Water Resources of Mississippi
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Water Resources of Mississippi THAD N. SHOWS BULLETIN 113 MISSISSIPPI GEOLOGICAL, ECONOMIC AND TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY WILLIAM HALSELL MOORE Director and State Geologist JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI 1970 PRICE $2.00 Water Resources of Mississippi THAD N. SHOWS BULLETIN 113 MISSISSIPPI GEOLOGICAL, ECONOMIC AND TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY WILLIAM HALSELL MOORE Director and State Geologist JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI 1970 PRICE $2.00 STATE OF MISSISSIPPI Hon. John Bell Williams Governor MISSISSIPPI GEOLOGICAL, ECONOMIC AND TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY BOARD Hon. S. F. Thigpen, Jr., Chairman . Bay Springs Hon. Gordon W. Gulmon. Vice Chairman.. Natchez Hon. 0. B. Curtis Jackson Hon. John K. Gresham Greenville Hon. Troy J. Laswell State College STAFF William H. Moore Director and State Geologist Wilbur T. Baughman.. Geologist Alvin R. Bicker, Jr. ......Geologist Theo H. Dinkins, Jr. Geologist Thad N. Shows -...Geologist Margaret W. Paderewski —..Secretary Jean K. Spearman ...Secretary Michael E. McGregor — Logging Technician Randall H. Warren. Driller LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL Office of the Mississippi Geological, Economic and Topographical Survey Jackson, Mississippi August 6, 1970 Mr. S. F. Thigpen, Jr., Chairman, and Members of the Board Mississippi Geological, Economic and Topographical Survey Gentlemen: Herewith is Mississippi Geological Survey Bulletin 113, "Water Re sources of Mississippi," by Thad N. Shows. Bulletin 113 answers a long standing need of generalized information on both the surface water and ground water of the State. The information in this bulletin will enable private citizens, industry and governmental agencies to determine the water resources of their area of interest at a glance. This bulletin will be helpful in determining the wisest use of our valuable water resources. Respectfuly submitted, William H. Moore Director and State Geologist WHM:js WATER RESOURCES OF MISSISSIPPI 5 WATER RESOURCES OF MISSISSIPPI CONTENTS Page Water resources of Mississippi, by Thad N. Shows 11 Abstract 11 Water in Mississippi .— 13 Water use -— 13 Mississippi controls on water 15 Fresh water in Mississippi — 16 Rural water systems in Mississippi 17 Ground water _ — 17 Introduction 17 Ground water occurrence 18 Water wells — - 21 Quality of water 23 Waste disposal in deep wells — 27 Water-bearing units — ~ 28 Ground water in Area I 28 Paleozoic aquifers — 31 Cretaceous aquifers - - 34 Quality of water _ 35 Ground water in Area II 35 Lower Cretaceous aquifers 45 Upper Cretaceous aquifers — 45 Tuscaloosa aquifer . .— 46 Eutaw and McShan aquifers — 46 Coffee sand aquifer ~ 47 Ripley aquifer — - 48 Quality of water - ~ 48 Ground water in Area III - 55 Coffee sand and Ripley aquifers 57 Wilcox aquifer 66 Claiborne aquifers 67 MISSISSIPPI GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Page Meridian sand aquifer 68 Kosciusko aquifer — - —69 Minor aquifers — - -70 Quality of water — 70 Ground water in Area IV — 77 Wilcox aquifer —— — 78 Claiborne aquifers - > - 84 Meridian sand aquifer - 84 Tallahatta, undifferentiated aquifer 85 Kosciusko aquifer — -85 Cockfield aquifer —86 Alluvial aquifer - 87 Quality of water — —88 Ground water in Area V 88 Claiborne aquifers —- 98 Catahoula aquifer _ _ 99 Hattiesburg aquifer —99 Citronelle aquifer 100 Quality of water _ — 100 Ground water in Area VI -106 Catahoula aquifer - 114 Hattiesburg aquifer — 115 Pascagoula aquifer _ 115 Citronelle aquifer — 116 Quality of water — 116 Surface Water Introduction 122 Surface water in Area I 124 Quality of water 126 Surface water in Area II _ — 129 Quality of water _ 134 Surface water in Area III 134 WATER RESOURCES OF MISSISSIPPI 7 Quality of water 140 Surface water in Area IV 140 Quality of water _ .....142 Surface water in Area V 145 Quality of water 147 Surface water in Area VI 151 Quality of water .155 Conclusions 155 Acknowledgements 159 Selected references ..160 8 MISSISSIPPI GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ILLUSTRATIONS FIGURES Page 1. Mean annual precipitation — -- 14 2. Configuration of the base of fresh-water in Mississippi— facing 18 3. Distribution of major ground-water aquifers 26 4. Major ground-water divisions of the State for this report 29 5. Location of selected wells in Area I— facing 30 6. Location of selected wells in Area II facing 38 7. Location of selected wells in Area III facing 58 8. Location of selected wells in Area IV -facing 82 9. Location of selected wells in Area V facing 94 10. Location of selected wells in Area VI facing 106 11. Location of major streams, selected U.S.G.S. gaging stations, and major surface-water divisions of the State facing 122 TABLES 1. Source and significance of common mineral constituents and physical properties and characteristics of water 23 2. Water-quality tolerance for industrial application 27 3. Stratigraphic column and water resources in Area I - 30 4. Records of selected wells in Area I 32 5. Chemical analyses of water from wells in Area I 36 6. Stratigraphic column and water resources in Area II 37 7. Records of selected wells in Area II 38 8. Chemical analyses of water from wells in Area II 49 9. Stratigraphic column and water resources in Area III — 56 10. Records of selected wells in Area III - 58 11. Chemical analyses of water from wells in Area III 71 12. Stratigraphic column and water resources in Area IV 79 13. Records of selected wells in Area IV —80 WATER RESOURCES OF MISSISSIPPI 9 Page 14. Chemical analyses of water from wells in Area IV 89 15. Stratigraphic column and water resources in Area V 91 16. Records of selected wells in Area V 92 17. Chemical aanlyses of water from wells in Area V .101 18. Stratigraphic column and water resources in Area VI 107 19. Records of selected wells in Area VI 108 20. Chemical analyses of water from wells in Area VI 117 21. Summary of data from selected stream-gaging stations in Area I 125 22. Lowest mean discharge for 7 consecutive days at stream-gaging stations in Area I - ~ 127 23. Chemical analyses of water from streams in Area I 128 24. Summary of data from selected stream-gaging stations in Area II... 130 25. Lowest mean discharge for 7 consecutive days at stream-gaging stations in Area II 133 26. Chemical analyses of water from streams in Area II 135 27. Summary of data from selected stream-gaging stations in Area III...137 28. Lowest mean discharge for 7 consecutive days at stream-gaging stations in Area III —— 139 29. Chemical analyses of water from streams in Area III 141 30. Summary of data from selected stream-gaging stations in Area IV....143 31. Lowest mean discharge for 7 consecutive days at stream-gaging stations in Area IV 143 32. Chemical analyses of water from streams in Area IV... 144 33. Summary of data from selected stream-gaging stations in Area V 146 34. Lowest mean discharge for 7 consecutive days at stream-gaging stations in Area V _ 147 35. Chemical analyses of water from streams in Area V 148 36. Summary of data from selected stream-gaging stations in Area VI 152 37. Lowest mean discharge for 7 consecutive days at stream-gaging stations in Area VI 154 38. Chemical analyses of water from streams in Area VI 156 WATER RESOURCES OF MISSISSIPPI 11 BULLETIN 113 WATER RESOURCES OF MISSISSIPPI by THAD N. SHOWS ABSTRACT One of the most important natural resources in Mississippi is water. Large quantities of water are available for industrial, municipal and domestic purposes. Only a small part of the avail able water is presently being used. All of the municipal water supplies in the State use ground water with the exception of Columbus, Jackson and Meridian (partly supplied by wells). A large number of industrial and ir- rigational supplies are from ground water sources. The fresh water section extends to a maximum thickness of about 3,500 feet in Smith County in central Mississippi. Most areas are un derlain by at least one or more aquifers. Aquifers vary with the geographic location in the State. The northeast corner of the State is underlain by Cretaceous and Paleozoic aquifers. The Cretaceous aquifers are the major source of supply in northeast Mississippi. The north central part of the State is underlain by the Claiborne and Wilcox aquifers. The Alluvium, Claiborne and Wilcox aquifers underlie north west Mississippi. The Citronelle, Hattiesburg, Catahoula, Clai borne and Wilcox aquifers underlie central Mississippi. South Mississippi is underlain by the Citronelle, Graham Ferry, Pas- cagoula, Hattiesburg, and Catahoula aquifers. Well yields vary according to need with most municipal and industrial wells yielding about 500 gpm (gallons per minute). Record yields of up to 5,000 gpm have been recorded in certain locations of the State. Numerous rural water systems and com mercial catfish farm supply wells have been installed throughout the State in recent years. Water levels have not declined at a rapid rate except near areas of heavy pumpage and the average decline is 1 to 2 feet per year in those areas. 12 MISSISSIPPI GEOLOGICAL SURVEY The quality of ground water is good for most general pur poses, although some minor problems are present at particular locations. High iron concentration, low pH, excessive carbon di oxide content, and color are problems associated with some of the water. Minor to moderate treatment is generally satisfactory to correct most of the problems except for colored water. A large volume of surface water is available for use from the various streams in the State. Streams vary in size, drainage area, and amount of stream flow. The cities of Jackson, Colum bus and Meridian use surface water for their primary source of water supply. Numerous large industries use surface water at a number of locations in the State. The major river systems in the State include the Tombig- bee, Pascagoula, Pearl, Homochitto, Big Black and Yazoo rivers. A large number of smaller streams form a dendritic drainage pattern throughout most of the State.