Ohio State University Extension

Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

590 Woody Hayes Dr., Columbus, Ohio 43210

Water Resources of Guernsey County

AEX-480.30-98

Clif Little
Extension Agent
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Guernsey/Noble County

Larry C. Brown
Associate Professor
Extension Agricultural Engineer
Food, Agric. and Biol. Engineering

Water is a resource often taken for granted. In recent years, water availability and quality have become important public concerns in Guernsey County. The county's population of 39,852 (1994 census data) is predominantly rural and approximately 32 percent of the households rely on ground water for their water supply. This fact sheet provides a brief overview of Guernsey 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 39.4 inches of precipitation falls on Guernsey 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 3.3 inches per month, with January (2.4 inches) typically being the driest month, and July (4.3 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 Guernsey County,
Ohio (1961-1990); data collected at Cambridge Station.

Surface-Water Resources

The Wills Creek Basin is the largest watershed in Guernsey County. The headwaters of Wills Creek originate in northern Noble County, southeastern Muskingum County and southwestern Belmont County. Wills Creek flows northward and drains into the Muskingum River. The southeastern corner of Spencer Township drains into the Duck Creek Watershed which flows southward and drains into the Ohio River. The northeastern corner of the county, including portions of Washington, Londonderry, and Oxford Townships drain into the Stillwater Creek Watershed.

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 affect 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. A generalized surface-water map of Guernsey County is given in Figure 2.

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

The county contains approximately 338,560 land acres, of which 41 percent is farmland. Forty-six soil types have been identified in the county and vary in drainage quality from poorly drained to well drained. The general soil map shows nine soil associations or general soil areas in Guernsey County. A large portion of the soils are: Westmorland-Lowell-Berks, Guernsey-Westmorland-Upshur, and Hazleton-Gilpin-Decalb Associations. These soils are characterized as well drained to moderately well drained.

The county water acreage consists of about 4,009 acres of lakes (five acres in size or greater), including approximately 2,952 acres in Salt Fork Reservoir and 800 acres of the 3,550 acre Senecaville Reservoir. In addition, approximately 103 lakes and ponds exist which are one acre in size or larger. The largest of the smaller lakes are: Lubergh Lake in Westland Township (58 acres) and Cambridge Reservoir (26 acres). The county contains approximately 524.7 linear miles of major streams and rivers (estimated from river basin maps, Ohio Department of Natural Resources [ODNR] Division of Water).

Ground-Water Resources

Guernsey County's primary ground-water sources are unconsolidated sand and gravel, and the sandstone and shale bedrock aquifers. Wells drilled into abandoned flooded coal mines in Jackson, Center, and Valley townships may yield enough water for municipal or industrial purposes. Wells yielding in excess of 25 gallons per minute may be found along Wills Creek in Valley, Liberty, and Wheeling townships. The total depth of wells in this area ranges from 50 to 166 feet. The second highest yielding area in which well yields of 10 to 25 gpm may be developed, lie in unconsolidated deposits along Cambridge, Liberty, and Wheeling Townships along Wills Creek. These unconsolidated deposits generally range from 40 to 140 feet in thickness. Areas yielding 3 to 10 gpm may be found in sandstone and sandy shales of the Pennsylvanian System in Jackson, Cambridge, Liberty, and Wheeling Townships. In these areas, and along stream valleys, occasional thin lenses of sand and gravel can be found which may yield sufficient domestic water supplies. The vast majority of wells found in the county seldom exceed yields of 3 gpm. Limited supplies of water are available from wells drilled in these alternating layers of shale and thin sandstone aquifers. Well depths vary in these areas from 40 to 325 feet, with the average depth being around 120 feet. Approximately 80 percent of Guernsey County lies in this ground water limiting area.

An overview of the ground-water resources in the county is given in Guernsey County Ground-Water Resources, AEX 490.30.

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 will result in runoff and how many inches have the potential to reach aquifers. Based on statewide averages of runoff and ground-water recharge, Guernsey County's 39.4 inches of average annual precipitation result in about 10.2 inches of runoff to streams and lakes, and about 6.3 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 Guernsey 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, treatment plant capacity, and service connnections served. The county's largest public water system is the City of Cambridge system, which uses Cambridge Reservoir (filled with water from Wills Creek) for its water supply. The Village of Byesville provides water from eight wells, seven of which serve plant #1 with a combined 550 gpm, and plant #2 is served by one well with a production of approximately 800 gpm. The Village of Quaker City is supplied by surface water from Leatherwood Creek with an average daily water usage rate of 48,000 gallons. The Village of Cumberland's water supply system consists of two wells drilled into a mine shaft. Pleasant City utilizes three drilled wells and a 125,000 gallon storage tank. Western Guernsey Service Company purchases surface water from the City of Cambridge. The Village of Kimbolton purchases surface water from the Guernsey County Water Department. All of this water is purchased from the City of Cambridge. The smallest public water system is Ladd Lands MHP, which obtains water from one well.

Ground water is a major water source for rural households in Guernsey County. Approximately 32 percent of all households obtain their water from private water sources. Based on an estimated usage of 75 gallons per person per day, 876,000 gallons per day (gpd) are used. Additional private water uses include commercial, livestock, and irrigation which use 2,402,219 gpd, mostly from surface water supplies. The remaining 68 percent of households use public water supplies with surface water as the source, 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 source (ground or surface water), 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.

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 nondirect and the sources are diffuse in nature. A major portion of the sediments and nutrients enter the state's water resources through nonpoint source pollution, affecting both ground and surface water. Examples include runoff and drainage from agricultural fields, 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 alternating layers of shale, sandstone, limestone, and coal underlying Guernsey County, it dissolves the minerals contained in these formations and carries them in solution and may eventually be discharged into surface or ground water. Publication AEX 490.30 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, 109 wells in the county were sampled for nitrate-nitrogen content, an indicator of water quality. Results showed that 63 wells (58 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. Thirty-four wells (31 percent) tested in the range of 0.3 to 3.0 ppm, values that may or may not indicate human influence. The 11 wells (10 percent) that tested in the range of 3.0 to 10 ppm, may indicate elevated concentrations resulting from human activities. Only 1 well tested at over 10 ppm nitrate-nitrogen, which exceeds the safe drinking-water standard. The average nitrate-nitrogen concentration for the 109 wells tested was 1.00 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 Guernsey County Department of Health provides bacteriological water sampling for local citizens. For more information contact the Health Department at 614-439-3577 or at 326 Highland Ave., Cambridge, Ohio 43725.

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), oil and gas from spills, and industrial wastes. Drainage from abandoned deep mine and surface mining waste may contribute significant amounts of pollutants to surface water throughout the county.

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 Guernsey County streams are impaired by nonpoint source (NPS) pollution: West Fork Duck, Little Stillwater Creek, and Wills Creek. These streams are affected by one or more of the following NPS pollution categories: surface coal mining, oil/gas production, agriculture, road construction/maintenance, and urban runoff. Other county streams are affected by point source pollution (municipal and/or industrial wastewater). Some point source affected streams include: Chapman Run, Stillwater Creek, and Trail Run. Guernsey 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: Brushy Fork, North Crooked Creek, Peters Creek, Buffalo Fork, Crane Run, and Miller Creek. 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 Southeast District Office, 2195 Front Street, Logan, Ohio 43138. 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 1998 less than half of Ohio's streams have been evaluated by the Assessment. As water quality monitoring continues statewide, the list of Guernsey 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 Guernsey 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 about the water resources in Guernsey County. For more information concerning water resources and drinking-water quality in the county, contact the Guernsey County office of Ohio State University Extension (9711 East Pike Road, Room 200, Cambridge, OH 43725). In addition, the following agencies may be able to provide information on other water resources topics in the county: Guernsey Soil and Water Conservation District; Guernsey 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 43226).

Bibliography

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

Guernsey County, Ohio Soil Survey. 1979. USDA-SCS.

Guernsey County Ground-Water Resources. 1996. R. C. Little and P. L. Thompson, W. Jones, J. Raab, L. C. Brown and N. M. N'Jie. AEX 490.30. Ohio State University Extension.

Guernsey 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.

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

Ground-Water Resources of Guernsey County. 1991. A. C.Walker. 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. Harstine. 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 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. SGS. Water-Supply Paper 2275.

Ohio Nonpoint Source Management Program. 1993. ODNR.

Ohio Population by Governmental Unit. 1991. Ohio Data Users Center, Ohio Department of Development.

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

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

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 N'Deye-Marie N'Jie. Partial financial support for this publication was provided by these cooperating agencies and programs: Guernsey County office of Ohio State University Extension; Guernsey Soil and Water Conservation District, Overholt Drainage Education and Research Program; and the Ohio Management Systems Evaluation Area Project (USDA Extension Service Grant No. 90-EWQI-1-9018).

The project leaders express appreciation to the following reviewers: Steve Hibinger, District Conservationist USDA-NRCS; Rick VanFleet, Environmental Health Director and Registered Sanitarian, Guernsey County Health Department; Jim Raab, David Cashell, and Leonard Black (ODNR Division of Water); Scott Golden (Local Services, ODH); Steve Hindall (USGS, Ohio District); Deba Mohler and John Armentano (USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, State Office, Columbus); Julie Gillenwater (Ohio EPA Division of Drinking and Ground Waters); and Larry Antosch (Ohio EPA Division of Surface Water). A special thanks to Joy Bodner, Program Assistant (Ohio State University Extension, Guernsey County), and Kim Wintringham, Technical Editor (Section of Communications and Technology, Ohio State University Extension), for editorial and graphic production.