SOURCE WATER SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN KARSTPROTECTION IN KARST

SHENANDOAH VALLEY WATER SHENANDOAH VALLEY WATER CONFERENCECONFERENCE

OCTOBER 28, 2008OCTOBER 28, 2008WINCHESTER,VIRGINIAWINCHESTER,VIRGINIA

What is Wellhead /Source Water What is Wellhead /Source Water Protection?Protection?

• SWAP/WHP is a program to minimize the risk of contamination to public water supplies.

• Accomplished by managing the land area surrounding a well and/ or intake.

WV Source Water Protection WV Source Water Protection Program involves two phases:Program involves two phases:

• The first phase is collecting information about the source water, or the "assessment phase".

• There are three steps to an assessment: – Delineating the protection

area; – Identifying the potential

contaminant sources in that area; and

– Determining the susceptibility of the source water to contamination.

Susceptibility Reports Completed for All Water Systems

DELINEATIONSDELINEATIONSWV uses a 5 yr time of travel WV uses a 5 yr time of travel

Ground water information useful for delineation Ground water information useful for delineation

may be available from a variety of sources.may be available from a variety of sources. Useful information may include the following:

• U.S. Geological Survey reports

• Pumping test data

• U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps

• Water table maps

• Geologic maps

• Saturated thickness and transmissivity maps

• Hydraulic connection between surface water and aquifers

•

• Areas of discharge, recharge, and retention

• Locations of wells, construction details, and pumping rates

• Precipitation data

• Surface and ground water quality (laboratory test results)

• Land uses

• Contamination threats

• Water budgets

Cross Section Cross Section Eastern PanhandleEastern Panhandle

Karst Aquifers

Karst Aquifers

Limestone OutcropsLimestone Outcrops

KARST GEOLOGYCarbonates do not weather like other sedimentary rocks.

Derives name form region of Yugoslavia.

Applies to areas of limestone dissolution.

Karst causes unique problems in terms of land use and water supply.

Surface water and ground water merge into a single system, moving rapidly with no filtration

KARST WATERS KARST WATERS INSTITUTEINSTITUTE

Karst areas can supply large quantities of water.Karst areas can supply large quantities of water.>20% of world’s population obtains water from >20% of world’s population obtains water from Karst areas.Karst areas.In the US 20% of area is karst and 40%of ground In the US 20% of area is karst and 40%of ground water is obtained from karst areas.water is obtained from karst areas.Natural features include caves, sinkholes and Natural features include caves, sinkholes and springs.springs.Characteristics include subsidence, sinkhole Characteristics include subsidence, sinkhole collapse, groundwater contamination and collapse, groundwater contamination and unpredictable water supply.unpredictable water supply.

Public Water Systems—Spring Public Water Systems—Spring ExamplesExamples

Lefevre Springs, WVKilmer Springs

USGS DATAUSGS DATA

• Aquifer characteristics compilation

• Ohio River gw modeling study

• Age dating of WV ground water

• Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan county hydrologic studies

• Leetown Science Center studies

• Opequon model

DATA NEEDS DATA NEEDS

• A problem in West Virginia is the spotty nature of detailed hydro geologic information.  Remember garbage in = garbage out.

• Additional aquifer mapping would be an excellent investment in source water protection. – Example - Private Water Well Database– Other Hydrogeologic Databases

•

DATA NEEDS CONTINUEDDATA NEEDS CONTINUED

• Additional fracture and fault mapping in Karst areas

• Sinkhole mapping

• Identifying carbonate units in terms of sinkhole formation tendencies

• Hydrogeologic studies including dye tracing

• Ground water modeling studies

BEYOND INITIAL REPORTBEYOND INITIAL REPORT

• Develop and implement a local drinking water source protection plan.

• Local stakeholders in cooperation with local, state and federal agencies develop additional plans or documents that target concerns and actions that apply specifically to their local water supplies

• Present demands and future growth are key issues