THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Our Region’s Water.
PROTECTING. PRESERVING. PROMOTING.
Aquifer Preservation Subdistrict
Liaison Committee Meeting
March 18, 2008
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Aquifer Preservation
Subdistrict
•
•
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Mission
Geography
Funding
Staff
Liaison Committee
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
APS priorities set by Liaison
Committee in 2005
I.
Groundwater & surface water interactions as they
pertain to:
–
–
–
gravel mining impacts on groundwater quality
gaining and losing streams
impacts of flooding on groundwater quality
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
2005 Priorities continued
II.
Land application impacts on groundwater quality
III.
General “State of the Aquifer” reports
IV. Evaluate and develop a framework for
implementing stormwater BMPs that protect
groundwater
V.
Create incentives for Source Water Protection
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Create Incentives for Source
Water Protection
•
St. Clair Township Project
– Jane Wittke (OKI)
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Groundwater and Surface
Water Interactions
Brent Huntsman (Terran
Corp.)
•
•
Substructure flooding
potential in Dayton
Thermometric study of
the surface water/ground
water interactions along
the Great Miami River in
Dayton, Ohio
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Create Incentives for Source
Water Protection
• Source Water Protection Grant Program
– Sarah Hippensteel (MCD)
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Protect the Source - 2007
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Grant program designed in response to need
Funds for implementation & planning
25% minimum local match
Awards typically 10 - 50k
Deadline September 2007
13 applications received
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Priorities
•
•
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Implementation
Show measurable results
Close proximity to an aquifer production area
Protect land inside a SWAP.
Close proximity to a wellfield’s TOT
Protect land close to the Buried Valley Aquifer
Project longevity
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
6 projects awarded in 2007
• SWAP and Nitrate
Study
• Monitor groundwater
• SWAP signage
• Pollutant source
investigation and
removal
• Land acquisition (2)
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Protect the Source 2008
• Watch soon for
Request for Proposals!
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Land application impacts on
groundwater quality
• Elk Creek Watershed
• Nutrients in our streams
– Bruce Pletsch (MCD)
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Evaluation of Nitrate Concentrations and Possible
Sources in Elk Creek Watershed in SW Ohio,
2003-2004
Bruce A. Pletsch - Hydrogeologist
Thomas L. Schumann - Hydrologist
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Nitrate and Health Effects

Adverse health effects:
Methemoglobinemia
(blue-baby syndrome)
 Maximum Contaminant Level
10 mg/L
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Nitrate in Groundwater
Animal waste
Leaking septic systems
Fertilizers
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Identifying Nitrate Sources
Stable Isotopes:
•
15N
•
18O
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Identifying Nitrate Sources
From: Isotope Tracers in Catchment Hydrology (1998), C. Kendall
and J. J. McDonnell (Eds.). Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam. pp.
519-576.
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Elk Creek
Watershed
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Sampling
Locations
Phase I
(Sept. – Dec. 2003)
Phase II
(Aug. – Oct. 2004)
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Analytes
 Temp, DO, pH, SpCond







Ammonia
Nitrate plus nitrite
Total phosphorus
Orthophosphate
Organic carbon
Major ions
Total coliform and E. coli
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Nitrate
Concentrations
• Most GW and SW
locations < 2 mg/L
• 2 GW locations >
10 mg/L
(10.9 and 11.4 mg/L)
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Upper vs. Lower
Watershed
• Upper – low DO
• Lower – higher DO
• Upper – higher Fe, Mn
• Lower – lower Fe, Mn
• Upper – higher HCO3
• Lower – lower HCO3
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Summary
 Elevated nitrate concentrations in the Elk Creek Watershed
- concentrations range from <2.0 mg/L to 11.4 mg/L
 Different concentrations in the upper and lower watershed
- denitrification
 Likely nitrate sources
- ammonia fertilizer
- soil organic matter
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Nutrients in the Rivers
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Automated Samplers
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
How Our Samplers Work
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Water Quality Sondes
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Sampling Hazards
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Analytical Parameters
Nutrients and Sediment







Suspended Sediment
Total Phosphorus
Soluble Reactive Phosphorus
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen
Nitrate
Nitrite
Ammonia
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Results – Nutrients in the River
Discharge and Nitrate (Englewood)
8000
18
7000
16
8
3000
6
2000
Nitrate (mg/L)
10
4000
Discharge
Nitrate
Discharge and Total Phosphorus (Englewood)
2
0
0
7
51
60
0
20
3
62
60
0
20
4
80
60
0
20
4
91
60
0
20
1
02
61
0
20
9
12
61
0
20
6
10
70
0
20
Date
Phosphorus
8000
1.6
7000
1.4
6000
1.2
5000
1
4000
0.8
3000
0.6
2000
0.4
1000
0.2
0
0
6
7
3
4
4
1
9
6
40
51
62
80
91
02
12
10
60
60
60
60
60
61
61
70
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
Date
Phosphorus (mg/L)
4
1000
Discharge (cfs)
Discharge (cfs)
12
5000
6
40
60
0
20
Nitrate
14
6000
Discharge
Total Phosphorus
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Results – Long-Term Trends
Great Miami River
4/22/1996 - 9/30/2006
TP, mg/L as P
SRP, mg/L, as P
2.500
Concentration (mg/l)
2.000
1.500
1.000
0.500
0.000
4/22/96
9/4/97
1/17/99
5/31/00
10/13/01
2/25/03
7/9/04
11/21/05
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Results – Nutrient Loading
Load Distribution of Nitrogen Species - Fairfield, OH
Nitrate
Nitrite
TKN
Ammonia
Load Distribution of Phosphorus Species - Fairfield,
OH
Dissolved phosphorus
Particulate phosphorus
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Website Application
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
State of the Aquifer Reports
• Stillwater River Watershed
– Jana Heeg (MCD)
• Lower Great Miami Watershed
– Bruce Pletsch (MCD)
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
2005 Water Quality Assessment in
the Stillwater River Watershed
Ludlow Falls
Our
Region’s
Water.
PROTECTING.
PRESERVING.
PROMOTING.
Our
Region’s
Water.
PROTECTING.
PRESERVING.
PROMOTING.
Our
Region’s
Water.
PROTECTING.
PRESERVING.
PROMOTING.
Our
Region’s
Water.
PROTECTING.
PRESERVING.
PROMOTING.
Groundwater Sampling Results:
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
National Drinking Water Regulation
Exceedences
Primary MCL Exceedences
Parameter
USEPA MCL, mg/L
Times Exceeded
Arsenic
0.01
2
Lead
0.015
1
Bis(2-Ethylhexyl)phthalate
0.006
2
Secondary MCL Exceedences
Parameter
USEPA MCL, mg/L
Times Exceeded
Total Dissolved Solids
500
4
Iron
0.3
15
Manganese
0.05
8
Groundwater Sampling Results:
UCMR List 1
2,4-dinitrotoluene
2,6-dinitrotoluene
Acetochlor
DCPA mono-acid degradate
DCPA di-acid degradate
4,4'-DDE
EPTC
Molinate
MTBE
Nitrobenzene
Perchlorate
Terbacil
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
None Detected
Groundwater Sampling Results:
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
VOCs
3 VOCs in One Sample:
Bromodichloromethane, chloroform,
dibromochloromethane
SVOCs
One SVOC, bis(2-Ethylhexyl)phthalate,
found in three samples.
Groundwater Sampling Results:
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Nutrients
Maximum concentration of Nitrogen was
4.53 mg/L.
Maximum concentration of Phosphorus
was 0.18 mg/L.
Pesticides
None Detected
Our
Region’s
Water.
PROTECTING.
PRESERVING.
PROMOTING.
Surface Water Sampling Results:
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Stillwater River Nitrate Concentrations
6000
10
4000
6
4
2000
2
0
0
5/28/05
9/5/05
12/14/05
3/24/06
Date
Legend
Concentration
Discharge
Concentration, mg/L
Discharge, Cubic Feet per Second
8
Surface Water Sampling Results:
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
April 2005 to April
2006 Chemical Loads
Constituent (chemicals in
units of Metric Ton)
Stillwater River at
Englewood
Great Miami River at
Miamisburg
Amount contributed to
Great Miami River by
Stillwater River, Percent
Flow, acre-feet
484540
2189600
22
Nitrate
3604
11500
31
Total Nitrogen
4808*
15078*
32
Total Phosphorus
154
888
17
Chloride
17248
123789
14
Fluoride
138
728
19
Sulfate
25154
114995
22
Silica
4153
15579
27
Suspended Solids
41279
236045
17
Notes: * = value calculated by adding all nitrogen species’ loads.
Great Miami River Data source: National Center for Water Quality Research
Surface Water Sampling Results:
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Pesticides
1. Atrazine
2. Metolachlor
Detections
Atrazine range 0.12 to 0.43 ug/L
(MCL = 3.0 ug/L)
3. Cyanazine
4. Glyphosate
Metolachlor range 0.06 to 0.10 ug/L
5. Acetochlor
6. 2,4-D
7. Pendimethalin
8. Alachlor
9. Chlorpyrifos
10. Simazine
SVOCs
Naphthalene
Di-n-butylphthalate
Surface Water Sampling Results:
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Emerging Contaminants
Detected
Contaminant
Detection
Limit
DAR50001
Greenville Cr
Wildcat
DAR50002
Stillwater
Boyer
MIA50003
Stillwater
Covington
MIA50004
Greenville Cr
Croft Mill
MIA50005
Stillwater
Horseshoe
Bend
MON50003
Stillwater
Siebenthaler
Caffeine
by GCMS LLE
10 ng/L
P
P
P
P
P
DEET
25 ng/L
P
P
P
1 ng/L
P
P
P
Acetaminophen
P
P
Caffeine
1 ng/L
P
Sulfamethoxazole
1 ng/L
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Trimethoprim
1 ng/L
P
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Greenville Falls
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Groundwater
and Surface
Water
Assessment of
the Lower Great
Miami River
Basin
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Site Selection
Groundwater
and Surface
Water
Assessment of
the Lower Great
Miami River
Basin
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Analytes – Groundwater Samples
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Major ions
Trace elements
Nutrients
VOCs (Method 524.2)
Base neutral & acid extractable organics
(Method 625)
 Pesticides
 UCMR List 1
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Surface Water Sampling
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Analytes – Surface Water Samples
Nutrients and Sediment
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Suspended Sediment
Total Phosphorus
Soluble Reactive Phosphorus
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen
Nitrate
Nitrite
Ammonia
 Silica
 Chloride
 Conductivity
 Fluoride
 Sulfate
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Results
 Arsenic detected in 15 of 36 GW samples – 4 samples
with concentrations >10 ug/L
 VOCs detected in areas of known contamination
 Surface water chemistry – nutrient comparison
 Nutrient loading
 Pesticides present in groundwater and surface water
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Arsenic
Arsenic found at
various depths and
in different aquifer
types
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Arsenic vs. Iron
Arsenic (ug/L)
20
15
10
5
0
1
10
100
Iron (ug/L)
1000
10000
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Arsenic vs. Nitrate
Arsenic (ug/L)
20
15
10
5
0
0
2
4
Nitrate (mg/L)
6
8
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Surface Water Chemistry
Nitrate (NO3) and River Discharge (Fairfield)
80000
60000
8
6
40000
4
20000
2
0
0
3/
15
/2
00
4
6/
15
/2
00
4
9/
15
/2
00
4
12
/1
5/
20
04
3/
15
/2
00
5
NO3 (mg/L)
10
Date
Discharge (cf/s)
12
NO3
Discharge
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Surface Water Chemistry
Nitrate Concentrations (Miamisburg vs. Fairfield)
12
Nitrate (mg/L)
10
8
Miamisburg
6
Fairfield
4
2
0
15
3/
00
/2
4
15
6/
00
/2
4
15
9/
00
/2
4
1
Date
1
2/
00
2
5/
4
15
3/
00
/2
5
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Nutrient Loading – Total N
Load Distribution of Nitrogen Species - Miamisburg, OH
Annual Total N Load: Great
Miami River
Nitrate
(March 2004 – March 2005)
Nitrite
TKN
Ammonia
Miamisburg – 18,600 metric tons
Load Distribution of Nitrogen Species - Fairfield, OH
Fairfield – 21,900 metric tons
Nitrate
Nitrite
TKN
Ammonia
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Nutrient Loading – Total P
Load Distribution of Phosphorus Species Miamisburg, OH
Annual Total P Load: Great
Miami River
(March 2004 – March 2005)
Dissolved phosphorus
Particulate phosphorus
Miamisburg – 1,300 metric tons
Load Distribution of Phosphorus Species - Fairfield,
OH
Fairfield – 1,600 metric tons
Dissolved phosphorus
Particulate phosphorus
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Pesticides in Surface Water
Pesticide Detected
Acetochlor
Atrazine
Fonofos
Metolachlor
Prometon
Simazine
0
20
40
60
Frequency of Detection (%)
MCD Samples
USGS Samples
80
100
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Pesticides in Groundwater
Ametryn
Atrazine
Pesticide Detected
Fenitrothion
Metolachlor
Metribuzin
Napropamide
Prometon
Terbacil
Treflan
Simazine
0
5
10
15
Frequency of Detection (%)
MCD Samples
USGS Samples
20
25
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Summary
• Arsenic
- 4 samples with concentrations > 10 ug/L
- in wells of various depths and in different aquifers
- correlations with other chemistry
• Surface water chemistry (Great Miami River)
- no concentrations exceeded MCL
• Nutrient loading
- average annual loads for total N and P
•  Pesticides present in groundwater and surface water
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Stormwater BMPs for
groundwater protection
• Becky Larson, Biosystems
Engineering, Michigan
State University
• Daniel Farhey, Civil &
Environmental Eng. &
Eng. Mech., University of
Dayton
• Steven Safferman,
Biosystems Engineering,
Michigan State University
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
• Test Your Well Program
– Angela Manuszak (MCD)
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Test Your Well Overview
•
•
•
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•
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Desire to serve residents of APS counties
Groundwater Foundation model/training
Piloted in Miami County
Seven events so far
More to come
Great response
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Test Your Well Objective
To motivate private well
owners to understand
and take better care of
their drinking water
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Test Your Well Program
•
•
•
•
Free nitrate screening (AKA “the hook”)
Free information fair
Free consultation
Free cookies!
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Test Your Well Partners
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Soil & Water Conservation Districts
High School FFA chapters
Health Departments
OSU Extension offices
Local watershed groups
Farm Bureau
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Test Your Well Results
County
Location
Date
By the numbers
Miami
Preble
Greene
Miami East HS
Mar ‘07
83 samples - .48 mg/L ave.
Eaton HS
Sep ‘07
80 samples - .29 mg/L ave.
Greene Co.
Career Center
Sep ‘07
84 samples - 1.2 mg/L ave.
Shelby
Anna HS
Sep ‘07
88 samples - .05 mg/L ave.
Clark
Northeastern/
Tecumseh HS
Nov/Dec ‘07 68 samples - 1.6 mg/L ave.
Butler
Seven Mile
Elementary
Jan ‘08
18 samples - .65 mg/L ave.
Warren
Franklin HS
Mar ‘08
~36 samples – ~ 3 mg/L
ave.
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Test Your Well Lessons Learned
• SWCD partner is essential
• Strong FFA leadership is key
• Promo through school is
valuable
• Staff must reach out to visitors
• Maps and models lead to
interaction
• Directional signage is
important
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Test Your Well Future
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Montgomery 1 and Miami 2
Long-term evaluation
Additional parameters
Post-event news release
Farm*A*Syst literature
GW Foundation resources
University partners
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Questions?
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Our Region’s Water.
PROTECTING. PRESERVING. PROMOTING.
Krystal McNutt
Hydro Technician
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
What’s happening with our water?
• Design of the observation network
• Methods of collecting data
• Interpretation of data
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Observation well network design
• 11 counties
• 109 wells
• 58 in Buried Valley
Aquifer
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Observation well network design
• Period of record
– Establishes a baseline
– “Normal” ground water levels
– Longer record = better data
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Methods of data collection
• Wells visited monthly
• “Depth Below Monitoring Point (DBMP)
– Top of well casing
– Elevation by MCD survey crew
• GPS unit or topo maps
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Methods of data collection
• Solinst Water Level Meter
• Depth and time recorded
• Probe disinfected
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Methods of data collection
• 31 wells with pressure transducers
• Installed at Measuring Point
 Direct Read Cable
 Max/Min ground water elevations
 Length of Direct Read Cable
 Pressure range capability
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Methods of data collection
• Leveloader
• Amount of pressure above unit
– Converted to “feet of water”
– Weight of water and air
• Raw data corrected in office
– Barologgers
• Accuracy checked with manual DBMP
– DBMP + “feet of water” = the length of the direct read cable
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Interpretation of data
• Database
– Levelogger DBMP calculated
• Length of Cable – “Feet of water” over = DBMP
– Manual DBMP
– Calculates ground water elevation
• Measuring Point Elev. – DBMP = Ground water elevation
• Larger DBMP = Lower water table
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Interpretation of data
• Nearby pumping
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Interpretation of data
• Seasonal
variation
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Interpretation of data
www.miamiconservancy.org
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Interpretation of data
www.miamiconservancy.org
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Interpretation of data
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Summary
• Network
preserves and
protects
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
Water data on the web
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
It’s no joke!
• Next meeting: April 1st
• 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
• Engineer’s Club
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
MCD’s VISION
Thriving communities, a
healthy watershed, and a
higher quality of life sustained by well-managed
water resources throughout
the watershed.