GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 216 WATER RESOURCES OF THE ST. LOUIS AREA, MISSOURI AND ILLINOIS By J. K. Searcy, R. C. Baker, and W. H. Durum UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Oscar L. Chapman, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY W. E. Wrather, Director GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 216 WATER RESOURCES OF THE ST. LOUIS AREA MISSOURI AND ILLINOIS By J. K. Searcy, R. C. Baker, and W. H. Durum Washington, D. C.,1952 Free on application to the Geological Survey, Washingrton 25, D. C. PREFACE This report is one of a series concerning water re­ yields and quality of water to be expected from wells sources of certain selected areas of strategic impor­ in the Missouri part of the St. Louis area. tance and is intended to provide information of value for national defense and related purposes. The series Information on pollution in the Missouri and Missis­ is sponsored by and prepared with the guidance of the sippi Rivers was furnished by the Missouri Division of Water Utilization Section an the Water Resources Di­ Health. vision of the U. S. Geological Survey, which is under the general supervision of C. G. Paulsen, chief hy­ The Illinois State Geological Survey Division sup­ draulic engineer. plied information about alluvial deposits in American Bottoms, well logs, and a bedrock-surface contour This report was prepared by J. K. Searcy, hydrau­ map of the State of Illinois. lic engineer, under the supervision of H. C. Bolon, district engineer in Missouri (Surface Water); R. C. The Illinois State Water Survey Division furnished Baker, district geologist, Arkansas (Ground Water); information on water levels in wells in the American and W. H. Durum, chemist, under the supervision of Bottoms, estimates of pumpage, records of wells, P. C. Benedict, regional engineer, Missouri River and analyses of the mineral quality of waters from basin (Quality of Water). wells and streams in the area. The data summarized in this report have been col­ Special acknowledgment is due E. L. Clark and lected over a period of many years by the U. S. Geo­ J. G. Grohskopf, Missouri Division of Geological logical Survey in cooperation with Federal, State, and Survey and Water Resources; M. M. Leighton, G. E. local agencies in connection with investigations for Eckblaw, Arthur Bevan, F. C. Foley, and J. W. other purposes. Surface-water investigations have Foster, Illinois State Geological Survey Division; been carried on by the U. S. Geological Survey in A. M. Buswell, Max Suter, H. E. Hudson, Jr., H. F. Illinois under the direct supervision of J. H. Morgan, Smith, and T. E. Larson, Illinois State Water Survey district engineer, and in Missouri under the direct Division; L. E. Ordelheide, director, Bureau of Pub­ supervision of H. C. Bolon, district engineer. lic Health Engineering, Missouri Division of Health; G. J. Hopkins, U. S. Public Health Service; T. J. The St. Louis and Kansas City Districts of the Corps Skinker, commissioner, City of St. Louis Water De­ of Engineers furnished data for river profiles, flooded partment; C.- 'M. Roos, manager, East St. Louis and areas, and records of historical floods. Interurban Water Co.; W. O. Theiss, foreman, City of Kirkwood Water Department; F. H. King, manager, The Missouri Division of Geological Survey and Alton Water Co.; J. D. Kerr, Jr., St. Louis Chamber Water Resources supplied information about probable of Commerce; E. F. Smith, Layne Western Co.; and G. J. Vencill and C. F. Hoffman, Union Electric Co. CONTENTS Page Page Introduction.............................................. 1 Ground water Cont. Description of area.................................... 1 Unconsolidated deposits Cont. Physical description................. .............. 1 American Bottoms............................... 43 Climate.............. .. ......... ...................... 3 Columbia bottoms............................... 48 Importance of the area.. .......................... 3 Alton Lake bottoms........................... .. 43 Sources of water. ...................................... 3 Missouri Valley bottoms....................... 48 Surface water..................... ...................... 3 Meramec River bottoms....................... 48 Records available................................... 5 Public water-supply systems ...................... 49 Mississippi River above Missouri River..... 5 St. Louis municipal supply...................... 49 Navigation...................... ................. .. 5 St. Louis County, Mo............. ................ 50 Discharge................ ...... ......... ...... .. 5 Kirk'-vood, Mo.,. .................................... 50 Floods............................................... 5 St. Charles, Mo..................................... 51 Quality.............................................. 7 Valley Park, Mo.............................. ...... 51 Missouri River..................................... 10 East St. Louis and Interurban Water Co..... 51 Navigation.......................................... 10 Alton, 111.... ......................................... 51 Discharge....................................... ... 10 Collinsville, 111..................................... 51 Floods............................................... 10 Edwardsville, 111...... ........................... .. 51 Quality.,............................................ 12 Wood River, 111.................................... 51 Mississippi River below Missouri River..... 23 Roxana, 111.. ......................................... 51 Navigation.......................................... 23 East Alton, 111....... ............................... 51 Discharge........................................ .. 23 Hartford, 111............... ........................... 51 Floods............................... ............... 23 Glen Carbon, 111.................................... 51 Quality.............................................. 23 Water demands.......................................... 51 Meramec River...................................... 31 Public water supplies............................. 51 Discharge.......................................... 31 Private industrial water supplies in Floods....................................... .... ... 33 Missouri........................................ 52 Quality............................................. 33 Private industrial water supplies in Illinois. 52 Cahokia Creek basin. .............................. 37 Rural water supplies............................... i 52 Discharge.................... ...................... 37 Recreation..,......................................... 52 Floods............................................... 37 Potentialities........................................... 52 Quality.............................................. 40 Surface water............................... ......... 52 Other streams. ..................................... 40 Ground water....................................... 53 Lakes................................................ .. 41 Water laws.............................................. 53 Ground wate r............................................ 41 Federal laws........................................ 53 Consolidated formations.......................... 41 Missouri law......... ......................... ..... 54 Unconsolidated deposits.......................... 41 Illinois law.... ...................................... 54 Wind-blown deposits............................ 41 Interstate streams................................. 54 Alluvial deposits................................... 41 Municipal laws....................................... 54 Natural recharge................................. 41 Summary........ ............... ...... ................. 54 Induced recharge................................ 42 Selected references... ................................ 55 ILLUSTRATIONS Page Plate Map of the St. Louis area, including parts inundated by the flood of July 1951..........Inside back_cover Figure Selected climatological data for St. Louis. 2. Duration of published records at gaging stations in the St. Louis area................................ 3. Maximum, minimum, and average monthly discharge of the Mississippi River at Alton, 111., 1933-38, 1939-50................................................................................................... 4. Flood frequencies on the Mississippi River at Alton, 111., 1844, 1904-50............................ 5. Month of occurrence of highest stages in each year on the Mississippi River at Alton, 111., (61 years of record)................................................................................................ 6. Water-surface profile for selected floods on the Mississippi River, Alton, 111., to Waters Point, Mo.................................................. ............................................... 7. Maximum, minimum, and average monthly discharge of the Missouri River at Hermann, Mo., 1928-50...................... ................. ................................................... 11 8. Flood frequencies on the Missouri River at Hermann, Mo., 1928-50.................................. 12 9. Month of occurrence of highest stage in each year (1844, 1873-1951) on the Missouri River at Hermann, Mo................................ ............................................................ 13 10. Water-surface profile for selected floods on the Missouri River, Weldon Springs, Mo., to mouth.................................................................................. ............................. 14 11. Maximum,