State/Regional Ground Water Monitoring Networks Results of Survey Joint Project of: Association of American State Geologists Ground Water Protection Council Interstate Council on Water Policy National Ground Water Association
TABLE OF CONTENTS Joint Project Organizations... Acknowledgements... Introduction... The Survey... 5 Summary of Findings... 6 Table Ground Water Level Networks... 6 Table Ground Water Quality Networks...
Joint Project Organizations The Association of American State Geologists (AASG) represents the State Geologists of the 5 United States and Puerto Rico. Founded in 9, AASG seeks to advance the science and practical application of geology and related earth sciences in the United States and its territories, commonwealths, and possessions David Wunsch, Ph.D. New Hampshire State Geological Survey 9 Hazen Dr PO Box 95 Concord, NH -95 6/-6 dwunsch@des.state.nh.us The Ground Water Protection Council (GWPC) is a national association of state ground water and underground injection control agencies whose mission is to promote the protection and conservation of ground water resources for all beneficial uses, recognizing ground water as a critical component of the ecosystem. Michael Paque Ground Water Protection Council N. MacArthur Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 9/-5565 mike@gwpc.org The Interstate Council on Water Policy (ICWP) is the national organization of state and regional water resource management agencies. It is the mission of the ICWP to enhance the stewardship of the nation s water resources Peter Evans Interstate Council on Water Policy (ICWP) 5 Monroe Street, Suite PE-A Rockville, Maryland 5 -- phe@riverswork.com The National Ground Water Association (NGWA) is a not-for-profit professional society and trade association for the ground water industry. Its, members include some of the country s leading public and private sector ground water scientists, engineers, water well contractors, manufacturers, and suppliers of ground water related products and services. The Association s vision is to be the leading community of ground water professionals that promotes the responsible development, use and management of ground water resources. Christine Reimer National Ground Water Association 6 Dempsey Rd. Westerville, OH.55.9 creimer@ngwa.org
Acknowledgements The project sponsors thank the state and regional ground water monitoring staff who generously shared their time to respond to the surveys. Without their assistance, this information would not be available. Introduction Ground water is vital to public health, the environment, and the economy. Approximately 5% of community water systems rely on ground water. Nearly all of rural America, as well as large metropolitan areas, use ground water supplied water systems. Ground water feeds streams and rivers, especially during periods of drought or low flow. The agricultural industry uses ground water for irrigation. The percentage of total irrigation withdrawals from ground water increased from percent in 95 to percent in. According to a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, 6 states anticipate water shortages statewide, regionally or locally in the next years under normal conditions. In the face of these expected shortages, the question is do states have programs that will monitor the ground water quantity and quality so they have information to take either proactive or reactive measures based on sound information? These surveys are intended, in part, to provide a broad overview of the current status of ground water monitoring being conducted by states and regional entities. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,. Community water system survey, Volume I. Retrieved at http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw/consumer/cwss volume_i.pdf. Hutson, Susan S., Nancy L. Barber, Joan F. Kenny, Kristin S. Linsey, Deborah S. Lumia, and Molly A. Maupin.. Estimated use of water in the United States in. U.S. Geological Survey Circular 6. U.S. Government Accountability Office. Freshwater Supply: State s Views of How Federal Agencies Could Help them Meet the Challenges of Expected Shortages (GAO--5),.
The Survey Between August and October, emails went to state agencies in all 5 states targeting those agencies responsible for ground water quality and/or quantity regulations, and state geological surveys. The survey was sent simultaneously to different agencies in an effort to enlist a shotgun approach to ensure the highest number of respondents possible. The email requested that they complete an electronic survey on statewide or regional ground water monitoring programs in their states. Regional was defined for purposes of the survey as monitoring networks that cover large, (e.g., multicounty) areas within a state. A separate survey was developed for ground water level monitoring programs and ground water quality monitoring programs. Forty-one states responded to the ground water level monitoring survey. Forty-nine states responded to the ground water quality monitoring survey. Although the surveys varied, the questions common to both surveys included: Program status Monitoring program objectives Who manages the program How is the program funded What types of wells are used in the network What are the numbers of wells sampled, the sampling frequency and the length of record Who collects the samples What metadata is collected Who developed the field practices standard operating procedures Who developed the data standards and data management standard operation procedures How are data stored The survey results were also supplemented by contacts and information provided by the U.S. Geological Survey. 5
Summary of Findings Table identifies the status of statewide and regional ground water level monitoring networks. Map identifies the status of statewide/regional ground water level monitoring programs by state. Table Ground Water Level Networks Number of States Type Program One or more statewide networks 5 One or more statewide and regional networks 5 One or more regional networks No statewide or regional network 5 Total states Map Ground Water Level Networks 6
Table identifies the status of statewide and regional ground water quality monitoring networks. Map identifies the status of statewide/regional ground water quality monitoring programs by state. Table Ground Water Quality Networks Number of States Type Program One or more statewide networks One or more statewide and regional networks 5 One or more regional networks No statewide or regional network 5 Inactive either statewide or regional No response 5 Total states Map Ground Water Quality Networks
The following graphs represent a compilation of the Ground Water Level Monitoring survey and Ground Water Quality Monitoring survey responses. The responses are included on one graph for questions common to both surveys (including answer choices) and are indicated by different colored bars. For questions that differed between the surveys, an individual graph unique to that question is shown.
Question. Please indicate whether the existing state-wide/regional ground water quality monitoring network is intended to provide ground water level data to answer the following questions. QUALITY a. How effective are groundwater permitting programs in protecting water quality? b. How effective are voluntary protection programs? c. How effective are protection programs in source water protection areas? d. What is the extent of ground water contamination? e. How/why does a specific ground water quality parameter change over time? f. What are the trends in ground water quality over time? g. What are the effects of drought/climate change? h. What is the current background (ambient) quality? i. What are the impacts to ground water quality/level due to over-pumping of aquifers j. What is the age of ground water within an aquifer? k. What is the ground water quality/level contribution to surface water and vice versa? l. What type(s) of uses (e.g. domestic, irrigation, livestock, industrial, etc) is ground water suitable for? m., please specify. Quality 5 5 5 5 a. Permitting 6 b. Protection c. Source Water 6 d. Contamination e. Quality changes f. Trends g. Drought/Climate 6 h. Background i. Over-pumping aquifer 6 j. GW Age 9 k. Contribution to surface w ater l. Type of Uses m. Question. Please indicate whether the existing state-wide/regional ground water level monitoring network is intended to provide ground water level data to answer the following questions. LEVEL a. How effective are groundwater management programs in managing ground water withdrawals? b. What are the trends in ground water quality/levels over time? c. What are the effects of drought/climate change? d. How/why do ground water levels change over time? e. What is the current background (ambient) quality? f. What are the impacts to ground water quality/level due to overpumping of aquifers g. What is the age of ground water within an aquifer? h. What is the ground water level contribution to surface water and vice versa? i. How much ground water is currently being used? j. What type(s) of uses (e.g. domestic, irrigation, livestock, industrial, etc) is ground water suitable for? k., please specify. a. Withdrawal b. Trends c. Level Changes d. Drought/Climate e. Background f. Over-pumping aquifer g. GW Age h. Contribution to surface water i. Current GW use j. Type of Uses k. Level 5 5 5 5 5 9 6 9 9
Question 5. Please indicate whether the existing state-wide/regional monitoring network could be used to answer the following questions. QUALITY a. How effective are groundwater permitting programs in protecting water quality? b. How effective are voluntary protection programs? c. How effective are protection programs in source water protection areas? d. What is the extent of ground water contamination? e. How/why does a specific ground water quality parameter change over time? f. What are the trends in ground water quality over time? g. What are the effects of drought/climate change? h. What is the current background (ambient) quality? i. What are the impacts to ground water quality/level due to over-pumping of aquifers j. What is the age of ground water within an aquifer? k. What is the ground water quality/level contribution to surface water and vice versa? l. What type(s) of uses (e.g. domestic, irrigation, livestock, industrial, etc) is ground water suitable for? m., please specify. a. Permitting b. Protection c. Source Water d. Contamination e. Quality changes f. Trends g. Drought/Climate h. Background i. Over-pumping aquifer j. GW Age k. Contribution to surface water l. Type of Uses m. Quality 5 5 5 5 9 9 5 Question 5. Please indicate whether the existing state-wide/regional monitoring network could be used to answer the following questions. LEVEL l. How effective are groundwater management programs in managing ground water withdrawals? m. What are the trends in ground water quality/levels over time? n. What are the effects of drought/climate change? o. How/why do ground water levels change over time? p. What is the current background (ambient) quality? q. What are the impacts to ground water quality/level due to over-pumping of aquifers r. What is the age of ground water within an aquifer? s. What is the ground water level contribution to surface water and vice versa? t. How much ground water is currently being used? u. What type(s) of uses (e.g. domestic, irrigation, livestock, industrial, etc) is ground water suitable for? v., please specify. a. Withdraw al b. Trends c. Level Changes d. Drought/Climate e. Background f. Over-pumping aquifer g. GW Age h. Contribution to surface w ater i. Current GW use j. Type of Uses k. Level 5 5 5 6 5 5 9
Question 6. Who manages the state-wide/regional ground water monitoring network? Quality Level 5 5 5 DEP/DEQ DNR DWR State Engineer State Geological Survey Regional/Local Govt No network 5 6 9 9 6 Question. How is the stated-wide/regional monitoring network funded? Quality Level 5 5 5 Federal State/County 5-5 Fed & State Don't Know No network 5 Question. Is the state-wide/regional ground water monitoring network designed based on: Quality Level Aquifer Watershed Physiography 6 Political Subdivisions 5 Don't Know No netw ork 6
Question 9. What wells or other observation points are used for statewide/regional ground water quality monitoring network? Quality 5 5 5 5 Monitoring Domestic 9 Irrigation 6 Public Springs Stream Unused No Netw ork Question 9. What wells or other observation points are used for statewide/regional ground water level monitoring network? Level 5 5 5 5 Monitoring 5 Domestic Irrigation Public 9 Remote sensing devices Springs 6 Stream Unused No Netw ork 5
LEVEL Question : Total Wells Question : Wells Measured Once a Year Question : Wells Measured Semi-Annually Question : Wells Measured Quarterly State yrs. Measurements yrs. Measurements yrs. Measurements yrs. Measurements Alabama 5 5 9 9 9 9 Arizona 5-5 9 9 Arkansas 5 5 5 5 California,96,5 Colorado 5 5 Delaware 95 95 Delaware 5 5 5 5 Florida 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 Florida 95 95 95 95 Georgia continuous recorders; 5 annual historical continuous recorders about 5 annually about 5 annually 6 6 Hawaii approximately 55 approximately 5 approx 55 approx 5 Illinois 5+ 5+ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~5 ~5 Indiana 9 9 5 5 5 5 5 5 Kansas ~ ~ ~ ~ Louisiana 5 5 Maine Maryland 9 (est.) 9 (est) 9 (est) Massachusetts 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 Minnesota 5 5 5 65 65 Mississippi 55 N/A N/A Missouri Montana 99 5 Nebraska 56 56 5 5 Nevada 6 5 9 9 5 5 New Hampshire 6 6 6 6 New Jersey 66 59 66 59 New York 5 5 5 5 North Carolina 5 wells ~5 5 ~5 5 ~5 5 ~5 North Dakota,,6 95 95 65 65 69 69 Ohio 9 Ohio Oklahoma 5 5 5 5 Oregon Rhode Island 9 9 9 9 South Carolina 5 69 5 69 5 69 5 69 South Dakota 69 69 69 69 69 69 69 69 Texas about, 5% 6 5% 5-5% 9% Vermont Virginia See USGS for info active wells in the network 66 includes active and inactive wells See USGS for See usgs for info info 66 595 9 Washington around around around 5 around around 5 around 5 around 5 around Wisconsin Wyoming approx. 5 approx approx approx 9 approx approx 9 approx approx 9
LEVEL Question : Wells Measured Monthly Question 5: Wells Measured Weekly Question 6: Wells Measured Daily Question : Wells Measured in Real Time State yrs. Measurements yrs. Measurements yrs. Measurements yrs. Measurements Alabama Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Delaware Delaware Florida Florida Georgia Hawaii Illinois Indiana Kansas Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Texas Vermont Virginia 9 9 5 5 9 9 5 5 95 6 9 65 69 continuous sites are measured every months continuous sites are measured every months 5 ~5 ~5 maybe 6- maybe 6-5 5 ~ ~ 5 (recorders) 5 (recorders) 5 9 9 9 65 65 None None None None Only as needed for short-duration investigations. No on-going studies. 5 5 95 6 6 6 6 9 9 9 9 9 9 6 6 56 6 56 6 56 5 Get the info from http://groundwaterw atch.usgs.gov Get the info from http://groundwaterw atch.usgs.gov Get the info from http://groundwaterw atch.usgs.gov Get the info from http://groundwaterw atch.usgs.gov None Get the info from http://groundwaterw atch.usgs.gov unsure unsure unsure 5 5 5 6 9 None None None 69 69 6 6 6 6 5 9% 9% same as in no. 5 None 9% 9 95% 6 6 6 6 Get the info from http://groundwaterw atch.usgs.gov Washington Wisconsin Wyoming a few hundred not many maybe not many maybe not many approx 5 approx approx 5 approx approx 5 approx
QUALITY Question : Total Wells Quesiton : Wells Measured Once a Year Quesiton : Wells Measured Semi- Annually Question : Wells Measured Quarterly State yrs. Measurements yrs. Measurements yrs. Measurements yrs. Measurements Alaska NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA Arizona 9 6 9 6 na na na na Arkansas California 9 59 Colorado approx. apprx 5, but most approx apprx 5, but most data is on pesticides & nitrate data is on pesticides & nitrat Connecticut 6 6 Delaware Approx Approx. Approx Approx Approx Approx Delaware 5 5 Florida 5- per year; 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 approximately every 5 years Florida 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Georgia Hawaii Idaho Idaho 5 5 Idaho 5 Idaho About 9 or 99 9 or 99 Illinois 5 5 5 5 Illinois Illinois Indiana Iowa 5 annually; wells with one obs. 5 5 5 Kansas >5 (two-year rotation) + (two-year rotation) Kentucky (see comment) 5 5 5 5 Louisiana 5 55 Louisiana about 9 about 9 about 9 about 9 about 55 about 55 Maine Maryland about 5 Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota 65 65 65 65 65 65 Minnesota Current, new Building to 5 ( is th randomly selected wells each year sampling year of current network) Mississippi Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Missouri Montana dedicated pmw + 5 + special project 5 none at this time 5 wells (~) Montana 9+/- wells have >= samples; period >= 5 yrs Nebraska (estimated) (estimated) 5 (estimated) 5 (estimated) (estimated) (estimated) 5 (estimated) Nevada 6 5 5 5 New Hampshire New Jersey 5 5 with at least one sampling event New Mexico New York North Dakota - Wells are sampled on a 5-year rotation Ohio Active Wells - 5 9 Active Wells 6 55 5 Inactive Wells Oklahoma Oregon wells sampled 5 6/year Pennsylvania approx. per year Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota 5 5 5 5 Tennessee Tennessee Texas ~ 5% 6 5% 5-5% Utah Vermont N/A N/A Virginia Washington West Virginia 96 Wisconsin Wyoming 96 96
QUALITY Question : Wells Measured Monthly Question 5: Wells Measured Weekly Question 6: Wells Measured Daily Question ; Wells Measured in Real Time State yrs. Measurements yrs. Measurements yrs. Measurements yrs. Measurements Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA na na Connecticut Delaware Delaware Florida Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Idaho Idaho Idaho Illinois Illinois Illinois Indiana Iowa 5 5 Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming 5 5% 95% 95% 95%
Cell: B5 Comment: : The Kentucky Statewide Ambient Groundwater Monitoring Network is an "umbrella" title for integrating the various groundwater monitoring projects that we conduct. The network was established in 995 and along with sites we've monitored regularly since then, we've incorporated other projects into this system, including CWA Section 9 Nonpoint Source groundwater studies, monitoring conducted through an MOA with the Division of Pesticides, as well as monitoring/sampling conducted for complaints, assistance, and in response to environmental spills. Most, if not virtually all, of the data collected on these latter projects really represents ambient groundwater conditions. By design, Kentucky's groundwater monitoring is a dynamic and flexible system, rather than a static network of sites. Furthermore, and importantly, all groundwater monitoring activities conducted by various agencies throughout the state are coordinated, per legislation passed in 99, by the Interagency Technical Advisory Committee on Groundwater. This group of groundwater professionals from about a dozen entities with varying interests has proven to be an invaluable tool in our monitoring efforts.
Question - QUALITY. What analytes are included in the state-wide/regional ground water quality monitoring network? Quality 5 5 5 5 Basic 5 Major cations Minor 6 Nutrients Radionuclides Pesticides Organic Question LEVEL/Question 9 QUALITY. Who collects ground water data for the statewide/regional ground water monitoring network? Quality Level 5 5 5 5 State Regional Water provider Volunteer Homeowners USGS Don't know No network 5
Question 9 - LEVEL. What information is typically available for wells or observation points in the statewide/regional ground water level monitoring network? Level 5 5 5 5 Well number/name County code Latitude/Longitude Source of coordinates Ow ner Driller Aquifer code Land surface elevation Method of measuring elevation User code Date drilled Land use in the area Weather/climate at time of sampling Well type Well depth Source of depth Type of pump Type of pow er for the pump Pump horsepow er Primary w ater use Secondary w ater use Tertiary w ater use Water level available Water quality available Measuring point information Well log available Construction method Completion method Screen material Depth of open or screened interval Casing material Casing depths Casing diameter 6 9 9 9 6 9 5 9 5 9 6 5 5 5 6 9
Question QUALITY. What information is typically available for wells or observation points in the state-wide/regional ground water quality monitoring network? Quality 5 5 5 5 Well number/name 5 County code Latitude/Longitude locational data Owner 9 Driller Aquifer code Land surface elevation SOP or protocols for sampling User code Date drilled 6 Land use in the area Weather/climate at time of sampling 5 Well type Well depth Sampled using pump Sampled using bailer Primary water use Water level available Well log available Construction method Completion method Casing material 5 Screen material Depth of open or screened interval Don't Know No Network, please specify
Question LEVEL/Question QUALITY. The written Standard Operating Procedures (SOP s) used for Field Data Collection for the state-wide/regional ground water monitoring network were developed by? Quality Level 5 5 5 State Regional EPA USGS ASTM Under development by State Under development by regional No SOP's Don't know No Network 5 6 Question LEVEL/Question QUALITY. The written Standard Operating Procedures used for Data Management and Storage for the state-wide/regional ground water monitoring network were developed by? Quality Level 5 5 5 State Regional EPA USGS ASTM Under development by State Under development by regional No SOP's Don't know No Network
Question LEVEL/Question QUALITY. Are the data collected for the state-wide/regional ground water monitoring network routinely entered/maintained in a computer data base? Quality Level 5 5 5 5 Yes 5 No Some Don't know No netw ork Question LEVEL/Question - QUALITY. Are the data available on a website accessible to the public? Quality Level 5 5 5 Yes, all data No Some w ell date via internet Data available, access restricted Don't know No netw ork 9