Ohio State University Extension

Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

590 Woody Hayes Dr., Columbus, Ohio 43210

Pike County Ground-Water Resources

AEX-490.66

Jeff C. Fisher
James M. Raab
Kristina M. Boone
Larry C. Brown

Water stored under the earth's surface is a plentiful, yet precious, resource in most areas of Ohio. Humans greatly affect ground water. However, the availability and quality of this resource are influenced directly by the properties of the geologic formation that holds water. The chemical and physical nature of these formations varies from area to area, creating a wide range of water yields and quality at different depths. This publication contains information about the ground-water resources underlying Pike County. Its purpose is to help the reader better understand the factors that influence the quantity and quality of ground water. 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. Fact Sheet AEX-460 and the publication Pike County Water Resources, AEX-480.66, are available through your county Extension office.

Aquifers

Geologic formations (e.g., sand, gravel, limestone, sandstone) have the ability to receive, store and transmit water. In general, if a formation is capable of yielding enough water to support a well or spring, it is called an aquifer. The types of geologic material from which the formation originally was made influence its ability to store and transmit water. For example, sands and gravels allow water to flow through easily. By comparison, shale, which originated from compacted layers of mud and clay, generally allows very little water to flow through it unless the shale is highly fractured.

The principal bedrock aquifers in southeastern Ohio, including Pike County, consists of sandstone, shale and limestone, which were deposited about 400 to 500 million years ago during the Paleozoic Era. In most areas, these formations are covered by a thin layer of clay, silt or sand. In general, the bedrock formations provide meager amounts of ground water because of their impermeable nature. However, despite low yields, these formations are an important source of domestic water supplies in this region. Recharge is limited in upland areas, and vertical permeability is greatly restricted.

Another source of ground water in some river valley areas in southern Ohio is lenses (or pockets) of sand and gravel that were deposited by glacial activity. These sand and gravel deposits usually are interbedded with mixtures of clay and silt. These aquifers are some of the most productive sources of ground water in the state.

Well Yield

The actual yield of a well, in gallons per minute (gpm), will vary considerably depending on the age and depth of the well, the diameter of the casing, well construction, pump capacity and age, and most importantly, properties of the geologic formation. The exact yield and depth of each well will depend on the properties of the geologic formation at the specific location of the well.

Ground-Water Availability

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Water, maintains a statewide data base of more than 700,000 well logs. The Ground-Water Resources Section of the Division manages this valuable data base, which includes some information collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA). Since 1948, well log information has been collected to increase the understanding of the ground-water resources in Ohio. Geologists and hydrogeologists continue to study the state's ground-water resources, and as a result, Ohio is one of only a few states that has been completely mapped for ground-water availability (mapped by river basin, from 1959 to 1962).

Estimates of the size, shape, geologic make-up and yields of aquifers are being mapped county by county. Most of Ohio's counties have a completed map. The map presented in Figure 1 is a generalized representation of the water-bearing formations underlying Pike County (adapted from map by Raab, 1989). This illustration is based on a hydrogeologic interpretation of the well log data from Pike County and surrounding areas. It should be used only as a guide to understanding the ground-water resources in the county. Figure 2 is a generalized cross section of a part of Pike County (referenced in Figure 1 as line X-X') showing the relationship of the different aquifers. The "?" in Figure 2 indicates that sufficient data have not been collected to properly characterize these specific locations. The remainder of this section provides a brief description of the types of aquifers illustrated on the map in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Ground-water resources of Pike County, Ohio (modified from J.M. Raab, ODNR Division of Water, by R.A. Roberts).

Figure 2. Generalized cross section of buried valley in Pike County, Ohio (modified from underground water resources map, M-15, ODNR Division of Water).

AREA A: Coarse-Grained Buried Valley

An unconsolidated aquifer, indicated in Figure 1 as Area A, is comprised of coarse sand and gravel, deposited by glacier meltwater, with thin mixtures of clay and silt. Logs of wells drilled in this area indicate that as much as 100 feet of unconsolidated deposits fill this valley, and the principal water-yielding formation is as much as 35 feet thick. These large underground water supplies are freely recharged from the Scioto River by induced infiltration. Industrial wells, developed in permeable deposits of sand and gravel from 65 to 78 feet deep, have sustained yields of up to 1000 gpm.

AREA B: Coarse-Grained Buried Valley, No River Recharge

The potential yield of wells, developed beyond the recharge influence of the river shown as Area B, ranges from 100 to 500 gpm. Test drilling is recommended in this area to locate the coarser permeable deposits of sand and gravel.

AREA C: Buried Valley Remnant

A shallow buried valley is illustrated as Area C. This valley was part of the principal system of drainage in Ohio prior to its blockage by glacial advance. Deposits of fine-to-medium sand, along with thick deposits of clay and silt, may be as much as 65 feet thick. Thin, water-yielding sand and gravel layers deposited at approximately 20 feet may yield 5 to 25 gpm. Deeper drilling into non-water-bearing shale is not recommended. More than 50 gpm can be developed from fine- to coarse-sand deposits near Beaver, and from properly screened gravel-packed wells in this area.

AREA D: Silty Sand and Gravel

Deposits of silt and clay interbedded with thin lenses of sand and gravel partially fill the pre-glacial Teays drainage channel and major tributaries of the Scioto River. Wells usually range from 30 to 70 feet deep, except in the northwestern corner of the county where depths may range to more than 250 feet. Well yields may range from 3 to 10 gpm.

AREA E: Shale, Shaley Sandstone or Limestone

The shaley sandstone and shale aquifer illustrated as Area E is part of the predominant aquifer that underlies southeastern Ohio. The bedrock is overlain by thin clay and silt deposits. The potential yield from wells developed in these formations is less than 2 gpm. The deposits along the flood plains of minor tributaries to the Scioto River average about 30 feet thick. In some instances, thin lenses of gravel or fine sand are found above the shale bedrock. Wells within these areas have potential yields of as much as 4 gpm.

The only water-yielding limestone or dolomite formations in the county are found close to the surface beneath Sunfish, Dry Bone and Kincaid creeks. Yields of 5 to 10 gpm may be obtained from wells drilled less than 130 feet in the narrow flood plains adjacent to these creeks. The minerals in limestone are water soluble, so water from this formation may be excessively hard and mineralized.

Iron and chloride content may be elevated in some localities. For domestic water supplies, large-diameter dug or drilled wells are common. The meager water supply is often supplemented with large storage facilities or cisterns.

Ground-Water Levels

The water level in any well typically does not remain constant, but changes depending upon the proximity of adjacent wells and surface streams, and natural rainfall. Ground-water discharge and recharge greatly affect water levels in wells. The ODNR Division of Water monitors ground-water levels at a well in Pike County, located west of Piketon. This observation well, designated as PI-2 on Figure 1, is one of a number of wells throughout southern Ohio used to monitor the natural seasonal fluctuation, or the effects of nearby pumping, on water levels in sand and gravel, and bedrock aquifers.

Observation well PI-2 is 60 feet deep and completed in a sand and gravel aquifer within the Scioto River valley. This well is representative of many wells in the region finished in this type of aquifer. Continuous water level measurements have been recorded at PI-2 since September 1969. The lowest level recorded on PI-2 (near Piketon) was 27.5 feet below land surface in February 1977; the highest level recorded was 9.5 feet below land surface in June 1990.

Ground-Water Quality

Various state and federal agencies participate in programs to determine ground-water quality in Ohio. In Pike County, water-quality data were available from the ODNR Division of Water for five wells. In Figure 1, four of these wells are noted as Chemical Analysis Sites 1 through 4, which are public water supplies. Data also were available for observation well PI-2.

The results from some of the chemical tests performed on these Pike County wells are given in Table 1. The chemical constituents listed are total dissolved solids, hardness (as CaCO₃), iron, chloride and sodium. All concentrations are given in parts-per-million (ppm). For comparison purposes, secondary water-quality standards for these chemical constituents are also shown. These standards are established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for public water systems for aesthetic reasons (taste, odor, appearance, etc.), and are not enforceable. These chemical constituents do not pose a risk to human health (see notes in Table 1). There are no drinking water-quality standards for private wells.

The information in Table 1 can be used as a guide to what one might expect from an existing or new well. Even though all five of these wells were developed in a sand and gravel aquifer underlying Pike County, and all are in the range of 39 to 78 feet deep, some variation exists in the concentrations of each of these chemical constituents. Just as well yields differ, water quality will vary depending on aquifer properties at the specific location of each well. One should not forget that many human activities also affect the quality of ground water.

Table 1. Chemical constituents of selected Pike County wells.
Well No.	PI-2	1 2	3	4	WQ Std1
Well Depth (feet)	60	66	78	60	39
Capacity (gpm)	-2	793	100	-	90
Depth to Bedrock (feet)	NE3	66	NE	NE	NE
Water Bearing Formation4	SG	SG	SG	SG	SG
Chemical Constituents5
Total Dissolved Solids	407	427	460	566	76	500
Hardness (as CaCO3)	350	-	-	-	-	None6
Iron	2.3	1.46	0.03	0.17	5.3	0.3
Chloride	13	21	13	63	17	250
Sodium	10	11	13	-	14	None
1 USEPA Secondary Water Quality Standard.
2 Data not available.
3 Well constructed in this formation did not encounter bedrock.
4 SG-Sand and Gravel.
5 Units are parts-per-million, ppm; Comments as per Interpreting Your Water Test Report (1988); Total Dissolved Solids: Concentrations above 500 ppm may cause adverse taste and deteriorate domestic plumbing and appliances. Hardness: Primary concerns are that more soap is required for effective cleaning, a film may form on fixtures, fabrics may yellow and scales may form in boilers, water heaters and cooking utensils. Iron: Concentrations greater than 0.3 ppm may cause rust-colored stains on laundry, plumbing fixtures and sinks. Metallic taste may be present and may affect the taste of beverages made from the water. Chloride: High concentrations may result in an objectionable salty taste to water and the corrosion of plumbing in the hot water system. Sodium: Major component of brine. High concentrations may impart a soda taste and be a dietary concern.
6 No USEPA Secondary Standard.

Summary

Pike County's ground-water resources are valuable assets to the county's citizens and industry. The availability and quality of these resources are directly influenced by the properties of the geologic formations underlying the county. By understanding the physical and chemical nature of these resources, better decisions can be made about ground-water protection, management and use. This publication was designed to provide the reader with an overview of the county's ground-water resources. It should be used as a guide, and not as a substitute for detailed information and professional advice when drilling a well.

Where to Get More Information

The Pike County Extension office can provide other publications on the county's water resources. Your Extension agent, the Pike County Department of Health, and Ohio EPA Division of Drinking and Ground Water (1800 WaterMark Drive, Columbus, OH 43266) can provide information on well-water testing and drinking-water quality. The ODNR Division of Water - Ground-Water Resources Section (Fountain Square, Columbus, OH 43224) is an excellent source of information on ground water. Some of the information in this publication was summarized from the map, Ground-Water Resources of Pike County, and other information available through the Division of Water. This map is much more detailed than that given in Figure 1, and the Ground-Water Resources Section can provide detailed information on ground-water availability and wells. The USGS, Ohio District (975 W. Third Ave., Columbus, OH 43212), also provides information about ground water in Ohio.

Bibliography

Ground-Water Resources of Pike County. 1989. J.M. Raab. ODNR Division of Water. (map).

Interpreting Your Water Test Report. 1988. D. Lundstrom and S. Fundingsland. AE-937, No. 13-AENG-10. North Dakota State University Extension Service.

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.

Pike County Water Resources. 1992. J.C. Fisher, K.M. Boone and L.C. Brown. AEX-480.66. Ohio Cooperative Extension Service, The Ohio State University.

Surface and Ground Water Terminology. 1990. L.C. Brown and L.P. Black. AEX-460. Ohio Cooperative Extension Service, The Ohio State University.

Underground Water Resources (maps of various river basins). 1958-1962. ODNR Division of Water.

Water Resources of Pike County, Ohio. 1953. R.C. Smith and J.J. Schmidt. Water Information Circular No. 1. ODNR Division of Water.

Water Testing. 1988. K. Mancl. AEX-314. Ohio Cooperative Extension Service, The Ohio State University.

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 Ohio Department of Health (ODH). Project leaders are Larry C. Brown and Kristina M. Boone. Support for this publication was provided, in part, by: cooperating agencies; Pike County Extension office; Pike Soil and Water Conservation District; Overholt Drainage Education and Research Program; and USDA Extension Service Grant No. 90-EWQI-1-9018. The project leaders acknowledge the following reviewers: Jim Borchelt and Bob Hendershot (USDA-Soil Conservation Service); David Cashell (ODNR Division of Water); Scott Golden (Environmental Health, ODH); Tom Bean (Agricultural Engineering, OSU); Steve Hindall (USGS, Ohio District); and Michael Preston (Ohio EPA Division of Drinking and Ground 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 (Section of Information and Applied Communications, OSU Extension) for editorial and graphic production.