Water Works 17 - 3/28/03

Aquifer Geologic Characteristics Omitted

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

The NJGS report (i) does not mention that the Lockatong formation is one of the poorest aquifers in Hunterdon County. Paragraph 2 of this section clearly states that the unconsolidated overburden atop the fractured bedrock is typically thin, limiting the storage of groundwater above the bedrock fractures. This is important to remember when the NJGS calculates the water level drawdown of affected domestic wells.

It must be recognized that the bedrock units in this area of New Jersey do not have the extensive glacial overburden that covers the bedrock units to the north. Without this glacial overburden, the ability of bedrock aquifers and overburden to store and transmit water in this area of New Jersey is far poorer than other bedrock areas in the state. This point is not discussed in the report.

Paragraph 3 states that domestic well failures during droughts have been reported for wells in the Lockatong basin in the Quakertown area, in particular during the drought year 1998. A reference for the reported source of this information is required. This statement, if true, illustrates the fragile nature of the aquifer in this area. Records for precipitation at Lambertville, New Jersey show that rainfall for 1998 was 44.05 inches with a very wet spring. The spring is the groundwater recharge period. The NJDEP must explain and provide references for all statements relating to drought.

Paragraph 5 states that recharge to the water-bearing zones penetrated by the QVF wells (and presumably the GSG wells) is thought to occur “up-dip” to the north and east, at higher elevations than the farm. It is important to remember that up-dip to the north and east is the exact direction of Quakertown and the well failures.