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Chemical Quality of Water
Chemical analyses of water from selected wells in Jefferson County (table 2) indicate that most of the water is of the calcium bicarbonate type. The concentration of dissolved solids in water samples from wells provides a general means of evaluating the quality of water in various aquifers. The concentration of dissolved solids ranges from 125 to 1,190 mg/l (milligrams per liter), with most values ranging from 300 to 600 mg/l. Water is considered to be of good quality for public supply if the dissolved-solids concentration is less than 500 mg/l, and of acceptable quality if the concentration is less than 1,000 mg/l. (The limits of the various constituents cited are those recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service, 1962.) Sulfate concentrations were generally low for most of the samples analyzed; however, two of the samples contained concentrations of sulfate in excess of the 250 mg/l limit recommended for public water supplies. The water generally is very hard, but it can be softened if found objectionably so.
Table 2--Chemical analyses of water from selected wells and test holes. (1) [Dissolved constituents and hardness given in milligrams per liter.]
| Well number | Depth (feet) | Geologic source | Date of collection | Temperature (deg. C) | Dissolved solids (evaporated at 180 deg. C) |
Silica (SiO2) |
Total iron (Fe) |
Manganese (Mn) | Calcium (Ca) | Magnesium (Mg) | Sodium and potassium (Na + K) |
Bicarbonate (HCO3) | Sulfate (SO4) | Chloride (Cl) | Fluoride (F) | Nitrate (2) (NO3) | Hardness as CaCO3 | Specific conductance (micromhos at 25 deg. C) |
pH | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Noncarbonate | |||||||||||||||||||
| 7-16E-25ddd | 28 | Auburn Shale, Bern Limestone | 7/11/67 | 18 | 941 | 16 | 0.22 | 0 | 210 | 27 | 64 | 386 | 86 | 140 | 0.1 | 200 | 640 | 330 | 1520 | 7.5 |
| 7-17E-33ddd | 20 | Terrace deposits | 7/10/67 | 17 | 1040 | 15 | 0.74 | 0 | 210 | 21 | 75 | 312 | 19 | 110 | 0.1 | 430 | 620 | 360 | 1580 | 7.3 |
| 7-18E-25bba | 102 | Glacial drift | 4/14/67 | 13 | 499 | 24 | 0.28 | 0.24 | 96 | 24 | 51 | 400 | 73 | 28 | 0.7 | 6.2 | 340 | 10 | 810 | 7.6 |
| 27cdc | 60 | Glacial drift | 6/30/67 | 18 | 476 | 22 | 0.01 | 0 | 100 | 20 | 40 | 386 | 19 | 28 | 0.1 | 56 | 330 | 18 | 790 | 7.4 |
| 30bbc | 30 | Glacial drift | 4/14/67 | 13 | 290 | 16 | 0.53 | 0 | 77 | 7.8 | 16 | 246 | 16 | 5 | 0.2 | 31 | 220 | 22 | 470 | 7.4 |
| 7-19E-29bba | 162 | Glacial drift | 5/20/66 | 501 | 27 | 0.68 | 0.22 | 100 | 30 | 39 | 427 | 40 | 40 | 0.2 | 10 | 390 | 36 | 860 | 7.7 | |
| 31aaa | 138 | Glacial drift | 8/14/67 | 446 | 23 | 0.566 | 0.18 | 62 | 22 | 82 | 449 | 14 | 20 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 240 | 0 | 720 | 7.6 | |
| 7-20E-31ddc | 60 | Glacial drift | 4/11/67 | 16 | 381 | 23 | 0.05 | 0 | 88 | 21 | 20 | 371 | 12 | 8 | 0.4 | 27 | 310 | 2 | 620 | 7.5 |
| 8-16E-12bcd | 62 | Alluvium | 7/11/67 | 18 | 603 | 19 | 9.8 | 0.86 | 100 | 35 | 83 | 608 | 16 | 48 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 400 | 0 | 1010 | 7.4 |
| 8-17E- 9aaa | 50 | Terrace deposits | 4/14/67 | 16 | 1190 | 15 | 0.53 | 0 | 180 | 35 | 140 | 373 | 150 | 120 | 0.1 | 350 | 600 | 290 | 1770 | 7.2 |
| 15dca | 48 | Scranton Shale, Howard Limestone | 7/10/67 | 16 | 815 | 11 | 0.11 | 0 | 160 | 27 | 67 | 283 | 290 | 34 | 0.1 | 93 | 500 | 270 | 1110 | 7.6 |
| 19dcb | 80 | Alluvium | 4/14/67 | 13 | 809 | 9 | 0.03 | 0.4 | 160 | 22 | 79 | 381 | 87 | 57 | 0.1 | 210 | 480 | 170 | 1260 | 7.4 |
| 24bcc | 72 | Terrace deposits | 7/10/67 | 17 | 418 | 15 | 0.74 | 0.28 | 80 | 14 | 60 | 354 | 31 | 41 | 0.1 | 3.1 | 260 | 0 | 680 | 7.5 |
| 35dcc | 80 | Glacial drift | 7/10/67 | 20 | 500 | 12 | 0.03 | 0 | 110 | 16 | 38 | 300 | 130 | 15 | 0.1 | 30 | 350 | 100 | 740 | 7.6 |
| 8-18E-27aaa | 10 | Glacial drift | 4/10/67 | 14 | 340 | 6 | 0.01 | 0 | 93 | 15 | 14 | 312 | 37 | 16 | 0.1 | 5.3 | 290 | 38 | 570 | 7.3 |
| 8-19E-9cbc | 66 | Glacial drift | 4/10/67 | 13 | 604 | 18 | 0.01 | 0 | 130 | 17 | 45 | 315 | 13 | 39 | 0.3 | 190 | 380 | 130 | 930 | 7.3 |
| 19caa | 43 | Glacial drift | 6/30/67 | 15 | 801 | 23 | 0.07 | 0 | 150 | 33 | 69 | 346 | 40 | 110 | 0.4 | 210 | 510 | 220 | 1340 | 7.4 |
| 26cda | 132 | Tecumseh Shale, Queen Hill Shale Member of Lecompton Limestone | 11/8/66 | 462 | 26 | 0.14 | 0.28 | 80 | 27 | 50 | 434 | 23 | 20 | 0.3 | 21 | 310 | 0 | 720 | 7.9 | |
| 8-20E-32dcc | 24 | Alluvium | 4/11/67 | 13 | 363 | 9 | 27 | 0.06 | 99 | 13 | 16 | 332 | 52 | 4 | 0.2 | 6.2 | 300 | 28 | 590 | 7.5 |
| 33ccc | 42 | Glacial drift | 4/11/67 | 15 | 443 | 12 | 0.43 | 0 | 91 | 25 | 32 | 334 | 20 | 22 | 0.3 | 77 | 330 | 56 | 740 | 7.3 |
| 9-17E-11abd | 26 | Glacial drift | 4/12/67 | 16 | 125 | 2.2 | 0.21 | 0 | 26 | 6.6 | 6.2 | 66 | 40 | 2 | 0.2 | 8.8 | 92 | 38 | 210 | 8.0 |
| 18cbb | 11 | Glacial drift | 4/17/67 | 12 | 327 | 7.2 | 0.03 | 0 | 98 | 12 | 7.6 | 327 | 29 | 4 | 0.3 | 8 | 290 | 26 | 550 | 7.6 |
| 25dab | 54 | Alluvium | 5/4/66 | 292 | 18 | 0.03 | 0 | 82 | 8.6 | 10 | 426 | 2.8 | 6 | 0.1 | 8.8 | 240 | 24 | 460 | 7.4 | |
| 32ddd | 32 | Glacial drift | 4/12/67 | 13 | 596 | 16 | 0.59 | 0 | 120 | 23 | 24 | 205 | 22 | 76 | 0.3 | 210 | 410 | 240 | 960 | 7.6 |
| 9-18E-14cbb | 12 | Glacial drift | 4/10/67 | 13 | 548 | 10 | 0.45 | 0 | 120 | 29 | 43 | 434 | 120 | 8 | 0.2 | 15 | 410 | 50 | 850 | 7.3 |
| 27cda | 20 | Alluvium | 4/13/67 | 14 | 343 | 10 | 3.8 | 0.08 | 99 | 12 | 10 | 303 | 53 | 8 | 0.2 | 1.8 | 300 | 48 | 560 | 7.5 |
| 9-19E-1cbc | 49 | Glacial drift | 7/12/67 | 22 | 195 | 6 | 0.05 | 0 | 45 | 6.7 | 13 | 122 | 14 | 15 | 0.2 | 35 | 140 | 40 | 320 | 8.0 |
| 9add | 24 | Alluvium | 4/10/67 | 13 | 670 | 12 | 2.5 | 0 | 130 | 31 | 72 | 422 | 130 | 53 | 0.5 | 21 | 450 | 90 | 1050 | 7.4 |
| 16cbc | 70 | Calhoun Shale, Deer Creek Limestone | 6/30/67 | 20 | 352 | 18 | 0.01 | 0 | 72 | 30 | 21 | 293 | 9.5 | 4 | 0.3 | 3.5 | 300 | 0 | 600 | 7.5 |
| 24cbc | 92 | Calhoun Shale, Deer Creek Limestone | 7/14/67 | 15 | 417 | 7.5 | 2.3 | 0.08 | 83 | 29 | 31 | 368 | 62 | 17 | 0.2 | 6.6 | 330 | 24 | 670 | 7.7 |
| 34ccc | 40 | Glacial drift | 6/30/67 | 21 | 434 | 16 | 0.01 | 0 | 100 | 22 | 21 | 322 | 30 | 31 | 0.2 | 53 | 340 | 81 | 730 | 7.3 |
| 10-17E-29ccc | 14 | Glacial drift | 4/12/67 | 13 | 1110 | 12 | 0.03 | 0 | 190 | 41 | 120 | 425 | 360 | 88 | 0.4 | 88 | 640 | 290 | 1620 | 7.4 |
| 10-18E-8ccb | 20 | Glacial drift | 4/12/67 | 12 | 590 | 6.6 | 18 | 0.24 | 170 | 14 | 15 | 405 | 160 | 15 | 0.2 | 5.3 | 490 | 160 | 910 | 7.5 |
| 14caa | 37 | Glacial drift, Calhoun Shale | 4/10/67 | 17 | 996 | 8.4 | 3.8 | 0.3 | 220 | 32 | 57 | 400 | 130 | 76 | 0.4 | 270 | 690 | 360 | 1470 | 7.0 |
| 10-19E-22bac | 14 | Alluvium | 4/3/67 | 9 | 626 | 12 | 1.5 | 0.12 | 160 | 28 | 16 | 388 | 150 | 43 | 0.2 | 23 | 530 | 210 | 980 | 6.7 |
| 26ddd | 24 | Alluvium | 6/30/67 | 18 | 380 | 9.6 | 0.23 | 0 | 88 | 14 | 32 | 295 | 37 | 24 | 0.2 | 30 | 280 | 35 | 640 | 7.4 |
| 30aad | 35 | Glacial drift | 4/10/67 | 15 | 612 | 26 | 0.03 | 0 | 130 | 36 | 20 | 344 | 10 | 85 | 0.3 | 130 | 480 | 200 | 1020 | 7.3 |
| 10-20E-16ada | 30 | Glacial drift | 4/3/67 | 15 | 1070 | 18 | 0.21 | 0.26 | 200 | 58 | 52 | 307 | 46 | 160 | 0.3 | 390 | 730 | 480 | 1680 | 7.0 |
| 31dcd | 15 | Glacial drift, Tecumseh Shale | 6/29/67 | 16 | 277 | 14 | 0.09 | 0.14 | 80 | 7.9 | 11 | 283 | 17 | 6 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 230 | 0 | 470 | 7.1 |
| 11-16E-13cbd | 78 | Newman terrace deposits | 5/18/66 | 16 | 395 | 20 | 0.03 | 0.05 | 110 | 7.8 | 21 | 322 | 59 | 13 | 0.1 | 6.2 | 300 | 40 | 630 | 7.3 |
| 11-17E-18ccc | 93 | Newman terrace deposits | 4/28/66 | 383 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 11 | 17 | 320 | 38 | 11 | 0.1 | 16 | 300 | 35 | 600 | 7.5 | |
| 20cac | 70 | Newman terrace deposits | 4/8/66 | 14 | 576 | 26 | 2.3 | 0.87 | 150 | 20 | 22 | 376 | 140 | 30 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 470 | 160 | 880 | 7.6 |
| 21ada | 48 | Newman terrace deposits | 6/1/66 | 14 | 267 | 25 | 67 | 6.1 | 14 | 198 | 33 | 5 | 0.2 | 19 | 190 | 30 | 400 | 7.9 | ||
| 25bbc | 52 | Newman terrace deposits | 5/27/66 | 15 | 360 | 27 | 0.13 | 0 | 110 | 4.1 | 14 | 256 | 40 | 7 | 0.1 | 8.8 | 280 | 30 | 540 | 8.4 |
| 11-18E-16bbb | 75 | Newman terrace deposits | 6/20/66 | 14 | 509 | 20 | 21 | 0.62 | 140 | 9.7 | 19 | 356 | 64 | 21 | 0.1 | 59 | 390 | 100 | 820 | 7.6 |
| 20acb | 44 | Newman terrace deposits | 7/15/66 | 14 | 362 | 28 | 0.22 | 0.35 | 100 | 11 | 16 | 344 | 28 | 6 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 300 | 15 | 580 | 7.6 |
| 24ccd | 84 | Newman terrace deposits | 4/20/67 | 14 | 433 | 23 | 20 | 12 | 110 | 20 | 11 | 307 | 84 | 14 | 0.2 | 21 | 350 | 100 | 690 | 7.6 |
| 26bab | 81 | Newman terrace deposits | 5/18/66 | 15 | 405 | 30 | 0.09 | 0.06 | 110 | 18 | 15 | 376 | 35 | 10 | 0.1 | 5.3 | 340 | 33 | 660 | 7.4 |
| 26ccd | 57 | Alluvium | 5/26/66 | 14 | 389 | 32 | 8 | 1 | 110 | 15 | 11 | 376 | 28 | 6 | 0.2 | 2.7 | 330 | 26 | 600 | 7.9 |
| 11-19E-21dab | 13 | Alluvium | 4/10/67 | 12 | 396 | 12 | 0.07 | 0 | 110 | 11 | 22 | 303 | 41 | 26 | 0.2 | 29 | 310 | 62 | 640 | 7.5 |
| 24acc | 35 | Alluvium | 6/29/67 | 19 | 302 | 12 | 15 | 0.17 | 85 | 11 | 13 | 278 | 26 | 15 | 0.1 | 2.2 | 260 | 29 | 510 | 7.4 |
| 27bcc | 58 | Terrace deposits | 12/2/50 | 14 | 230 | 12 | 0.35 | 61 | 5.4 | 11 | 181 | 12 | 9 | 0.1 | 30 | 170 | 26 | |||
| 11-20E-19daa | 16 | Glacial drift, Kanwaka Shale | 4/3/67 | 13 | 349 | 7.2 | 2.4 | 0.18 | 91 | 18 | 15 | 312 | 36 | 24 | 0.4 | 3.8 | 300 | 45 | 580 | 7.2 |
1. Analyses by Kansas State Department of Health
2. In areas where the nitrate content of water is known to exceed 45 mg/l,
the public should be warned of the potential dangers of using the water
for infant feeding (U.S. Public Health Service, 1962, p. 7).
About a third of the water samples analyzed contained concentrations of nitrate (NO3) in excess of the 45 mg/l limit recommended for public water supply. Ingestion by infants (less than 6 months old) of water containing nitrate in concentrations in excess of 45 mg/b may cause infantile methemoglobinemia (also called cyanosis or blue-baby disease). It may also affect young stock animals adversely. Boiling or softening of water does not remove or decrease the nitrate content. A brief investigation of a number of wells that yield water having a high nitrate content indicated that surface pollution was the probable source of the nitrate. Legumes, plant debris, fertilizers, animal wastes, and sewage probably are the sources of nitrate in most surface and ground waters. Protection of wells against the entrance of surface water may not be sufficient to prevent nitrate pollution. Nitrate can be leached from surface sources and can be carried to the water table where the nitrate will remain in solution.
Iron and manganese, when present in concentrations of more than 0.3 mg/l, may cause turbidity in the water and staining of plumbing fixtures and laundered fabrics. In Jefferson County the majority of samples contained iron concentrations of less than 1.0 mg/l.
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Kansas Geological Survey, Jefferson County Geohydrology
Web version July 2002. Original publication date Dec. 1972.
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