Groundwater in the Great Lakes Basin

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Previous Advice to IJC on Groundwater Issues Annex 16 of the GLWQA deals with groundwater. Both the SAB and others have provided advice previously to the Commission on Annex 16. The SAB has not formally reviewed, and therefore does not necessarily endorse, all such advice and associated recommendations, but we do feel it is important that the Commission refer to such advice when formulating the latest advice to the Parties. Following are some sources of previous advice we recommend be considered. 1993 Groundwater Report – (Groundwater Contamination in the Great Lakes Basin, IJC, 1993.) The Report concluded, in part, that: • There is an immediate need to reduce the degree of uncertainty concerning the nature, extent and significance of groundwater contamination in the Great Lakes Ecosystem. • Many land use practices pose a significant risk to groundwater quality and resources. These practices need to be further assessed and modified as appropriate. Examples include risks of groundwater contamination from underground storage tanks and on-site waste water systems. • A number of management actions to protect groundwater quality and resources are to be encouraged. Included are the promulgation/ implementation of effective well-head protection legislation in Great Lakes basin jurisdictions; and the regular inspection, maintenance and, where required, replacement of septic systems, especially those adjacent to surface water bodies and aquifers vulnerable to groundwater contaminations in the basin. Protection of the Waters of the Great Lakes – Particularly Recommendation VII, which is specific to groundwater and Annex 16 (Protection of the Waters of the Great Lakes, IJC, February 2000.) The August 2004 IJC review of this recommendation (Protection of the Waters of the Great Lakes, IJC, August 2004) also should be considered. The SAB finds the following quote from that document captures many of the current issues with groundwater in the basin rather succinctly: “The Commission observes that the Boundary Waters Treaty is silent regarding groundwater. However, apart from the fact that sometimes groundwater and surface water flows may be indistinguishable, the IJC can and has considered groundwater flows under References issued pursuant to Article IX of the treaty and can consider impacts on groundwater flows when deciding whether to approve applications for projects with trans-boundary effects pursuant to Articles III, IV and VIII of the treaty. The Great Lakes Charter and Annex 2001 both define “waters of the Great Lakes basin” as including tributary groundwater that is within the Charter boundary. As such, it appears that any water management regime that is developed as a result of the Annex 2001 process will be applied to both groundwater and surface water withdrawals within the Charter boundaries. The Commission cautions that because of the relatively poor state of scientific knowledge concerning the quality, quantity and flow of groundwater, that any regime should be flexible enough to accommodate improvements in that knowledge.” IJC/BEC Report – (Reporting Under the GLWQA Summary Table, BEC/IJC, May 2002.) Existing reporting under Annex 16 does not meet the Letter or the Spirit of the GLWQA. Currently no consolidated groundwater information is provided to the IJC, and the information that does exist is site-specific. The report recommended that the Parties should inventory potential sources of groundwater contamination, identify gaps and determine how best to report under this annex. 2003-2005 Priorities Report – As part of its activities during the previous biennium, and in anticipation of the possible review of the Agreement by the Parties, the SAB undertook a review of science and the Agreement. This activity is reported in the 2003-05 Priorities Report to the IJC. It contains one recommendation specific to groundwater that has undergone full review and is, therefore, endorsed by the SAB. Annex 16 – This Annex needs to better reflect the linkage between groundwater quantity and quality, and water supply and in-stream conditions. The title and the provisions of the Annex need to reflect the broader pollution prevention focus inherent in current source water protection policies and programs in both countries. Large-scale groundwater assessments should be undertaken beyond those indicated in Annex 16. Conclusion The SAB hopes these preliminary recommendations and highlighting of previous recommendations are helpful to the Commission in formulating its advice to the Parties on review of the Agreement. We would be happy to address any questions, comments or suggestions the Commission may have. Michael Donahue U.S. Co-Chair Isobel Heathcote Canadian Co-Chair IJC Great Lakes Science Advisory Board 9
10 Acknowledgements, Activities and Meetings, Membership The capacity of the Science Advisory Board to address priority issues and stay abreast of the latest scientific information is only possible through the dedication of its members, the involvement of the wider Great Lakes scientific community and the participation of interested citizens and agency officials. The Board also routinely seeks outside expert advice to ensure that the most current scientific understanding is available to inform proceedings. The Board wishes to express its gratitude and appreciation for the assistance that all these individuals have contributed. March 8-9, 2006 Lansing, Michigan Special Presenters • Jim Nicholas: Hydrogeological Cycle/Consumptive Use Estimates • Marc Hinton: Groundwater Recharge and Baseflow in the Basin • Howard Reeves: Michigan Groundwater Monitoring/Mapping • Deborah Conrod: Ontario Groundwater Monitoring and Mapping • Bill Rustem: Michigan Groundwater Economics • Joan Rose: Groundwater Pathogens • Ric Falardeau: On-site Wastewater Systems • James McEwan: Abandoned Wells • Bill Kappel: New York, Niagara Hydrogeology • Marcia Valiante: Ontario Groundwater Legislation • Hugh Whiteley: Urban Groundwater Issues, Stormwater Ponds, Walkerton • Noah Hall: U.S. Groundwater Policy/Programs and Annex 2001 • Emil Frind: Canadian Groundwater Research/ Modeling/Data Needs • John Bartholic: U.S. Groundwater Research/ Modeling/Data Needs June 13-14, 2006 Syracuse, New York Special Presenters • Pete Richards: Groundwater Nutrients and Pesticides • Dave Eckhardt: Groundwater Pharmaceuticals/PCPs • John St. Marseille: Groundwater Protection • Doug Joy: On-Site Wastewater Systems • Hugh Gorman: On-Site Wastewater System Regulations • Miroslav Nastev: Chateaugay Binational Aquifer, Canada • Rich Reynolds: Chateaugay Binational Aquifer, United States • Matt Becker: Niagara, Hydrogeology/Superfund Sites • Lisa Richman: Niagara River Monitoring/Caged Mussels • David Sharpe: Canadian National Aquifer Mapping • Brenda Lucas: Buried Treasure – Groundwater Permitting and Pricing • Charles Lamontagne: Quebec Groundwater Programs • Marie Pierre Dagenais: Quebec Groundwater Issues and Policies • Richard Brazell: New York Groundwater Policies • Mary Jane Conboy: Ontario Regulations, Abandoned Wells • Kent Novakowski: Sustainable Wells • Bill Kappel: Hydrogeology of the Onondaga Trough November 3, 2006 Milwaukee, Wisconsin Special Presenters • Deborah Conrod: Ontario Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network Program • Norm Grannemann: Base Flow Due to Groundwater Discharge • Daniel Feinstein: Groundwater and the Great Lakes Compact • Mark Borchardt: Viruses in Groundwater and the Public Health Implications • Chris Olson: Door County On-Site Wastewater System Inspections • Joseph Janczy: New U.S. Groundwater Rule • Tom Price and Kevin Shafer: Josey Heights and Walnut Way Neighborhoods June 8, 2007 Chicago, Illinois Special Presenters • Kevin McCray and John Pitz: Groundwater Usage Trends and Forecasting • Ken Howard: Urban Groundwater • Steve Hollingshead: Groundwater and the Aggregate Industry • Kelly Warner: Chemical Quality of United States Groundwater • Dave Rudolph: Groundwater and Nutrients (Nitrates) • Ken Bradbury: Aquifers and Viruses • Kevin Wilson: Groundwater and Diversions • Tim Morris: Groundwater Allocation in the Great Lakes Basin • Phil Bus: Sustainable Municipal Groundwater Supply
Page 1 and 2: AReportoftheGreatLakesScienceAdviso
Page 3 and 4: Citation: Great Lakes Science Advis
Page 6: Commissioners’ Preface The Great
Page 9 and 10: 2 required to monitor basin groundw
Page 11 and 12: 4 Systems have a 30-year lifespan d
Page 13 and 14: 6 Groundwater quality is routinely
Page 15: 8 Transmittal Letter Groundwater/An
Page 19 and 20: APPENDICES Appendices A through L p
Page 21 and 22: INTRODUCTION Groundwater, a major n
Page 23 and 24: 16 DESCRIPTION OF NATURAL SYSTEMS M
Page 25 and 26: that are not substantially affected
Page 27 and 28: Estimates of the Level and Extent o
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Page 31 and 32: 24 PATHOGENS Bacteria, viruses and
Page 33 and 34: Viruses Viral pathogens continue to
Page 35 and 36: SPECIFIC EPISODES Walkerton In 2000
Page 37 and 38: 30 season. The sampling sites inclu
Page 39 and 40: 32 Curriero, F.C., Patz, J.A., Rose
Page 41 and 42: Infection of a suitable host specie
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Page 46 and 47: Road salt has significant toxic eff
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Page 50 and 51: Atrazine Atrazine is an extensively
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Page 54 and 55: Table 1. Chemical Contaminants in G
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Page 60 and 61: Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Wa
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(Gorman and Halvorsen, 2006). Any s
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Table 3. Washtenaw County, Michigan
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that the OWTS would last until it w
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REFERENCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY Aglie,
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Septic Tanks - Septic Tank Articles
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INTRODUCTION Leaking underground st
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sites that were previously closed,
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Table 1. USTs in Great Lakes States
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Estimation of Costs for Remediation
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Table 6. Operational Compliance of
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80 Indiana Government. (2007, Febru
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82 GLOSSARY AST - above ground stor
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INTRODUCTION 84 Hazardous wastes ar
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The town of Kincardine, Ontario, ha
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88 • The monitoring and surveilla
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However, the U.S. EPA has been relu
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92 Johnson, B.L. & DeRosa, C.T. (19
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PAHs - Polycyclic aromatic hydrocar
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INTRODUCTION An abandoned well is d
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Figure 6: Leaking oil well Source:
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CONTAMINANT SOURCES 100 During any
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Nearly 16 million operational water
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• Development of a targeted progr
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106 Michigan Department of Environm
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APPENDIX H Threats to Groundwater Q
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far reaching. Road salt can inhibit
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112 Desalinization Potential water
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Gray, J. (2004, January). Brine Spr
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INTRODUCTION 116 In 2003 there were
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118 feed has increased to upwards o
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References and Bibliography 120 Arn
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APPENDIX J Threats to Groundwater Q
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for recreational purposes and destr
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126 errors (human or mechanical), p
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Apparent Losses Old meters are like
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Figure 6. Examples of Windsor, Onta
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REFERENCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY 132 Ada
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134 Levy, S. (2004, November 16). T
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APPENDIX K The Châteauguay Transbo
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138 the clay sediments of the St. L
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REFERENCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY Bureau
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INTRODUCTION 142 Groundwater law ac
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144 • Water withdrawn be returned
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146 found to be failing. Now, with
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Part 373: Third Stage Treatment Lag
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150 Chapter 1501:15 Soil and Water
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152 Title 29 - Water Resources Mana
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APPENDIX M List of Acronyms ADHD -
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Groundwater in the Great Lakes Basin

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