STATE OF ILLINOIS ADLAI E. STEVENSON, Governor DEPARTMENT OF REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION NOBLE J. PUFFER, Director DD7ISION OF THE STATE WATER SURVEY A. M. BUSWELL, Chief URBANA BULLETIN NO. 39 GROUNDWATER IN THE PEORIA REGION PART 1—GEOLOGY LELAND HORBERG, STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PART 2—HYDROLOGY MAX SUTER, STATE WATER SURVEY PART 3—CHEMISTRY T. E. LARSON, STATE WATER SURVEY A Cooperative Research Project Conducted by The State Water Survey and The State Geological Survey PRINTED BY AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS URBANA, ILLINOIS 1950 This report is also a publication of THE STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY as its BULLETIN NO. 75. STATE OF ILLINOIS ADLAI E. STEVENSON, Governor DEPARTMENT OF REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION NOBLE J. PUFFER, Director DIVISION OF THE STATE WATER SURVEY A. M. BUSWELL, Chief URBANA BULLETIN NO. 39 GROUNDWATER IN THE PEORIA REGION PART 1—GEOLOGY LELAND HORBERG, STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PART 2—HYDROLOGY MAX SUTER, STATE WATER SURVEY PART 3—CHEMISTRY T. E. LARSON, STATE WATER SURVEY A Cooperative Research Project Conducted by The State Water Survey and The State Geological Survey PRINTED BY AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS URBANA, ILLINOIS 1950 ORGANIZATION STATE OF ILLINOIS HON. ADLAI E. STEVENSON, Governor DEPARTMENT OF REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION HON. NOBLE J. PUFFER, Director BOARD OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION HON. NOBLE J. PUFFER, Chairman W. H. NEWHOUSE, PH.D., Geology ROGER ADAMS, PH.D., D.SC, Chemistry LOUIS R. HOWSON, C.E., Engineering A. E. EMERSON, PH.D., Biology LEWIS H. TIFFANY, PH.D., Forestry GEORGE D. STODDARD, PH.D., LITT.D., LL.D., L.H.D. President of the University of Illinois WATER SURVEY DIVISION A. M. BUSWELL, PH.D., Chief SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL STAFF OF THE STATE WATER SURVEY DIVISION 60 Noyes Laboratory Box 232, Urbana A. M. BUSWELL, PH.D., Chief ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY HERBERT E. HUDSON, JR., B.S., Engineer and Head T. E. LARSON, PH.D., Chemist and Head WINFRED D. GERBER, B.S., C.E., Engineer Emeritus Boiler Water Control Ground Water Hydrology RUSSELL W. LANE, M.S., Chemist HARMON F. SMITH, B.S., Associate Engineer FRANCIS X. BUSHMAN, B.S., Assistant Engineer Corrosion Research GEORGE E. NEHER, B.S., Engineering Assistant ROBERT M. KING, B.S., Assistant Chemist Surface Water Hydrology Analytical Chemistry WYNDHAM J. ROBERTS, M.S., Associate Engineer JACK BRUIN, B.S., Engineering Assistant WILMA L. PRINTY, B.S., Assistant Chemist ARTHUR H. BODENSCHATZ, B.S., Assistant Chemist Reservoir Sedimentation JOHN B. STALL, B.S., Assistant Engineer CHEMICAL RESEARCH Meteorology Bacteriology (In Cooperation with Chemistry Depart• GLENN E. STOUT, B.S., Supervisory and Assistant Scientist ment, University of Illinois) FLOYD A. HUFF, B.S., Assistant Professional Scientist HENRY F. MUELLER, B.S., Special Research Assistant GERALD W. FARNSWORTH, B.S., Engineering Assistant ARTHUR T. YAHIRO, B.S., Special Research Assistant KENNETH A. FAULK, Radar Operator JAMES A. WEST, Radar Operator Supersonics (In Cooperation with Food Technology Department, University of Illinois) Municipal Ground Water Survey LILLIAN RUSSELL, M.S., Special Research Assistant Ross HANSON, B.S., Associate Engineer JULIUS L. GEILS, B.S., Associate Engineer Organic Contaminant Detection in Water (In Co• operation with U.S. Public Health Service) ENGINEERING RESEARCH WALTER F. CLAUSSEN, PH.D., Research Assistant Professor MAX SUTER, PH.D., Engineer and Head ROBERT L. BOHON, M.S., Special Research Assistant CARL C. CHAMBERLAIN, Assistant Engineer DAYLE CLARK, Special Research Assistant VIRGINIA WISEGARVER, B.S., Engineering Assistant RUTH EVANS, M.S., Special Research Assistant JEAN D. FORTNEY, B.S., Special Research Assistant Peoria Region and Laboratory MARY A. SCHERI, M.S., Special Research Assistant ADOLPH R. KNODEL, B.S., Field Engineer Nitrification Studies (In Cooperation with U.S. ORVILLE W. VOGEL, B.S., Assistant Chemist ROBERT D. MAHAN, M.S., Assistant Engineer Public Health Service) M. IRENE VAN METER, M.S., Research Instructor Chicago-Foliet Region JOHN GERKE, M.S., Special Research Assistant TETSUO SHIOTA, M.S., Special Research Assistant JOHN B. MILLIS, Field Engineer JACOB S. RANDALL, B.S., Field Engineer HAROLD E. BEMENT, Engineering Assistant Consultant: East St. Louis Region Radar, WILLIAM G. ALBRIGHT, M.S., University of EUGENE G. JONES, B.S., Field Engineer Illinois FOREWORD This publication is the outgrowth of investigations of the groundwater re- sources of the Peoria area by the State Water Survey and the State Geological Sur- vey. Considerable study has been given the water supplies at Peoria for many years, but detailed studies were begun in 1940 when some industries noticed a loss in yield of their wells. This report presents the findings from these studies to Janu- ary 1, 1946. Studies are continuing, and it is hoped that, with the help of the hydraulic laboratory under construction at Peoria, these will lead to further clarification of problems of the Peoria area. The geological and geophysical studies have been made by the State Geological Survey, and the hydrologic and chemical studies have been made by the State Water Survey. Both organizations are grateful for the keen interest and excellent Cooperation and assistance of the well owners, drillers, public officials, and many others of the Peoria region who have facilitated this work. A number of important facts about the groundwater resources of Peoria from a geologic, hydrologic, and chemical viewpoint are presented in the following pages. These include an improved geologic picture; a demonstration of the com- plexity of interrelations of natural recharge, inflow into the pumping area, and influence of floods; and new chemical data on the variations in composition of ground and surface waters. Overpumpage is shown to be the cause of the local water shortage and the water-level recession. Local interest is focused on possible remedial measures to supply sufficient water for the public and industrial needs at Peoria. The economic and legal aspects of any such measures will be of great importance, but as is demonstrated by the accompanying studies, the water resources available to Peoria as a Community are vast, and several alternate Solutions are available for consideration: 1. Use of river water. 2. Injection of river water to recharge overpumped groundwater aquifers. 3. Development of the extensive gravels of the buried Valleys outside the present overpumped area. It is hoped that this report will contribute materially to a better understanding of the nature of the water problems of the Peoria area and to their Solution. A study of this type develops new concepts that will be broadly applicable to many Illinois groundwater problems and therefore may be of value in many other areas. A. M. BUSWELL Chief, State Water Survey M. M. LEICHTON Chief, State Geological Survey January 12, 1950 CONTENTS PART 1—GEOLOGY PAGE Chapter 1—Introduction. 13 Location 13 Topography 13 Purpose of report 14 Previous investigations 14 Extent of subsurface data 15 Acknowledgments 15 Chapter 2—Types of Aquifers 16 Classification 16 Occurrence of groundwater 16 Chapter 3—Bedrock Formations and Their Groundwater Conditions 17 Regional relations 17 Mineral content of groundwaters 17 Pre-St. Peter formations 18 St. Peter and younger Ordovician formations 20 St. Peter sandstone 20 Galena-Platteville dolomite 20 Maquoketa shale 23 Silurian System 23 Devonian System 23 Devonian-Mississippian Systems 23 Kinderhook-New Albany shale 23 Keokuk-Burlington formations 24 Pennsylvanian System 24 Tertiary (?) System 24 Bedrock structure and groundwater movement 24 Chapter 4—Bedrock Topography and Its Relation to Glacial Aquifers 26 Description 26 Ancient Mississippi Valley 26 Wyoming bedrock Valley 27 Kickapoo Creek bedrock Valley 27 Pekin-Sankoty bedrock channel 27 Narrows of present Valley 27 Glacial aquifers in the buried Valleys 27 Chapter 5—Glacial Deposits and Groundwater Conditions 29 Classification of deposits - 29 Areal relations 29 Illinoian till piain 31 Wisconsin drift 31 Illinois Valley deposits 31 Subsurface relations 33 Sankoty sand 34 Kansan (?) stage 36 Illinoian stage 37 Sangamon deposits and the pre-Wisconsin surface 39 Wisconsin stage 39 Chapter 6—Further Development of Groundwater Supplies...........................................................41 Peoria metropolitan area 41 Present supplies 41 Areas favorable for development 41 Area I 45 Area II 45 Area III 45 Area IV 45 Area V 45 PAGE Region outside the Peoria metropolitan area 45 Appendix—List of Deep Wells 47 Summary of Pleistocene History 49 PART 2—HYDROLOGY Chapter 7—Introduction 53 Area 53 History 53 Acknowiedgments 55 The problem 56 Summary of findings. 56 Chapter 8—Peoria Area and Sources of Water Supply 58 Scope 58 Water sources 58 Drift wells 58 Rock wells 58 Streams 61 Chapter 9—Groundwater Investigations 62 Existing wells 62 Location and construction of wells 62 Observations of water levels 62 Groundwater level data 68 Hydrographs 68 Groundwater contour maps 68 Available storage 78 Overpumpage .. 82 Amount of normal recharge 82 Measurements of pumpage 83 Uses of groundwater 83 Search for old records 83 Other data. 83 Precipitation 83 Test drilling. 83 Velocity determinations 84 Chapter 10—Surface Water Investigations 85 Illinois River 85 Flow and turbidity 85 Channel velocity 85 Other data 87 Illinois River tributaries 87 Chapter 11—Groundwater Replenishment Investigations 89 Natural infiltration studies 89 Rainfall on ground surface 89 Illinois River 89 Dredging in channel 89 Construction of Peoria lock and dam 89 Construction of Harvard Street bridge piers 92 Illinois River at flood stage 95 Artificial infiltration studies 95 Chapter 12—Interpretation of Hydrologic Observations 97 Sankoty field. .97 North field. 98 Central field. 99 East Peoria portion 99 Peoria Industrial portion 101 Central field as a whole 102 Flood effects 102 Pekin field. .104 PAGE Chapter 13—Remedial Measures 106 Reduction of pumpage and wastage 106 Development of new well fields. 106 Area I. 107 Area II. 107 Area III 107 Area IV 107 Area V. 107 Areas outside Peoria metropolitan district 107 Substitution of surface water 108 Replenishment of groundwater 108 Natural methods 108 Artificial methods 108 General land flooding.