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E. H. Boswell

Publications and source records attributed to E. H. Boswell.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS1987

Ground-water resources of Jones County, Mississippi

Jones County, Mississippi, is supplied with groundwater from aquifers in strata of Eocene and younger age. The largest groundwater withdrawals are from aquifers in the Catahoula Sandstone of the Miocene aquifer system that occur at depths of 200 and 400 ft in the Laurel area. Several public and industrial water supply wells obtain water from deeper Eocene strata that occur at depths of more than 900 ft. Pumpage from all aquifers in Jones County for all uses increased from < 1 million gal/day (mgd) in 1925 to a maximum of 21.6 mgd in 1975. The city of Laurel used about 6.2 mgd in 1984 and total water use for the county was about 14.1 mgd. The extreme irregularity of the sand beds that form the aquifers is reflected in the wide range in hydraulic characteristics. Transmissivity values range from 600 to 10,000 sq ft/day and average about 6,000 sq ft/day. The average hydraulic conductivity is about 90 ft/day. Water levels in key observation wells in the lower Catahoula aquifer at Laurel have declined from about 150 ft above sea level in 1945 to about 80 ft above sea level in 1985. Since 1975, water levels in the Catahoula aquifers in the Laurel area have declined at a slower rate, but the cone of depression has enlarged because of areal changes in pumping. Water in the major aquifers is usable for most purposes, and concentrations of common constituents do not exceed water quality criteria for drinking water supplies. Iron concentrations are highest in the Catahoula and Vicksburg aquifers, exceeding 0.30 mg/L in water from 33% of the wells for which data are available. Color is highest in the Eocene Cockfield aquifer, exceeding 50 units in water from 60% of the wells. Dissolved solids concentrations range from 487 to 840 mg/L in water from wells in the Cockfield and Sparta aquifers. The pH values generally are < 7.0 in water from wells in the Catahoula and Vicksburg aquifers and > 8.4 in water from wells in the Cockfield and Sparta aquifers. Hardness of water from all aquifers rarely exceeds 50 mg/L. (Lantz-PTT)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1979

Summary appraisals of the nation's ground-water resources– South Atlantic-Gulf region

Precipitation in the 270,000-square-mile South Atlantic-Gulf Region ranges from 44 to 80 inches, and the average runoff is about 15 inches. The ground-water discharge that forms the base flow of streams is conservatively estimated to be about 78,000 million gallons per day the equivalent of about 6 inches of precipitation. On this basis, the regional sustained ground-water supply is about 286,000 gallons per day per square mile. Projected water use through 2020 indicates that about 10 percent of the supply will meet the region's requirement for ground water. Enormous quantities of ground water are available in the South Atlantic-Gulf States in the extensive aquifers that underlie the Coastal Plain province. Large supplies of ground water can be developed also in places in the Cumberland Plateau and the Valley and Ridge provinces. In the Piedmont and Blue Ridge provinces ground water is available only in modest quantities. The principal Coastal Plain aquifers consist largely of deltaic sand and gravel deposits of Cretaceous to Quaternary age; however, a notable exception is the highly permeable Tertiary limestone aquifer, which underlies parts of four States. Ground water in the Blue Ridge and the Valley and Ridge provinces is available from openings along fissures and joints in consolidated rocks and from the unconsolidated sand and gravel in the residuum and alluvium that overlie the bedrock. In parts of these areas faulting and folding has created favorable conditions for the development of moderate supplies of ground water. In the Piedmont province modest quantities of water are available from joints and fractures. Solution cavities in massive limestone units in some areas underlying the Cumberland Plateau section yield very large quantities of ground water. Most of the major Coastal Plain aquifers are recharged where they are exposed and water moves downdip to the south. The general direction of ground-water movement in the Coastal Plain aquifers is seaward. There is, however, movement of water vertically and laterally that affects pressure and quality in every aquifer. Ground water of good chemical and physical quality is available generally except in a small area in western Alabama and eastern Mississippi and in some small coastal areas. Freshwater extends to depths of slightly more than 3,000 feet in some areas. In many areas, water can be produced that does not require any treatment for general use. The more common objectionable constituents or properties are excessive iron, fluoride, hardness, color, and acidity. Contamination or pollution of ground water is not a major regional problem, but it is significant in local areas. Many of these local problems of contamination were the result of earlier improper disposal of oil-field and industrial waste. Saltwater intrusion either directly from the sea or from estuaries has been reported in every State in the region, and the potential for the proliferation of this problem is very large. The relationship of ground water and surface water is significant at many places in the region where large ground-water withdrawals affect swamps, lakes, and the flow of streams and springs. There is a potential in some areas for using ground water during dry periods for low-flow augmentation of stream supplies. In other areas it is feasible to recharge ground-water reservoirs artificially by means of injection wells, pits, and water spreading. Although large water-level declines caused by withdrawals have occurred locally, water-level changes have been small or modest when considered on a regional basis owing to the abundant rainfall and favorable recharge conditions. The saline-water resources of the region are known to be extremely large. In some areas where the availability of freshwater is limited, saline ground water is available for desalinization to supplement freshwater supplies. Also, the saline aquifers are potential storage sites for injected freshwater. Ground-water problems generally are not severe. Critical situations are restricted to areas where large quantities of ground water are being withdrawn or where aquifers are contaminated by oil-field or industrial waste. Large withdrawals in coastal areas have caused some saltwater intrusion. In other localities, highly mineralized water may have migrated along fault zones to freshwater aquifers. Many of the present problems can be resolved or ameliorated by redistributing withdrawals or developing alternative water sources.

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Caro↗
USGS1979

The Citronelle aquifers in Mississippi

The Citronelle aquifers consist of sand and gravel of Pliocene age that forms a discontinuous outcrop area of about 6,000 square miles in southern Mississippi. The beds dip to the south at an average rate of about 6 feet per mile. The unconfined aquifers are used mostly for domestic and farm use but also supply water to several municipalities and industries. The average saturated thickness of the aquifers is about 45 feet. This physically limits drawdown space and, although specific capacities are high, yields generally do not exceed a few hundred gallons per minute. Water levels have not declined significantly because withdrawals are small. Water quality is generally good although in some places there are objectionally high concentrations iron and in some the water is acidic.

Mississippi↗
USGS1978

The Coffee Sand and Ripley aquifers in Mississippi

The Coffee Sand and Ripley aquifers, of Cretaceous age, are in the Selma Group in northern Mississippi. The aquifers contain freshwater in an area of about 4,400 square miles in northern Mississippi. Water produced from the aquifers by public water systems and numerous industries in 1975 averaged about 4 Mgal/d. Regional water-level declines have been very small and the aquifers have a moderate potential for future development. The aquifers are used in some areas where there are no other significant sources of ground water. The most common problems in developing water supplies are low yields to wells and hard water. (Kosco-USGS)

Mississippi↗
USGS1978

The Tuscaloosa Aquifer system in Mississippi

A three-sheet map report describes the Tuscaloosa aquifer system in Mississippi. The Tuscaloosa aquifer system, of Cretaceous age , is in the interconnected irregular sand and gravel beds in the Coker and Gordo Formations. The aquifer contains freshwater in an area of about 9,000 sq mi in northeastern Mississippi. Water produced from the aquifer by about 90 water systems and numerous industries in 1975 averaged about 47 Mgal/d. Regional water level declines have averaged less than two feet per year and the aquifer has a large potential for future development. The aquifer is used in some areas where the dissolved-solids concentration is more than 500 mg/L and where wells exceed 2,000 ft in depth. The most common problems in water supplies are excessive chloride and iron. (Woodard-USGS)

Mississippi↗
USGS1977

The Eutaw-McShan aquifer in Mississippi

This report, the fifth in a series of 'atlas-type' reports, summarizes the large amount of unpublished data available for the Eutlaw-McShan aquifer in Mississippi. The Eutaw-McShan aquifer, of Cretaceous age, consists of the interconnected irregular sand beds in the Eutaw and McShan Formations. The aquifer contains fresh water in an area of about 8,000 sq mi in northeastern Mississippi. Water produced from the aquifer by 59 water systems and several industries in 1975 averaged about 24 mgd. Water levels have declined about 200 feet below levels of the early 1900 's at Tupelo and West Point and it is estimated that the aquifer is developed to near its potential yield at those places. The aquifer is used extensively in areas where the dissolved-solids concentration of the water is more than 500 mg/liter and in some places where the concentration exceeds 1,000 mg/liter. The most common water-quality problems are excessive chloride and fluoride. (Woodard-USGS)

Mississippi↗
USGS1976

The Meridian-upper Wilcox aquifer in Mississippi

The Meridian-upper Wilcox aquifer contains freshwater in a 15 ,000 sq mi area in northwestern and central Mississippi. The aquifer comprises the Meridian Sand Member of the Tallahatta Formation and discontinuous hydraulically connected sand beds in the upper part of the Wilcox Group. The aggregate sand thickness of the aquifer ranges from less than 50 ft to about 500 ft. The withdrawal of fresh water from the aquifer in Mississippi in 1975 was about 32 Mgal/d. Long-term water-level trends indicate an average decline of about 1 ft per year. Thick, permeable sand beds yield as much as 2,800 gal/min to wells and fresh water extends to depths of more than 2,000 ft. The aquifer is used extensively in areas where the dissolved-solids content exceeds 500 mg/liter; however, the most common problems in water supplies are excessive iron and corrosiveness. (Woodard-USGS)

Mississippi↗
USGS1957

Irrigation in northeastern Mississippi

The phenomenal increase in the use of water for agriculture, industry, and public water supply in the past few years has been an important factor in bringing about the current accelerated inventory and appraisal of the water resources of Mississippi. As a result of severe droughts during the past several years, and of the favorable results of experiments, the water resources of northeastern Mississippi today are rapidly being developed for irrigation. Records have shown that even during years of normal rainfall the distribution of the rain usually is such that supplementary irrigation can be profitably practiced on almost any crop. Although in northeaster Mississippi the annual precipitation generally is enough to support crops and pasture, short periods of drought are common. Supplemental irrigation protects against the periods of drought during the growing season and increases the yield and quality of crops.

Mississippi↗