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Client:
City of Auburn |
Background
The City of Auburn obtains most of its water supplies from a network of
highly productive wells and a major spring system at Coal Creek. Many
of these wells are completed in shallow aquifers that originate from ancestral
glacial streams.
Challenges
Much of the highly permeable shallow aquifer has become contaminated with
hydrocarbons or solvents in recent years, rendering it unusable for potable
water supplies. Because of water rights, stream closure, and water quality
issues, developing new groundwater sources has become more expensive and
less feasible. As a result, protecting existing water resources is essential
to this rapidly growing area.
Approach
To help protect the quality of Auburn’s water, we developed a monitoring
system to provide an early warning of potential problems. This work involved
delineating capture zones for production wells and springs and identifying
sources of contamination—both potential and actual. We also designed
an extensive monitoring network for groundwater sampling.
Outcome
Our efforts produced a comprehensive, ongoing monitoring program that
will warn the City of imminent water quality problems.
Related Projects
Water Rights Support / City of Auburn: Water Rights Investigations
Groundwater Modeling / City of Auburn: Hydrogeologic Characterization & Groundwater Modeling