An Overview of MaineAn Overview of Maine’’s s Ground Water ResourcesGround Water Resources
Robert G. MarvinneyRobert G. MarvinneyState Geologist State Geologist
Maine Geological SurveyMaine Geological SurveyHancock County Planning CommissionHancock County Planning Commission
WorkshopWorkshopJanuary 2010January 2010
Presentation outlinePresentation outline•• Maine water resource statistics, hydrologic Maine water resource statistics, hydrologic
cyclecycle•• Maine water use statisticsMaine water use statistics•• Maine aquifer types, distributionMaine aquifer types, distribution•• Annual ground water cycle, longAnnual ground water cycle, long--term term
statisticsstatistics•• Ground water / surface water interaction basicsGround water / surface water interaction basics•• Some ground water quality issuesSome ground water quality issues•• Water Resources Planning CommitteeWater Resources Planning Committee•• An outline of ground water withdrawal An outline of ground water withdrawal
regulationsregulations
How Much Water Is There?How Much Water Is There?Moosehead is MaineMoosehead is Maine’’s largest lake.s largest lake.
How much water is in the top How much water is in the top inchinch of this lake?of this lake?
Image from: www.findrentals.com/php/11267/moosehead.jpg
Answer: 2 Billion Answer: 2 Billion Gallons!Gallons!
Maine Water StatisticsMaine Water Statistics•• Average annual rainfall: 42 inches = 73,500,000 Average annual rainfall: 42 inches = 73,500,000
acreacre--feet, 24 trillion gallons.feet, 24 trillion gallons.•• RunRun--off: ~ 50% of precipitation, 12 trillion gallons off: ~ 50% of precipitation, 12 trillion gallons •• Evaporation/transpiration: ~ 30Evaporation/transpiration: ~ 30--40% evaporates or 40% evaporates or
is transpired through vegetation. 7is transpired through vegetation. 7--10 trillion 10 trillion gallons.gallons.
•• Infiltration to ground water: ~ 10Infiltration to ground water: ~ 10--20% infiltrates to 20% infiltrates to ground water. ~ 2ground water. ~ 2--5 trillion gallons annually.5 trillion gallons annually.
Sources: National Weather Service, Maine Ground Water Handbook
Hydrologic CycleHydrologic Cycle
~30-40%
~50%
~10-20%
Maine Water StatisticsMaine Water Statistics42 inches 30-40%
10-20%
Graphic from USGS
Water table: Water table: level below level below which the which the subsurface subsurface material is fully material is fully saturated with saturated with water.water.
Maine Ground Water Use Maine Ground Water Use
Public Water
Irrigation
Bottled Water
Snow-making
20082008
Public water systems Public water systems –– 9,175 million gallons9,175 million gallons
Irrigation Irrigation –– 1,069 million gallons1,069 million gallons
Bottled water Bottled water –– 702 million gallons702 million gallons
Snow making Snow making –– 109 million gallons109 million gallons
Source: DEP Water Use Reporting Program
Types of aquifers in MaineTypes of aquifers in Maine
1 1 –– 5 miles5 milesMaine Geological Survey graphic
Typical Western United States aquiferTypical Western United States aquifer
500 500 –– 1,000 miles1,000 miles Graphic: Hamblin, 1975, Burgess Press
1,300 square miles 1,300 square miles of mapped sand and of mapped sand and gravel aquifers.gravel aquifers.
Statewide distribution of Statewide distribution of significant sand and significant sand and gravel aquifersgravel aquifers
Aquifer maps available from the Maine Geological Survey.
Only northwesternOnly northwestern--most Maine remains unmapped.most Maine remains unmapped.
Examples of sand and gravel aquifer units entirely Examples of sand and gravel aquifer units entirely within single watersheds.within single watersheds.
Aquifer
Drainage divide
Maine Geological Survey graphic
Example of a sand Example of a sand and gravel aquifer and gravel aquifer that crosses that crosses watershed watershed boundaries. A highboundaries. A high--yield portion of the yield portion of the aquifer is shown in aquifer is shown in red (> 50 red (> 50 gpmgpm).
Aquifer
Drainage divide
).
Maine Geological Survey graphic
Hancock Hancock County County Sand and Sand and Gravel Gravel AquifersAquifers
BlueBlue--community community water systemswater systems
Green Green ––surface surface intakesintakes
Beige Beige -- otherother
Maine Geological Survey graphic
Hancock County Sand and Gravel Aquifers
Maine Geological Survey graphic
Bedrock Wells Bedrock Wells YieldYield
Median yield = 5 gpm
Range 0 – 275 gpm
Portion of OpenPortion of Open--File Map 07File Map 07--116, 116, Bar Harbor Bar Harbor 1:100,000 quad1:100,000 quad
Portion of OpenPortion of Open--File Map 07File Map 07--117, 117, Bar Harbor Bar Harbor 1:100,000 quad1:100,000 quad
Median depth = 200 ft
Range 30 – 748 ft
Bedrock Wells Bedrock Wells DepthDepth
Portion of OpenPortion of Open--File Map 07File Map 07--118, 118, Bar Harbor Bar Harbor 1:100,000 quad1:100,000 quad
Median thickness = 10 ft
Range 0-212 ft
Bedrock Wells Bedrock Wells Overburden Overburden thicknessthickness
MaineMaine’’s Ground Water Monitoring Networks Ground Water Monitoring Network
Purpose:Purpose: To provide nearTo provide near--real time data on real time data on ground water levels in wells ground water levels in wells representative of Maine’s 3 representative of Maine’s 3 waterwater--bearing units (bedrock, bearing units (bedrock, till, and sand and gravel till, and sand and gravel aquifers), over as great a aquifers), over as great a spatial distribution as possible.spatial distribution as possible.Maintained by the USGS Maintained by the USGS Maine Water Science Ctr.Maine Water Science Ctr.
Map at: http://Map at: http://groundwaterwatchgroundwaterwatch..usgsusgs..govgov//StateMapsStateMaps/ME.html/ME.html
Annual water Annual water level variation level variation for a well in for a well in Amherst, Amherst, Maine.Maine.
The red line The red line shows the level shows the level over the past over the past year. Green bar year. Green bar represents represents normal, blue normal, blue above normal, above normal, brown below brown below normal.normal.
http://groundwaterwatch.usgs.gov/StateMaps/ME.html
http://groundwaterwatch.usgs.gov/StateMaps/ME.html
LongLong--term record for a well in Amherst, Maineterm record for a well in Amherst, Maine
Long-term record for a well in west Texas
http://groundwaterwatch.usgs.gov/StateMaps/TX.html
USGS study of Ground USGS study of Ground Water ResourcesWater Resources
Detailed analysis of a Detailed analysis of a fractured bedrock aquifer.fractured bedrock aquifer.
Estimated static volume Estimated static volume of ground water in of ground water in fractured bedrock.fractured bedrock.
Estimated recharge to Estimated recharge to system.system.
Estimate use = approx. Estimate use = approx. 2.5% of estimated 2.5% of estimated recharge in the study area.recharge in the study area.
Nielsen, M., 2002, USGS Water Resources Investigation 02-4000
Summer baseSummer base--flow = ground flow = ground water dischargewater discharge
Flow Flow measurement measurement site, Merrill site, Merrill Brook, Freeport, Brook, Freeport, showing typical showing typical summer basesummer base--flow conditions.flow conditions.
Freeport Freeport watershed watershed study.study.
Maine Geological Survey image
Ground water / surface water interaction Ground water / surface water interaction
EquilibriumEquilibrium
Pumping usually Pumping usually results in a results in a combination of combination of all of these all of these effectseffects
USGS graphic
Impacts of Impacts of pumpingpumping
(A)natural ground (A)natural ground water flow. (B) At a water flow. (B) At a lower rate of pumping lower rate of pumping the well intercepts the well intercepts water that would flow water that would flow out to the stream. At a out to the stream. At a higher rate (C), the higher rate (C), the well draws water from well draws water from the stream into the the stream into the aquifer aquifer –– induced induced recharge. recharge.
USGS graphic
Pump test draw down. 450 Pump test draw down. 450 gpm gpm for 7 days. These for 7 days. These realistic tests show an area of realistic tests show an area of drawdown drawdown measured measured in a few thousand feet.in a few thousand feet.
2000 feet
Ground Water Quality IssuesGround Water Quality Issues•• Naturally occurring contaminantsNaturally occurring contaminants
–– Arsenic, Uranium, Radon, othersArsenic, Uranium, Radon, others•• Impacts from Human ActivitiesImpacts from Human Activities
–– Spills of all typesSpills of all types–– MTBEMTBE–– SaltSalt--water intrusionwater intrusion–– Landuse patternsLanduse patterns–– Geothermal systemsGeothermal systems–– PharmaceuticalsPharmaceuticals–– PesticidesPesticides
Hazardous Hazardous Oil Spill Oil Spill SitesSites
DEP DatabaseDEP Database
Saltwater intrusionSaltwater intrusion
Harpswell, Maine
Salt water intrusionSalt water intrusion
Non-pumping Condition
Emery & Garrett Groundwater, Inc.
Salt Water Intrusion: 2Salt Water Intrusion: 2
Pumping Condition
Emery & Garrett Groundwater, Inc.
Saltwater IntrusionSaltwater IntrusionSea Level, Portland, Maine
y = 0.0059x - 11.768R2 = 0.7255
-0.600
-0.500
-0.400
-0.300
-0.200
-0.100
0.000
0.100
0.200
0.300
1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Time (years)
Elev
atoi
n (f
t, M
SL)
Portland Tide Gauge
Impacts of Sea Level Rise?Impacts of Sea Level Rise?Maine Geological Survey graphic
Water ResourcesWater ResourcesWatershedsWatersheds--atat--risk analysis risk analysis provides guidance for provides guidance for additional water resources additional water resources studies. studies.
Used systematic datasets Used systematic datasets across entire state:across entire state:
1212--digit hydrologic unitsdigit hydrologic units
Annual runoff equations Annual runoff equations from USGS.from USGS.
InIn--stream flow requirements.stream flow requirements.
Water use: by industry, Water use: by industry, agriculture, public water agriculture, public water systems, private wells.systems, private wells.
Maine Geological Survey graphic
WatershedsWatersheds--atat--risk analysis risk analysis provides guidance for provides guidance for additional water resources additional water resources studies. studies.
Q:Q: Does Maine have a Does Maine have a statewide problem with water statewide problem with water resources, or are there select resources, or are there select areas where we should focus areas where we should focus additional effort?additional effort?
A:A: A few areas need more A few areas need more detailed investigations.detailed investigations.
Water ResourcesWater Resources
Maine Geological Survey graphic
Water Resources Planning CommitteeWater Resources Planning CommitteeEstablished by the Legislature in 2007 (PL 2007 Chap 399) Established by the Legislature in 2007 (PL 2007 Chap 399)
Stakeholder group with representation from major ground Stakeholder group with representation from major ground water users, state agencies, conservation groups, well drillers.water users, state agencies, conservation groups, well drillers.
Phase 1Phase 1: Focus on improving water information in watersheds : Focus on improving water information in watersheds where the potential exists for conflicts in water use. Is therewhere the potential exists for conflicts in water use. Is therereally a problem in these watersheds?really a problem in these watersheds?
Phase 2Phase 2: Convene planning groups in watersheds at risk to : Convene planning groups in watersheds at risk to develop water management plans.develop water management plans.
Phase 3Phase 3: Make recommendations to the Legislature in the : Make recommendations to the Legislature in the event that Phase 2 does not adequately resolve problems.event that Phase 2 does not adequately resolve problems.
Water Resources Planning CommitteeWater Resources Planning CommitteeParticipants:Participants:
Agricultural Council of MaineAgricultural Council of Maine
Maine Potato BoardMaine Potato Board
Maine Water Utilities Assoc.Maine Water Utilities Assoc.
Maine Rural Water Assoc.Maine Rural Water Assoc.
Maine Ground Water Assoc.Maine Ground Water Assoc.
Ski Maine Assoc.Ski Maine Assoc.
HH22O for MaineO for Maine
Nestle Waters North America
Maine Geological SurveyMaine Geological Survey
Maine DEPMaine DEP
Maine Drinking Water Maine Drinking Water ProgramProgram
Maine Dept. AgricultureMaine Dept. Agriculture
Maine IFWMaine IFW
LURCLURC
Nestle Waters North America
Water Resources Water Resources Planning Planning
CommitteeCommittee
20082008--2009 work in 2009 work in Freeport watersheds.Freeport watersheds.
Further Further characterization of characterization of aquifers.aquifers.
Stream discharge Stream discharge measurements.measurements.
Maine Geological Survey graphic
Water Resources Water Resources Planning Planning
CommitteeCommittee
20082008--2009 work in 2009 work in Freeport watersheds.Freeport watersheds.
Further Further characterization of characterization of aquifers.aquifers.
Stream discharge Stream discharge measurements.measurements.
Harvey Brook stream flow measurements, FreeportHarvey Brook stream flow measurements, Freeport
Maine Geological Survey graphic
Regulation of Ground Water WithdrawalsRegulation of Ground Water WithdrawalsSite Location of Development ActSite Location of Development Act: Any activity that triggers : Any activity that triggers this regulation and includes ground water withdrawal this regulation and includes ground water withdrawal undergoes hydrogeologic review and monitoring. undergoes hydrogeologic review and monitoring.
Bulk Water Transport LawBulk Water Transport Law: Transport of water across town : Transport of water across town lines in containers larger than 10 gallons is prohibited, unlesslines in containers larger than 10 gallons is prohibited, unlessexempted. Review for exemption exempted. Review for exemption –– public health and safety, public health and safety, no adverse affect on existing uses.no adverse affect on existing uses.
LURCLURC: Finding of : Finding of ““no undue adverse affectno undue adverse affect”” and and ““harmonious fit.harmonious fit.”” Requires hydrogeologic review and Requires hydrogeologic review and monitoring.monitoring.
NRPA NRPA –– Significant ground water wellSignificant ground water well: Any well producing : Any well producing 50,000 gallons per day requires a permit. Hydrogeologic 50,000 gallons per day requires a permit. Hydrogeologic review and monitoring.review and monitoring.
Regulation of Ground Water WithdrawalsRegulation of Ground Water Withdrawals
Chapter 587 RulesChapter 587 Rules: Protect in: Protect in--stream flows from direct stream flows from direct withdrawals that would impact habitats. Also from withdrawals that would impact habitats. Also from groundwater withdrawals that may reduce stream flow.groundwater withdrawals that may reduce stream flow.
Water Use ReportingWater Use Reporting: Major users report annually. Summary : Major users report annually. Summary report to Legislature for their consideration.report to Legislature for their consideration.
SUMMARYSUMMARY
1.1. Ground water is an abundant, renewable resource.Ground water is an abundant, renewable resource.
2.2. Total annual ground water use in Maine is a small fraction of Total annual ground water use in Maine is a small fraction of annual recharge.annual recharge.
3.3. Sand and gravel deposits of glacial origin are MaineSand and gravel deposits of glacial origin are Maine’’s best s best ground water resources.ground water resources.
4.4. Impacts from ground water use are local.Impacts from ground water use are local.
5.5. There are a few watersheds where cumulative use (including There are a few watersheds where cumulative use (including flows to protect aquatic habitat) may be approaching available flows to protect aquatic habitat) may be approaching available supply. These are the subject of onsupply. These are the subject of on--going studies.going studies.
6.6. There are well coordinated regulations that ensure sustainable There are well coordinated regulations that ensure sustainable withdrawals and minimal impacts on other uses.withdrawals and minimal impacts on other uses.
