Geohydrology and Water Quality of the Unconsolidated Deposits in Erie County, Pennsylvania by Theodore F. Buckwalter, Curtis L. Schreffler, and Richard E. Gleichsner U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 95-4165 Prepared in cooperation with the ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Lemoyne, Pennsylvania 1996 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Gordon P. Eaton, Director The use of trade, product, industry, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. For additional information write to: Copies of this report may be purchased from: District Chief U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Earth Science Information Center 840 Market Street Open-File Reports Section Lemoyne, Pennsylvania 17043-1586 Box 25286, MS 517 Denver Federal Center Denver, Colorado 80225 CONTENTS Abstract....................................................................^ 1 Introduction..................................................................................................^ 2 Purpose and scope....................................................................................................................................................... 2 Well-numbering system.............................................................................................................................................. 2 Acknowledgments....................................................................................................................................................... 2 Description of study area...................................................................................................................................................... 2 Physiography and drainage......................................................................................................................................... 2 Population and water use............................................................................................................................................ 4 Previous studies........................................................................................................................................................... 4 General.............................................................................................................................................................. 4 Ground-water contamination of specific sites................................................................................................... 4 Geologic setting............................................................................................................_ 7 Bedrock.......................................................................................................^ 7 Hydrologic setting.............................................................................................................^ 7 Hydrologic cycle......................................................................................................................................................... 7 Precipitation................................................................................................................................................................ 7 Streamflow.................................................................................................................................................................. 13 Water budgets.............................................................................................................................................................. 13 Geohydrology............................................................._ 18 Ground-water flow...................................................................................................................................................... 18 Recent alluvium................................................................................................................................................ 21 Pleistocene deposits.......................................................................................................................................... 21 Till....................................................................................................................................... 21 Outwash.................................................................................................................................................. 21 Beach deposits......................................................................................................................................... 23 Fractured bedrock............................................................................................................................................. 23 Water-level fluctuations............................................................................................................................................... 24 Ground-water availability........................................................................................................................................... 24 Hydraulic properties of Pleistocene deposits.............................................................................................................. 28 Methods..................................................................................................._^ 32 Theis-type-curve method........................................................................................................................ 32 Cooper-Jacob straight-line method......................................................................................................... 32 Theis recovery method............................................................................................................................ 33 Test results......................................................................................................................................................... 33 McKean Township (site 1)...................................................................................................................... 33 Millcreek Township (site 2).................................................................................................................... 38 Presque Isle (site 3)................................................................................................................................. 49 North East Township (site 4)................................................................................................................... 49 Water quality ........................................................ 50 Base flow..................................................................................................................................................................... 50 Ground water............................................................................................................................................................... 77 Inorganic constituents....................................................................................................................................... 77 Major constituents................................................................................................................................... 77 Trace constituents.................................................................................................................................... 77 Organic constituents.......................................................................................................................................... 83 Herbicides and pesticides........................................................................................................................ 83 Tile drains...................................................................................................................................... 83 Supply wells.................................................................................................................................. 86 Volatile organic compounds.................................................................................................................... 86 Bacteria............................................................................................................................................................. 86 CONTENDS III Summary............................................................................................................................................................................... 86 References cited .................................................................. 87 Glossary................................................................................................................................................................................ 91 Appendix 1. Geologic sections showing depth to bedrock at sections J-J', P-P, R-R', S-S1, T-T, U-U', V-V, and W-W, Erie County, Pennsylvania.................................................................................................................................. 93 Appendix 2. Record of wells, Erie County, Pennsylvania................................................................................................... 99 FIGURES 1-4. Maps showing: 1. Physiographic divisions of Erie County, Pennsylvania.............................................................................. 3 2. Townships and major cities of Erie County, Pennsylvania,