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EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL 10 MGD GROUNDWATER SUPPLY FROM AQUIFERS IN GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO

Alzahrani, Abdulaziz S.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1649694079983725

Abstract Details

2022, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, Civil Engineering.
East Branch reservoir supplies 10 million gallons/day (MGD) to Lake Rockwell reservoir for ultimate use by the City of Akron for municipal water supply. Recently, East Branch reservoir has been plagued by harmful algal bloom as it received nutrient runoff from nearby farms. The overall objective of this study aims to determine if groundwater aquifers can supply the 10 MGD instead of East Branch reservoir. Specifically, it investigates whether aquifers under properties owned by the City of Akron (CoA) have an ample amount of groundwater require hardness removal when it reached the treatment plant. Extracting 10 MGD from an aquifer is a high quantity, so it should be ensured that it will not adversely impact current aquifer use. The study also investigated what to do with the land area if East Branch Reservoir is removed. Water budget analysis verified that the 10,319 acres of CoA properties, and 4,902 acres of easement properties would provide 8.34 inches/year and 7.05 inches/year of infiltration, respectively. The combined infiltration would be capable of providing 10 MGD if the East Branch dam is removed. Surface water samples were collected and analyzed for hardness at the areas where the produced water would be added to the Cuyahoga River. The seven days for travel time to the top of Lake Rockwell and the subsequent mixing within Lake Rockwell to the entrance of the water treatment plant would be sufficient to decrease hardness to 111.27 mg/L. Potential production of 10 MGD focused on the glacial deposits under the CoA properties, particularly those that were thick and unconfined. After estimating the characteristics of aquifers properties owned by CoA, MODFLOW was used to evaluate the impact of adding different numbers and rates of production wells located in the buried valley aquifer. Proposed well placements were located near existing roadways to enable easy access to the new groundwater well locations. MODFLOW analysis showed that 15 wells producing 673,257 gallons/day would achieve the needed 10 MGD. However, the 80 ft drawdown may adversely impact current aquifer use of 24 existing wells. As the CoA does not pump 10 million gallons every day from East Branch Reservoir, additional research is needed to assess if producing from only a portion of the wells each day would decrease the impact. If the East Branch reservoir is eventually removed, restoration consisting of large wood, boulder ballast rocks, and soil for vegetation establishment would reduce the potential for erosion of fine sediments and supporting wetlands. Another alternative would be to reduce the reservoir size to a recreational small lake for all the communities who live around the East Branch. The small lake would help to rebuild the natural habitat and be a good source of food and water for animals. The establishment of herbaceous vegetation in wetland restoration provides more infiltration parcels for recharging the groundwater reservoirs.
Teresa Cutright (Advisor)
Ira Sasowsky (Committee Member)
Yilmaz Sozer (Committee Member)
Ala Abbas (Committee Member)
Willam Schneider (Committee Member)
264 p.
Environmental Engineering; Hydrologic Sciences; Hydrology; Water Resource Management
Glacial deposit. Groundwater flow and direction. Groundwater recharge. Water budget. Groundwater modeling. MODFLOW.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Alzahrani, A. S. (2022). EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL 10 MGD GROUNDWATER SUPPLY FROM AQUIFERS IN GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO [Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1649694079983725

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Alzahrani, Abdulaziz. EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL 10 MGD GROUNDWATER SUPPLY FROM AQUIFERS IN GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO. 2022. University of Akron, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1649694079983725.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Alzahrani, Abdulaziz. "EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL 10 MGD GROUNDWATER SUPPLY FROM AQUIFERS IN GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO." Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron, 2022. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1649694079983725

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.
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