Ramsey Resident - 2015 - September/October

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Understanding Groundwater Minnesota, the land of etc.) and the demand on groundwater 10,000 lakes. Cant throw a rock appears to be greater than the aqui- in any direction without hitting fers are being recharged. water, or so one old saying goes. nite resource. So then what is all the fuss in Water is being withdrawn from aqui- recent years about the possible fers faster than it is being replenished diminishment of the water supply (or recharged), due to the amount across the state (e.g. the shrinking of time it can take for precipitation of White Bear Lake)? It may be ltrate back down to an aquifer. surprising to some to know that over seventy percent So, when a municipality derives its water supply from (70%) of Minnesotans drinking water (including wa-groundwater, such as Ramsey does, depletion of an aqui- ter used for irrigation) comes from groundwater, not fer becomes a serious concern. surface water (lakes/rivers), including Ramsey. But, cant impacts on what exactly is groundwater and where does it come ecting the recharge rate and groundwater from? e conversion of natural areas Groundwater is a component of the water cycle, and croplands to the built environment reduces the re- which, in general terms, is the movement of water, charge rate as roads, buildings, and other impervious sur- in its various states (liquid, solid \[snow/ice\], vapor) ltration of throughout the ocean, atmosphere, lakes, rivers, that most streams, and groundwater. Groundwater is water e diminished found beneath the land surface, which is stored in ltration can, over time, deplete an aquifer. Addition- cracks and pores within the soil and bedrock under-ally, leaks in underground storage tanks, such as septic ground. Groundwater is typically considered to be tanks and fuel tanks, chemical spills, and pollutants from e water table is are just a few examples of potential contaminants essentially the threshold where pore spaces within the that can pollute groundwater. lled with both water and oxygen Groundwater is a critical element that not only lled entirely with wa-provides a majority of the states drinking water, but also ter (below the water table). Water in the soil above the helps replenish our lakes and rivers. One way or another, water table is generally referred to as soil moisture and we all rely on groundwater, as will future generations. So, is available for uptake by vegetation whereas ground-it is imperative that we not only understand this invalu- water is typically beyond the reach of vegetative roots. nite resource but also use it wisely. Groundwater comes from precipitation (rain and ltrates through the soil until it reaches to City Planner Chris Anderson at 763-433-9817 or via whats known as a zone of saturation, more commonly email at canderson@cityoframsey.com. ltration of water through the soil to an aquifer is known as recharge. e rate of recharge (replenishment of aquifers from rain, snowmelt, and other sources such as irrigation), depends on the geologic formation (composition of the earthen materials through which it moves) and can range from days to hundreds of years. Even within an aquifer, groundwater is not stationary. It is generally owing from recharge areas to discharge areas such as lakes, rivers, wetlands and springs. Groundwater also moves as it is pumped out via wells for human consumption (drinking, irrigation, 8 Ramsey Resident ¤ September/October 2015