Ohio State University Extension

Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

590 Woody Hayes Dr., Columbus, Ohio 43210

Water Resources of Muskingum County

AEX-480.60

Mark Mechling
Karen T. Ricker
Larry C. Brown

Water is a resource often taken for granted. In recent years, water availability and quality have become important public concerns in Muskingum County. The county's population of 82,594 (1992 Ohio Department of Development estimate) is located in both rural and suburban areas. About 93 percent of the households rely on ground water for their water supply. This fact sheet provides a brief overview of Muskingum 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 inches of precipitation falls on Muskingum 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 (2.2 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 Muskingum County, Ohio (1961-1990); data collected at Zanesville Municipal Airport.

Surface-Water Resources

The Muskingum River serves as the primary drainage basin in Muskingum County. The major feeder creeks that drain into the river in Muskingum County are Wakatomika Creek, the Licking River, Wills Creek, Moxahala Creek, and Salt Creek. Jonathan Creek flows into Moxahala Creek, and White Eyes Creek drains the northeastern portion of the county into Wills Creek. The Muskingum River drains into the Ohio River at Marietta. A generalized surface-water map of Muskingum County is given in Figure 2.

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 416,640 land acres, of which 46 percent is farmland. Eleven soil associations have been identified in the county and vary in drainage quality from well drained to very poorly drained soils. Soils are diverse, ranging in slope from nearly level to very steep. They have been formed in glacial till and outwash, loess, colluvium, alluvium, sediment on terraces and flood plains, and surface mine spoils on uplands.

The county water acreage consists of about 2,200 acres of lakes, including Dillon Lake (1,325 acres), Lake Isabel (57 acres), and a portion of Wills Creek Lake along the northern boundary line of the county. The county contains approximately 615 linear miles of major streams and rivers [estimated from river basin maps, Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Water]. In addition, 520 miles of ditches along county roads and numerous miles of privately-maintained ditches are used for land drainage.

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

Ground-Water Resources

Muskingum County's most productive ground-water source is the permeable sand and gravel deposits along the Muskingum River and Wakatomika Creek Valley. In these areas, high yielding wells between 25 to more than 500 gallons per minute (gpm) can be developed. Most of the ground-water supplies for municipal and industrial purposes are developed in this aquifer.

The sandstone aquifers in the western part of the county are the second most productive aquifers. They produce in the 10 to 25 gpm range in wells at 25 to 300-foot depths.

The most extensive aquifers in terms of area in the county are the shale and fine-grained sandstone aquifers. These aquifers are encountered in 75 percent of the county and provide up to 5 gpm to wells that range from 0 to 50 feet deep. An overview of the ground-water resources in the county is given in Muskingum County Ground-Water Resources, AEX-490.60.

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, Muskingum County's 39 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 Muskingum 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 Zanesville system that uses wells along the Muskingum River for its supply. The other water systems also use ground-water sources except Maysville Regional and the Village of New Concord, which use surface water sources.

Ground water is a major water source for rural households in Muskingum County. Approximately 31 percent of all households obtain their water from private wells. Based on an estimated usage of 75 gallons per person per day, 1,938,600 gallons per day (gpd) from private wells are used. Additional private water uses include industry (3,000,000 gpd) and livestock use (649,000 gpd), mostly from ground-water supplies. About 7 percent of the county's population utilizes surface water as their water source. The remaining 62 percent of 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- 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 Muskingum County, Ohio.1
Public Water System	Population Served	Primary Water Source	Water Usage (GPD)2	Treatment Plant Capacity (GPD)
Zanesville	29,600	Ground Water	6,190,000	7,500,000
East Muskingum Water Authority NW	6,625	Ground Water3	548,000	N/A
East Muskingum Water Authority	5,090	Ground Water	721,000	1,500,000
Maysville	4,005	Surface Water	442,000	750,000
South Zanesville	2,500	Ground Water	272,000	432,000
Roseville	2,150	Ground Water	208,000	240,000
Dresden	2,000	Ground Water	172,000	400,000
New Concord	1,944	Surface Water	270,000	360,000
Frazeyburg	1,180	Ground Water	181,000	260,000
Philo	818	Ground Water	132,000	N/A
Other4	834	Ground Water	64,800	N/A
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 Purchases ground water from Zanesville; treatment plant capacity figure not available.
4 Includes mobile home parks, nursing homes, and homeowners associations; 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 unconsolidated and bedrock aquifers underlying Muskingum County, it dissolves the minerals contained in these formations and carries them in solution. Publication AEX-490.60 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, 474 wells in the county were sampled for nitrate-nitrogen content, an indicator of water quality. Results showed that 235 wells (50 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 forty-five wells (30 percent) tested in the range of 0.3 to 3.0 ppm, values that may or may not indicate human influence. The 72 wells (15 percent) that tested in the range of 3.0 to 10 ppm may indicate elevated concentrations resulting from human activities. Only 22 wells (5 percent) tested at more than 10 ppm nitrate-nitrogen, which exceeds the safe drinking-water standard. The average nitrate-nitrogen concentration for the 474 wells tested was 2.12 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 Muskingum 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 Muskingum County streams are affected by NPS pollution: Wills Creek, Crooked Creek, Yoker Creek, Moxahala Creek, Brush Creek, Jonathan Creek, Collins Fork, Buckeye Fork, Elk Run, Meigs Creek, and the Muskingum River (Salt Creek to Millers Run). These streams are affected by one or more of the following NPS pollution categories: oil and gas production, coal mining, agriculture, silviculture, road construction/maintenance, surface runoff, and on-site wastewater treatment systems. Other county streams are affected by point source pollution (municipal and/or industrial wastewater). Point source affected streams include the Licking River (Rock Fork to Dillon Reservoir), and the Muskingum River (Symmes Creek to Licking River). Muskingum 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: Wakatomika Creek, Salt Creek, Little Salt Creek, Kent Run, Salt Run, Miller Creek, the Licking River (Dillon Reservoir to Muskingum River) and the Muskingum River (Licking River to Salt Creek). For specific information about the streams listed in the Assessment and Inventory documents, and details about the Nonpoint Source Management Plan, 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 1995 less than half of Ohio's streams have been evaluated by the Assessment. As water quality monitoring continues statewide, the list of Muskingum County affected streams and streams with good water quality will change. Residents have a major responsibility to protect Muskingum 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 Muskingum 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 Muskingum County. For more information concerning water resources and drinking-water quality in the county, contact the Muskingum County office of Ohio State University Extension (225 Underwood Street, Zanesville, OH 43701; 614-454-0144). In addition, the following agencies may be able to provide information on other water resources topics in the county: Muskingum Soil and Water Conservation District; Zanesville-Muskingum 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.

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 Muskingum County. 1992. 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. 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.

Long-term Effects of Surface Coal Mining on Ground-Water Levels and Quality in Two Small Watersheds in Eastern Ohio. 1990. W. L. Cunningham and R. L. Jones. USGS. WRI Report 90-4136.

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.

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

Muskingum County Ground-Water Resources. 1995. M. W. Mechling, J. M. Raab, L. C. Brown and K. T. Ricker. AEX-490.60. Ohio State University Extension.

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

Nitrate and Pesticides in Private Wells of Ohio: A State Atlas. 1989. Water Quality Laboratory, Heidelberg College.

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Surface and Ground Water Terminology. 1990. L. C. Brown and L. P. Black. AEX 460. Ohio State University Extension.

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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: Muskingum County office of OSU Extension; 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: Mike Sims (Muskingum Soil and Water Conservation District); Michael J. Kirsch (Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Dept.); Charles F. McCluskey Jr. (USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Muskingum County); 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.