Groundwater The Unseen Part of the Water Cycle Salt Groundwater Ground Water Reservoir

Who Uses Groundwater? In Northwest Ohio

Ohio Groundwater Law 1843: Acton v. Blundell “English Rule” The landowner can pump groundwater at any rate even if an adjoining property owner were harmed. 1843: Acton v. Blundell “English Rule” The landowner can pump groundwater at any rate even if an adjoining property owner were harmed. 1861: Frazier v. Brown English Rule in Ohio Groundwater is “…occult and concealed…” and legislation of its use is “…practically impossible.” 1861: Frazier v. Brown English Rule in Ohio Groundwater is “…occult and concealed…” and legislation of its use is “…practically impossible.”

Wisconsin Groundwater Law 1903: Huber v. Merkel English Rule in Wisconsin A property owner can pump unlimited amounts of groundwater, even with malicious harm to a neighbor. 1903: Huber v. Merkel English Rule in Wisconsin A property owner can pump unlimited amounts of groundwater, even with malicious harm to a neighbor. 1974: Wisconsin v. Michels Pipeline Constructors Inc. English Rule Overturned Landowners no longer have “an absolute right to use with impunity all water that can be pumped from the subsoil underneath.” 1974: Wisconsin v. Michels Pipeline Constructors Inc. English Rule Overturned Landowners no longer have “an absolute right to use with impunity all water that can be pumped from the subsoil underneath.”

English Rule Overturned in Ohio 1984: Cline v. American Aggregates English Rule overturned in Ohio Justice Holmes: “Scientific knowledge in the field of hydrology has advanced in the past decade…” so it “…can establish the cause and effect relationship of the tapping of underground water to the existing water level.” 1984: Cline v. American Aggregates English Rule overturned in Ohio Justice Holmes: “Scientific knowledge in the field of hydrology has advanced in the past decade…” so it “…can establish the cause and effect relationship of the tapping of underground water to the existing water level.” Today: Lingering effects of English Rule It is very difficult to prove cause and effect to be defensible in court. Today: Lingering effects of English Rule It is very difficult to prove cause and effect to be defensible in court.

Most available fresh water is ground water Oceans 97.2% Atmosphere % 0.61% (97%) Streams and Lakes 0.01% (3%)

Porosity and Permeability Porosity: Percent of volume that is void space. Sediment: Determined by how tightly packed and how clean (silt and clay), (usually between 20 and 40%) Rock: Determined by size and number of fractures (most often very low, <5%) 1% 5% 30% Zone of Aeration Water Table Saturated Zone

Porosity and Permeability Permeability: Ease with which water will flow through a porous material Sediment: Proportional to sediment size Gravel  Excellent Sand  Good Silt  Moderate Clay  Poor Rock: Proportional to fracture size and number. Can be good to excellent (even with low porosity) Excellent Poor Zone of Aeration Water Table Saturated Zone

Porosity and Permeability Permeability is not proportional to porosity. Table % 5% 30%

Water table: the surface separating the vadose zone from the saturated zone. Measured using water level in well The Water Table Fig. 13.3

Aquifer: Saturated sediment or porous rock that is sufficiently permeable to supply useable amounts of water The Water Table Fig. 13.3

Groundwater discharge: Groundwater leaving the subsurface at Natural locations including streams springs and wetlands Artificial means like pumped wells and drains Groundwater Systems

Infiltration: Precipitation soaking into the soil and moving into the subsurface Groundwater Systems

Groundwater recharge: Infiltration percolating to the water table Groundwater Systems

Groundwater Flow: groundwater moves through the small pore spaces from areas with a high water table to areas with a low water table Groundwater Systems

Velocity is proportional to Permeability Slope of the water table Inversely Proportional to porosity Groundwater Systems Fast (e.g., cm per day) Slow (e.g., mm per day)

Infiltration Recharges ground water Raises water table Provides water to springs, streams and wells Reduction of infiltration causes water table to drop Natural Water Table Fluctuations

Reduction of infiltration causes water table to drop Wells go dry Springs go dry Discharge of rivers drops Artificial causes Pavement Drainage Natural Water Table Fluctuations

Pumping wells Accelerates flow near well May reverse ground-water flow Causes water table drawdown Forms a cone of depression Effects of Pumping Wells

Pumping wells Accelerate flow Reverse flow Cause water table drawdown Form cones of depression Low river Gaining Stream Gaining Stream Pumping well Low well Cone of Depression Water Table Drawdown Dry Spring Effects of Pumping Wells

Dry river Dry well Effects of Pumping Wells Dry well Losing Stream Continued water- table drawdown May dry up springs and wells May reverse flow of rivers (and may contaminate aquifer) May dry up rivers and wetlands