Ohio State University Fact Sheet

Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

590 Woody Hayes Dr., Columbus, OH 43210

Water Resources of Ottawa County

AEX-480.62-98

Water is a resource often taken for granted. In recent years, water availability and quality have become important public concerns in Ottawa County. The county's population of 40,126 (1992 Ohio Department of Development estimate) is predominantly rural, and 60 percent of the residents rely on ground water for their water supply. This fact sheet provides a brief overview of Ottawa 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 county Extension offices.

Figure 1. Average monthly precipitation (in inches) in Ottawa County, Ohio (1961-1990); data collected at the Put-in-Bay, Perry Monument gauging station.

Precipitation

An average of approximately 31.7 inches of precipitation falls on Ottawa County annually. Figure 1 illustrates the average monthly precipitation for the county for the period 1961 to 1990. Based on this thirty-year record, the average precipitation is 2.6 inches per month, with February (1.5 inches) typically being the driest month, and August (3.5 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.

Surface-Water Resources

A watershed is a geographic area from which all waters, sediments, and dissolved materials drain to a common outlet like a stream, a pond, or Lake Erie. Ottawa County has two major watersheds, which are part of the Portage River Watershed Basin. On the western portion of Ottawa County is the Western Lake Erie Tributaries basin and the Lower Portage River basin drains the eastern portion of the county. The major streams of Ottawa County from northwest to southeast are: Cedar Creek, Crane Creek, Turtle Creek, Packer Creek, Toussaint Creek, Portage River, Sugar Creek, Wolf Creek, Nine Mile Creek/Little Portage, and Muddy Creek. There are many smaller tributaries and ditches that complete the drainage network of Ottawa County. The water basins and rivers of Ottawa County are part of a larger water basin known as the Portage River Drainage Basin. The Portage River basin contains approximately 602 square miles in area and stretches from Lake Erie to McComb, in Hancock County, Ohio. All of the Portage River basin and the basins in Ottawa County generally flow northeast and drain into Muddy Creek Bay, Sandusky Bay, or directly into Lake Erie. A generalized surface-water map of Ottawa County is given in Figure 2.

Surface water quality and quantity 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. 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 170,016 land acres, of which 66 percent is farmland. Five major soil associations have been identified in the county, with the most common being the Toledo-Nappanee. Soils in the Toledo-Nappanee association are defined as deep, nearly level, very poorly drained and somewhat poorly drained soils formed in clayey glacial lake bed sediments and glacial till.

The county water acreage is approximately 300 acres. Due to the closeness of the land elevation relative to the elevation of Lake Erie, there are approximately 16,867 acres of wetlands. There is a total of 262 miles of shoreline on the Ohio side of Lake Erie, 41 percent of which are in Ottawa County. The county contains approximately 159 linear miles of major streams and rivers [estimated from river basin maps, Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Water]. In addition, 105 miles of county-maintained ditches and numerous miles of privately-maintained ditches are used for land drainage.

Ground-Water Resources

Ottawa County's primary ground-water source is the regionally extensive carbonate aquifer which is composed of layers of limestone and dolomite bedrock. These formations, which underlie most of the western portion of Ohio, were deposited between 400 to 450 million years ago. These are covered by a layer of glacial till and lacustrine sediments. Glacial till is an unsorted mixture of clay, silt, sand, gravel, and boulders, deposited by the glacial processes that occurred in the last 10,000 years. Lacustrine deposits are materials deposited in lake water and exposed when the water level is lowered or the elevation of the land is raised.

Limestone bedrock in the area is an important aquifer. Water is contained in numerous openings, called voids, which occur as joints, bedding planes, fractures, and open spaces between individual rock fragments.

Large diameter wells developed into the limestone aquifer at depths of less than 300 feet, may provide yields in excess of 500 gallons per minute. Farm and domestic supplies of 10 to 30 gallons per minute are usually encountered at depths of less than 90 feet. Wells developed at depths of less than 50 feet often encounter high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide. Water containing hydrogen sulfide can be easily detected by an odor resembling rotten eggs. The degree of mineralization of ground water generally increases with its depth. An overview of the ground-water resources in the county is given in Ottawa County Ground-Water Resources, AEX-490.62.

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

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. On average, 2 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, Ottawa County's 31.7 inches of average annual precipitation result in about 8.2 inches of runoff to streams and lakes, and about 5.1 inches have the potential to recharge aquifers annually. The remaining 18.4 inches of Ottawa County's average total would be in soil storage and be returned to the atmosphere through evapotranspiration. Values for particular locations may differ according to local conditions.

Water Use

Water use for each of Ottawa 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 City of Port Clinton, which withdraws approximately 1.5 million gallons per day (gpd) directly from Lake Erie for its supply. Other community systems serving a permanent population of greater than 2,000 include Oak Harbor (2,750) and the Village of Genoa (2,600). Four other community water systems have a permanent population of less than 2,000, but have the capacities to serve greater than 2,000 in order to handle the large influx of tourist and seasonal residents drawn to the lake area. The capacities of these systems are: the Village of Put-in-Bay, 5,000; Camp Perry, 2,500; Lakeside, 2,300; and Gem Beach, 2,000. Most of these systems including the Port Clinton system are served by surface water sources. The total population served by these community systems equals 24,250, all served by surface water sources.

Ground water is a major water source for rural households and several small communities in Ottawa County. Approximately 23 percent of the population obtains water from private wells. Based on an estimated usage of 75 gallons per person per day, 1,822,500 gpd are withdrawn from ground-water sources. The remaining 77 percent of households obtain water from public water systems. Additional private water uses include mining, industry, and livestock use. Mining facilities in Ohio withdraw 40 million gpd. Ottawa County has the greatest surface water withdrawal for mining with 4 million gpd compared with the average Ohio county withdrawal at approximately 10,000 gpd. Livestock operations in Ohio withdraw an estimated 7 million gpd which is mostly from ground-water sources. Ottawa County withdraws less than 40,000 gpd for livestock uses. The remaining households use public-water supplies 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 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 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 (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 NPS pollution, affecting both ground and surface water. Examples include 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 extensive carbonate aquifer underlying Ottawa County, it dissolves the minerals contained in these formations and carries them in solution. Publication AEX-490.62 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, 184 wells in the county were sampled for nitrate-nitrogen content, an indicator of water quality. Results showed that 171 wells (93 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. Six wells (0.03 percent) tested in the range of 0.3 to 3.0 ppm, values that may or may not indicate human influence. The remaining seven wells (0.04 percent) that tested in the range of 3.0 to 10 ppm, may indicate elevated concentrations resulting from human activities. No wells tested over the safe drinking water standard of 10 ppm nitrate-nitrogen. The average nitrate-nitrogen concentration for the 184 wells tested was 0.2 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 Ottawa 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 Ottawa County health department at 1860 East Perry Street, Port Clinton, OH 43452.

Surface Water

Runoff and sediment from residential development, construction sites, and agricultural lands may enter the county's streams and lakes.

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 Ottawa County streams are affected by NPS pollution: Packer Creek, Toussaint Creek, Crane Creek, Ayers Creek, and Portage River. These streams are affected by one or more of the following NPS pollution categories: channelization; sanitary landfills; urbanization activities; silviculture; livestock and pastures; and crop production. 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 Northwest 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 Ottawa 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 Ottawa 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 Ottawa County. For more information concerning water resources and drinking-water quality in the county, contact the Ottawa County office of Ohio State University Extension in the basement of the Oak Harbor Post Office Building, Oak Harbor, OH 43449. In addition, the following agencies may be able to provide information on other water resources topics in the county: Ottawa Soil and Water Conservation District; Ottawa 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 43266).

Bibliography

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

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

Ottawa County Ground-Water Resources. 1997. G. W. Graham, A. W. Jones, J. M. Raab, L. C. Brown, and N. M. N'Jie. AEX-490.62. Ohio State University Extension.

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

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 Ottawa County. 1986. J. J. Schmidt. ODNR Div. of Water (map).

Hydrologic Atlas for Ohio: Average Annual Precipitation, Temperature, Streamflow, and Water Loss for the 50-YearPeriod 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.

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: Ottawa County office of OSU Extension; Overholt Drainage Education and Research Program; and the Ohio Management Systems Evaluation Area Project (USDA CSREES Grant No. 94-EWQI-1-9057).

The project leaders express appreciation to the following reviewers: Matt Duncan (District Conservationist, USDA-NRCS); Carl Koebel (Ottawa County Commissioner); Bill Hudson (Extension Agent, Ottawa County), Mike Buhrow (District Program Administration, Ottawa Soil and Water Conservation District); 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 (Ohio EPA Division of Surface Water). A special thanks to Kim Wintringham, Technical Editor (Section of Communications and Technology, The Ohio State University), for editorial and graphic production.