Transcript No Slide Title

Importance of Groundwater to
Passaic River Basin
Richard Plambeck
Groundwater Protection Committee
May 27, 2009
Ground Water – What , Why and How
• The Hydrologic Cycle
• Ground Water Basics
•Aquifers
•Base Flow
•Recharge
•Contamination
•Wellhead Protection
•Education
Walter Wet ©
The Hydrologic Cycle
Wat er on Eart h
Ocean
Storage
97.4%
Ground
& Surface
0.6%
Ice Caps &
Glaciers
2.0%
Surface and ground water comprise 0.6%
of Earth’s total water volume!
Courtesy USGS
Ground Water Basics
Within the Passaic River Basin, most of the ground
water is pumped from glacial valley fill aquifers which:
• Are formed of sand and gravel deposits
• Contain large quantities of water
• Interact with surface water
Soil grains
Air
between soil
grains
Water Table
Pore
water
Graphics courtesy of USGS
What Is An Aquifer?
An aquifer is a rock or sediment formation that is
capable of supplying usable amounts of water.
Courtesy USGS
Valley fill aquifers consist of sand and gravel deposited
during the melting and retreat of glacial ice.
The Buried
Valley Aquifer
Systems of
Northern
New Jersey
The Buried Valley Aquifer Systems were
designated as sole source aquifers by the US
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) because
they provide drinking water to over 50% of the
people in this service area.
However...
• Portions of the aquifer have already been
contaminated.
• Increased impervious surfaces prevent
necessary recharge.
• Increased withdrawals could deplete the
resource.
Ground Water Discharge
Gravity pushes water from high pressure recharge
areas toward low pressure discharge areas.
Ground water takes the path of least resistance.
Base Flow Basics
Ground water discharge, seeping through
stream banks and stream beds as base flow,
feeds rivers, lakes and springs.
Recharge
Water Tab le
Stream
Discharge
Bedrock
Base flow maintains stream flow between rainstorms.
Ground water is the river’s lifeblood!
Gaining Stream
Stream flow
Unsaturated zone
Water table
Ground water discharging
Graphic courtesy of USGS
Losing Stream
Stream flow
Unsaturated
zone
Water table
Ground water recharging
Graphic courtesy of USGS
Effects of Land Use on Recharge Capability
Soil Type: Haledon Complex
Climate Factor: Chatham Borough
Woods
Landscaped open space
Land Use
Residential, 2 acre lots
Residential, 1 acre lots
Residential, 1/2 acre lots
Residential, 1/8 acre lots
Office campus
Shopping center
0.00
2.00
4.00
6.00
8.00
10.00
12.00
14.00
Recharge (inches per year)
16.00
18.00
Land Use and Precipitation Pathway Changes
Woods
Evapotranspiration
55%
Office Campus
Less evapotranspiration
Surface Runoff
8%
Evapotranspiration
49%
Recharge
5%
Recharge
37%
Surface Runoff
46%
Increased
runoff
How We Affect Ground Water
Less evapotranspiration
Acid rain
Rising stream
temperatures
Contaminant
infiltration
Decreased
recharge
Reduced
baseflow
Increased
runoff
Aquifer
depletion
Contaminant
infiltration
The transport of contamination from a
point source by ground water can cause
contamination of surface water, as well as
extensive contamination of ground water.
What is Well Head Protection?
A systematic approach to reducing
contamination of water supply wells by
restricting and regulating specific land
uses and activities that could potentially
introduce contaminants into a well’s
ground water supply area.
The Model Well Head Protection Ordinance
focuses on public community wells.
Why Well Head Protection?
• Because problems with pollution in the past
warrant greater protection now.
• The state-required 50 foot protection radius
for public community wells is not adequate.
• Decisions made now will affect residents in
the not-so-distant future.
Buried
Valley
Aquifer
Systems:
Chatham
Borough
& vicinity
Tier 1 (Red):
• Travel time to well: 2 years or less.
WHPA Tiers
• Critical concern: bacteria and viruses.
• Pollutants quickly reach well.
• Prevention is the only solution.
Tier 2 (Orange)::
• Travel time to well: 5 years or less.
• Critical concern: petroleum products
and hazardous substances.
• Prevention is the best solution.
Tier 3 (Yellow):
• Travel time to well: 12 years or less.
• Critical concern: time for spill remediation.
• Best Management Practices.
Well Head
Well Head
Protection Areas
Pollution
Example:
After 18 months
Contaminants reach well.
Well closed
Day 1
One year later
Locations
Where
Pollution
Has
Occurred
Potential Pollutant Sources
• Industrial discharges and
spills
• Landfills
• Commercial underground
storage tanks
•Residential underground
storage tanks
• Septic systems
• Overuse of herbicides and
pesticides in residential
areas, parks and athletic
fields
Model Well Head Protection Ordinance
Summaries:
 Any change in land use or activity that
introduces a Major or Minor Potential
Pollutant Source shall be prohibited within a
Tier 1 Well Head Protection Area.
These rules apply only to future activities,
not to existing uses.
Model Well Head Protection Ordinance
Summaries:
 Any change in land use or activity that
introduces a Major Potential Pollutant
Source shall be prohibited within a Tier 2
Well Head Protection Area.
These rules apply only to future activities,
not to existing uses.
Model Well Head Protection Ordinance
Summaries:
 Any changes in land use or activity that
involves any Potential Pollutant Source
within any Well Head Protection Area, that
is not prohibited, shall comply with Best
Management Practices.
These rules apply only to future activities,
not to existing uses.
Project
Goals
To have municipal
Well Head Protection
Ordinances adopted
and implemented
throughout the
region...
…and to foster intermunicipal cooperation
on Well Head
Protection plans.
Education Leads to Improvement
Visit the Passaic River Coalition website
Join the Ground Water Protection Committee
Invite us to a Municipal Meeting – Council, Plng Bd, EC
Get a copy of “The Ground Water Adventures of Walter Wet”
Our Little Friend Can Help
The Ground Water Adventures of
Walter Wet ©
DVD
Passaic River Coalition
94 Mt. Bethel Rd
Warren, NJ 07059
Tel: (908) 222 – 0315
Fax: (908) 222 – 0357
www.passaicriver.org