CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Author : Ainslie, A.M.
Date : 1991
Title : Hydrogeologic implications of a buried linear morphological feature in Essex County, Ontario
Publication : Unpublished thesis.
Issue :
Page(s) :
Abstract
The "freshwater aquifer" in Essex County, Ontario, is a thin granular aquifer which lies between the overlying till and underlying bedrock. Morris (1989) has identified a series of linear morphological features, which may be eskers, under the central part of Essex County and above the freshwater aquifer. Crnokrak (1991) and others in unrelated studies have identified an area of anomalously young groundwater in the freshwater aquifer by using the environmental isotopes oxygen-18, deuterium, and tritiurn. These two areas coincide. Little is known about the freshwater aquifer, which supplies drinking water to thousands of rural users. The feature investigated in this study is located in Rochester Township east of Woodslee, and trends northwest-southeast. The purpose of this study is to verify the young groundwater noted by Crnokrak (1991), verify the presence of the feature noted by Morris (1989), and determine the hydrogeologic effect of this buried feature on groundwater recharge to the freshwater aquifer. Another objective is to determine if the feature is a recharge area, does water recharge vertically over the feature or does water recharge in the south and travel laterally along the feature. The objectives were addressed by a drilling program, hydrornetric monitoring of the installed monitoring wells, and an isotopic and geochemical analysis of groundwater around the feature. Water samples from nine installed wells and thirteen domestic wells, were analyzed for oxygen-18, tritium, and major ions. Soil samples were analyzed for grain size distribution, lithology, and stratigraphy. Pore water was squeezed from samples and analyzed for oxygen-18. Hydraulic heads, and hydraulic conductivities were determined at the wells to determine groundwater velocities along and perpendicular to the feature. The young water is confirmed by the isotope study. Stratigraphy supports the theory that the feature is an esker. The tritium data indicates rapid infiltration over the feature. Groundwater flow along the feature from south to north is demonstrated by hydraulic heads, isotopic data, and chemical data. Groundwater flow away from the feature is also indicated by the hydraulic heads.
Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology