What Do You Know About Michigan’s Hidden Resource?

All photos by Joan Schumaker Chadde, Western Upper Peninsula Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education at Michigan Technological University, unless noted otherwise. All groundwater diagrams by Lyle S. Raymond, New York State Water Resources Institute, Cornell University. All Michigan maps of groundwater contamination by Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (12/91).

1. What is Groundwater ?Water that fills the spaces between soil and rock particles.

The % of the spaces that are filled with water = porosity

2. Where is groundwater?

Limestone BedrockLayered soil

Groundwater is found in

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

that have an adequatequantity and movement of water to supply wells for household, municipal, agricultural and industrial uses.

Geology and Aquifers—in Michigan

Adapted from USGS National Water Summary 1984. Michigan’s Water Resources (p. 27) by The Institute of Water Research Michigan State University. (1987)

Bedrock Aquifer Yields

Source: USGS Geological Survey map by F.R. Twenter in Michigan’s Water Resources (p. 28) by The Institute of Water Research Michigan State University. (1987)

SurfaceGlacial Aquifer Yields

Source: USGS map by F.R. Twenter. Michigan’s Water Resources (p. 28) by The Institute of Water Research Michigan State University. (1987)

Glacial stream deposit

Glacial lake deposit

Jim Nicholas, Center DirectorUSGS Michigan Water Science CenterU.S. Geological SurveyDepartment of the Interior

3. How does it get there?

Groundwater recharge is

influenced by:

PrecipitationGeology

Land UseTopography

Source: Jim Nicholas, Center DirectorUSGS Michigan Water Science CenterU.S. Geological SurveyDepartment of the Interior

Groundwater Levels Change over Time

Jim Nicholas, Director, USGS Michigan Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior

Groundwater Levels Change over Time

Compare 1979-92 (black) with 2000-03

Oct SepJune

Jim Nicholas, Director, USGS Michigan Water Science CenterU.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior

4. How fast does it flow?(= permeability)

Gravel

Fast

Sand

Medium

Silt & clay

Slow

Which material is better for your well?

Which is better for lining a landfill?

How long does it take for groundwater to move?

Jim Nicholas, Director, USGS Michigan Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior

5. How is groundwater connected to surface water?

Groundwater-Surface Water

Single Resource—no boundaries

Michigan’s Water Resources (p. 16) by The Institute of Water Research Michigan State University. (1987)

Groundwater-Surface Water Interaction

Water is always moving

Jim Nicholas, Director, USGS Michigan Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior

Groundwater-Surface Water

Groundwater is part of the flow in

most rivers.

Many times it is the only flow.

Jim Nicholas, Director, USGS Michigan Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior

Groundwater─contaminated or not─flows into streams, rivers,

and lakes.

Jim Nicholas, Director, USGS Michigan Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior

Groundwater flows into the Great Lakes

21

79

25

7528

72

5248

35

65

Ground water in blue

Jim Nicholas, Director, USGS Michigan Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior

• Drinking water for 50% of Michigan and U.S. residents (private wells and public drinking water).

• Irrigation

• Industry

• Recreation and tourism

6. How is groundwater used?

Michigan Groundwater Use in 2000

Millions of Gallons % Total Use

Public water supply 247 34%

Domestic (private) wells 239 33%

Irrigation 128 17%

Industry 110 15%

Total 724 100%

Groundwater Withdrawals for 2000. U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior

Groundwater use varies in Michigan─which part of the state uses more groundwater? Why?

Jim Nicholas, Director, USGS Michigan Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior

Groundwater—floats your kayak in the summer

7. What do we call the area affected by a pumping well?

8. What activities can contaminate groundwater?

Contaminated Landfill Sites in Michigan

Contaminated Hazardous Waste Facilities in Michigan

Leaking Underground Storage Tank Sites in Michigan

Pesticide Contamination Sites in Michigan

Oil and Gas Contamination Sites in Michigan

Nitrate Contamination in Michigan─ is linked to

fertilizers and human/animal wastes.

Source: Kyle Kittleson and Russ Kruska, Institute of Water Research and Center for Remote Sensing, Michigan State University. Michigan’s Water Resources by the Institute of Water Research, Michigan State University.

9. How can we protect groundwater

from contamination?

Photo from Bill Griffin, U.P. Engineers & Architects, Inc.

This person is using a baler to obtain a sample of groundwater for water quality testing.

Wellhead Protection Areas – are established to prevent potential contamination from reaching the area of groundwater that flows to a city drinking water well. (Map from Bill Griffin, P.E., U.P. Engineers & Architects, Inc.)

Educate community residents about groundwater protection.

10. Can groundwater be cleaned up?• Bioremediation – ever hear of oil-eating

bacteria? Bacteria can actually eat contaminants! Nutrients are added to grow more bacteria.

• Pump and treat – the contaminated groundwater is removed..now all of that water must be cleaned!

• Air sparging – air is pulled through the groundwater and the contaminants move into the air.

Why should we be concerned about groundwater quality in Michigan?

Summary of Groundwater Contamination Sites in Michigan

What is put on the land surface ends up in the water.

Jim Nicholas, Director, USGS Michigan Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior

Important Groundwater Facts• 50% of Michigan residents USE groundwater for drinking

and household needs through public or private wells.

• Groundwater MOVES…….and can carry contamination that occurred years ago or miles away.

• Groundwater IS CONNECTED to the surface water in rivers and lakes. A groundwater use will always have an effect on a surface-water body, though sometimes the effect may be too small to measure.

• Remember: If you don’t want to drink it (like motor oil), DON’T POUR IT ON THE GROUND!