Hydrogeologic reconnaissance, well inventory, and site-specific aquifer test data are needed in order for managers
to assess whether use of stormwater injection wells is technically or economically feasible for Class V underground
injection, file necessary permit applications, and begin the process of developing the necessary engineering design
specifications. Sanitation District No 1 requested that the USGS conduct scientific activities capable of supplying the utility with the needed hydrogeologic information.
Hydrogeologic reconnaissance, well inventory, and site-specific aquifer test data are needed in order for Sanitation District No 1 managers to assess whether use of stormwater injection wells is technically or economically feasible for Class V underground injection and begin the process of developing the necessary engineering design specifications.
Project Objectives
The objectives of this project will be accomplished through four major approaches/tasks
- complete a basic well inventory within the service area, particularly the combined sewer area
- assess the structural integrity of identified wells
- collect basic hydrologic characteristics
- conduct specific capacity tests on accessible and applicable wells
- compile existing information into a bibliographic reference
- write a USGS Open-file report to present the findings
Current Knowledge
- Groundwater use in Northern KY consists of little to none
- Alluvial aquifer in Northern KY productive with thick sand and gravel layers, but interspersed with clay lenses
- Original plan was to inject stormwater into bedrock
- Performed well inventory to locate bedrock wells to test, found none
- Found only one suitable sand and gravel well– Glier’s
- Preliminary injection test at Glier’s
- 50 gpm for 20 minute intervals
- Hydraulic conductivity equaled17 ft/day, promising enough for further testing
Drilled 3 wells for further aquifer testing
- Recently sampled for QW, found groundwater quality to be within standards of clean drinking water
- Sanitation District No 1 Currently collecting stormwater for QW
Technological or Other Hurdles
- Potential fouling of screens in unsaturated zone may cause short life span for test wells
- Collapse or filling in of Covington well
Related Work
- currently collects continuous QW data in streams for SD1
- Sediment Lab processes samples to calculate suspended sediment concentrations in stormwater runoff
Take-Aways/Final Thoughts
- Great opportunity to provide data that has not existed until now, to inform the USEPA Region 4 and other cooperators about the potential for stormwater injection wells throughout the region
- Good chance to characterize this part of the Ohio River alluvial aquifer, since little to no current data exist
- Overview
Hydrogeologic reconnaissance, well inventory, and site-specific aquifer test data are needed in order for managers
to assess whether use of stormwater injection wells is technically or economically feasible for Class V underground
injection, file necessary permit applications, and begin the process of developing the necessary engineering design
specifications. Sanitation District No 1 requested that the USGS conduct scientific activities capable of supplying the utility with the needed hydrogeologic information.Hydrogeologic reconnaissance, well inventory, and site-specific aquifer test data are needed in order for Sanitation District No 1 managers to assess whether use of stormwater injection wells is technically or economically feasible for Class V underground injection and begin the process of developing the necessary engineering design specifications.
Project Objectives
The objectives of this project will be accomplished through four major approaches/tasks
- complete a basic well inventory within the service area, particularly the combined sewer area
- assess the structural integrity of identified wells
- collect basic hydrologic characteristics
- conduct specific capacity tests on accessible and applicable wells
- compile existing information into a bibliographic reference
- write a USGS Open-file report to present the findings
Current Knowledge
- Groundwater use in Northern KY consists of little to none
- Alluvial aquifer in Northern KY productive with thick sand and gravel layers, but interspersed with clay lenses
- Original plan was to inject stormwater into bedrock
- Performed well inventory to locate bedrock wells to test, found none
- Found only one suitable sand and gravel well– Glier’s
- Preliminary injection test at Glier’s
- 50 gpm for 20 minute intervals
- Hydraulic conductivity equaled17 ft/day, promising enough for further testing
Sections of the Covington-Newport Alluvial Area; Nonuniform geology (i.e. clay lenses) make it difficult to make generalizations across the area Drilled 3 wells for further aquifer testing
- Recently sampled for QW, found groundwater quality to be within standards of clean drinking water
- Sanitation District No 1 Currently collecting stormwater for QW
Drilling of the new Bellevue well
Technological or Other Hurdles
- Potential fouling of screens in unsaturated zone may cause short life span for test wells
- Collapse or filling in of Covington well
Related Work
- currently collects continuous QW data in streams for SD1
- Sediment Lab processes samples to calculate suspended sediment concentrations in stormwater runoff
Take-Aways/Final Thoughts
- Great opportunity to provide data that has not existed until now, to inform the USEPA Region 4 and other cooperators about the potential for stormwater injection wells throughout the region
- Good chance to characterize this part of the Ohio River alluvial aquifer, since little to no current data exist
USGS staff (Mike Unthank) measuring Glier's well - Partners