driest month, and May (3.9 inches) the wettest. However, there can be extreme variations in some years and in certain months within a year. Such seasonal and yearly extremes may have serious consequences and are not always apparent from the long-term precipitation information.

Figure 1. Average monthly precipitation (in inches) in Allen County, Ohio (1961-1990); data collected at City of Lima Sewage Plant.

Surface-Water Resources

Allen County is located primarily in the Maumee River Basin, which drains north to Lake Erie. The county is drained by three rivers: the Auglaize River, the Ottawa River, and a small portion of the Blanchard River in the northeast corner of the county. A few acres in southeastern Allen County drain into the Scioto River Basin. The Auglaize River has headwaters in southwestern Allen County, travels south into Auglaize County to the City of Wapakoneta, and then flows north along the western end of Allen County.

The Ottawa River originates at Hog Creek near Ada in Hardin County, and flows into Allen County in a westerly direction through the City of Lima before turning north toward its confluence with the Auglaize River in western Putnam County.

Several smaller tributaries, the largest being Sugar Creek, drain the northeast portion of Allen County. All of these tributaries drain northward to the Ottawa or Blanchard rivers. Figure 2 is a generalized surface-water map of Allen County.

Surface waters are affected by soil type, geology, the topography of adjacent land, and the way people use the land. Land use, such as residential development and agricultural production, may increase the amount of sediment and other pollutants entering a body of water. The soils and terrain also influence the amount of runoff because of infiltration, percolation, and water holding characteristics. With some soils, rainfall is more likely to run off, while other soils allow water to infiltrate more readily.

The county contains approximately 262,400 land acres, of which 74 percent is cropland. Thirty-one soil types have been identified in the county and vary in drainage quality from well drained to very poorly drained. A large portion of the soils are best represented by the "Blount" series occupying more than 42 percent of the total land area of Allen County. This soil series is considered to be somewhat poorly drained.

Allen County has no naturally occurring lakes; however, six reservoirs have been constructed for water supply purposes. These reservoirs cover a total of 1,279 surface acres and include Bresler (582 acres); Ferguson (305 acres); Metzger (157 acres); Lost Creek (121 acres); Twin Lakes (88 acres) and Lima Lake (26 acres). In addition, there are 25 private lakes and ponds that range in size from 5 to 22 acres, plus many smaller ponds. The county contains approximately 318 linear miles of major streams and rivers [estimated from river basin maps, Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Water]. In addition, 114 miles of county-maintained ditches and numerous miles of privately-maintained ditches are used for land drainage.

Figure 2. Surface-water resources in Allen County, Ohio (adapted from ODNR Division of Water river basin maps; illustration prepared by K. A. Weber).

Ground-Water Resources

Allen County's primary ground-water source is the carbonate bedrock composed of limestone and dolomite of the Bass Island and Lockport groups. The limestone is composed of calcium carbonate, and the dolomite is composed of calcium and magnesium carbonates. Yields of 100 to 500 gallons per minute (gpm) are easily developed at depths of 250 to 375 feet from the bedrock. Pumping rates of 10 to 20 gpm are found at depths less than 100 feet, adequate for most farm and domestic uses. The carbonate bedrock in Allen County is covered by a glacial till consisting of clay, sandy-clay, and lenses of sand and gravel. Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is often encountered in the bedrock.

There are two sand and gravel lenses in the county that follow the ancestral Teays Valley. The first channel runs from north to south bisecting the center of the county. The second runs north from the Auglaize County line in Perry Township, and then curves west to join the other buried valley in the vicinity of Fort Shawnee. The deep sand and gravel lenses associated with the ancestral Teays Valley are overlain by glacial till and moraines. In some parts of these buried valleys, the glacial deposits may be more than 300 feet thick. Sand and gravel deposits between thick clay layers yield 10 to 20 gpm from screened wells. Rates between 10 and 20 gpm are common at depths from 50 to 175 feet. If thick permeable sand and gravel deposits are not encountered, then higher water yields may be obtained in these areas of the county by drilling deeper into the underlying carbonate bedrock. An overview of the ground-water resources in the county is given in Allen County Ground-Water Resources, AEX-490.02.

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 ODNR Division of Water.

Where Does the Water Go?

Based on long-term statewide 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 such as 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 more information, please 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, Allen County's 36 inches of average annual precipitation result in about 9.4 inches of runoff to streams and lakes, and about 5.8 inches have the potential to recharge aquifers annually. Values for particular locations will differ according to local conditions.

Water Use

Water use for each of Allen 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 Lima that uses six reservoirs for its supply: Bresler, Ferguson, Metzger, Lost Creek, Twin Lakes, and Lima Lake. Three villages in the county, Beaverdam, Bluffton, Spencerville, and the City of Delphos use ground water from wells to supply their residents.

Ground water is a major water source for rural households in Allen 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, 2,775,000 gallons per day (gpd) from private wells are used. Additional private water uses include livestock use (287,240 gpd), mostly from ground-water supplies. The remaining 67 percent of households use public-water supplies, as identified in Table 1.

Some water users in Ohio must register their withdrawals with the ODNR Division of Water. Through the Water Withdrawal Facility Registration Program, owners of facilities capable of withdrawing 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 to determine the availability of water for projected needs and to better manage and protect Ohio's water resources. Documenting water use also provides official records for individual uses. For more information, contact the ODNR Division of Water.

Table 1. Water Use in Allen County, Ohio.1
Public Water System	Population Served	Primary Water Source	Water Usage (GPD)	Treatment Plant Capacity (GPD)2
Lima	56,250	Surface Water	21,970,0003	30,000,000
Delphos*	4,019	Ground Water	510,950	825,000
Bluffton*	3,391	Ground Water	418,000	2,020,000
Elida	2,690	Surface Water 4	220,000	2,160,000
Spencerville	2,389	Ground Water	323,000	2,160,000
Beaverdam	474	Ground Water	37,000	138,000
Other 5	630	Ground Water	53,000	N/A
*Figures reported are for that portion of the population living in Allen County.
1 Estimates from Ohio EPA using adjusted 1994 data; information is based on data available at time of publication.
2 GPD = gallons per day.
3 Includes 14,640,000 treated gpd and 7,330,000 gallons of untreated water sold to British Petroleum.
4 Purchases surface water from Lima.
5 Includes mobile home parks and nursing homes; treatment plant capacity figure not available.

Water Quality

Human activities and natural processes affect the quality of our water supplies. Throughout Ohio, human activities contribute to both point and nonpoint source pollution. Point source pollution is the introduction of impurities into water (ground water or surface water) from an identifiable, known location. Examples of point sources can include industrial factories, power plants, commercial businesses, and wastewater treatment facilities.

Nonpoint source pollution also involves the introduction of impurities into a surface-water body or an aquifer, except the route is usually non-direct and the sources are diffuse in nature. A major portion of the sediment, nutrients, acids and salts, heavy metals, toxic chemicals, and pathogens enter the state's water resources through nonpoint source pollution, affecting both ground and surface water. Examples include automobile emissions, runoff from parking lots, and runoff and drainage from agricultural fields, feedlots, home lawns and gardens, residential development, construction, mining, and logging activities.

Natural processes such as precipitation also have an impact on surface water and, to a lesser extent, ground water. For example, rainfall that is acidic ("acid rain") may alter the quality of a stream, lake, or other water resource that receives the rainfall.

Ground Water

As water moves through the carbonate bedrock composed of calcium carbonate underlying Allen County, it dissolves the minerals contained in these formations and carries them in solution. Publication AEX 490.02 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 1993, as a follow-up to a 1987 study by Heidelberg College, 57 wells in the county were sampled for nitrate-nitrogen content, an indicator of water quality. Results showed that 54 wells (95 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. Three wells (5 percent) tested in the range of 0.3 to 3.0 ppm, values that may or may not indicate human influence. The average nitrate-nitrogen concentration for the 57 wells tested was 0.05 ppm. The design, location, and condition of a well, combined with the characteristics of the soils and geologic formations in which the well is constructed, influence the potential for pollutants to enter the well. The Allen County Department of Health provides bacteriological water sampling for local citizens, and results of these tests generally indicate acceptable drinking water in the county.

Surface Water

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 State of Ohio Nonpoint Source Assessment and the Water Resources Inventory, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) has identified 13,000 stream miles in Ohio that have been affected by nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. Based on the findings of the Assessment and Inventory, the Ohio Nonpoint Source Management Program has been implemented to help improve the quality of the state's waters.

Water quality monitoring indicates that all or parts of the following Allen County streams are affected by NPS pollution: Cranberry Run, Plum Creek, Sugar Creek, and the Auglaize River (Two-mile Creek to Six-mile Creek; Six-mile Creek to Jennings Creek). These streams are affected by one or more of the following NPS pollution categories: crop and livestock production, urban runoff, construction sites, on-site septic systems, surface runoff, channelization, streambank modification, and in place pollutants. Other county streams are affected by point source pollution (municipal and/or industrial wastewater). Point source affected streams include the Ottawa River (Hog Creek to Little Ottawa River), Cridersville Tributary, and Six-Mile Creek. Allen County also contains streams that have good water quality, such as McBride Ditch, and are attaining chemical and biological water quality standards. Attaining use streams are achieving designated aquatic life uses based on the results from water quality monitoring. The fish and insects found in the stream are similar to fish and insects found in other relatively unpolluted waters of the same designated use and within the same ecoregion. For specific information about the streams listed in the Assessment and Inventory documents, and details about the Nonpoint Source Management Program, contact the Ohio EPA Southwest District Office (401 E. Fifth St., Dayton, OH 45402-2911). Information about nonpoint source pollution is also discussed in Nonpoint Source Pollution: Water Primer, AEX 465, available from your county Extension office.

It is important to note that as of June 1995 less than half of Ohio's streams have been evaluated by the Assessment. As water quality monitoring continues statewide, the list of Allen County affected streams and streams with good water quality will change. Residents have a major responsibility to protect Allen County's water resources from pollutants that could affect the quality of the water supply.

Summary

Water availability and quality are important public concerns. Water problems can be both costly and inconvenient. While the present availability of water is good for Allen 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 provides information on water resources in Allen County. For more information concerning water resources and drinking-water quality in the county, contact the Allen County office of Ohio State University Extension (219 W. Northern Ave., Lima, Ohio 45801; 419-222-9946). In addition, the following agencies may be able to provide information on other water resources topics in the county: Allen Soil and Water Conservation District; Allen County Health Department; Allen County Farm Bureau; ODNR Division of Water (Fountain Square, Columbus, OH 43224); U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Ohio District (975 W. Third Ave., Columbus, OH 43212); Ohio EPA (P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, OH 43216-1049); and Ohio Department of Health (ODH; P.O. Box 118, Columbus, OH 43226).

Bibliography

1990 Census and 1992 Estimates of Ohio's Population: State, Counties, Cities, and Villages. 1994. Ohio Department of Development.

Allen County, Ohio Soil Survey. 1979. USDA-NRCS.

Allen County Ground-Water Resources. 1995. D. A. Jones, J. M. Raab, L. C. Brown and K. T. Ricker. AEX-490.02. Ohio State University Extension.

Allen Soil and Water Conservation District Resources Inventory. 1986. USDA-NRCS.

Doane's Agricultural Report. 1992. Farm Water Systems.

Estimated Water Use in Ohio, 1990, Public Supply Data. 1993. USGS. Open-File Report 93-72.

Gazetteer of Ohio Streams. 1960. Ohio Water Inventory Report No. 12. ODNR Div. of Water.

Ground-Water Resources of Allen County. 1981. R. J. Kostelnick. 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.

Nitrate and Pesticide in Private Wells of Allen County Ohio. 1993. D. Baker. Water Quality Laboratory, Heidelberg College, Tiffin, Ohio (Farm Bureau Water Quality Testing Program 1993).

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.

Ohio Surface-Water Resources. USGS National Water Summary-Ohio. 1985. USGS. Water-Supply Paper 2300.

Ohio Water Firsts. 1985. S. L. Frost and W. S. Nichols. Water Resources Foundation of Ohio, Incorporated.

Ohio Water Resource Inventory: Executive Summary and Volumes 1-4. 1992. Ohio EPA.

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.

State of Ohio Nonpoint Source Assessment: Volumes 1-6. 1990. Ohio EPA.

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. 1989. USGS. Open-File Report 89-423.

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 ODH. Project leaders are Larry C. Brown and Karen T. Ricker. Partial financial support for this publication was provided by these cooperating agencies and programs: Allen County office of OSU Extension; Elida Young Farmers; Allen Soil and Water Conservation District; Overholt Drainage Education and Research Program; and the Ohio Management Systems Evaluation Area Project (USDA Extension Service Grants No. 90-EWQI-1-9018).

The project leaders express appreciation to the following reviewers: John Kellis (USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Allen County); Bill Kelly (Allen County Health Department); Stephen M. Kayatin (Allen County Sanitary Engineering Dept.); Wendla Black (Allen County Farm Bureau); Calvin Leimbach (OSU Extension, Retired, Allen County); Terry Huber (City of Lima Division of Water Supply and Treatment); James M. Raab, David Cashell and Leonard Black (ODNR Division of Water); Scott Golden (Environmental Health, ODH); Steve Hindall (USGS, Ohio District); Anthony J. Kramer (USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, State Office, Columbus); Jay Fleming (Ohio EPA Division of Drinking and Ground Waters); and Larry Antosch, Rich McClay, and Mark Wilson (Ohio EPA Division of Surface Water). A special thanks to Kim Wintringham, Associate Editor (Section of Communications and Technology, Ohio State University Extension), for editorial and graphic production.