Chemical and physical characteristics of natural ground waters in Michigan: A preliminary report

Abstract

Wide variations occur in the chemical and physical characteristics of natural ground waters in Michigan. Dissolved-solids concentrations range from 23 to 2,100 milligrams per liter. Waters having low dissolved-solids concentrations are calcium bicarbonate waters. Sodium, sulfate, and chloride increase as mineralization increases. Iron, aluminum, and titanium are higher at some locations than is common in most natural waters. Lead concentrations exceed those desirable in drinking water at some locations in the northern part of the Lower Peninsula. Generalized areal patterns of water quality variation sug gest that geology is a primary cause of differences across the state. Examples of chemical associations in water suggest that chemical analy ses may be valuable in tracing and identifying mineral deposits. Table 1.-Maximum and minimum values of chemical and physical characteristics of ground water. Constituent or property Alkalinity (mg/L as CaCO3) Aluminum, Total Recoverable (pg/L as Al) Arsenic, Total (pg/L as As) Barium, Total Recoverable (pg/L as Ba) Beryllium, Total Recoverable (pg/L as Be) Bicarbonate (mg/L as HCO3) Bismuth, Total (pg/L as Bi) Boron, Total Recoverable (pg/L as B) Cadmium, Total Recoverable (pg/L as Cd) Calcium, Dissolved (mg/L as Ca) Carbon, Organic Dissolved (mg/L as C) Carbon Dioxide, Dissolved (mg/L as CO2) Carbonate (mg/L as CO3) Chloride, Dissolved (mg/L as C1) Chromium, Total Recoverable (pg/L as Cr) Cobalt, Total Recoverable (pg/L as Co) Color (Platinum Cobalt Units) Copper, Total Recoverable (pg/L as Cu) Cyanide, Total (mg/L as CN) Fluoride, Dissolved (mg/L as F) Gallium, Total (pg/L as Ga) Germanium, Total (pg/L as Ge) Hardness (mg/L as CaCo3)

Natural ground-water quality in Michigan, 1974-87

“…This report updates a preliminary report on chemical and physical characteristics of natural ground waters in Michigan (Cummings, 1980). Although substantial amounts of information have been collected since 1980, definitive statements about waters from many sources and at many locations remain impossible.…”

Quality of ground water in Monitor and Williams Townships, Bay County, Michigan

“…The Saginaw Formation, which underlies glacial deposits and is the source of water for many wells, is known to yield water having a comparatively high dissolved-solids concentration at many locations in the eastern part of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Statewide, Cummings (1980) found the mean dissolved-solids concentration of water from the Saginaw Formation to be 1,629 mg/L (milligrams per liter); whereas, 90 percent of all samples of other Michigan ground waters contained less than 630 mg/L. In the same survey, water from glacial deposits in Michigan had a mean dissolved-solids concentration of 241 mg/L.…”

Michigan ground-water quality

“…Ground water in the southeastern part of the State tends to have larger concentrations of dissolved solids, hardness, ammonia, barium, sodium, sulfate, and chloride than elsewhere. Statewide, the dissolved-solids concentrations of water are larger in bedrock aquifers than in glacial aquifers (Cummings, 1980). Ground-water quality is affected by waste disposal and spills, agricultural activities, storage and use of road salts, brine disposal, and pumping-induced movement of deeper lying saline waters (Deutsch 1961a,b;1962;1963).…”

“…In addition, analyses are made for synthetic substances to determine their presence or absence. Frequency data for some of the substances and properties, based on the analyses of 113 samples collected statewide (Cummings, 1980), are given in the following table.…”

“…This condition may be attributed to the fact that the Saginaw Formation contains considerable shale and coal and, at places, may contain saline water. A comparison of water from glacial deposits with that in bedrock aquifers by Cummings (1980) indicated that the mean dissolved-solids concentration of water from bedrock aquifers was 535 mg/L (milligrams per liter), whereas the mean dissolved-solids concentration of water from glacial deposits was 241 mg/L.…”