Ottawa County Tackles Challenging Groundwater Issues with Proactive Planning
One of the last places you would expect to encounter a challenge with
ensuring a sustainable supply of fresh groundwater is Ottawa County. Situated
along 24 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, with the Grand River traversing its
landscape and Lake Macatawa and Spring Lake within its borders, Ottawa County
is a popular destination for recreation, business, and living. Access to water
is perceivably abundant. However, the water that is located underground and out
of view, which is used by thousands of residents as their primary source of
fresh drinking water as well as by farmers to irrigate their crops, is at risk.
Originally alerted to groundwater concerns nearly a decade ago, Ottawa
County hired Michigan State University (MSU) in 2011 to conduct a comprehensive
study of the quality and sustainability of the County’s groundwater system.
MSU’s scientific findings released in Spring 2018 confirmed the anecdotal
evidence—water levels in the deep bedrock aquifer are declining, and chloride
concentrations in the water are increasing. Moreover, the findings of this
study support what we’ve known all along—water conservation is critical, even
in our Great Lakes State.
MSU’s groundwater study points to unique geological features located
underneath several communities in the central areas of Ottawa County as a
contributing factor to the groundwater challenge. These areas are seeing
declining groundwater levels due to thick layers of clay deposits that prevent
water from re-entering the bedrock aquifer locally. As groundwater is
continually pumped out of the aquifer, the system is not being “recharged” fast
enough to keep up with demand. Furthermore, as the water levels continue to
decline, naturally occurring brines (salt) found in the bedrock aquifer are
mixing with the groundwater at an increasing rate, resulting in a higher
concentration of chloride in the water. Elevated levels of sodium
chloride in water can corrode pipes, damage crops, and potentially exacerbate
health concerns among individuals with high blood pressure. The Static Water
Levels (SWLs), which is the level of water in a well when the pump is not
operating, have actually been on the decline in this area since the 1960s.
Extensive historical data shows that some areas of the County have seen a drop
of as much as 40 feet over the last 50+ years. Estimates show that if water
consumption continues on the current path without intervention, these areas
will see another 10 to 15-foot decline in the next 20 years. A decline of this
magnitude could result in wells that are
inoperable due to reduced or minimally available water resources or unusable
because of high chloride concentrations.
Effective water management and planning is key to reversing these issues.
“The groundwater concern in Ottawa County is not unresolvable,” said John
Yellich, Director of the Michigan Geological Survey. “Other areas of the
country have faced similar challenges, and they’ve been able to develop
successful strategies to ensure a sustainable water supply.” Another important
factor in Ottawa County’s planning effort is to promote and reinforce the need
for all residents and businesses to practice water conservation. Paul Sachs,
Director of Ottawa County’s Planning and Performance Improvement Department,
added, “As the County, West Michigan, and Michigan as a whole continue to
prosper, the need for everyone to recognize and practice water conservation
will become increasingly more important. Our fresh water supply is not
unlimited.”
The County’s Plan for managing its groundwater resources into the future is
a collaborative effort that involves multiple partners including, but not
limited to, Grand Valley State University’s Annis Water Resources Institute,
Michigan Geological Survey, Michigan Groundwater Association, the County
Department of Public Health, and County Road Commission Public Utilities
Department, among many other stakeholders, scientists, experts, and local
decision-makers.
To learn more about how Ottawa County is
proactively addressing this groundwater issue and what you can do to help, go
to www.miOttawa.org/groundwater.
Here you can watch a short video titled “Managing Our Groundwater,” read
in-depth about the County’s Groundwater Study and the conceptual Groundwater
Management Plan, utilize an interactive groundwater mapping tool, and learn
ways to conserve water at your home or workplace.
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