NOTE: the DNR sensitivity map and the State Board of Health document on the aquifer in threat can be viewed on page one of this thread.....Also in no discussion radio, newspaper, public meeting or otherwise have i seen the possibility of human error discussed. That is always a potential threat.
Make sure to read entire discussion.....yellow on that chart is moderately susceptible and orange is high and red is very high .
I.U. has performed an aquifer sensitivity study. Sally from I.U is who they recommended that i talk with about this study. see below.
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Letsinger, Sally L <sletsing@indiana.edu>
Date: Fri, Nov 15, 2019 at 12:09 PM
Subject: RE: Question
To: Jean Johannigman <decoratorj4@gmail.com>
The majority of the map you sent was classified as moderate (yellow), with three small squares as high (orange). So, yes, that means that the materials in the near surface at those locations are moderately or highly likely to allow infiltration into the subsurface at those locations, and if there are contaminants there (vulnerable), the aquifers could be more susceptible to contamination.
There might be other geologic units deeper in the subsurface that could block contaminants from reaching a deeper aquifer, though. That information could be gleaned from water well log records (see this site:
www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=4b4f37e1dde744ce865e1be4d157ac93 – look for your location, zoom in, and select records by clicking on points, then at the top, click on “Click for detailed report” and look for the lithologic information and their depth in feet at the bottom of each record). Units like clay or shale would block contaminants, and units like sand and gravel are likely to be aquifer material.
Sally
From: Jean Johannigman <decoratorj4@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, November 15, 2019 12:01 PM
To: Letsinger, Sally L <sletsing@indiana.edu>
Subject: Re: Question
Sally
one last thing...so with the description of sensitivity that you just gave me.....that map i originally sent you was color coded at least "high" if not "very high" so that would mean water would infiltrate easily on that aquifer and with the landfill in that area it would be susceptible? i am understanding that correctly?
Jean Johannigman
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
Edmund Burke
On Fri, Nov 15, 2019 at 11:51 AM Letsinger, Sally L <sletsing@indiana.edu> wrote:
There are a number of different terms used with respect to the threat to an aquifer from contamination.
Sensitivity
Vulnerability
Susceptibility
Aquifer sensitivity refers to the inherent characteristics of the geology and hydrology of a site (are the surface materials coarse and easy for water to infiltrate through?). Aquifer vulnerability mapping incorporates known contaminant sources (like from the landfill – are there contaminants present to worry about?), and aquifer susceptibility mapping combines the natural aquifer sensitivity and vulnerability – so if there is a combination of geologic sensitivity and known contaminants, the aquifer is more susceptible to contamination. This might be what the health department referred to as a “threat.” I don’t have any history with this landfill, so I can’t be sure.
There is always at least a small amount of potential for contamination around known sources of contamination. That is why landfills are regulated and water-quality sampling on a regular basis is required. I believe that the sampling data should be publicly available through the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
Sally
From: Jean Johannigman <decoratorj4@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, November 15, 2019 10:05 AM
To: Letsinger, Sally L <sletsing@indiana.edu>
Subject: Re: Question
Sally,
another question....you previously replied to me that "The base of the landfill would be lined with materials that prevent direct communication of water/contaminants with the aquifer, if it is engineered and maintained properly. " so does that mean if it is not engineered and maintained properly there is a possibility of contamination?
Jean Johannigman
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
Edmund Burke
From: Jean Johannigman <decoratorj4@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, November 15, 2019 9:57 AM
To: Letsinger, Sally L <sletsing@indiana.edu>
Subject: Re: Question
Sally,
all that i am reading as you instructed claims low susceptibility to the aquifer and yet the State Board of Health indicated the potential threat to the aquifer has increased. how is this explained? why would they even mention the increased threat to the aquifer if there was no threat as is being indicated?
On Fri, Nov 15, 2019 at 9:05 AM Letsinger, Sally L <sletsing@indiana.edu> wrote:
If you look at the IDNR aquifer systems map in the county where the landfill is located (https://www.in.gov/dnr/water/4302.htm), look for the unconsolidated aquifer system map and then find the location of the landfill to see what underlies it. Then read the description – it should have some information on aquifer sensitivity in the description, I think.
“Unconsolidated” means geologic materials in the subsurface that are too young to have yet turned into stone (bedrock) – these materials are above the bedrock and are probably what the landfill is constructed in. The base of the landfill would be lined with materials that prevent direct communication of water/contaminants with the aquifer, if it is engineered and maintained properly.
Sally
From: Jean Johannigman <decoratorj4@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 14, 2019 4:45 PM
To: Letsinger, Sally L <sletsing@indiana.edu>
Subject: Re: Question
sally,
Thank you for your reply it is much appreciated. is there a way to find out about this specific aquifer's susceptibility? I am going to show below a report from the state board of health and I know standards have changed since then...and I know barium can occur naturally but that is not why I am sending this....I want you to see this because the state board of health was stating a concern about possible impact to the aquifer.
image.png
Jean Johannigman
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
Edmund Burke
On Thu, Nov 14, 2019 at 3:44 PM Letsinger, Sally L <sletsing@indiana.edu> wrote:
Hello Jean,
The IDNR forwarded your inquiry to me to follow up, as I worked on the preparation of the aquifer sensitivity map. The aquifer sensitivity map reflects the relative speed with which contaminants might migrate into the near subsurface (not into deeper aquifers, necessarily, depending on the location and subsurface geologic materials) based on a number of variables. The analysis considered annual rates of groundwater recharge (inches per year), and that rate varies from year to year. The hypothesis is that contaminants that travel along with water into surface materials will follow the same path as water, so the relative differences of recharge rates should be reflective of the risk of contamination (fast infiltration = greater contamination risk).
I can’t identify the location of the area to which you have zoomed into on the map below, but the colors suggest that there is a moderate risk of near-surface aquifer contamination in the yellow area (possibly better drained soils or lower slopes) compared to a low risk (green) of contamination (possibly clay soils at the surface, or higher slopes that cause water to runoff rather than infiltrate).
The map was generated using a statistical model at a spatial scale of 100 meters (~300 ft) per grid cell (the small squares shown on the image below), so one grid cell represents over 100,000 square feet on the ground. So, the map is quite generalized for specific areas, but is intended to show differences in ground conditions over the entire state.
The aquifer sensitivity map does not represent aquifer characteristics at all. There are Indiana Department of Natural Resources map products that do show aquifer systems and have descriptions of them.
www.in.gov/dnr/water/4302.htm I hope this explanation is helpful to you.
Sally Letsinger
-------------------------------------------------------
Sally L. Letsinger, Ph.D.
Associate Research Scientist
Department of Geography
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN 47405
ph: 812-855-1356
sletsing@indiana.edu
-------------------------------------------------------
Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.
From: Jean Johannigman [mailto:decoratorj4@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2019 10:21 AM
To: Water Inquiry <water_inquiry@dnr.IN.gov>
Subject: Question
can you please explain the significance of this DNR aquifer sensitivity map shown below and any information related to it concerning the aquifer .
image.png
Jean Johannigman
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
Edmund Burke
