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Analysis of Ground-Water Resources in the Aberdeen area

Project Period: 2007-2010
Cooperator: City of Aberdeen
Project Chief: Larry Putnam

Executive Summary

The city of Aberdeen is developing plans for sustainable water supply alternatives to address drought conditions and economic expansion. A primary source of surface water for the city is the Elm River with an intake and water treatment plant located about 6 miles northeast of the city. Drought and potential future increases in water use have raised concerns about declining flows in the Elm River and water level declines in the small storage reservoirs and the Elm aquifer. Ground water, used as a supplemental water source, is pumped from the Elm aquifer from a well field located about 2 to 3 miles northwest of the water treatment plant. In 2007, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began working in cooperation with the City of Aberdeen to collect and analyze data to better understand ground-water resources in the Aberdeen area.

Objectives

The objectives of this study are to characterize the hydrogeology of the Elm aquifer, design a monitoring network, characterize glacial sediments using geophysical techniques, and develop water budgets for a control volume of the Elm aquifer. Products of this study include a USGS scientific investigation report that would include a description of the thickness of the hydrogeologic units, hydraulic properties, aquifer water levels, geophysical properties of glacial sediments, aquifer testing, and conceptual model analysis.

U.S. Geological Survey hydrologic technician, Tyler Meyer, prepares to collect geophysical data along the bank of the Elm River north of Aberdeen, SD. The electromagnetic device measures the ability of underlying sediments to conduct electrical current. These data can be useful in estimating the potential for hydraulic connection between the river and underlying aquifer.

U.S. Geological Survey hydrologic technician, Austin Musil, checks the temperature of the surface of the Elm River prior to installing a continuous temperature monitoring device at the bottom of the stream near the bank. Water moving from the aquifer to the stream could have a lower temperature indicating hydraulic connection between the stream and aquifer.