Hydrogeology, Aquifer Geochemistry, and Ground-Water Quality in Morgan County, West Virginia

Abstract

Private and public wells throughout Morgan County, W. Va., were tested to determine aquifer hydraulic, geochemical, and water-quality characteristics. The entire study area is located in the Valley and Ridge Physiographic Province, a region of complex geologic structure and lithology. Aquifers in the study area are characterized by thin to thick bedded formations with interbedding among the various limestones, shales, sandstones, and siltstones that are folded into a series of steeply dipping north-south trending anticlines and synclines. Zones of groundwater production typically consist of one to two fracture sets, with little to no production from unfractured bedrock matrix. Measurements of transmissivity range from 2 to 1,490 feet squared per day, with the larger transmissivities occurring near bedding contacts and in zones with cross-faulting or jointing. Ground water flows from recharge areas in the uplands to local drainages and to deeper flow systems that appear to be controlled by regional geologic structure. The overall flow direction is from south to north within the study area. Ground water within the study area is predominantly a calcium-bicarbonate type water reflecting contact with carbonate rocks. Sodium-bicarbonate and calcium-magnesium-sulfate end-members also exist, with many samples exhibiting mixing, which may be the result of flow between the differing rock types or within units containing both carbonate rocks and shales. Values of water-quality characteristics that were greater than U.S. Environmental Protection Agency drinking-water standards included radon-222, pH, turbidity, iron, manganese, aluminum, and total-and fecal-coliform and Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. Concentrations of radon-222 were detected in all samples from all units, with the largest concentrations (1,330 and 2,170 picocuries per liter) from the Clinton Formation.

Assessment of hydrogeologic terrains, well-construction characteristics, groundwater hydraulics, and water-quality and microbial data for determination of surface-water-influenced groundwater supplies in West Virginia

“…Results of an intensive hydrogeologic and water-quality study of Ordovician-to lower Mississippian-age fracturedrock aquifers in Morgan County, West Virginia, which is in the Valley and Ridge Physiographic Province (Boughton and McCoy, 2006), indicate water-quality issues similar to those in other fractured-rock investigations in the Appalachian Plateaus Physiographic Province of West Virginia. In 1984, the State of West Virginia passed legislation (West Virginia Bureau for Public Health, 1984) that mandated homeowners apply for a permit and well drillers submit a report upon completion of drilling of residential water wells.…”

“…Fecal coliform bacteria and E. coli were found to be prevalent in wells that were completed prior to 1997 when statewide regulation of residential wells and requirements for grouting wells were established. Wells of newer construction that are properly grouted are much less vulnerable to fecal coliform bacteria or surface contamination than are older wells, especially those that were not grouted or were poorly grouted (Boughton and McCoy, 2006).…”

“…The presence of fecal coliform or E. coli bacteria, however, are regarded as indicators for the presence of potential pathogens, as they generally originate in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. A plot of total coliform bacteria versus the ratio of casing length to well depth showed far fewer bacteria in wells with high ratios of casing length to well depth (Boughton and McCoy, 2006). The relatively low concentrations of fecal coliform (5%) and E. coli (2%) detected in the wells sampled in Morgan County indicate that grouting of wells, installation of longer casings, and drilling of deeper water wells to avoid zones of shallow contaminated water near the surface may help to reduce bacterial contamination.…”

“…Grouting requirements had already been in place in Jefferson, Berkeley, and Morgan Counties as a result of county health ordinances established to better protect residential wells from contamination, especially with respect to bacterial contaminants and associated pathogens that may be associated with fecal wastes. Boughton and McCoy (2006) targeted only wells of recent completion for sampling as part of the Morgan County study to determine whether the new grouting and well-construction regulations were a factor in reducing bacterial contamination of groundwater. Samples collected from 91 wells and 8 springs were analyzed for a broad range of constituents, including common ions, trace metals, nutrients, indicator bacteria, and radon-222.…”

Plajköy Kaynaği’nin (Elaziğ) Hi̇drojeoloji̇ İncelemesi̇

“…Ġncelenen kaynağın beslenme alanında bulunan çamlık alanının yağıĢlı dönemde yeraltı suyunun CO 2 'ce zenginleĢmesinde önemli rol oynadığı düĢünülmektedir. Kurak dönemdeki pH artıĢı, kırık ve çatlaklar boyunca derinlere doğru hareket eden yeraltı suyunda indirgen koĢullarda silikatların hidrolizi ile iliĢkili olmalıdır (Garrels ve Christ, 1965;Boughton ve McCoy, 2006;Kebede vd., 2005 (Kimball, 1981;Kebede vd. 2005).…”