Ohio State University Extension

Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

590 Woody Hayes Dr., Columbus, Ohio 43210

Water Resources of Columbiana County

AEX-480.15-97

Water is a resource often taken for granted. In recent years, water availability and quality have become important public concerns in Columbiana County. The majority of the county's population of 110,451 (1992 Ohio Department of Development estimate) is concentrated in the cities and villages in the north and central parts of the county, and along the Ohio River. Sixty-five percent of the overall population relies on ground water for their water supply. This fact sheet provides a brief overview of Columbiana 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. 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 38 inches of precipitation falls on Columbiana County annually. Figure 1 illustrates the average monthly precipitation for the county area for the period 1961 to 1990. Based on this 30-year record, the average precipitation is 3.2 inches per month, with January and February (2.3 inches each) typically being the driest months, and July (4.2 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 Columbiana County, Ohio (1961-1990); data collected at Millport.

Surface-Water Resources

Columbiana County's largest basin, Little Beaver Creek Basin, drains the majority of the county via a number of creeks, the largest being the Middle Fork and the West Fork of the Little Beaver Creek. They drain generally from the northwest to the southeast. The Little Beaver Creek flows southeast and joins the Ohio River just east of East Liverpool, near the point where Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio come together. Parts of Knox, West, and Hanover Townships are in the Sandy Creek Basin. Sandy Creek flows southwest and joins the Tuscarawas River near Bolivar. A small part of Fairfield Township is drained by Mill Creek in the Mahoning River Basin. The headwaters of the Mahoning River Basin begin in Columbiana County in Knox and Butler Townships in the northwest part of the county. The Mahoning River eventually flows northeast then southeast and joins the Beaver River in Pennsylvania. Yet another basin makes up parts of Yellow Creek, Washington, Wayne, and Franklin townships. They are drained by the North Fork of Yellow Creek. Yellow Creek joins the Ohio River just south of Wellsville. Several smaller creeks, such as Little Yellow Creek and Wells Run drain parts of Madison, Yellow, Creek, and East Liverpool townships directly into the Ohio River. A generalized surface-water map of Columbiana County is given in Figure 2.

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

Surface waters are affected by the 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. Residential and urban areas contain many impervious surfaces, such as streets and parking lots, that increase the amount of runoff. 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 341,900 land acres, of which 29% is cropland, 17.1% is pastureland, and 33.5% is forest land. Fifty soil series have been identified in the county; these are grouped into ten soil associations. The soils of the northern, middle, and southern sections of the county differ because of the effects of glaciation. Thick glacial deposits north of Lisbon form gently rolling hills which contain some of the best cropland in the county. Steeper areas are often gravelly and better suited for pasture. The central part of the county has thinner glacial deposits that barely cover hilly uplands. Southern Columbiana County was not glaciated and the soils in this area can be quite thin in the steep upland areas. Gently sloping areas along the Ohio River and its larger tributaries have deeper, fertile soils.

The county water acreage consists of about 1,100 acres of lakes. The larger lakes include Guilford Lake (396 acres), Highlandtown Lake (170 acres), Lake Tomahawk (115 acres), Beaver Lake (103 acres), Salem Reservoir (97 acres), and Westville Lake (90 acres). There are approximately 55 smaller lakes in Columbiana County ranging in size from 5 acres to 41 acres. The county contains approximately 808 linear miles of streams and rivers [estimated from river basin maps, Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Water]. In addition, numerous miles of county maintained and privately maintained ditches are used for land drainage.

Ground-Water Resources

Columbiana County's aquifers are greatly influenced by the glacial deposits of the area. The thick sand and gravel deposits from streams carrying glacial meltwater form the highest yielding aquifers in the county. Deposits as much as 100 feet thick are found in valley areas near East Palestine and along the Ohio River. These deposits can produce sustained yields of as much as several hundred gallons per minute (gpm)--sufficient for municipal and industrial use. Wells in smaller deposits of sand, gravel, silt, and clay range yield from 25 to 100 gpm in valleys in northern Knox Township, from Leetonia to Columbiana, and in areas near Minerva, Salem, and Lisbon.

In much of the northern part of the county, the thick glacial deposits overlie sandstone and shale bedrock. Wells in these areas average 10 to 25 gpm, appropriate for domestic and farm supplies. Where the glacial deposits include sand and gravel lenses, yields as much as 100 gpm may occur. Well depth ranges in this area are commonly 25 to 300 feet.

In parts of central Columbiana county, where the glacial cover is thinner, yields are smaller. Wells in this area yield up to 10 gpm which is adequate for domestic use. In the southern, unglaciated section of the county, ground water production is much lower. Well depths are commonly 25 to 100 feet, but some exceed 300 feet deep. In this area, the sandstone and shale units usually yield less than 3 gpm, and additional water storage is required to provide adequate domestic supplies. An overview of the ground-water resources in the county is given in Columbiana County Ground-Water Resources, AEX-490.15.

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 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 may result in runoff and how many inches have the potential to reach aquifers. Based on statewide averages of runoff and ground-water recharge, Columbiana 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

Water use for each of Columbiana 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 Salem water system, which uses the Salem Reservoir, Cold Run, and two wells for its source. The next largest system is the East Liverpool system, which uses the Ohio River for its source. Columbiana County has 26 other public water systems, including nine other city/village systems, nine mobile home parks, five resident associations, and 3 institutional systems. All of these are served by ground water except for the City of Wellsville system (Wellsville Reservoir source), the Salineville system (Riley Run), and the Columbiana County Water District #2 which purchases water from East Liverpool. When using the data from Table 1, please note that these public systems supply water for commercial and industrial uses as well as domestic uses.

Ground water is the source for rural households not served by Columbiana County public systems. Approximately 42 percent of the population obtains their water from private wells. Based on an estimated usage of 75 gallons per person per day, 3,364,200 gallons per day (gpd) from private wells are used. Additional private water uses include livestock use (696,900 gpd). The remaining population uses public water systems, 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, type of water sources, location and 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.

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 plants, 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 pollution sources, 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 sandstone and sand and gravel underlying Columbiana County, it dissolves the minerals contained in these formations and carries them in solution. Publication AEX-490.15 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 1987 study by Heidelberg College, 547 wells in the county were sampled for nitrate-nitrogen content, an indicator of water quality. Results showed that 410 wells (75 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. Ninety-two wells (17 percent) tested in the range of 0.3 to 3.0 ppm, values that may or may not indicate human influence. The 38 wells (7 percent) that tested in the range of 3.0 to 10 ppm, may indicate elevated concentrations resulting from human activities. Only 7 wells (0.01 percent) tested over the safe drinking-water standard of 10 ppm nitrate-nitrogen. The average nitrate-nitrogen concentration for the 547 wells tested was 0.76 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 Columbiana County Department of Health provides bacteriological water sampling for local citizens, and results of these tests generally indicate that the water meets current bacteriological standards. For more information contact the county health department (321 South Beaver St., Lisbon, OH; 330-424-0275).

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 pollutants such as lawn and agricultural chemicals (pesticides and fertilizers), oil and gas from spills, and industrial wastes.

Through the Ohio Nonpoint Source Assessment and 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 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 Columbiana County streams are affected by nonpoint source (NPS) pollution: Naylor Ditch, Mill Creek, Middle Fork Little Beaver Creek (headwaters to Middle Run), East Branch Middle Fork, West Fork Stateline Creek, Middle Run, Chemline Tributary, Buckley Run, Rowley Run, North Fork Yellow Creek, and Randolph Run. These streams are affected by one or more of the following NPS pollution categories: surface coal mining, in-place pollutants, pasture, channelization, urban runnoff, agriculture, storm sewers, construction sites, crop production, timber harvesting, and industrial land treatment. Other county streams are affected by point source pollution (municipal and/or industrial wastewater). Point source affected streams include: North Fork Little Beaver Creek (Bull Creek to Little Beaver Creek; and Bull Creek to Pennsylvania border segments), Leslie Run, and Cherry Valley Run. Columbiana County also contains streams that have good water quality and are attaining chemical and biological water quality standards. Monitoring has shown that all or parts of the following streams have good water quality: Little Beaver Creek (Middle Fork to Pennsylvania border), Middle Fork Little Beaver Creek (Middle Run to West Fork), West Fork Little Beaver Creek (headwaters to Middle Fork), Bull Creek, East Fork Stateline Creek, Turkeyfoot Run, Stone Mill Run, Buttermilk Creek, Cold Run, Salisbury Run, Nancy Run, and the Mahoning River (headwaters to Beech Creek). For Columbiana County streams not named, no information is currently available. For specific information about the streams listed in the Assessment and Inventory documents, and details about the Nonpoint Source Management Program for the county, contact the Ohio EPA Northeast District Office (2110 E. Aurora Rd., Twinsburg, OH 44087; 800-686-6330). 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 1996 less than half of Ohio's streams have been evaluated by the Assessment. As water quality monitoring continues statewide, the list of Columbiana County affected streams and streams with good water quality will change. Residents have a major challenge to protect 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 Columbiana 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 about the water resources in Columbiana County. For more information concerning water resources and drinking-water quality in the county, contact the Columbiana County office of Ohio State University Extension (330 S. Lincoln Ave., Lisbon, OH 44432; 330-424-7291). In addition, the following agencies may be able to provide information on other water resources topics in the county: Columbiana Soil and Water Conservation District; Columbiana County Health Department; 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 43266).

Bibliography

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

1994 Annual Report. 1995. Ohio Agricultural Statistics and Ohio Department of Agriculture.

Ohio County Business Patterns; Counties--Employees, Payroll, and Establishments, by Industry: 1993. 1993. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. Columbiana County, Ohio Soil Survey. 1979. USDA-SCS.

Columbiana County Ground-Water Resources. 1997. J. M. Stamm , J. M. Raab, L. C. Brown and K. T. Ricker. AEX-490.15. Ohio State University Extension.

Columbiana County Soil and Water Conservation District Resources Inventory. 1986. USDA-SCS.

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

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

Ground Water Pollution Potential of Columbiana County, Ohio. 1994. Report No. 35. ODNR Div. of Water.

Ground-Water Resources of Columbiana County. 1979. K. S. Crowell. 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.

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 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 Nonpoint Source Management Program. 1993. ODNR.

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.

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.

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Surface and Ground Water Terminology. 1990. L. C. Brown and L. P. Black. AEX 460. 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 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: Columbiana County office of OSU Extension; 330 S. Lincoln Ave., Lisbon, OH 44432, (330) 424-7291, Overholt Drainage Education and Research Program; and the Ohio Management Systems Evaluation Area Project (USDA CREES Grant No. 94-EWQI-1-9057).

The project leaders express appreciation to the following reviewers: Mitchell Catrell (Columbiana Soil and Water Conservation District); Gary Gray (USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Salem); Cheryl Mattevi (Kent State University, Salem); Vic Samora (Columbiana County Health Department); A. Wayne Jones, David Cashell and Leonard Black (ODNR Division of Water); Scott Golden (Bureau of Local Services, ODH); Steve Hindall (USGS, Ohio District); Anthony J. Kramer (USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, State Office, Columbus); Julie Gillenwater (Ohio EPA Division of Drinking and Ground Waters); and Larry Antosch and Richard McClay (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.