Geohydrology of the Wellington-alluvial aquifer system and evaluation of possible locations of relief wells to decrease saline ground-water discharge to the Smoky Hill and Solomon rivers, central Kansas

Gillespie, Joe B.; Hargadine, G. D.

Abstract:

Saline water discharges from the alluvial aquifer into the Smoky Hill and Solomon Rivers between New Cambria and Solomon in central Kansas. Chloride concentrations in the Smoky Hill River sometimes exceed 1,000 mg/L during low flow conditions. The source of saline water is the underlying Wellington aquifer, a zone of halite and gypsum dissolution, subsidence, and collapse along the eastern margin of the Permian Hutchinson Salt Member of the Wellington Formation. Locally, brine from the Wellington aquifer flows upward through collapse structures in the confining layer into the overlying alluvium. Estimated brine discharge averages about 0.8 cu ft/sec. Control of the saline groundwater discharge to the Smoky Hill and Solomon Rivers is desirable to improve the quality of water in the rivers. The upward discharge of natural brine into the alluvium could be partly controlled by relief wells installed in the Wellington aquifer. The wells need to be located in the area of greatest saline groundwater discharge to the rivers and near the eastern end of the Wellington aquifer between New Cambria and Solomon. The relief wells could be pumped just enough to reverse the hydraulic gradient between the Wellington and alluvial aquifers, decreasing the upward flow of brine into the alluvium and, into the rivers. The brine could be disposed into brine aquifers underlying the area at depth or pumped into surface evaporation-storage reservoirs. (Author ‘s abstract)

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USGS Numbered Series

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27306

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Gillespie, Joe B.; Hargadine, G. D.

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ENGLISH

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vi, 31 p. :ill., maps ;28 cm.

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U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division,

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Water-Resources Investigations Report

Citation Series Code:

WRI

Citation Series Number:

86-4110

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Geohydrology of the Wellington-alluvial aquifer system and evaluation of possible locations of relief wells to decrease saline ground-water discharge to the Smoky Hill and Solomon rivers, central Kansas; 1986; WRI; 86-4110; Gillespie, Joe B.; Hargadine, G. D.