Figure 1. Average monthly precipitation (in inches) in Stark County, Ohio (1961-1990); Data collected at Akron-Canton, Beach City Lake, and Louisville.
Ernest F. Oelker
Kristina M. Boone
Larry C. Brown
Water is a resource often taken for granted. In recent years, water availability and quality have become important public concerns in Stark County. The county's population of 367,585 (1990 census data) is predominantly urban, and about 93 percent of all households rely on ground water for their water supply. By understanding where water is obtained and how it is used in the county, residents can gain a better appreciation for their water. Providing a brief overview of Stark County's water resources, this fact sheet is intended to help increase public awareness and understanding of water resources. 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.
An average of approximately 37 inches of precipitation falls on Stark County annually. Figure 1 illustrates the average monthly precipitation for the county (averaged over three collection site) for the period 1961 to 1990. Based on this 30-year record, the average precipitation is 3.1 inches per month, with January (2.1 inches) typically being the driest month, and July (4.2 inches) the wettest. There can be, however, extreme variations in some years and in certain months within a year. Such seasonal and yearly extremes, which may have serious consequences, often are not apparent from the long-term precipitation information.
Figure 1. Average monthly precipitation (in inches) in Stark County,
Ohio (1961-1990); Data collected at Akron-Canton, Beach City Lake,
and Louisville.
A small section of Marlboro and Lake Townships drains into the Upper Cuyahoga River Basin, which leads to Lake Erie at Cleveland. All of Lexington, and parts of Marlboro, Nimishillen and Washington townships drain into the Mahoning River, which eventually empties into the Ohio River near Beaver, Pennsylvania. The remainder of the county is drained by the Sandy Creek, Sugar Creek, and Tuscarawas River basins, which are all parts of the Muskingum River basin that eventually moves to the Ohio River at Marietta (in Washington County). A generalized surface-water map of Stark County is given in Figure 2.
Surface waters are affected by the soil type and topography of the land adjacent to them, and the way humans use the land. Land use, such as residential development, construction, and agricultural production, can increase the amount of sediment entering a body of water. The type of soils in an area also influences surface water because of the soil's infiltration capacity. With some soils, rainfall is more likely to run off, while other soils allow water to infiltrate more readily.
Stark County contains approximately 366,720 land acres, of which 43 percent is farmland. Forty-nine different soil types are present within the county, the majority of which are silt loams with moderately poor drainage. The county water acreage consists of about 2,112 acres of lakes, including Dale Walburn Reservoir (670), Deer Creek Reservoir (313 acres), Lake Cable (152), Sippo Lake (88 acres), Alpine Village Development (70 acres) and Lake Brewster (36 acres). Most of the water acreage is now used for recreational and waste disposal purposes. Approximately 548 linear miles of streams and rivers course through Stark County (estimated from ODNR Div. of Water river basin maps). This availability lends itself to many uses by both communities and individuals.
Figure 2. Surface-water resources in Stark County, Ohio (adapted
from ODNR Div. of Water river basin maps by R.A. Roberts).
Stark County's primary ground-water resources are sand and gravel deposits and sandstones. The southeastern two-thirds of the county draws its ground water from sandstones and sandy shales, with maximum well yields of up to 25 gallons per minute (gpm). This area also contains areas of overlying discontinuous, unconsolidated glacial deposits of sand and gravel of varying thickness which may yield 10 to 30 gpm. Most of the northwestern third of the county obtains ground water from interbedded and interlensed sand, gravel, silt and clay deposits or the underlying Pottsville sandstone. Wells in these areas range from 100 to 300 feet deep and yield 50 to 100 gpm.
Areas underlying Hartville, North Canton, Canton, Canal Fulton, Massillon and Navarre have the best ground-water supplies in the county. These aquifers are deep deposits of permeable sand and gravel, which yield between 500 and 2,000 gpm in many wells. The deep sand and gravel aquifer underlying Massillon and Navarre is susceptible to infiltration of chlorides, requiring careful control of well spacing and pumping rates. Ground-water supplies, whether they are developed from bedrock or glacial deposits, have a high natural mineral content resulting in hard water. This water usually requires treatment for domestic use. Varying amounts of iron are found in the county. An overview of the ground-water resources in the county is given in Stark County Ground-Water Resources, AEX-490.76.
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 Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Div. 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 (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 will result in runoff and how many inches have the potential to reach aquifers. Based on statewide averages of runoff and ground-water recharge, Stark County's 37 inches of average annual precipitation result in about 9.5 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 for each of Stark 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 Canton, which uses ground water for its supply. Alliance, Louisville, Minerva, Navarre, North Canton and Massillon use ground water, as well.
Ground water is the major water source for rural households in Stark County. Approximately 26 percent of all households obtain their water from private wells. Based on an estimated usage of 102 gallons per person per day, 9.8 million gallons per day (gpd) from private wells is used. Additional private water uses include industry (16.3 million gpd), golf course and crop irrigation (0.5 million gpd), and livestock use (0.6 million gpd), mostly from ground-water supplies. The remaining 74 percent of households use public-water supplies with ground or surface water as the source, as identified in Table 1.
Some water users in Ohio must register their withdrawals with the ODNR Div. of Water. Through the Water Withdrawal Facility Registration Program, owners of facilities that could withdraw 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 determine the availability of water for projected needs and better manage and protect Ohio's water resources. Documenting water use also provides official records for individual uses. For more information, contact ODNR, Div. of Water.
Stark County also has 68 non-transient non-community public water supplies. Non-transient non-community systems are small public supplies, such as some schools and businesses, that serve more than 25 of same people for six months of the year. In Stark County, 20,647 people are served by non-transient non-community systems and the total usage is 416,765 gpd.
| Table 1. Water Use in Stark County, Ohio.1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Water System | Population Served | Primary Water Source | Water Usage (GPD)2 | Treatment Plant Capacity (GPD) |
| Alliance City | 25,000 | Surface Water | 5,530,000 | 11,000,000 |
| Beach City | 1,138 | Ground Water | 114,000 | 250,000 |
| Brewster | 2,300 | Ground Water | 340,000 | 864,000 |
| Canal Fulton | 4,157 | Ground Water | 444,000 | 360,000 |
| Canton | 140,000 | Ground Water | 25,510,000 | 27,000,000 |
| East Canton3 | 1,750 | Ground Water | 175,000 | 576,000 |
| East Sparta | 750 | Ground Water | 130,000 | 338,000 |
| Lake Township4 | 225 | Ground Water | 36,000 | 0 |
| Louisville | 9,000 | Ground Water | 862,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Magnolia | 925 | Ground Water | 75,000 | 540,000 |
| Massillon/Ohio Water S. | 53,308 | Ground Water | 7,190,000 | 11,200,000 |
| Minerva | 4,900 | Ground Water | 763,000 | 2,000,000 |
| Navarre | 2,200 | Ground Water | 501,000 | 864,000 |
| North Canton | 17,000 | Ground Water | 2,400,000 | 6,000,000 |
| Waynesburg | 1,068 | Ground Water | 145,000 | 500,000 |
| Wilmot | 363 | Ground Water | 33,000 | 120,000 |
| Other5 | 8,131 | Ground Water | 1,039,350 | 684,000 |
| 1 Estimates from Ohio EPA using 1993 data, adjusted by Leonard Black, ODNR Div. of Water. | ||||
| 2 GPD = gallons per day. | ||||
| 3 Water supplied by Canton. | ||||
| 4 Water supplied by North Canton. | ||||
| 5 Other - includes Apple Grove Water Association and approximately 44 other public and private water systems. | ||||
Natural processes and human activities affect the quality of our water supplies. Throughout Ohio, human activities contribute to nonpoint source pollution, through which a major portion of the sediment, nutrients, acids and salts, heavy metals, toxic chemicals and pathogens enter the state's water resources. Nonpoint source pollution is the introduction of impurities into a surface-water body or an aquifer, usually through a non-direct route and from sources that are "diffuse" in nature. This type of pollution affects both ground and surface water. Examples include automobile emissions, runoff from parking lots, runoff and drainage from agricultural fields, feedlots, and home gardens, and runoff and drainage from construction, mining and logging.
As water moves through the permeable sand and gravel underlying Stark County, it dissolves and carries in solution minerals contained in these deposits. AEX-490.76 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 1989 study by Heidelberg College, 564 wells in the county were sampled for nitrate content, of which 485 (86 percent) 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. Forty-five wells (8 percent) were tested in the range of 0.3 to 3.0 ppm; these values may or may not indicate human influence. The 29 wells (5.1 percent) that tested in the range of 3.0 to 10 ppm, may indicate elevated concentrations resulting from human activities. Only 5 wells (0.9 percent) tested at over 10 ppm nitrate-nitrogen, which exceeds the safe drinking-water standard. The average test value for the 564 wells tested was 0.53 ppm. Design, location, and condition of a well, as well as the characteristics of the soils and geologic formations in which the well is constructed, influence the potential for pollutants to enter the well. Bacterial counts are another indicator of ground-water quality. For interested citizens, the Stark County Health Department tests water samples for bacterial counts.
Ground-water contamination by volatile organic compounds, VOCs, is a concern in certain areas of the county, in particular, wells in the Uniontown area. An Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) study indicated that between November 1990 and June 1991, 94 residential wells in the Uniontown area were sampled and analyzed for VOCs. One or more of the following compounds were found in 26 of the wells sampled: Tetra-chloroethene (11 wells), Trichloroethane (9), Trichloroethene (1), Trichlorobenzene (1), Toluene (1), Chloroform (4), Styrene (1), Chloromethane (1) and Trichlorofluoromethane (1). In samples from two wells, more than one compound was detected. No compound was detected at a concentration greater than its specific Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL) established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). However, in eight instances the Proposed MCL for tetrachloroethene (5 micro-grams per liter) was exceeded. In several instances, well equipment or the recent shock chlorination of wells in the area was suspected as the source of contamination. The Ohio EPA study suggested that the Uniontown area well contamination was an isolated problem related to the physical characteristics of the unconfined sand and gravel aquifer and human activities. The results of this study point out the great susceptibility of the sand and gravel aquifer and underlying sandstone/shale bedrock to contamination from both domestic septic systems and past surface disposal practices.
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 a cooperative program between the State of Ohio and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), sediment discharges have been measured at stream gauges on the Muskingum River at Dresden and McConnellsville. The two stations give sediment discharge figures for the continuous period from October 1952 to the present. Measurements from these gauges, plus calculations of sediment retained by the 15 reservoirs in the Muskingum River basin result in estimates of about 4.6 tons per acre per year of gross erosion in the Muskingum River basin.
Through the Ohio Nonpoint Source Assessment and Water Resources Inventory, Ohio EPA and ODNR have found that 13,000 stream miles in Ohio have been affected by nonpoint source pollution. Stark County contains portions of several streams and their tributaries that have been classified by the Assessment as being affected by nonpoint source pollution. Based on the findings of the Assessment and Inventory, the Ohio Nonpoint Source Management Plan has been implemented to help improve the quality of the state's waters. For specific information on results of the Assessment and details of the Management Plan for the county, contact the Ohio EPA Northeast District Office (2110 E. Aurora Rd., Twinsburg, OH 44087). Overall, Stark County has a safe supply of water. County citizens have a major challenge to protect water resources from pollutants that could affect the quality of the water supply. For more information about nonpoint source pollution, refer to Nonpoint Source Pollution: Water Primer, AEX 465, available from your county Extension office.
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 good for Stark 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 on water facts for Stark County. For more information on water resources and drinking-water quality in the county, contact the Stark/Summit Regional Office of Ohio State University Extension. In addition, the following agencies may be able to provide information on other water resources topics in the county: Stark Soil and Water Conservation District; Stark County Health Department; ODNR Div. of Water (Fountain Square, Col., OH 43224); USGS, Ohio District (975 W. Third Ave., Col., OH 43212); Ohio EPA (1800 WaterMark Dr., Col., OH 43266); and Ohio Department of Health (PO Box 118, Col., OH 43226).
Estimated Water Use in Ohio, 1990, Public Supply Data. 1993. USGS. Open-File Report 93-72.
Floods at Canton (Stark County), Ohio. 1962. USGS Hydrologic Investigations Atlas 50.
Gazetteer of Ohio Streams. 1960. Ohio Water Inventory Report No. 12. ODNR Div. of Water.
Ground-water levels and flow near the industrial excess landfill, Uniontown, Ohio. 1989. USGS. Open-File Report 89-272.
The ground-water resources of the glacial deposits in the vicinity of Canton (Stark County), Ohio. 1946. (Ohio Water Resources Board) Bulletin 3.
Ground-Water Resources of Stark County. 1988. 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.
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 Nonpoint Source Management Program. 1993. ODNR. Fountain Square, Col., OH 43224-1387.
Northeast Ohio Water Plan. 1988. ODNR Div. of Water.
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 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. Col., OH 43266-0149.
Ohio's Hydrologic Cycle. 1990. L.C. Brown and K.M. Coltman. AEX 461. Ohio State University Extension.
Northwest Uniontown Investigation Summary, Stark and Summit Counties. 1991. V. Deppisch. Ohio EPA.
Private Water Systems Handbook. 1987. MWPS-14. Midwest Plan Service, Ames, IA.
Soil and Water Conservation District Resource Inventory. 1985. USDA-SCS.
Southeast Ohio Water Plan. 1978. ODNR Div. of Water.
Stark County Ground-Water Resources. 1993. E.F. Oelker, A.W. Jones, L.C. Brown and K.M. Boone. AEX-490.76. Ohio State University Extension.
Stark County, Ohio Soil Survey, 1971. USDA-SCS.
State of Ohio Nonpoint Source Assessment: Volumes 1-6. 1990. Ohio EPA. Col., OH 43266-0149.
Surface and Ground Water Terminology. 1990. L.C. Brown and L.P. Black. AEX 460. Ohio State University Extension.
Time of travel of solutes in the Tuscarawas River basin, Ohio, August and September 1974. 1977. USGS. WRI Report 77-23.
Water - Ohio's Remarkable Resource. 1982. ODNR Div. of Water.
Withdrawal and Distribution of Water By Public Water Supplies in Ohio, 1985. US Geological Survey. Open-File Report 89-423
This publication was produced through the Ohio Water Resources Education Project, in cooperation with: ODNR Div. of Water; Ohio EPA; USGS, Ohio District; and Ohio Department of Health (ODH). Project leaders are Larry C. Brown and Kristina M. Boone. Support was provided, in part by: the cooperating agencies; Stark/Summit office of OSU Extension; Stark County Commissioners; USDA Water Quality Initiative Funds; Overholt Drainage Education and Research Program; and USDA Extension Service Grant No. 90-EWQI-1-9018.
The project leaders express appreciation to the following reviewers: Mel Smith, (USDA-SCS); James M. Raab, David Cashell and Leonard Black (ODNR Div. of Water); Scott Golden (Environmental Health, ODH); Steve Hindall and Ron Veley (USGS, Ohio District); Chris Khourey (Ohio EPA, Northeast District); James Wade (USDA-SCS); Jay Fleming (Ohio EPA Div. of Drinking and Ground Water); and Larry Antosch (Ohio EPA Div. of Surface Water).
A special thanks to Michelle Roby and Ross A. Roberts (Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Assistants) for help in manuscript and graphics preparation, and Judy Kauffeld, Publications Editor (Section of Communications and Technology, Ohio State University), 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