Water availability and vulnerability of ground water to contamination in northwestern Hardin County, Kentucky
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Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
Geology topics
R.J. Faust
Publications and source records attributed to R.J. Faust.
Ground-water levels in the alluvial aquifer at Louisville, Kentucky, 1987-88
Water-level data have been collected in the alluvial aquifer at Louisville, Kentucky by the U.S. Geological Survey since 1943. Summaries and analysis of these data are published periodically to update the record and to help public officials who must manage this groundwater supply. Maps and hydrographs are presented in this report to update the record for 1987-88 and to interpret recent trends in water levels. The data show that groundwater levels were stable for the period 1980-86 after rising rapidly in the 1970's. There has been a slight decline in the water levels during 1987-88 because of below normal precipitation for the period 1985-88. The decline has been about 1 to 3 ft in wells along the Ohio River and about 3 to 6 ft in wells away from the influence of the river. Groundwater withdrawals have also caused slight declines in the water table in three areas in Louisville. Declines in downtown Louisville due to pumpage seem to be stabilizing at or slightly below the normal pool stage of the Ohio River which indicates that water is probably being induced from the river into the aquifer. (USGS)
Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
Ground-water levels in the alluvial aquifer at Louisville, Kentucky, 1982-87
Water level data have been collected in the alluvial aquifer at Louisville, Kentucky by the U.S. Geological Survey since 1943. Interpretations of these data have been published in several reports by the Survey, but none have been published since 1983. Contour maps and hydrographs are presented in this report to document and to help interpret water level changes for the period 1982-87. Maps and hydrographs show that groundwater levels generally stabilized in the 1980 's after rising for many years. Two areas of groundwater withdrawals are apparent in the maps and hydrographs. Withdrawals in an industrial area in west Louisville disrupt the typical pattern of the contours to curve landward around the area of withdrawal. Resumption of pumping of groundwater for heating and cooling of some buildings in the downtown area in 1985 caused declines of about 3 to 4 ft in the downtown area. (Author 's abstract)
Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
Potentiometric surface and water quality in the Principal Aquifer, Mississippian Plateaus region, Kentucky
The Mississippian Plateaus region is the outcrop area of rocks of Mississippian age which extends as a broad arcuate band around the Western Coal Field in westcentral Kentucky. Much of the area is characterized by plains of low relief containing numerous sinkholes, subsurface drainage, and a low density of surface streams. The principal aquifer consists of a thick sequence of limestones extending downward stratigraphically from the base of the Chesterian Series to the black shales at the top of the Devonian rocks. Well yields range from several gallons per minute to as much as 500 gallons per minute in some karst areas where secondary openings are well developed. The potentiometric map indicates that ground-water movement generally conforms to the surface drainage pattern. The actual direction of movement varies from river basin to river basin. Most water from the principal aquifer is a calcium magnesium bicarbonate type and is generally good relative to current drinking water standards. The lower St Louis Limestone, in places, yields a calcium magnesium sulfate water that is corrosive and has a strong hydrogen sulfide odor. The karst areas of the principal aquifer are vulnerable to contamination because of the well-developed subsurface drainage. Urban areas, industries, and agriculture are sources of contaminants that can be easily flushed into the ground-water system. (USGS)
Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
Problems of rising ground-water levels in urban areas with special reference to the Louisville, Kentucky area
Rising ground-water levels are a problem for cities such as San Bernadino, California; Greely and Fort Collins, Colorado; New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens; and Louisville, Kentucky. Ground-water levels showed a steeply rising trend in the alluvial aquifer underlying Louisville during the early and middle 1970 's in response to above average precipitation and a decrease in ground-water withdrawals. This rising trend flattened in 1979 and the water levels are stabilizing at 25 to 45 feet below land surface in the downtown area. Basements are generally 20 to 25 feet below land surface and some utility lines are as much as 40 feet below land surface in this area. Because of the shallow depth to water, any resumption of the upward trend would require preventive measures such as selective dewatering to avoid damage to some structures. (USGS)
Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
Ground-water resources of the Lexington, Kentucky, area
Ground water in the Lexington, Kentucky, area occurs in Ordovician Limestones in which cavity development is generally limited to about 100 feet below land surface. Some wells produce about 300 gallons per minute in some of the large stream valleys , about 50 gallons per minute in the rolling upland and small stream valleys, and about 5 gallons per minute on hilltops and steep slopes. Many wells throughout the area do not furnish adequate water for domestic supplies because no significant water-bearing openings are penetrated during drilling. Ground-water use is limited mostly to domestic and stock supplies and a few small public supplies. Ground water is generally a calcium bicarbonate type and in places contains sodium chloride and (or) hydrogen sulfide. Bacterial pollution of ground water is widespread because of direct recharge of polluted runoff and streamflow to cavernous limestones. (Woodard-USGS)
Kentucky↗