Figure 1. Average monthly precipitation in Putnam County, 1951-1980.
Glen J. Arnold
Larry C. Brown
Water is a resource often taken for granted. In recent years, water availability and quality have become important public concerns in Putnam County. The county is predominantly rural with a population of just under 34,500 (1980 census population was 32,991). More than 80 percent of the residents get their water from private wells. Residents who understand where water is obtained and how it is used in the county gain a better appreciation for their water. This fact sheet provides a brief overview of Putnam County's water resources, such as rivers, streams, ponds, reservoirs and ground water. Its intent is to increase public awareness and understanding of water resources in Putnam County. 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. This publication is available through your county Extension office.
Approximately 34 inches of precipitation fall on Putnam County annually. Figure 1 illustrates the average monthly precipitation for the county for the period from 1951 to 1980. Based on this long-term precipitation record, the precipitation is fairly consistent throughout the year, ranging from a low of 2.0 inches per month in February and October, to a high of 3.6 inches in July.
There can be, however, extreme differences in some years and in certain months within a year. Drought conditions were experienced in Putnam County during 1988 when total rainfall was 8 inches below normal. County residents recall 1989 as being a wet year; however, the total precipitation for the year was actually 0.8 inches below normal. In 1989, precipitation for the month of May was 5.4 inches rather than the normal 3.5 inches; the resulting wet soil conditions caused delays in getting farm fields and gardens planted. These are recent examples of seasonal variability that are not often seen when considering long-term precipitation information.
Figure 1. Average monthly precipitation in Putnam County, 1951-1980.
Putnam County has approximately 340 linear miles of streams and rivers, which are part of the vast Maumee River Basin. Nearly all of these streams flow in a westerly to northerly direction and are fed by precipitation and runoff, and discharge from surface and subsurface drainage systems. A generalized surface-water map of Putnam County is given in Figure 2. Major rivers of the county are the Ottawa, Auglaize and Blanchard Rivers (noted on Figure 2). The Blanchard River often overflows its banks and floods low-lying farm land and residential property.
Ponds, which are popular with homeowners, are numerous in Putnam County. Most are filled by precipitation and surface runoff and are not major sources of drinking water. Abandoned rock quarries and shallow clay pits account for the small remaining water acreage in the county. They are not large enough for activities such as boating but are often used for fishing. However, Putnam County does have one large upground reservoir that serves as storage for the public water supply for the Village of Ottawa.
Figure 2. Surface-water resources in Putnam County, Ohio (modified from ODNR Division of Waer river basin maps).
Putnam County's principal source of ground water is the carbonate aquifer of limestone and dolomite bedrock. Limestone mainly consists of calcium carbonate; dolomite is very similar but contains magnesium carbonate, as well as calcium carbonate. Both are commonly referred to as limestone, which is familiar to most Ohioans as a construction material.
The average depth of wells drilled into this aquifer is approximately 100 feet, but depth varies greatly across the county. The yield of a well will vary considerably depending on age and depth of the well and its construction, diameter of the casing, pump capacity and age, and more importantly, properties of the geologic formation. Some of the older wells, at shallow depths, produce only a few gallons per minute, while some newer wells drilled to a greater depth may yield several hundred gallons per minute. A high percentage of wells in the county yield water high in hydrogen-sulfide, which is a gas that smells of rotten eggs.
An overview of the ground-water resources in Putnam County is given in the publication Putnam County Ground-Water Resources (available through your county Extension office). Specific information on ground-water availability and wells in Putnam County can be obtained by contacting the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Water.
Based on long-term 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 become runoff, which moves immediately to surface-water bodies like streams and lakes. Two inches are retained at or near 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 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, refer to the Fact Sheet AEX-461, Ohio's Hydrologic Cycle, which is available through your county Extension office.
From statewide averages, about 26 percent of the 38 inches becomes runoff and about 16 percent has the potential to recharge aquifers (values for particular locations differ according to local conditions). Statewide averages applied to Putnam 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 the statewide averages of runoff and ground-water recharge, Putnam County's 34 inches of annual precipitation result in about 9 inches of runoff and about 5 inches have the potential to recharge the aquifers, annually.
By multiplying the land area of Putnam County by the average annual precipitation, one can also estimate that the county receives more than 286 billion gallons of water in an average year. If 16 percent of this precipitation has the potential to reach the ground-water system, based on statewide estimates, the aquifer may be recharged at an annual rate of almost 46 billion gallons.
The county has 15 villages, but only 7 of these have public water systems. Table 1 lists the villages providing public water service along with population served, primary water source, estimated daily water usage and treatment plant capacity. These public water systems provide water for domestic, commercial and industrial uses within village limits, which should be considered when using the information in Table 1. For example, the Village of Ottawa, which also serves Glandorf, uses more than seven times the water used by the Village of Columbus Grove but has only slightly less than double the population. This is due to heavy industrial water needs in the Village of Ottawa.
The Village of Ottawa is the only public water system in Putnam County that does not depend on ground water. To meet the domestic, commercial and industrial needs, water is pumped from the Blanchard River and stored in a 116 million-gallon reservoir. The water usually requires only standard treatment for public consumption. However, pumping is halted each spring and during periods of low river flow when the nitrate-nitrogen level is greater than the 10 mg/L safe drinking water standard. Pumping is resumed when the nitrate-nitrogen level is again within acceptable standards.
Many commercial and industrial establishments in the rural areas of Putnam County meet their water needs by using individual wells. These establishments include several golf courses, trailer parks, schools, specialty-crop farms needing irrigation, plus a fish farm.
| Table 1. Water Use in Putnam County, Ohio.1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Water System | Population Served | Primary Water Source | Water Usage (GPD)2 | Treatment Plant Capacity (GPD) |
| Columbus Grove | 2,312 | Ground Water | 250,000 | 1,200,000 |
| Continental | 1,218 | Ground Water | 117,000 | 158,000 |
| Kalida | 1,100 | Ground Water | 98,000 | 331,200 |
| Leipsic | 2,200 | Ground Water | 555,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Ottoville | 950 | Ground Water | 85,000 | 280,000 |
| Pandora | 957 | Ground Water | 90,000 | 576,000 |
| Ottawa/Glandorf | 4,591 | Surface Water3 | 1,340,000 | 3,000,000 |
| 1 Estimates were abstracted from The Northwest Ohio Water Plan - Public Water Supply (1986) and adjusted using data provided by Jill Schiefer, the Ohio EPA, Division of Drinking and Ground Water, Northwest District Office, Bowling Green, OH, and data from plant managers. | ||||
| 2 GPD = Gallons per Day. | ||||
| 3 Source is the Blanchard River. | ||||
Associated with the importance of water resources is the importance of the county's land resources. Putnam County is approximately 310,000 acres in size and its fertile lake bed soils easily permit agriculture to be the leading industry. Water is essential to allow the fertile soils to be productive. However, an excess of water is often a problem in the northwest part of the county because it has heavy, poorly drained, clay soils. Despite surface and subsurface drainage improvements, the clay soils readily retain water and often delay the normal planting or harvesting dates, causing economic losses to farmers.
Land-use categories shown in Figure 3 include acres and percent of total land area. Urban land is defined as land used for residential, industrial, commercial and institutional sites, etc. Agricultural land in the county includes cropland, pasture land and forest land. Other rural land includes farm homesteads, feedlots, farm lanes, drainage ditches and other minor uses.
Figure 3. Total acreage of Putnam County = 310,000 acres.
Water availability and quality are important public concerns. Water problems can be both costly and inconvenient. While the present and future availability of water is excellent for Putnam 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 is intended to provide information to the public on water facts for Putnam County. For more information contact the Putnam County Extension Office.
Other agencies to contact for more information on these or other water resources topics in Putnam County include: the Putnam Soil and Water Conservation District Office; the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Water (Fountain Square, Columbus, OH 43224, 614/265-6740); the U.S. Geological Survey (Ohio District, 975 W. Third Ave., Columbus, OH 43212); and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (1800 WaterMark Drive, Columbus, OH 43266). Your county Extension agent can help you determine which agency to call for your specific needs.
A Special Request ... Many readers of this publication may have access to, or know of other Putnam County water resources information and facts not included in this publication. If you have accurate and factual information that you would like to pass along, please send copies of those materials to the lead author of this publication at the Putnam County Extension Office. These materials may help us update the current publication and provide interesting water facts about Putnam County to the public.
Active Community, Non-Community and Non-Transient, Non-Community Water Usage in Putnam County. December 1989. Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
Burkholder, R. November, 1989. Personal communication. National Weather Observer, Pandora, Ohio.
Gazetteer of Ohio Streams. 1960. Ohio Water Inventory Report No. 12. ODNR Division of Water.
Ground-Water Resources of Putnam County. 1992. D.E. Calhoun, III. ODNR Division 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 Division of Water.
Inventory of Municipal Water-Supply Systems by County, Ohio. 1977. Ohio Water Inventory Report No. 24. ODNR Division of Water.
Inventory of Ohio's Lakes. 1980. Ohio Water Inventory Report No. 26. ODNR Division of Water.
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 744. Ohio State University Extension.
Northwest Ohio Water Plan, Public Water Supply. 1986. ODNR Division of Water.
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. 1990. Personal communication. Division of Public Drinking Water, Facilities and Operations Section. 1800 WaterMark Drive, Columbus, OH. 43266.
Ohio Ground-Water Quality. USGS National Water Summary, Ohio. 1986. U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2325.
Ohio Ground-Water Resources. USGS National Water Summary, Ohio. 1984. U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2275.
Ohio Surface-Water Resources. USGS National Water Summary, Ohio. 1985. U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2300.
Ohio's Hydrologic Cycle. 1990. L.C. Brown and K.M. Coltman. AEX-461. Ohio State University Extension
Ohio's Natural Heritage. 1979. M.B. Lafferty (Ed.). Ohio Academy of Science, Columbus, Ohio.
Private Water Systems Handbook. 1987. MWPS-14, Midwest Plan Service, Ames, IA. (Available from your county Extension office).
Putnam County Economic Development Committee Handbook. April 1989. Putnam County Economic Development Committee.
Putnam County, Ohio Soil Survey. 1975. USDA, ODNR, and OARDC.
Putnam County Ground-Water Resources. 1991. M. Fulmer, L.C. Brown and G.J. Arnold. AEX-490.69. Ohio State University Extension.
Soil and Water Conservation District Resource Inventory. 1985. USDA-Soil Conservation Service.
Surface and Ground Water Terminology. 1990. L.C. Brown and L.P. Black. AEX-460. Ohio State University Extension
The Northwest Ohio Water Development Plan. 1967. Ohio Water Commission, ODNR.
Water Inventory of the Maumee River Basin, Ohio. 1960. Ohio Water Inventory Report No. 11. ODNR Division of Water.
Water - Ohio's Remarkable Resource. 1982. ODNR Division of Water.
This publication was produced through the Water Resources Educational Materials Project funded by the Innovative Grant Program of Ohio State University Extension, The Ohio State University. Project Team: Larry C. Brown (Project Leader, Ohio State University Extension), Ron Overmyer (Sandusky County, Ohio State University Extension), John Hixson (Union County, Ohio State University Extension), Gary Wilson (Hancock County, Ohio State University Extension), Marcus Dresbach (Northwest District, Ohio State University Extension), Glen Arnold (Putnam County, Ohio State University Extension), Jay Johnson (Agronomy, Ohio State University Extension), Robert Roth (School of Natural Resources, OSU), and Leonard Black and Margo Fulmer (ODNR, Division of Water).
The Project Team expresses appreciation to the following reviewers: Jim Raab and others (Division of Water, ODNR); Terry Schroeder, Jan Whitcomb, Wayne Achor, and Gary Overmier (USDA-Soil Conservation Service); Tom Bean (Agricultural Engineering, OSU); Dick Swisshelm (U.S. Geological Survey, Ohio District); and Gary Cutler (Division of Public Drinking Water, Ohio EPA).
A special thanks to Judy Kauffeld and Sandy Born (Section of Communications & Technology) for editorial and graphic production.
All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status.
Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Adm. and Director, OSU Extension.
TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868