Figure 1. Average monthly precipitation (in inches) in Sandusky County, Ohio (1961-1990).
Ronald L. Overmyer
Larry C. Brown
Water is a resource often taken for granted. In recent years, water availability and quality have become important public concerns in Sandusky County. The county is predominantly rural with a population of 62,267 (1980 census data). About 42 percent of all the households in Sandusky County rely on ground water for their water supply. 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 Sandusky 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 Sandusky 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 Sandusky County annually. Figure 1 illustrates the average monthly precipitation for the county for the period from 1961 to 1990. Based on this 30-year precipitation record, the average rainfall is about 2.87 inches per month with February (1.64 inches) typically being the driest month and July (3.76 inches) the wettest. There can be, however, extreme differences in some years and in certain months within a year. Extremes of seasonal and yearly variability are not often seen when considering long-term precipitation information.
Figure 1. Average monthly precipitation (in inches) in Sandusky
County, Ohio (1961-1990).
Sandusky County has two major drainage basins in the county: the Sandusky River and the Portage River Basins. Major streams that drain other parts of the county include: Green Creek, Muddy Creek, Muskellunge Creek, Pickerel Creek, Pike Creek, Sugar Creek and Toussaint Creek. All of these drainage basins are important because they empty into Lake Erie, which is a major water resource for several midwestern states and southwestern Ontario. A generalized surface-water map of Sandusky County is shown in Figure 2.
The Sandusky River Basin has an area of approximately 1,420 square miles and stretches from Sandusky Bay to the northern one-third of Marion County. The Portage River Basin is approximately 602 square miles in area and stretches from Lake Erie to McComb, in Hancock County, Ohio.
Sandusky County contains approximately 261,760 land acres, of which approximately 95 percent is rural. Eleven different soil types are present within the county, the majority of which are poorly drained clays, loams and glacial till deposit. The county has approximately 4,480 water acres, which provide for a bountiful supply of surface water. The county water acreage consists of about 154 acres of lakes and approximately 240 linear miles of streams and rivers. This availability lends itself to many uses by both communities and individuals.
Figure 2. Surface-water resources in Sandusky County, Ohio
(adapted from ODNR Division of Water river basin maps).
The primary source of ground water is the carbonate aquifer of limestone and dolomite that serves as an adequate water supply for both individual wells for several county villages, such as Gibsonburg, Green Springs, Lindsey and Woodville. 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. Regional ground water recharge zones are located to the south and west of the county in Hancock, Wyandot and Seneca counties. Ground water underlying the county moves toward Lake Erie, its natural point of discharge.
Well yields of 500 to 1,000 gallons per minute (GPM) may be developed in the extreme eastern end of the county. This yield potential decreases in the westward direction, with almost the entire western half of the county showing yields usually limited to less than 100 GPM. Farm and domestic supplies are usually obtained at depths of 70 to 100 feet. 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.
An overview of the ground-water resources in Sandusky County is given in the publication Sandusky County Ground-Water Resources (available through your county Extension office). Specific information on ground-water availability and wells in Sandusky 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 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 have the potential to recharge aquifers (values for particular locations will differ according to local conditions). Statewide averages applied to Sandusky 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, Sandusky County's 34 inches of annual precipitation results in about 9 inches of runoff and about 5 inches have the potential to recharge the aquifers, annually.
The county has a number of villages, but only 6 of these have public water systems. These are: Clyde, Fremont, Gibsonburg, Green Springs, Lindsey and Woodville. 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.
Four of the 6 public water systems in the county are supplied solely by ground-water sources: Gibsonburg with 3 wells, Green Springs with 6 wells, Lindsey with 2 wells, and Woodville with 8 wells. Clyde serves its population with surface water from the Raccoon Creek and Clyde reservoirs. Fremont serves its population with surface water supplied by the Sandusky River.
Ground water is a major water source for households in Sandusky County. Approximately 42 percent of all households in the county use ground water, and nearly 34 percent of all households have a private well. The remaining 8 percent use public water supplies with ground water as the source. All other households in Sandusky County use public water supplies derived from surface-water sources.
| Table 1. Water Use in Sandusky County, Ohio.1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Water System | Population Served | Primary Water Source | Water Usage (GPD)2 | Treatment Plant Capacity (GPD) |
| Clyde | 5,900 | Surface Water | 958,000 | 2,000,000 |
| Fremont | 20,500 | Surface Water | 4,917,000 | 7,500,000 |
| Gibsonburg | 2,350 | Ground Water | 320,000 | 900,000 |
| Green Springs | 1,500 | Ground Water | 155,000 | 180,000 |
| Lindsey | 650 | Ground Water | 70,000 | 140,000 |
| Woodville | 2,060 | Ground Water | 210,000 | 690,000 |
| 1 Estimates were abstracted from The Northwest Ohio Water Plan - Public Water Supply (1986) and adjusted using 1990 data provided by Gary Cutler, Ohio EPA, Division of Public Drinking Water, Columbus, OH, and from Groundwater Protection and Management (1988). | ||||
| 2 GPD = Gallons per Day. | ||||
As water moves through the fractured limestone underlying Sandusky County, it dissolves and carries in solution minerals contained in the bedrock. Ground water in the western half of the county generally has a low mineral content compared to the generally high mineral contents in the eastern portion of the county. Ground water in the eastern portion of the county tends to be hard with high sulfide, chloride and/or iron content. Sometimes it is undesirable for use. Ground water in the western half of the county has a more appealing smell and taste due to lower dissolved solids.
Human activity has had some influence on the quality of ground water in Sandusky County. In 1987, 183 wells in the county were sampled for nitrate concentration. Three of these wells tested at more than 10 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen, which exceeds the safe drinking water standard. Ten of the wells tested at between 3 mg/L and 10 mg/L, which is considered in the safe range, but indicates the influence of human activity. Another 10 wells tested in the range of 0.31 mg/L to 3.0 mg/L, indicating the possibility of human activity. The average nitrate level in the county was 0.71 mg/L.
Another aspect of water quality in Sandusky County is sediment-loading in the streams and rivers. On the average, about 20,000 tons per day are carried by the Sandusky River at Fremont, which amounts to about 7,300,000 tons per year. These sediments are detrimental because they fill in the reservoirs and the channels of the river. The river also carries pollutants from human activities such as lawn and agricultural chemicals, agricultural nutrients, septage and industrial waste. The major challenges for the people of Sandusky County are to reduce soil erosion and the movement of nutrients and pesticides into the water supply.
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 Sandusky 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 Sandusky County. Contact the Sandusky County Extension Office for more information.
Other agencies to contact for more information on these or other water resources topics in Sandusky County include: the Sandusky 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 Sandusky 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 Sandusky County Extension Office. These materials may help us update the current publication and provide interesting water facts about Sandusky County to the public.
Gazetteer of Ohio Streams. 1960. Ohio Water Inventory Report No. 12. ODNR Division of Water.
Groundwater. 1974. Staff Research Report No. 115, December 1974. Ohio Legislative Service Commission.
Groundwater Protection and Management: A Plan for Sandusky County, Ohio. 1988. Submitted to the Sandusky County Board of Commissioners July 5, 1988. Prepared by WSOS Community Action Commission, Inc., Great Lakes Rural Network, Fremont, OH 43420.
Ground-Water Resources of Sandusky County. 1980. J.J. Schmidt. ODNR Division of Water. Map.
Ground-Water Resources of Sandusky County, Ohio. 1982. J.A. Hoover. Unpublished M.S. Thesis. Department of Geology and Hydrogeology, The University of Toledo.
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 Ohio's Lakes. 1980. Ohio Water Inventory Report No. 26. ODNR Division of Water.
Inventory of Municipal Water-Supply Systems by County, Ohio. 1977. Ohio Water Inventory Report No. 24. ODNR Division of Water.
Nitrate In Drinking Water. 1987. K.M. Mancl. Bulletin No. 744. Department of Agricultural Engineering, Cooperative Extension Service, The Ohio State University.
Nitrates and Pesticides in Private Wells in Ohio, June 1989. Water Quality Laboratory, Heidelberg College, Tiffin, Ohio. 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. Fact Sheet No. AEX-461. Department of Agricultural Engineering, Cooperative Extension Service, The Ohio State University.
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 through Department of Agricultural Engineering, The Ohio State University).
Sandusky, Ohio Soil Survey. 1987. USDA, ODNR, and OARDC.
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. Fact Sheet No. AEX-460. Department of Agricultural Engineering, Cooperative Extension Service, The Ohio State University.
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 the Ohio Cooperative Extension Service, The Ohio State University. Project Team: Larry C. Brown (Project Leader, OSU Extension), Ron Overmyer (Sandusky County, OSU Extension), John Hixson (Union County, OSU Extension), Gary Wilson (Hancock County, OSU Extension), Marcus Dresbach (Northwest District, OSU Extension), Glen Arnold (Putnam County, OSU Extension), Jay Johnson (Agronomy, OSU 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 for review of this publication: Jim Raab and others (Division of Water, ODNR); Mike Patterson, 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 is given to Doug Stuart (School of Natural Resources, OSU) for help in manuscript preparation, and Judy Kauffeld, Anne Mischo 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