Ground-water data for Michigan 1983

Abstract

Water levels, locations, depths, and aquifers tapped are given for 115 observation wells. Tabulated data include extremes of water levels for 1983 and for the period of record, pumpage of most major groundwater users in the State, and quality data on selected wells. The largest reported user of groundwater , the city of Lansing, pumped 8.1 billion gallons from the Saginaw Formation and glacial deposits. INTRODUCTION-Purpose and Scope This report makes available, through 1983, the records of water levels and related data for the principal aquifers of the State. It is written for municipalities, industries, institutions, consultants, drillers, hydrologists and other people interested in groundwater resources. Data on yield of wells, pumpage, quality of water, and trends of groundwater levels for the past 5 years are shown in the text. Many hydrographs are included to illustrate changes in water levels. Records of water levels in observation wells and records of pumpage by most major groundwater users, are given in tables 1 and 2. Distribution of observation wells is shown in figure 1. Location of wells sampled for water-quality data and years sampled are shown in figure 2. No water-quality data was obtained during 1983. Use of Data The quantity of water available from an aquifer can be determined by analysis of records of water levels and pumpage. Water-level records showing long-term effects of pumping can be used by municipalities, industries, and institutions to estimate the capacity of aquifers to meet present and future demands for water and to determine whether expansion of present supply systems for ground water is practicable. In an area where the water level is declining because of pumping, projection of future water levels indicates the depth below which well intakes should be installed. Allowing for lower water levels can extend the life of the installation. Normally, the water table fluctuates 2 to 3 feet annually and about 5 feet over a period of years. If an excavation for a basement or septic tank is made when the water table is low, good construction practices would allow for probable higher water levels in the spring. If construction is made after several years of drought, the allowance for rising water levels should be greater. If a site is at all questionable, the depth to the water table can be determined by test borings.

Model Refinement and Simulation of Groundwater Flow in Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties, Michigan

“…For communities within the study area, data on withdrawals from 1970 to 1990 were primarily based on records furnished by municipal suppliers, published in annual data reports of the USGS Thompson, 1971, 1973;Huffman, 1974aHuffman, , 1974bHuffman, , 1975Huffman, , 1976Huffman, , 1977Huffman, , 1979aHuffman, , 1979b1980;1981;1982;1983;1984;1986;1988;Huffman and Whited, 1988;1991;1993), or included in previous studies of the area. Additional data are available in a report by Baltusis and others (1992), who summarized sources and annual withdrawals of groundwater for communities in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.…”

“…Direct runoff is associated with the component of precipitation that exceeds the infiltration capacity of the soil and flows overland directly into streams. Base flow is associated with the component of 1910 1915 1920 1925 1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 and Thompson, 1971and Thompson, , 1973Huffman, 1974aHuffman, , 1974bHuffman, , 1975Huffman, , 1976Huffman, , 1977Huffman, , 1979aHuffman, , 1979bHuffman, , 19801981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988Huffman and Whited, 1988, 1991, 1993and Baltusis and others, 1992.) 6 1975-80, 1989-90, 1994- precipitation that infiltrates the soil and percolates below the plant-rooting depth, where it can enter (recharge) the groundwater system.…”