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June 7, 2006
Researchers work to determine Ames water quality
- Even with the popularity of bottled water, the City of Ames is concerned
with the quality of the city's drinking water.
And they have turned to Bill Simpkins, professor of geological and atmospheric
sciences, for the answer.
For the next three years, Simpkins will be conducting a study of the quantity
and quality of the groundwater available to Ames for drinking water.
"We went to the city with a plan to reexamine the water supply,"
Simpkins said. "It's been more than 10 years since the last study and
one of my concerns is that while the city has a great water supply from
the Ames aquifer, it's only a matter of time before others will want to
use that water source."
One potential user is an ethanol-producing plant, many of which are springing
up throughout the Midwest. Estimates vary, but it can take as little as
four to as much as 37 gallons of water to produce one gallon of ethanol.
"That's a lot of water and companies will be looking to locate such
plants in locations with a good aquifer, such as Ames," Simpkins said.
The Ames City Council agreed that a study was needed and is funding Simpkins'
study to the tune of $125,000. He is seeking almost $100,000 more in research
grants to complete the project.
The study has begun with the investigation of the hydrogeology of the Ames
aquifer and includes an examination of groundwater flow and nutrient transport
to the lakes in Ada Hayden Heritage Park. The lakes currently serve as the
backup water supply for the city.
Last April 16 monitoring wells were installed at Ada Hayden in five different
locations as a result of Simpkins' project.
Not only will the wells and computer models help Simpkins and graduate student
Evan Christianson determine the source and direction of groundwater flow
but the groundwater quality as well.
"We should be able to get an idea of what the concentration of the
nitrogen and phosphorus is in the groundwater entering and exiting the lake,"
Simpkins said. "This is critical to understanding whether groundwater
can contribute nutrients that might degrade water quality."
Less than 12 months into the three-year study, Simpkins says the study at
the Ada Hayden well sites is already producing results.
"It's early but our preliminary data seems to indicate that the groundwater
in the Ada Hayden lakes comes from the northwest and southwest sides and
flows out of them from the east and southeast sides," Simpkins said.
"The shape of the underlying bedrock valley is also a bit different
than has been assumed for the past 30 years.
"There's a ton more work still to do however. This study should provide
great insights into the water supply potential of these systems and into
the interaction of bedrock and alluvial aquifers in Iowa."
Those include regular monitoring of the groundwater levels and trying to
better visualize configuration of the buried valley underneath the park.
"We have to get the configuration of underlying bedrock surface just
right in order for Evan's groundwater model to simulate realistically the
groundwater interaction with the lake."
The study will not only benefit the City of Ames but also Simpkins' hydrogeology
students.
"I used this in our Field Methods in Hydrogeology course in the summer,"
he said. "In the long term I would like to develop the Ada Hayden site
as an educational site for that and my other classes."
William Simpkins
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