Ohio State University Fact Sheet

Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

590 Woody Hayes Dr., Columbus, OH 43210

Water Resources of Huron County

AEX-480.39-98

Water is a resource often taken for granted. In recent years, water vailability and quality have become important public concerns in Huron County. The county's population of 57,656 (1992 Ohio Department of Development) is predominantly (60%) urban, and 25 percent of the households rely on ground water for their water supply. This fact sheet provides a brief overview of Huron 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 35.6 inches of precipitation falls on Huron 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 (1.7 inches) typically being the driest month, 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. The Huron County Soil and Water District has kept rainfall records during the growing season (April through September) since 1974. The average rainfall for this period is 23.4 inches with variations from 15.6 inches to 30.1 inches. These precipitation amounts are important to the production of agricultural crops.

Figure 1. Average monthly precipitation (in inches) in Huron County, Ohio (1961-1990); data collected at Norwalk.

Surface-Water Resources

The quantity and quality of surface waters are affected by the soil type, geology, the topography of adjacent land, and the way people use the land. Changes in land use, such as residential development and agricultural production, may increase or decrease the amount of sediment and other pollutants entering a body of water. The soils and terrain also influence the amount of runoff entering streams 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 317,517 land acres, of which 80 percent is farmland. Forty-two soil types have been identified in the county and vary in drainage quality from very poorly drained to well drained. A large portion of the soils are Bennington-Cardington-Condit which make up about 50 percent of the county and which have low permeability. The Cardington-Bennington Association, which makes up about 30 percent of the county soils are found on gently sloping land areas and are well drained.

The southwestern part of the county has a glacial like overburden as the Wetland Marsh surface water in Huron County drains northward into Lake Erie. The eastern part of the county is drained by the Vermilion River and its tributaries. The central and western parts of the county are drained by several tributaries of the Huron River.

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

The county water acreage consists of about 246.6 acres of lakes, including approximately 220 acres in Holiday Lakes and numerous smaller ponds and quarries. The county contains approximately 843.7 linear miles of major streams and rivers [estimated from river basin maps, Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Water]. In addition, 97.8 miles of county-maintained open ditches and 1.5 miles of tiled ditches plus numerous miles of privately-maintained ditches are used for land drainage. A generalized surface-water map of Huron County is given in Figure 2.

Ground-Water Resources

Huron County's primary ground-water source is a buried valley aquifer containing up to 150 feet of unconsolidated deposits. Valley fill material consists primarily of silty sand and clay with thin interbedded lenses of sand and gravel. Extensive drilling may be needed to locate coarse materials for maximum yields. Well yields may be 25 to 100 gallons per minute (gpm). This aquifer crosses the center of the county under the two largest cities. Wells may yield up to 500 gpm in the extreme northwestern corner of the county. Low yield can be expected from the extensive shale deposits dominant throughout the county. An overview of the ground-water resources in the county is given in Huron County Ground-Water Resources, AEX-490.39.

The yield of a well will vary considerably depending on the age and depth of the well, well construction, 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, Huron County's 35.6 inches of average annual precipitation result in about 9.3 inches of runoff to streams and lakes, and about 5.7 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 Huron 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 Norwalk city system, which uses three reservoirs for its supply. Additionally, large pumps enable the city to pump water from the East Branch Huron River and Bauer's Lake several miles to the Memorial Reservoir during dry weather. The cities of Willard and Bellevue and the villages of New London and Monroeville use surface water for their systems. The Erie-Huron Rural Water Authority (RWA) started serving rural areas in northern and eastern Huron County in 1991 and began supplying the village of Wakeman in 1995. The RWA obtains its water from Lake Erie at Lorain. Greenwich and North Fairfield villages and the Holiday Service Corporation use wells for their water supplies.

Ground water is a major water source for rural households in Huron County. Approximately 65 percent of all rural households obtain their water from private wells. Based on an estimated usage of 75 gallons per person per day, 1,725,000 gallons per day (gpd) are used from private wells. Additional private water uses include livestock use (375,000 gpd) and golf course irrigation in the summer. Golf course and irrigation are derived from a combination of ground and surface water supplies. The remaining households use public-water supplies with ground 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, ground-water 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 in order to better manage and protect Ohio's water resources. Documenting water use also provides official records for individual users. 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 (NPS) pollution. Point source pollution is the introduction of impurities into water (ground water or surface water) from identifiable, known locations. Examples of point sources include industrial plants, power plants, commercial businesses, and wastewater treatment facilities.

NPS pollution also involves the introduction of impurities into surface-water bodies or aquifers, 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.

Ground Water

As water moves through the buried valley containing unconsolidated deposits underlying Huron County, it dissolves the minerals contained in these formations and carries them in solution. Publication AEX 490.39 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, 135 wells in the county were sampled for nitrate-nitrogen content, an indicator of water quality. Results showed that 79 wells (61 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. Twenty-three wells (17 percent) tested in the range of 0.3 to 3.0 ppm, values that may or may not indicate human influence. The 28 wells (21 percent) that tested in the range of 3.0 to 10 ppm, may indicate elevated concentrations resulting from human activities. Only 5 wells (4 percent) tested over 10 ppm nitrate-nitrogen, which exceeds the safe drinking-water standard. The average nitrate-nitrogen concentration for the 135 wells tested was 2.4 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 Huron 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 Huron County Health Department at 180 Milan Avenue, Norwalk, OH 44857.

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 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 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 by Ohio EPA indicates that all or parts of the following Huron County streams are affected by NPS pollution: East Branch Huron River (headwaters to Norwalk Creek), Norwalk Creek, Honey Creek (headwaters to Broken Knife Creek), Slate Run, and Vermilion River (headwaters to East Branch).

These streams are affected by one or more of the following NPS pollution categories: agriculture, surface runoff, on-site wastewater treatment systems, and in place pollutants. Other county streams are affected by point source pollution (municipal and/or industrial wastewater). Point source affected streams include: West Branch Huron River (headwaters to Marsh Run), Rattlesnake Creek, and Skellinger Creek.

Huron 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: West Branch Huron River (Slate Run to East Branch) and Chappel 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 Bowling Green District Office, 347 North Dunbridge Road, Bowling Green, OH 43402. 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 Huron 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 Huron 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 Huron County. For more information concerning water resources and drinking-water quality in the county, contact the Huron County office of Ohio State University Extension (180 Milan Avenue, Norwalk, OH 44857). In addition, the following agencies may be able to provide information on other water resources topics in the county: Huron County Soil and Water Conservation District; Huron County Health Department; ODNR Division of Water (Fountain Square, Columbus, OH 43224); U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Ohio District (975 West Third Avenue, 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

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

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

Huron County Ground-Water Resources. 1996. G. W. Bauer, D. Weilnau, A. W. Jones, J. M. Raab, L. C. Brown and N. M. N'Jie. AEX-490.39. Ohio State University Extension.

Huron 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 Huron County. 1983. G. W. Hartzell, 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 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 Population by Governmental Unit. 1991. Ohio Data Users Center, Ohio Department of Development.

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, 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.

Soil Survey of Huron County, Ohio. June 1994. National Cooperative Soil Survey, USDA, Soil Conservation Service.

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: Huron County office of OSU Extension; Huron County Commissioners; Huron 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: Cary Brickner, Ed McConoughey and Mike Patterson, (Natural Resources Conservation Service, Huron County); Jack Jump, (Huron County Health Department); Cary Jones, Jim J. Raab, 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); Ray Shesky (Ohio EPA Division of Drinking and Ground Waters); and Larry Antosch (Ohio EPA Division of Surface Water).

A special thanks to Maryellen Hamernik, Secretary, (Ohio State University Extension, Huron County) and Kim Wintringham, Technical Editor (Section of Communications and Technology, The Ohio State University), for editorial and graphic production.