Ohio State University Extension

Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

590 Woody Hayes Dr., Columbus, Ohio 43210

Water Resources of Licking County

AEX-480.45-97

Water is a resource often taken for granted. In recent years, water availability and quality have become important public concerns in Licking County. The county's population of 131,975 (1992 Ohio Department of Development estimate) is a mixture of urban and rural and 65 percent of the residents rely on ground water for their water supply. This fact sheet provides a brief overview of Licking 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 41.4 inches of precipitation falls on Licking 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 3.5 inches per month, with February (2.4 inches) typically being the driest month, and July (4.5 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 Licking County, Ohio (1961-1990); data collected at Newark Water Works.

Surface-Water Resources

The Licking River is the principal stream in the county. It forms at the confluence of the North Fork of the Licking River and the South Fork of the Licking River and Raccoon Creek at Newark. The Licking River flows into Dillon Lake in Muskingum County and subsequently into the Muskingum River. Most of Licking County is drained by the Licking River and its tributaries. The northeastern part, however, is drained by Wakatomika Creek and the southeastern part is drained by tributaries of Jonathan Creek. These streams also flow into the Muskingum River. Part of western Licking County is drained by tributaries of Big Walnut Creek and Little Walnut Creek which are part of the Scioto River drainage basin. Several tributaries of Big Walnut Creek, such as Duncan Run and the North Fork, East Fork, and South Fork of Rattlesnake Creek, drain into Hoover Reservoir.

The North Fork of the Licking River drains 239 square miles of the county, while the South Fork of the Licking River drains 288 square miles. Much of this watershed area is located in farmland. However, a significant portion of the watershed in the North Fork area contains woodland and pasture land. Land use throughout the county is changing. Woodland areas, as well as cropland, are being transferred to residential and commercial development at a rate of more than 2,000 acres annually. Much of the development is affecting drainage demands and runoff concerns in the county. A generalized surface-water map of Licking County is given in Figure 2.

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 438,976 land acres, of which 58 percent is farmland. Fifty-one 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 somewhat poorly drained to moderately well drained.

Licking County has one public lake, the 2,800-acre Buckeye Lake. Nearly 23 percent of the lake lies within Licking County. The county has 302 acres of private lakes. The largest private lake is 75 acres of the Hebron Fish Hatchery which is operated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The county contains approximately 331 linear miles of major streams and rivers [estimated from river basin maps, Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Water]. In addition, 40 miles of county-maintained ditches and numerous miles of privately-maintained ditches are used for land drainage.

Ground-Water Resources

Licking County's primary ground-water source is the thick valley fill deposits that stretch from south of St. Louisville and continue south through Heath. Wells in the sand and gravel deposits yield from 500 to 1,000 gallons per minute (gpm). The higher yield areas are readily recharged by the North Fork of the Licking River. The county's major yielding aquifers that will support wells that yield more than 500 gpm are located in central and eastern Liberty township, western McKean township, in the area north of Pataskala including parts of Jersey and St. Albans townships, and in the valley floor immediately south of St. Louisville through Heath. An overview of the ground-water resources in the county is given in Licking County Ground-Water Resources, AEX 490.45.

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, Licking County's 41.4 inches of average annual precipitation result in about 11 inches of runoff to streams and lakes, and about 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 Licking 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 Newark system, which uses the North Fork of the Licking River for its water supply. All other systems in Licking County use wells.

Ground water is a major water source for rural households in Licking County. Approximately 40 percent of the population obtains their water from private wells. Based on an estimated usage of 75 gallons per person per day, 4.25 million gallons per day (gpd) from private wells are used. Additional private water uses include industry (2.38 million gpd) and livestock use (684,000 gpd), mostly from ground-water supplies. The remaining households use public-water supplies, as identified in Table 1.

Table 1. Water Use in Licking County, Ohio.1
Public Water System	Population Served	Primary Water Source	Water Usage (GPD)2	Treatment Plant Capacity (GPD)
Newark	46,000	Surface Water	8,400,000	15,000,000
Heath	8,000	Ground Water	1,120,000	2,000,000
Granville	4,900	Ground Water	570,000	2,000,000
Pataskala	4,900	Ground Water	479,000	864,000
Johnstown	3,237	Ground Water	336,000	1,000,000
Utica	2,235	Ground Water	188,000	530,000
Hebron	2,200	Ground Water	471,200	1,000,000
Southwest Licking Water Company	2,400	Ground Water	205,000	860,000
Licking County Harbor Hills	846	Ground Water	55,000	03
Buckeye Lake Estates Mobile Home Park	500	Ground Water	73,730	N/A4
Licking County Jardin Manor	455	Ground Water	35,000	144,000
Alexandria	450	Ground Water	40,000	05
Licking County Prescott Estates	444	Ground Water	32,000	45,000
St. Louisville	400	Ground Water	32,000	105,000
Other6	2,062	Ground Water	266,660 N/A
1 Estimates from Ohio EPA 1996; information is based on data available at time of publication.
2 GPD = gallons per day.
3 Purchases water from the Village of Hebron.
4 Treatment plant capacity figure not available.
5 Purchases water from the Village of Granville.
6 Includes mobile home parks, nursing homes, homeowners associations, apartments, houses, and marinas; treatment plant capacity figure not available.

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 aquifers underlying Licking County, it dissolves the minerals contained in these formations and carries them in solution. Publication AEX-490.45 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, 464 wells in the county were sampled for nitrate-nitrogen content, an indicator of water quality. Results showed that 288 wells (62 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. One hundred twenty-nine wells (27.8 percent) tested in the range of 0.3 to 3.0 ppm, values that may or may not indicate human influence. The 39 wells (8.4 percent) that tested in the range of 3.0 to 10 ppm may indicate elevated concentrations resulting from human activities. Only 8 wells (1.7 percent) tested over the safe drinking-water standard of 10 ppm nitrate-nitrogen. The average nitrate-nitrogen concentration for the 464 wells tested was 1.09 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 Licking County Department of Health provides bacteriological water sampling for local citizens, and results of these tests generally indicate that the water meets current bacteriological health standards. For more information contact the county health department (675 Price Road, Newark, OH 43055).

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 Licking County streams are affected by nonpoint source (NPS) pollution: North Fork Licking River (headwaters to Sycamore Creek), Lobdell Creek, Beaver Run, and South Fork (river-mile 23.25 to Buckeye Lake outlet. These streams are affected by one or more of the following NPS pollution categories: crop production, livestock, sanitary sewers, construction sites, storm sewers, urban runoff, coal mining, oil and gas production, and channelization. Other county streams are affected by point source pollution (municipal and/or industrial wastewater). Point source affected streams include: Licking River, Northfork (Sycamore Creek to South Fork Licking River), Southfork (Buckeye Lake to Licking River), and Raccoon Creek. Licking 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, Rocky Fork, Lost Run, Painter Run, Long Run, Log Pond Run, Dry Run, Dog Hollow Run, Moots Run, Simpson Run, Pet Run, Kiber Run, and Bell Run. 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 Central District Office (3232 Alum Creek Drive, Columbus, OH 43207-3417). 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 Licking 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 Licking 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 Licking County. For more information concerning water resources and drinking-water quality in the county, contact the Licking County office of Ohio State University Extension (771 East Main St., Suite 103, Newark, OH 43055). In addition, the following agencies may be able to provide information on other water resources topics in the county: Licking Soil and Water Conservation District; Licking 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.

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 Licking County. 1995. M. P. Angle. GWPP Report No. 31, ODNR Div. of Water (report and map).

Ground-Water Resources of Licking County. 1982. 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.

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

Licking County Ground-Water Resources. 1997. H. Siegrist, J. M. Raab, L. C. Brown and K. T. Ricker. AEX-490.45. Ohio State University Extension.

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

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. 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.

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: Licking County office of OSU Extension; 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: Jim McClusky (USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service); Mike Angle, 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 Julie Huprich (Licking County Extension) in helping to prepare this fact sheet, and Kim Wintringham, Associate Editor (Section of Communications and Technology, Ohio State University Extension), for editorial and graphic production.