Roger L. Amos
N'Deye-Marie N'Jie
Larry C. Brown
Water is a resource often taken for granted. In recent years, water availability and quality have become important public concerns in Ashland County. The county's population of 49,888 (1994 Ohio Department of Development estimate) is predominantly rural, and approximately 84 percent of the residents rely on ground water for their water supply. This fact sheet provides a brief overview of Ashland County's water resources, and is intended to help increase public awareness and understanding about this vital resource. By understanding where water is obtained and how it is used in the county, residents can gain a better appreciation for their water supply. Water resources terminology used in this publication is included in Surface and Ground Water Terminology, Fact Sheet AEX-460, which provides a listing of generally accepted water resource definitions. Ohio State University Extension publications are available through all Ohio county Extension offices.
An average of approximately 38.4 inches of precipitation falls on Ashland County annually. Figure 1 illustrates the average monthly precipitation for the county for the period 1961 to 1990. Based on this 30-year record, the average precipitation is 3.2 inches per month, with January and February (2.1 inches each) typically being the driest months, and July (4.3 inches) the wettest. However, there can be extreme variations in some years and in certain months within a year and by location within the county. Such seasonal and yearly extremes may have serious consequences and are not always apparent from the long-term precipitation information.
Figure 1. Average monthly precipitation (in inches) in Ashland County, Ohio (1961-1990); data collected at Ashland.
Ashland County watersheds contribute to five drainage basins. These drainage basins include the Lower Mohican River Basin (Lake Fork), the Black Fork Basin (including Clear Fork), the Vermilion River Basin, the Black River Basin, and the Kokosing River Basin.
The predominant watershed in Ashland County is the Lower Mohican River Basin, referred to locally as the Lake Fork. Principal streams include the Jerome Fork and Muddy Fork, totaling 109,564 acres of drainage area. The 17,738 acre Lake Fork watershed includes all of Jackson, Perry, Mohican, and Montgomery Townships and most of Lake and Orange Townships, approximately 50 percent of Vermillion as well as the northeast section of Milton and southeast corner of Clear Creek Townships in Ashland County. In addition, the watershed drains a portion of the western border of Wayne County and extends into Holmes and Knox Counties.
The Black Fork Basin includes the Clear Fork which stretches across the southern portion of Richland County into Ashland County where it joins the Black Fork. The Black Fork is located along the west central and southwest portion of the county and consists of 54,781 acres of watershed. The Black Fork Basin includes the entire area of Mifflin Township and portions of Clear Creek, Milton, Vermillion, Greene, Hanover, and Lake Townships.
A small area (4,213 acres) in extreme southern Hanover Township is part of the Kokosing River Basin which is a major drainage basin for Knox County.
All of these drainage basins are important because they are part of the Muskingum River Basin, the largest drainage area in Ohio. The Muskingum River Basin drains 8,051 square miles or about 20 percent of the state which eventually reaches the Gulf of Mexico via the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.
In addition to the watersheds which drain southward, a strip four to eight miles wide across the northern part of the county drains into Lake Erie through the Vermilion and Black River Basins. Water draining into these basin streams reaches the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence River.
The Black River watershed consists of 14,231 acres of Sullivan and Troy Townships though most of the watershed is located in Lorain and Medina counties. About 32,277 acres of the Vermilion River Basin are located in the townships of Ruggles, Troy, and Clear Creek. This basin also includes portions of Richland, Huron, Erie, and Lorain counties.
Ashland County also contains portions of two major reservoirs within its boundaries. The Charles Mill and Pleasant Hill Reservoirs lie in Ashland and Richland Counties, with areas of 1,350 and 850 acres respectively. A generalized surface-water map of Ashland County is given in Figure 2.
Surface waters are affected by the soil type, geology, the topography of adjacent land, and the way people use the land. Changes in land use, such as residential development and agricultural production, may increase or decrease the amount of sediment and other pollutants entering a body of water. Residential and urban areas contain many impervious surfaces, such as streets and parking lots, that increase the amount of runoff. The soils and terrain also influence the amount of runoff because of infiltration, percolation, and water holding characteristics. With some soils, rainfall is more likely to run off, while other soils allow water to infiltrate more readily.
The county contains approximately 271,104 land acres, of which 66 percent is farmland. Forty-eight soil types have been identified in the county and vary in drainage quality from well drained to poorly drained. A large portion of the soils are formed in glacial till.
The county water acreage consists of about 1,438 acres of lakes, including approximately 34% and 55% of the surface acreage of Pleasant Hill and Charles Mill Reservoirs, respectively. The county contains approximately 291 linear miles of major streams and rivers [estimated from river basin maps, Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Water].
Ashland County's primary ground-water source is developed from the sandstone and shale formation of the Cuyahoga group. Yields of 5 to more than 20 gallons per minute (gpm), adequate for farm and domestic use, are available. Most wells are drilled in the sandstone shale bedrock at depths ranging from 45 to 165 feet deep. Less prominent but more productive are the sand and gravel deposits which have the potential to yield from 100 to 1,000 gpm at depths of less than 100 feet. Northern portions of the county generally produce ground water from sandstone shale bedrock that is brackish or high in calcium sulfate. An overview of the ground-water resources in the county is given in Ashland County Ground-Water Resources, AEX-490.03.
The yield of a well will vary considerably depending on the age and depth of the well, well construction, the diameter of the casing, pump capacity and age, and more importantly, properties of the geologic formation. Specific information on ground-water availability and wells can be obtained by contacting the ODNR Division of Water.
Based on long-term statewide weather records, Ohio receives an average of 38 inches of precipitation per year. These 38 inches move through a complex path called the hydrologic cycle. Of these 38 inches, about 10 inches (26 percent) become runoff, which moves immediately to surface-water bodies like streams and lakes. Two inches are retained at the ground surface and evaporate back into the atmosphere in a relatively short period of time. Twenty-six of the 38 total inches enter the soil surface through infiltration. Twenty of these 26 inches go into soil storage and later are returned to the atmosphere by the combination of evaporation and transpiration (evapotranspiration). The remaining 6 inches of precipitation (16 percent of the total) have the potential to recharge the ground-water supply. Two of these 6 inches eventually move to springs, lakes, or streams as ground-water discharge. The remaining 4 inches either return to the atmosphere by evapotranspiration or are withdrawn to supply water needs. For further reading, refer to Ohio's Hydrologic Cycle, AEX-461.
Statewide averages applied to the county's average annual precipitation provide a rough estimate of how many inches may result in runoff and how many inches have the potential to reach aquifers. Based on statewide averages of runoff and ground-water recharge, Ashland County's 38 inches of average annual precipitation result in about 10 inches of runoff to streams and lakes, and about 6 inches have the potential to recharge aquifers annually. Values for particular locations may differ according to local conditions.
Water use for each of Ashland County's public water-supply systems is given in Table 1. For each water system, this table presents an estimate of the population served, water source, estimated daily usage, and treatment plant capacity. The county's largest public-water system is the City of Ashland, which uses 12 wells for its supply and provides 3,338,000 gallons per day (gpd).
Ground water is a major water source for rural households in Ashland County. Approximately 33 percent of all households obtain their water from private wells. Based on an estimated usage of 75 gallons per person per day, 1,217,925 gpd from private wells are used. Additional private water uses include industry (296,054 gpd) and livestock use (approximately 1,120,600 gpd), mostly from ground-water supplies. Approximately 50 percent of households use public-water supplies with ground water as the source, as identified in Table 1.
Some water users in Ohio must register their withdrawals with the ODNR Division of Water. Through the Water Withdrawal Facility Registration Program, owners of facilities capable of withdrawing 100,000 gpd (70 gpm) or more must register those facilities. Information collected through this program includes withdrawal capacity, type of water sources, location and use, and location of discharge points. The program is for registration only, and not for allocation or permission. Registered withdrawers file annual reports of their water use. This information helps planners at ODNR to determine the availability of water for projected needs in order to better manage and protect Ohio's water resources. Documenting water use also provides official records for individual users. For more information, contact the ODNR Division of Water.
Figure 2. Surface-water resources in Ashland County, Ohio (adapted from ODNR Division of Water river basin maps; illustration prepared by K. A. Weber).
Human activities and natural processes affect the quality of our water supplies. Throughout Ohio, human activities contribute to both point and nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. Point source pollution is the introduction of impurities into water (ground water or surface water) from identifiable, known locations. Examples of point sources include industrial plants, power plants, commercial businesses, and wastewater treatment facilities.
NPS pollution also involves the introduction of impurities into surface-water bodies or aquifers, except the route is usually non-direct and the sources are diffuse in nature. A major portion of the sediment, nutrients, acids and salts, heavy metals, toxic chemicals, and pathogens enter the state's water resources through nonpoint source pollution, affecting both ground and surface water. Examples include automobile emissions, runoff from parking lots, and runoff and drainage from agricultural fields, feedlots, home lawns and gardens, residential development, construction, mining, and logging activities.
Natural processes such as precipitation also have an impact on surface water and, to a lesser extent, ground water. For example, rainfall that is acidic ("acid rain") may alter the quality of a stream, lake, or other water resource.
| Table 1. Water Use in Ashland County, Ohio.1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Water System | Population Served | Primary Water Source3 | Water Usage (GPD)2 | Treatment Plant Capacity (GPD) |
| Ashland, City of | 20,079 | G | 3,338,000 | 6,760,000 |
| Bailey Lakes, Village of | 420 | PS* | 25,700 | 75,000 |
| Cinnamon Lake Utility Co. | 950 | S | 44,000 | 72,000 |
| Hayesville, Village of | 457 | G | 33,000 | 24,000 |
| Heartland Home-- Ashland County Home | 87 | G | 10,850 | |
| Jeromesville, Village of | 584 | G | 53,000 | 125,000 |
| Loudonville, Village of | 2,915 | G | 287,000 | 657,000 |
| ODYS--Mohican Youth Center | 363 | G | 16,800 | |
| Perrysville, Village of | 835 | G | 93,000 | 360,000 |
| Ashland Co. Customers Rural Lorain Water Authority | 3,711 | PS* | 278,300 | |
| Other3 | 306 | G | 26,100 | 9,000 |
|
1 Estimates from Ohio EPA using adjusted 1996 data; information is based on data available at time of publication. 2 GPD = gallons per day. 3 Includes mobile home parks, nursing homes, and homeowners associations. *Purchases surface water from Rural Lorain Water Authority. | ||||
As water moves through the sandstone and shale or sand and gravel aquifers underlying Ashland County, it dissolves the minerals contained in these formations and carries them in solution. Publication AEX-490.03 summarizes some of the county's natural ground-water quality aspects.
Human activities, such as agricultural production, domestic waste disposal, and lawn and turf care, may have some influence on the county's ground-water quality. In a 1989 study by Heidelberg College, 438 wells in the county were sampled for nitrate-nitrogen content, an indicator of water quality. Results showed that 276 wells (63 percent of total) contained nitrate-nitrogen concentrations in the range of 0 to 0.3 parts-per-million (ppm). This range is assumed to represent natural background levels. Eighty-nine wells (20 percent) tested in the range of 0.3 to 3.0 ppm, values that may or may not indicate human influence. The 55 wells (13 percent) that tested in the range of 3.0 to 10 ppm, may indicate elevated concentrations resulting from human activities. Only 18 wells (4 percent) tested over the safe drinking water standard of 10 ppm nitrate-nitrogen. The average nitrate-nitrogen concentration for the 438 wells tested was 1.7 ppm. The design, location, and condition of a well, combined with the characteristics of the soils and geologic formations in which the well is constructed, influence the potential for pollutants to enter the well. The Ashland County Department of Health can assist with bacteriological water sampling for local citizens, and results of these tests generally indicate that the water meets current bacteriological standards. For more information contact the county health department at 110 Cottage Street, Ashland, OH 44805.
Runoff and sediment from residential development, construction sites, and agricultural lands may enter the county's streams and lakes.
Through the Ohio Nonpoint Source Assessment and Water Resources Inventory, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) has identified 13,000 stream miles in Ohio that have been affected by NPS pollution. Based on the findings of the Assessment and Inventory, the Ohio Nonpoint Source Management Program has been implemented to help improve the quality of the state's waters.
Water quality monitoring indicates that all or parts of the following Ashland County streams are affected by NPS pollution: Jamison Creek, Jerome Fork, Buck Creek, Clear Creek, Town Run, and the Vermilion River (headwaters to southwest branch). These streams are affected by one or more of the following NPS pollution categories: Agriculture (Crop Production and Livestock), Sanitary Sewers, Storm Sewers, Urban runoff and on-site wastewater treatment systems. Other county streams are affected by point source pollution (municipal and/or industrial wastewater). Point source affected streams include: Town Run, Jerome Fork, and Lang Creek. Ashland County also contains streams that have good water quality and are attaining chemical and biological water quality standards. Monitoring has shown that all or parts of the following streams have good water quality: Muddy Fork, Oldtown Run, Newell Run, and Katatowa Creek. For specific information about the streams listed in the Assessment and Inventory documents, and details about the Nonpoint Source Management Program for the county, contact the Ohio EPA Northwest District Office, 347 North Dunbridge Road, Bowling Green, OH 43402. Information about nonpoint source pollution is also discussed in Nonpoint Source Pollution: Water Primer, AEX-465, available from your county Extension office.
It is important to note that as of June 1996 less than half of Ohio's streams have been evaluated by the Assessment. As water quality monitoring continues statewide, the list of NPS affected streams and streams with good water quality will change. Residents have a major challenge to protect water resources from pollutants that could affect the quality of the water supply.
Water availability and quality are important public concerns. Water problems can be both costly and inconvenient. While the present availability of water is good for Ashland County, water is a precious resource that must be conserved and protected. We must all work together to maintain an adequate supply of good quality water.
This fact sheet provides information about the water resources in Ashland County. For more information concerning water resources and drinking-water quality in the county, contact the Ashland County office of Ohio State University Extension (804 US Route 250 East, Ashland, OH 44805). In addition, the following agencies may be able to provide information on other water resources topics in the county: Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District; Ashland County Health Department; ODNR Division of Water (Fountain Square, Columbus, OH 43224); U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Ohio District (975 West Third Avenue, Columbus, OH 43212); Ohio EPA (P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, OH 43216-1049); and Ohio Department of Health (ODH; P.O. Box 118, Columbus, OH 43266).
1990 Census and 1994 Estimates of Ohio's Population: State, Counties, Cities, and Villages. 1994. Ohio Department of Development.
1990 Census of Housing. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census.
Ashland County, Ohio Soil Survey. 1980. USDA-SCS.
Ashland County Ground-Water Resources. AEX-490.03. 1997. R. L. Amos, A. W. Jones, J. M. Raab, L. C. Brown and N. M. N'Jie. Ohio State University Extension.
Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District Resources Inventory. 1986. USDA-SCS.
Beef Housing and Equipment Handbook, 4th Edition. 1987. MWPS-6. Midwest Plan Service, Ames, IA.
Dairy Freestall Housing and Handbook, 5th Edition. 1995. MWPS-7. Midwest Plan Service, Ames, IA.
Doane's Agricultural Report. 1992. Farm Water Systems.
Estimated Water Use in Ohio, 1990, Public Supply Data. 1993. USGS. Open-File Report 93-72.
Estimated Water Use in Ohio, 1990, Livestock, Animal Specialties and Irrigation Data. 1990, USGS. Open-File Report 93-646.
Gazetteer of Ohio Streams. 1960. Ohio Water Inventory Report No. 12. ODNR Div. of Water.
Ground-Water Resources of Ashland County. J. J. Schmidt. 1979. ODNR Div. of Water (map).
Hydrogeology of a Spring in a Glacial Terrain Near Ashland County. 1963. S. E. Norris. U.S. Geological Survey, Western Supply Paper, 619-A.
Hydrologic Atlas for Ohio: Average Annual Precipitation, Temperature, Streamflow, and Water Loss for the 50-Year Period 1931-1980. 1991. L. J. Hartstine. Water Inventory Report No. 28. ODNR Div. of Water.
Inventory of Municipal Water-Supply Systems by County, Ohio. 1977. Ohio Water Inventory Report No. 24. ODNR Div. of Water.
Inventory of Ohio's Lakes. 1980. Ohio Water Inventory Report No. 26. ODNR Div. of Water.
Monthly Station Normals of Temperature, Precipitation, and Heating and Cooling Degree Days, 1961-90, Ohio. 1992. Climatology of the United States, No. 81 (by state). NOAA.
Ohio Agricultural Statistics Annual Report 1995. Ohio Department of Agriculture.
Ohio Department of Development, Office of Strategic Research. 1994 Population Estimates. October 1996.
Natural Resource Conservation Service, Ashland County, D. Barr and W. Swartzentruber, Personal Communication, December 1996.
Nitrate and Pesticides in Private Wells of Ohio: A State Atlas. 1989. Water Quality Laboratory, Heidelberg College.
Nitrate in Drinking Water. 1987. K. M. Mancl. Bulletin No. 744. Ohio State University Extension.
Nonpoint Source Pollution: Water Primer. 1993. R. Leeds and L. C. Brown. AEX-465. Ohio State University Extension.
Ohio Ground-Water Quality. USGS National Water Summary--Ohio. 1986. USGS. Water-Supply Paper 2325.
Ohio Ground-Water Resources. USGS National Water Summary--Ohio. 1984. USGS. Water-Supply Paper 2275.
Ohio Nonpoint Source Management Program. 1993. ODNR.
Ohio Population by Governmental Unit. 1991. Ohio Data Users Center, Ohio Department of Development.
Ohio Surface-Water Resources. USGS National Water Summary--Ohio. 1985. USGS. Water-Supply Paper 2300.
Ohio Water Firsts. 1985. S. L. Frost and W. S. Nichols. Water Resources Foundation of Ohio, Inc.
Ohio Water Resource Inventory: Executive Summary and Volumes 1-4. 1992. Ohio EPA.
Ohio's Hydrologic Cycle. 1990. L. C. Brown and K. M. Coltman. AEX 461. Ohio State University Extension.
Private Water Systems Handbook. 1987. MWPS-14. Midwest Plan Service, Ames, IA.
Lorain Rural Water Authority. 1997. E. L. Anderson (General Manager), Personal Communication.
Sheep Housing and Equipment Handbook, 4th Edition. 1994. MWPS-3. Midwest Plan Service, Ames, IA.
Swine Housing and Equipment Handbook, 4th Edition. 1983. MWPS-8. Midwest Plan Service, Ames, IA.
State of Ohio Nonpoint Source Assessment: Volumes 1-6. 1990. Ohio EPA.
Surface and Ground Water Terminology. 1990. L. C. Brown and L. P. Black. AEX-460. Ohio State University Extension.
Water--Ohio's Remarkable Resource. 1982. ODNR Div. of Water. Withdrawal and Distribution of Water By Public Water Supplies in Ohio, 1985. 1989. USGS. Open-File Report 89-423.
This publication was produced through the Ohio Water Resources Education Project, in cooperation with: ODNR Division of Water; Ohio EPA; USGS, Ohio District; and ODH. Project leaders are Larry C. Brown and N'Deye Marie N'Jie. Partial financial support for this publication was provided by these cooperating agencies and programs: Ashland County office of OSU Extension; Ashland County Commissioners; Overholt Drainage Education and Research Program; and the Ohio Management Systems Evaluation Area Project (USDA CSREES Grant No. 94-EWQI-1-9057).
The project leaders express appreciation to the following reviewers: Cathy Berg (Program Administrator, Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District); Wendell Swartzentruber (District Conservationist, NRCS); A. Wayne Jones, David Cashell and Leonard Black (ODNR Division of Water); Scott Golden (Bureau of Local Services, ODH); Steve Hindall (USGS, Ohio District); Anthony J. Kramer (USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, State Office, Columbus); Julie Gillenwater (Ohio EPA Division of Drinking and Ground Waters); and Larry Antosch (Ohio EPA Division of Surface Water).
A special thanks to Kim Wintringham, Technical Editor (Section of Communications and Technology, The Ohio State University), for editorial and graphic production.
All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status.
Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Adm. and Director, OSU Extension.
TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868