Water Works 10 - 3/18/03

Impacts of Over-Allocation and Over-Estimation of Recharge

( Excerpts from Fellow Correspondent’s letter, continued. )

Allocations in the Lockatong Creek basin noted in the NJGS 1999 study (i) include the following: Samuel Leon HN0003, 33.0 mgm (million gallons per month), 198.0 mgy (million gallons per year); GSG HN0005, 10.05 mgm, 60.32 mgy; Oak Grove Plantation HN0010, 5.4 mgm, 18.9 mgy; Pittstown Fruit Farm HN011R, 3.1 mgm, 18.0 mgy; QVF HN0017, 9.32 mgm, 69.89 mgy; Dubrow’s Nursery HN020R, 3.1 mgm, 18.0 mgy; In Living Color Greenhouse HN018R, 3.1 mgm, 18.0 mgy. Total: 401.11 mgy.

Added since 1999 is Peter Enea HN019R, on Croton Road, for 3.1 mgm and 18.0 mgy, which may be close to the edge of the Lockatong basin. The total allocation for the 5.34 square miles of Franklin Township (again being generous on the recharge area) is 419 mgy (1.15 mgd). Note: mgd is million gallons per day.

Not included are the wells at the Saint Ho Pao, Inc., farm on Route 579 upstream of GSG and QVF (Attachment 4). The recent well drilled for Saint Ho Pao is reported to yield 70 gpm, so there should be a water use registration for this property. Some of the Saint Ho Pao wells may or may not be located in the Lockatong basin. The NJDEP should evaluate this site.

Also not included is the Rutgers University/Snyder Farm, where a well is located near the drainage divide of the Capoolong Creek and Lockatong Creek basins. Although technically located in the Capoolong basin, the radius of influence of this well extends far into the Lockatong basin and will derive a moderate percentage of water from the Lockatong basin. These wells are left out of this analysis, as well as the 130 Old Franklin School Road wells of Mr. David Den Hollander.

The most conservative estimate of existing water allocations in the 5.34 square mile area of the headwaters of Lockatong Creek in Franklin Township is 419 mgy (1.15 mgd). Using a liberal 121,000 gpd/mi2 recharge value, 9.5 square miles of land for recharge are required to meet the demands of the allocated wells. That is almost twice the area of the headwaters of Lockatong Creek (5.34 square miles). The headwaters of the basin are over-allocated.

The New Jersey Water Supply Master Plan defines water-supply availability as the percentage of total groundwater recharge within a watershed that can be withdrawn without potential adverse impacts on the watershed. According to the Water Supply Master Plan, when water use exceeds 20% of the available recharge within a watershed, adverse impacts begin to occur. The headwaters of the Lockatong watershed have not only been allocated at over 20%: this proposal will allocate roughly 180% of recharge.

Adverse impacts have occurred, as noted by the NJDEP in acknowledging the problems in Quakertown in 1997 and 1998. Residents have noted other impacts. I have noted that the Joseph Muller spring in Quakertown went dry in 1997 and again in 1998. These years were not drought years, as has often been stated when discussing well failures in Quakertown (see Attachment 4). This spring reportedly flowed through the drought of the 1960s, yet it failed in recent non-drought years without any significant housing development in the Quakertown area. Remember, the spring is in the subcrop of the same Triassic beds that some of the GSG wells draw water from (see NJDEP maps). Preferential transmission of water along bedding planes is typical for this formation.

Observations like these and others (Trout Pond on Locust Grove Road and the disappearing wetlands on Route 579 east of GSG) have been observed. Also included in Attachment 4 are well replacement records found in the NJDEP well records. My well’s water level historically ran from 17.5 feet to as low as 26.5 feet from top of casing, spring to fall. Last fall the well was at a record low level of 39 feet, and is currently at 29.5 feet (3/9/03), far below its normal spring water level. Impacts have been documented and continue to occur.